July 2012 Radiation

Hi July group!

For you, and all who join you in the next month, here's some helpful info on the main Breastcancer.org site on Radiation Therapy, including types of radiation therapy, what to expect, and how to manage side effects.

Hope this helps!

--Your Mods

Jenn - I'm still here! I think it's just quiet over the holiday and as people are just getting started.



Babette - how was your first treatment? Mine was uneventful. I was very anxious before the appointment, so I took a Xanax. I have not met with the RO since the mapping, so I haven't seen any kind of simulation showing me where the radiation is actually going. So I'm still nervous about my heart and lungs being in the line of fire. I also didn't have any idea of how long to expect each "zap" (I get one from 2 different angles). I found it unnerving not having any idea how long each one would last. I think tomorrow will be easier now that I have some idea. I didn't count the seconds of each zap today, but I want to try to tomorrow. I had one female and one male tech, and they were very kind, and very considerate of me, trying very hard to keep me draped as much as possible. I hope your treatement went well.

Teacup - My first treatment was uneventful also.  The rads therapists took the time to explain exactly what would happen.  They told me NOT to count the number of seconds of each zap as the time could vary from day to day.  They assured me that the proper dosage of radiation is being delivered regardless of how long the noise lasted.  My therapists also were very considerate of me, covering my body with a heated towel after they got done setting me up.

I was anxious today also and agree that tomorrow will be much better since I know what to expect.  My sister and I went out to eat after my treatment.  I disregarded healthly eating and had a hamburger and onion rings.  Tomorrow I will do better.

On the down side, I found out today that my RO has left the practice.  His last day was last Friday.  Apparently, he forgot to tell me this last Thursday during my simulation.  The nurse said that he told his patients last week.  Why not me?  I'll never know.

I met my new RO today and was impressed with her.  I look forward to getting to know her and ask her many of the same questions that I asked my first RO to see if their explanations are the same.  It's sort of like getting a second opinion without having to go somewhere else.

Hello July 2012 Rads group! I saw the title of this thread and it caught my eye. I was part of the July 2010 group - hard to believe it has been two years already. I just wanted to wish you all well and offer you encouragement - radiation will be over with before you know it. I found Aquaphor to be really helpful to my skin, but a bit messy to clothes. Sending hugs and positive thoughts to all of you!

Karen

Hi, Jenn, I started my radiation just before you did, June 22. I'll continue through July 27.

I've had 7 treatments already. 28% done. The smile and the sunglasses on this icon both seemed appropriate for the situation!

My team of three techs, two men and one woman, are both professional and kind. It doesn't feel so foreign to slip my left arm out of the gown and to uncover the left breast, or have it uncovered, for treatment. It's almost, but not quite, routine now. I think tomorrow it will probably feel routine. 

My side effects have been a feeling like I've had too much sun, and some pinkness of the skin, spreading across the center line. At first, the pinkness disappeared in a few hours. Now I have a little tenderness after treatment as well as pinkness. I've also started to experience some fatigue but I don't really know if that is related to the radiation or not.

I see my RO tomorrow. I plan to talk with her about the pinkness crossing the center line, something I don't understand. I will also talk with her about the product that she recommended for skin care that contains parabens. Parabens are implicated in breast cancer.

I found a web site, www.breastcancerfund.org, that focuses on the chemicals in our environment that contribute to breast cancer. If you click on the Clear Science link and the Chemicals Glossary, you can read about the science related to parabens as well as other chemicals, such as HRT, implicated in breast cancer. I am hoping that the information about parabens will be enough to sway not just my RO but to change the policy of the cancer institute where I receive treatment. I'll let you know.

Welcome kjiberty!  Congrats on finishing chemo!  That's great timing about finishing rads. I was hoping to start on Monday so I could finish the day before I am supposed to go on vacation but that doesn't look like it's going to be possible.  They want me to drive up from the beach (2 hrs away) to finish the last few treatments.  If it's that or cancel the week, then I guess I'll be driving.  You'd think I could just have 28 sessions instead of 30 but 30 is the magic number apparently.

Grace

Hi everyone - I don't remember who asked about swimming but I was told no because of sun exposure and the the chlorine being drying to the skin. I was just going to complain that I hadn't heard from my doc and they just called and I go for my mapping Thursday and start Monday the 9th. I was also told to use Utterly Smooth for my cream and Dove unscented soap. She said I would probably be on a few lotions by the end. I hope everyone enjoys there 4 th of July, I'll be painting my basement, loads of fun,lol.

Welcome kjiberty.  I know what you are going through regarding going through cancer treatment and planning your son's wedding.  I was diagnosed two weeks before my son's wedding so I was still in a bit of a state of shock on his wedding day.  I decided to put cancer totally out of my mind on the day of the wedding.  No one was allowed to talk about cancer and we all were able to focus on the moment.  I'm glad that you will be done (with a little luck) with treatments in time for your son's wedding.  You will have so much to celebrate.

I started neoadjuvant chemotherapy the week after the wedding.  My mother died the next week.  Life has a way of throwing curve balls at us, doesn't it?  My life has been stressful, but I have so much to look forward to. I have grandchildren (yet to be conceived) and retirement in 2 years. Life will be good again.

I had rads treatment #2 today.  If all goes well (31 more treatments), I will be done August 16.  School starts (I'm a teacher.) on August 22.  I hope that I am strong enough to begin school without taking too much time off due to fatigue and/or appointments.  I also want to be able to wear a bra as I teach high school students.  Going braless might make all of us uncomfortable.

I assume everyone has tomorrow (July 4) off from doing rads.  Do something fun!!!

Babbette and Graced:  Thank you for your wisdom.  Let me know what our RO's say about helping with fatigue during rads. 

Happy 4th! 

babette - I'm sorry about your mom - I lost mine in Feb. 2011, and I miss her everyday.

I admire your postitive attitude that life will be good again - sometimes it is hard for me to stay positive. I have a one year grandson and he is the joy of my life. He is one of the reasons I am willing to fight this battle. My 25 year marriage ended in 2007, and I am hopeful that someday I will meet someone to share my life with.



Graced - my RO is letting me take a week off from RADS due to a vacation I had planned. He asked me if I could postpone it and I told him "no". I thought we would just start after the vacation, but he didn't want to. So I will have 9 treatments and then have a week off. It's seems your RO is unreasonable to expect you to drive back and forth during your vacation.



Welcome Kjiberty! The only thing I have gleaned about treating fatigue, is eat lots of protein and rest when you need to/when you can. I am drinking a non-soy protein drink everyday, and trying to be mindful of my protein intake.



Belinda - sending healing thoughts to you. It must be so frustrating to have this delay. I know I felt a sense of peace once I got started and could make a tentative plan, and see an end to active treatment. RADS isn't fun, but I'm so glad to be on the last step!



It's too hot here to do much. I was out at a lake all day Sunday, and it was almost too much for me, a long day in the sun. I will stay home today in the air conditioning and work on assignments for my summer class and then go have dinner with my darling grandson.



Take care -

Karen I drink the shakeology also - there is a new vegan chocolate that I'm thinking of trying.  I usually have my green veggie smoothie but sometimes I feel like I need protein so will add that into my routine!

graced:  Is "vega" the brand name?  

onvacatin:  I was tempted to get the vegan one but I knew the regular one was good, and for the cost, didn't want to risk it.  Let me know how you like it if you by i.

I am starting rads on Monday.  I am getting 8 boosts first, then the CAT scan and simulation with radiation that day for a total of 35 treatments.  I have never heard of anyone getting boosts first, but trust the oncologist.  He wants to get rid of any stray cells right away since I had a close margin.  I am also getting the new machine TrueBeam STX which there are supposedly only 10 in the country.  Has anyone had any experience with any of this (boosts first, TrueBeam)?  Because I'm getting boosts first, will I have side effects right away?  Thanks for your help.

I had my last chemo today - YEA !  And my first appt with the RO is Tuesday - so looks like I will be starting in july.  I am ready to get this phase going!