Summer 2012 RADS HANG OUT

Hi "rad sisters" ))) well I start on Monday number 1 of 33. When I got my schedule with number 33 on Sept 20th, it seemed so far away. Surgery and chemo behind me so I will also make it though this. I went on Thurs for my set up and it really was no bad at all. I was out of there in less then an hour. Monday will be a little longer then a normal apt as they do extra set up. I have 3 tattoos right now and will get an additional 4 on Monday. How funny that all these doctors are so different as I was told not to do any lotion at all until they tell me. My schedule is set for each week day and see RO every Monday. Option to see a nurse every other Thursday. How does this compare????

I also just got my letter from surgeon for my 6 month check up from lumpectomy in Feb. was told I needed to get MRI on both sides just to be safe. HOW SCARY IS THAT!!!!

I haven't even started my Arimidex yet. That's set to start after finishing rad schedule.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!!!

I still have 3 more chemos before I start rads, but I decided to look at this thread to see what to expect and what a surprise I got!  So many familiar names/faces!  I'm not happy that we will have to continue this journey, but what a comfort it is to know we will be together!

Decided to be a rebel.  Just completed my 5th rad treatment on Friday and since I have no redness in my underarm area, I shaved.  SSSHHHH!

Hi everybody--I finished #4. They get me in and out quickly, which I appreciate. I also got free Miaderm and they'll give me as much as I need--yay! I've noticed some little shooting pains, and I read that can be caused by nerve irritation. Anybody else experience that? It's not a big deal at all, but noticeable. Also, my radiated boob seems bigger--even DH noticed when I showed him. I guess there's a little swelling? Should I ask them to start zapping my other one too?  

Thanks Belinda.  I replied to you in the wound vac thread.  I'm glad it worked well for you and you are proceeding with rads.  I can't wait to get started.  You answered another question.  I wasn't sure how it would charge.  Did you work at all when you had yours?  I'm planning on going back to work August 21 and am praying that I won't need it by then.  Life sure is crazy.  When I was explaining this to my kids I just had to laugh about it.  We have so much back to school stuff coming up and I'm always so worried about embarassing them and they really don't care.  We laughed about it together.  Sometimes if I don't laugh then I will start crying.  Laughing is way better!!  I will let you know when it arrives. 

Tina:  Patience is all you can have during this time.  Mine were supposed to start a week earlier than they did (my son is getting married the week I AM FINISHED!).  I wanted to be done at least a week earlier.  Plus, they tell me no bra.  Yes, I am working through this entire time.  (Even through chemo).  I am work from home a lot, even though I have office hours.  I can set my own appointments so it's been a little easier for me.  Did I work 40 hours during chemo?  No--more like 20-30, depending on the week.  With rads, so far, I would say I am working about 30-35.  The RO said I wil get tired after week 1, but so far so go.

As far as any S/E's for now, I have tightness under my armit and soreness around the incisions.  I have no hair growth yet so shaving is not an issue.  It's the BO that is gagging me.  The cornstarch and frequent showers "ain't" cutting it.  The RO doesn't want me to use any deodarant other than corn starch.  Looks really nice with my wardrobe, which consists of a lot of black (it's very forgiving --LOL).  Some people have been told they can use Tom's deodarant--my RO says no.  I may use it--I don't care. 

Karen, I'm cheating on the antiperspirant as well. I read an article that came out a couple of years ago showing that antiperspirant with aluminum in it didn't cause any SEs. The RO gave me a special deoderant to use, but it's NOT cutting it (it's been 100+ degrees here!) I took my regular antiperspirant to work and put it on after rads. The article is mentioned on this website--search "antiperspirant" and you'll find it. 

ok gals- i see my RC on tues for consult- i've read your posts about lubricating and i am concerned about the oil vs water issue as well- i don't have an extensive wardrobe suitable for work (which is 5 days/week same as RADS) so i cannot afford staining! can some more of you weigh in with more detail????

also- i'm a wuss in the pain dept so i'm worried about the tats?  i had a wire inserted before my lumpectomy-that was horrid enough..what about the tats? again- more detail needed please..

i know that RADS are necessary for me to be sure that i have done all i can..and i have come so far thru all of my 20 weeks of chemo and my surgery etc so i don't wanna quit now but geez i'm getting wussy here.... and i am soooooooooooooooooo freakin tired right now- is that just from the chemo? i think so-that and working 40 hours and stressing about a whole host of stuff.....

i feel like i have lost my summer too...ok- sorry for the whine....

Someone asked about the aquafor/olive oil.

I have been using it at night, and it absorbs in my skin.  I don't wear silk to bed, though.

Also, someone said their RO said olive oil is bad for the skin because it's like putting oil on a burnt area.  You can read all you want, but I am telling you, my sister has been a radiation tech for 32 years and swears by the aquafor/oliv oil mix.  You just need to add enough olive oil to make the aquafor "spreadable" and not so greasy.  I use the miaderm during the day and the aquafor mix at night. 

My RO told me aluminum free deodorant was fine.  I found an all-natural deodorant, I think its called Natural Essence.  I really had to search for it.  Since I haven't started my rads yet I can't say if it works or not.  I sweat so much more since my dx because of my crazy hormones that I can't imagine not wearing deodorant or not wearing one that works.  I can see myself "cheating" too!

Belinda, I'm sorry that your daughter is embarassed.  They are kids and who knows what goes through their heads.  My son's friends have been very supportive and are always asking how I am.  One of my sons friends who is a girl donated her hair to locks of love and said she was doing it in honor of me.  She hugged me when I saw her last and said "get better".  She also (along with her brother) donated her own money for a luminary for Relay for Life in honor of me.  I think when my boys see how supportive their friends are they know that its not something to be embarssed of.  Tomorrow morning I drop my son off at band camp and it will be the first time his friends will see my very short hair.  I think it will be OK but its shocking to people who haven't seen me for a while. 

I am planning to go back to work as scheduled on August 21 and work as much as possible through rads.  I have a peace about this decision after a lot of anxiety over the past week. 

Wound vac is being ordered tomorrow and I am hoping that it will arrive Tuesday morning or Wednesday morning.

January my RO told me the same thing about not to put anything on the area until he tells me too!  I had been using vitamin E on my scar and he told me to stop that too!  It is crazy how different doctors can be!!

Marcia1111 - the wire is a localization wire for lumpectomy.  It is placed by the radiologists (in my case using mammography) so the surgeon knows where the tumor is.  He/she compares the location of the wire to the mammogram so he can see which areas to remove.  Wire placement was my least favorite procedure.  Think of a 20 min unrelenting mammography squeeze while a wire is inserted and moved until they are happy with location.  Not fun (but do-able).  

I remember that well!

One down!!!! Only 32 to go.....wow it's going to be a long six weeks! Actually the visit was not all that bad. They did lots of adjusting and pictures and treatment. I should get the final 4 tattoos tomorrow as right now I have 3 from first set up.

Hope everyone had a great day.