August 2012 Radiation

Hi everyone! welcome Belinda977, the more the merrier hahaha. Sounds like you had a wonderful wknd. with your kids Rachel11 ain,t it nice to take a "commercial break" from everything and just be. I am going to take my grandson fishing tonight looking so forward to it. I,m trying to get in all the time with him i can before I start rads, much the same as before hahaha. Him and I are pretty tight. Geez Belinda the time will go by fast????

I just saw your posting, is it night in your time-zone? I am not sure what you mean by caving in. Do you or are you able to get hold of your Dr. or hospital. Sorry, I don,t know what else to say as i am new at this stuff. Take a minute to exhale someone with more knowledge might be able to give you better suggestions or have had similar experience I will check in so you don,t feel alone. The ladies here are awsome so sit tight.

It's 6.45pm uk,

So half of the dark part around the nipple is caved in ( like the skin and fat has been sucked in from inside) someone just said it happened to her but only notice it when they lean forward. Well mine is terrible when standing up right, no doctor told me this would happen. Also my nipple looks strange as it pulling down and side wards.

Really pissed off!!!

Hello everyone!

Been reading your posts. We're like soldiers going into war.

Like you, I start radiation tomorrow, and it'll go daily for 5 weeks, into August. I've always feared the idea of radiation and postponed it as much as possible, but my disease seems to have traveled up my neck lymph nodes and it's causing me a lot of pain, plus now I'm looking like elephant woman with a huge swollen face, neck, and a second chin has popped up. I think for someone as vain as me, this is a terrible punishment. I used to think of myself an attractive woman and I cannot believe the way I look now. But I'm also aware it is the disease doing its thing. What's worse is the pain that has begun to run from my neck up the side of my head. At this point, I'm so ready for radiation. The pain is a total bummer. It drains my energy.

My radio Onco doctor is very communicative, cool and so is her team. They saw me last week, and decided to start me right away. They did the planning session on the spot and put me on schedule ASAP.

So, I'm comfortable with them. Plus, it is Columbia Presbyterian, and though there is no perfect institution, I have much faith in it and its people. I believe they have kept me alive for the past four years since my disease came back with a vengeance in 2008. 

It is nice to have a group here where we can share info. I have so many questions. I will post them here in case anyone knows the answer. I will ask them tomorrow and share the answers with you. 

1. My radiation will be on the neck and likely the right side of my head. Can I drive back and forth? It's only a 20 minutes drive. Being in NYC, a 1hr subway ride is the other option. 

2. I cat-sit for a friend every August. Can the kitty be around me as I'm getting radiation? He's 10 yrs old.

3. Can someone getting daily radiation treatment for 5 weeks be around children?

4. Does radiation affect the immune system?

I read in another board here, that Vitamin E creams are good for the skin, and usually the radio-onco team gives them to you. I'm a big believer in Aloe Vera. So, I'm ready and armed with it. 

Will be posting here as I go along. Looking forward to sharing with you, learning from you and getting through this, together.

Went for scan and tattoo's today and my onco doctor did the marking out. I showed her my problem and she said wait till rads has finished and settled then think about doing something.

It took an hour to do scans and position me in right spot, my arm was very painfull and I wanted the loo. I have six tattoo's and I start next Thursday, really pooing my pants having it done.

Hello all,

Got tats at Columbia Presbyterian yesterday and expectto start next Tuesday.  Any suggestions re skin care or otherwise?  I didn't get any other than no deodorant.

Thanks,

VVH

It's so funny how we want to get done but dread any SE we get.

good morning chapter4, I am starting my rads today.I am sure it will be much easier than having to go through chemo.( I never had chemo) I think the thought of new proceedures that we go through step by step is always daunting and scary. I know in my head logically that everything will be alright and it has to be done but in my heart to put it bluntly today I am sh@tting bricks hahaha. As you can see by this thread we can all go through it together!  I started using aloe cream about a week ago I thought it wouldn,t hurt to start.. So hang in girl I think we should all put a mind set to it being a breeze!!! ( and if it is not we are here for each other also)  I will post this evening after 1st treatment so everyone knows generally what to expect.

Thanx hon , just putting in time ( probebly wasting it) hahaha Just got a case of the jitters. Once today is over with i am sure i will get into swing of things. Maybee I should of took the mastectomy, lol. And no-one listen to me right at the momement.

Hi there,  I'm new to the site and to the group.  I was diagnosed in May 2012, had what we thought was a benign tumor extracted, discovered it was IDC 1.2 cm, Grade 2, and returned for wide margin lumpectomy mid-June.  Lymph nodes clean 0/6.  Oncotype was borderline low at 19, so Dana Farber OK'd skipping chemo.  I'm scheduled for RAD's early August, and RO is recommending 5.5 weeks (wow!) plus a week booster.  I'm afraid with this much radiation, I'll fry up like Kentucky Fried Chicken.  I'm thin, and it will be my left breast, so I'm abit worried.

Had my first rad treatment today! Was pretty nervous. I think it made me nervous when I realized how close the machine was too my face. They decided to proceed with the treatment even though my healing is not complete (glad because it's been a while since my surgery). Hoping I can relax a little tomorrow!

 Kay, my left breast is being treated too (23 whole breast and 7 boosts).  If you are smaller breasted like me, you have a better chance of having less skins complications.    I was a little worried too.  However, more worried if I did not have the radiation.    

Kay, no Oncotype score 19...no chemo for me.  Will be on Tamoxifen when the rads are over.

Good Evening girls , Had my first rad treatment today also. They did imaging first the machine doesn,t make much noise and what noise it does make is a low sound nothing sharp or " zappy" I was marked with markers again around the tattoo,s. The while process doesn,t take that long. The techs/nurses were very friendly and helpful.I am also glad to have the first one over with. Is anyone else having full breast rads? I asked about the rads near my lung and was told that my lung would get a bit because of needing to get my chest wall.

Welcome Kay-in-NH and Belinda 977... so all in all it could be a lot worse hahaha!