Summer 2012 RADS HANG OUT

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  • Lumpynme
    Lumpynme Member Posts: 747
    edited July 2012

    hi all ! i just found this thread! thanx!

    i finished my secound round of chemo july 20--will meet with my RO on aug 7th and will schedule my sessions moving fwd...

    i have fears and i cannot explain them; reading these threads and talking with survivors from my BC support group has helped-in teh beginning i was petrified of the RADS not the chemo!

    when i was first dx i had no ins so was put into the state medicaid program-thankfully! i have become employed and as of now have full medical ins on my own- haven't even begun to think of copays for rads-holy crud-sure hope not!!!!!guess that's one more thing to worry about....

    well- 9 more pages to read to get caught up!!!!

    anxious to see how you all fare!

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  • slak
    slak Member Posts: 179
    edited July 2012

    Welcome Lumpynme!  I am not sure why, but some women do worry more about rads than chemo.  Rads sure was physically easier than chemo for me (much, much easier) and emotionally easier as well.  It is often the unknown that is the most scary, so let your RO know of your fears.  Hopefully he/she will put you at ease.  You can do this!

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  • Nkb
    Nkb Member Posts: 1,436
    edited July 2012

    I'm worried about the rads also. How has your skin handled the rads if you had a mastectomy?

    Anyone who had AND get lymph edema from rads?

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  • enigmas2
    enigmas2 Member Posts: 10
    edited July 2012
    Ok, my treatments start next Tuesday. I have seen a hundred different ointments recommended to help with any skin reactions but my head is spinning from the long list and really unsure what to use.... Anyone? Laughing
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  • Stacie
    Stacie Member Posts: 607
    edited July 2012

    I have no doc appts today...I repeat. I have no doc appts today.

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited July 2012

    Wanted to share my good news----- I won't need rads after all!!!!!!  The tumor board met and reviewed my case today.  I met with my onco next Tuesday before my last round of chemo to get the full details.  I had been preparing myself for the possibility of rads and was beginning to get comfortable with what it all entailed.  Thanks to all of you for helping here to become educated with the process and sharing your feelings and info.  I will continue to check back here to see how you are doing.  HUGS to all!!!!

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  • slak
    slak Member Posts: 179
    edited July 2012

    Melrosemelrose - so happy for you!!!!  

    Stacie - Yay for no Drs. appts!  I'm not sure what I'll do with myself when rads are done...I hope my car doesn't drive right to the hospital at my usual appointment time... 

    Enigmas2 - I still vote for the Miaderm.  Worked great for me.

    Nkb - I had a lumpectomy, so don't know what is different for a mastectomy.  I also had no positive nodes, so they only zapped me from two different angles for the whole breast part.  You may already be reading the June 2012 rads thread...a lot of the women on it are just finishing up and may have more answers for you.  From my experience of this whole process, in the future if I do any more treatments I will ask 'what are all possible side-effects and tell me everything that has been shown to prevent them and tell me everything that anecdotally has been suggested to prevent them'.  Then I would do as much as possible.  I didn't even think to do this before rads.

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  • Belinda977
    Belinda977 Member Posts: 381
    edited July 2012

    Stacie I get the same way when I have a doc appointment break!  Happy for you!!

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  • onvacation
    onvacation Member Posts: 1,344
    edited July 2012

    woohoo Melrose!  That is fantastic!

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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited July 2012

    Thanks to all for the well wishes!!!!  I'm still here to support you through camp rads.  I got this far, still sane, thanks to help and support from you here!!!!!

    enigmas2- From all of my reading here on the boards, Miaderm is supposed to be a very good cream.  You may have to order it on Amazon unless you live in a city where there is a distributor.  Go to the Miaderm website and check to see if there is a distributor or ask at the radiation center you are being treated at if they know of a local source. 

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  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 1,385
    edited August 2012

    enigmas2:  I ordered Miaderm from amazon (cheapest rate) --went for rads last week (didn't tell them I bought it).  They gave it to me and said when I need more to let them know!  Check with your RO to see if they have it.  Could save you lots of money.  WIsh I would have known..  Also, I have said this before on this thread--my sister has been a radiation oncology therapist for 33 years.  She HIGHLY recommends aquafor mixed with pure (cheap) olive oil.  Mix it to the consistancy of a lotion.  The pure olive oil is the thickest.  She said just to buy whatever is the cheapest.  I have been alternating the Miaderm with the aquafor solution.  

    Melrose:  CONGRATS!  I am soooo happy for you! 

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  • Nkb
    Nkb Member Posts: 1,436
    edited August 2012

    Kjib-Good to know thanks

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  • tina_jason
    tina_jason Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2012

    Slak---awesome that you only have two to go!!! Way to go!

    I am still waiting for my lumpectomy healing to start.  I am marked and ready to go as soon as my surgeon gives the OK.  I have been packing my wound for almost a week and am anxious to see what my surgeon tells me when I go back on Friday.  I am scheduled to see him again August 8 and scheduled for my first rad tx on August 9 if the BS says its OK. 

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  • Stacie
    Stacie Member Posts: 607
    edited August 2012

    Oh wow cool Melrose.

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  • Belinda977
    Belinda977 Member Posts: 381
    edited August 2012

    Tina, mine is not closed yet and they were able to start.  Has long as the deepness is healing.  Are you using less packing?

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  • slak
    slak Member Posts: 179
    edited August 2012
    I'm done!!!  Brought in cookies for the rad techs to celebrate.  Was told my skin did very well (30 total treatments).  The nurse said that the more breast tissue you have the harder it is on your skin, so there are some benefits to being 'small' on top.  Was also told that some women have an emotional episode within a month after rads, so don't worry it's normal if it happens.  I'm thinking it may help both emotionally and physically to have something to be actively doing to reduce the odds of this thing coming back.  So I think I will replace my recent 'job' of rads with getting back into good physical shape.  Time for me to stop being lazy!
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  • Melrosemelrose
    Melrosemelrose Member Posts: 3,018
    edited August 2012
    YAY Slak!!! So happy to hear that you finished rads!!!!!  Happy Dance for you!!!!!
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  • Stacie
    Stacie Member Posts: 607
    edited August 2012

    Got the call today that my RO has my plan ready and I do both the simulation and my first RAD tomorrow as well as get my Bone, CT, and MUGA scan results back.  BIG DAY.  Then daily...

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  • ali68
    ali68 Member Posts: 1,383
    edited August 2012

    Can I ask where are your tattoos? ( this is to anyone who will tell ) I don't have any on my breast but it starts just below the collar bone in th middle. Then straight down to between the breasts then all the way round the left breast and upto the arm pit.



    Cheers



    Wish me luck I start tomorrow

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  • enigmas2
    enigmas2 Member Posts: 10
    edited August 2012

    Thanks all, sounds like Miaderm it is!

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  • Belinda977
    Belinda977 Member Posts: 381
    edited August 2012

    Congrats Slak!  I am glad to being doing something (by getting the rads).  I was getting impatient.  

    Ali68, I have three dot tattoos.  One on my breast bone in the middle of my chest down near the bottom of my small (lol) breasts.  Then two on each side of my stomach directly in line with my nipples....I don't have node involvement so maybe thats why mine is different 

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  • Elizabeth_D
    Elizabeth_D Member Posts: 24
    edited August 2012

    I am struggling through Taxol right now, really struggling. But I have 2 more and then on to Radiation.  I am in a Taxol/chemo discussion group, is it too early for me to be in here too?  Thanks for all this knowledge~!

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  • ali68
    ali68 Member Posts: 1,383
    edited August 2012

    Thanks belinda, I have six tattoos don't you think it's funny where they put them. Do they go directly on the breast I don't know.

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  • Sissydi
    Sissydi Member Posts: 516
    edited August 2012

    Welcome Elizabeth! I haven't even started rads yet. I meet with my radioligist tomorrow for the first time!

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  • jpmomof3
    jpmomof3 Member Posts: 643
    edited August 2012

    Same here elizabeth, welcome! i wont start for a month or more but have been lurking to gain insight on whats about to come...

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  • Stacie
    Stacie Member Posts: 607
    edited August 2012

    I get my tats tomorrow.

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  • KCB
    KCB Member Posts: 365
    edited August 2012

    Kjiberty: from way back, thanks for the welcome!

    Having a good time at the cottage not thinking about rads, but every once in a while I feel like hopping a train and going back and just getting ON with it!! But, this was always the plan, to have a healthy holiday with the kids and dh between chemo and rads so here we are. Should I be worried the little nasty cells are creeping around while I am on holiday?

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  • kjiberty
    kjiberty Member Posts: 1,385
    edited August 2012

    KCB:  Glad you had a nice holiday.  Just get going on the rads.  I have finishes 6 thus far, and they are no big deal (yet).

    Slak:  Congrats!  Doing a Happy Dance

    Stacie:  I am glad you are getting the show on the road to get this part of your journey over and done with.  

    I did not get any tats. They use an indelible (permanent marker) and use some type of clear tape over it. 

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  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited August 2012

    Hi, Elizabeth,

    I don't start rads until the first week of Sep't. I'm learning a lot here!

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  • tina_jason
    tina_jason Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2012

    Wow!  So much going on here.  Its a lot to keep track of.

    Belinda- yes, I am using less packing.  It is definitely healing but still looks big.  Since my BS is out of the country until August 6 I saw his partner and he said that I could probably start rads with it still packed but he called my BS on the phone in between flights and he said to wait until he looks at.  I see him on August 8 and already have a rad tx scheduled on August 9.  Your post had me relieved because there is no way this hole is going to close in a week.  Its making a lot of progress but it still has a ways to go!!!

    slak- Congrats on being finished!!! Woo hoo!!!!

    Elizabeth- welcome!  Sorry you are struggling through Taxol but you are on the home stretch!  You've got this girl!  I haven't started rads either because I am waiting for my surgery to heal and have had some setbacks.

    Stacie- good luck with everything!  So glad you're getting started.

    I don't have tats either.  They gave me the choice and i chose what kjiberty described, permanent marker with a waterproof sticker.  I can't soak in the tub, sit in a hottub or swim with them!  So frustrating that I was set to start and had this setback with dehiscence.  Ugh!

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