August 2012 Radiation

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  • HLB
    HLB Member Posts: 1,760
    edited July 2012

    Hi rad girls, I did not have rad but my friend did and she used an alpha-lipoic cream that she got from the Vitamine Shoppe. She was pleased with how it worked but she did get a little sunburn. I think the rad onc told her not to use it but they say that about everything that they have no knowledge of so sometimes you have to do your own research and judge for yourself. A lot of docs seem to think natural products will interfere with the toxic treatment they give, but imo that is like saying don't eat anything healthy like broccoli because it has antioxidants and chemo is a pro-oxidant so it might make it not as effective. Which is ridiculous because they always stress healthy eating.

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  • ro-berta
    ro-berta Member Posts: 134
    edited July 2012

    welcome girl, I have a variety of creames that I started also, you can never have enough protection! they are just plain basic but figured it can,t hurt ( yet, lol  ) thanx for the tip.

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  • beth1965
    beth1965 Member Posts: 455
    edited July 2012

    Hello everyone

    I will be starting my rads on august 15th.

     I was hoping for abit more time in between chemo and radiation so my body would be stronger but i guess they figure 4 weeks to be enough recovery time. I am going to finish reading all your posts -good luck ladies!  Chat will you soon

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  • lostinmo
    lostinmo Member Posts: 922
    edited August 2012

    Hello everyone,

    I meet with my RO on the 9th to make a plan.

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  • ro-berta
    ro-berta Member Posts: 134
    edited August 2012

    Good morning everyone, #5 down done for the weekend ( yeah!) just feeling a little tired not bad though. It could be just from the travelling and arranging rides to fit everyones schedual. Seems like they change my times everyday for the next day. So far no pink skin yet! using my creams. Once you are in the routine after a few days it goes quicker. The techs are great My M.O sucs but such is life hahaha.Still have fluid built up in breast. Oh well 1 week down, Have a good of wknd as possible .

    lostinmo, your countdown begins! it will be nice to have the plan finally in order I know I felt relief when I had mine.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Day 2 of rad and day 15 post chemo.... Searching for best creams and other counsel. Any suggestions?

    VVH

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  • ro-berta
    ro-berta Member Posts: 134
    edited August 2012

    Hi WH just finished#5. I bought some Aloe Vera gel without any colors or alcohol, and Base Glaxal ( this is a cream) and I started it right away. I am sure there is lot more girls who will have suggestions also. I don,t put anything on 3hrs. prior to rads. but sure cream  up after. Congrats on finishing up on your chemo by the way, rads should be alot easier.

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  • Januaryice
    Januaryice Member Posts: 120
    edited August 2012

    Hi all.... Just wanted to check in and say that I start rads on Monday. Had my set up on Thursday and was out of there in less then a hour. I was told that Monday would be a little longer then a regular apt as they do extra adjustments. Total of 33 tx ending Sept 20th. Looks like I'll be here for a while getting to know all you " rad sisters"

    I was told no to do any lotion at all until they tell me and that they will give the lotion to me. It is amazing how different they all are. I found the same was true during chemo.

    Hope all of you have a great weekend. Thanks for all the support I know that will be coming to get me though this new part of the journey. :)))))))))

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  • Aimz
    Aimz Member Posts: 9
    edited August 2012

    Hi Ladies.  Looks like this is the place for me. Smile  Met with my RO last week and received my tats.  I start "7 weeks and a few days" of rads on Tues.  Going out today to buy lotion(s) recommended by my RO.   Right now my main concern is the possible fatigue se as I already suffer from fatigue related to my Multiple Schlerosis (MS).  I am taking meds for the fatigue and my RO did not seem too concern that it would get worse, but then went on to say "everyone reacts differently".  LOL, so I felt better for a nanosecond until he added the disclaimer.    Guess we just need to take it one day at a time.

    I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  Hugs 

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  • Medwick711
    Medwick711 Member Posts: 14
    edited August 2012

    Hi Rachel my name is Patricia and I to will be starting rads in August. I see the rads Dr. For the first time on 8/8/12. I believe I will be getting 30 treatments, but will have to wait till Wednesday to find out. I am glad we do not have to go through this alone. It is very comforting to know there is other people who truly understand what we are going through



    Patricia

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  • tlangston07
    tlangston07 Member Posts: 354
    edited August 2012

    Hello Ladies..Please add me to the list also..I had tats and scans last week and start 28 rounds on right mx and nodes..I also still have some fluid up..So glad to know that I am not alone but hate that we have to be here.

    Terry

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  • ro-berta
    ro-berta Member Posts: 134
    edited August 2012

    Hi everyone  hi to you also terry! I guess this thread is pretty quiet. Hope everyone had a good long wknd ( I gues for us Canadians ) hahaha. Just finished #6 I guess i am getting a little pink around the ribs from what my family DR. says. My R.O. is on holidays for 2 weeks and said if I had any problems I could go see the breast surgeon ( very considerate of him) hahaha. To make long story short had apt. with my G.P. about joining excecise group etc. he decided to do an exam and check breast had some minor pain. I learned more from him than I did from the R.O! Needless to say any excercise involving using arms and upper chest muscles  out of the question for now as i am getting some muscle damage.He also asked if I was aware that my hormone receptors were neg.( Ahh no, ) He also set me up with chest X-rays so we had a base to compare with if needed. Now remember this is just my experience so far. I was just happy that i was talked to in a two way conversation and not talked at. Now I am going to cream up! hahaha.

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  • tlangston07
    tlangston07 Member Posts: 354
    edited August 2012

    Thank you ro-berta..this is an awfully quiet thread..I thought it would take longer to get the pinkness..I am still pretty sore from the mx and can't even put my arm all the way up where they want it. Very uncomfortable. I am also negative..so glad you talked to GP..I made an appt to see mine also..Hopefully the cream helps..Have a good evening..

    Terry

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  • eric95us
    eric95us Member Posts: 2,845
    edited August 2012

    Sharon has her practice session tonight at 8:30pm and starts tomorrow morning. The RAD place is 5 minutes from home, so no long drive to get there.



    I'm going with her tonight to see what it's like.



    Eric

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  • tina_jason
    tina_jason Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2012

    I am glad I found you girls.  I had my consult on July 17 and got my markings (I didn't get perm tattoos, just markings with waterproof stickers over them) and was to come in the following Monday for my first tx.  In the mean time my re-excision incision opened back up and they couldn't do rads.  Today is day 13 of packing my wound.  The progress has been slow so tomorrow they are putting me on a wound vac.  I can't start rads until its healed but I'm praying that the vac helps it heal very quickly so I can start rads.  I just want things finished.  I hope I can join all of you soon!  In the mean time I will read posts and get lots of good advice on radiation!

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  • ro-berta
    ro-berta Member Posts: 134
    edited August 2012

    Hey tina I see you are burning the midnight oil as well?? I,m sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time with your incision healing. The frustration of that must be just as bad as the process itself. I hear that the wound vac works real well so as usual one little step at a time. Just think when you start rads you will be on the home stretch! Rads will be the easier part of your ordeal!

    Eric glad to the treatments are close to you guys i am sure even that will help. It is nice that she has you to go with her. My husband goes with me, We are and hour out from where I have to go. Haveing him with me means the world to me You will never know how much that support means to us! The first apt. is the worst it gets easier after that . Every time i am done with a treatment the first thing i do when i get home is mark it off on the calander! I love seeing those "x",s

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  • tina_jason
    tina_jason Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2012

    roberta-I am always burning the midnight oil these days.  Sleep doesn't come easy and my MO won't even listen to me when I suggest meds to help me sleep.  So I get online, read or watch TV.  I go back to work in 2 weeks so hopefully that will get better when I'm working.  my wound vac arrived today and its already hooked up and doing its job!  Thanks for the pep talk.  My mood was low because of the way this vac looks.  Its impossible to cover up and I have to keep it on me 24/7!!!  Can't wait to start rads!

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  • ro-berta
    ro-berta Member Posts: 134
    edited August 2012
    Good evening tina! another long night ahead??? I went to my M.D for another reasom ( R.O. not very approachable) to make story short I am not sleeping much either and never thought much about it. When the M.D asked me about my sleeping habits he showed some concern and said sleep was important at this time for healing physically and healing emotionally anyway he told me about an O.t.c  natural sleep ade from webbers called Melatonin ( have mega multiple drug allergies) anyways i will try it and see. I bet you will sleep a little better once you heal. If not at least you will be more comfortable hon. I think this " cancer stuff" takes as much out of us emotionally as it does physically  the physical part seems to heal quicker. the emotional part of will never be the same.( the emotioal part meaning our beings are just as scared as our bodies) Geeze aren,t I just full of shits and giggles tonight, hahahasorry. THINGS WILL GET BETTER!Wink
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  • Belinda977
    Belinda977 Member Posts: 381
    edited August 2012

    Tina, I wore a long shirt with a belt and looped the tubing through the belt.  Pulled the shirt down.  I did feel self conscience at first but I did get used to it.  Hang in there!  Like you said, it will help you so much.  You can also but this support tape (like to wrap your wrist or ankle) that is velcro like and and wrap it higher around your stomach to hide the tubing better.  Most thought I was just carrying a bag.  

     BTW, I take Melatonin and it works great!  I used to take Advil PM but you can take benydryl will on taxomifen so I needed to find something else before I start that.   

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  • Belinda977
    Belinda977 Member Posts: 381
    edited August 2012

    Tina, I wore a long shirt with a belt and looped the tubing through the belt.  Pulled the shirt down.  I did feel self conscience at first but I did get used to it.  Hang in there!  Like you said, it will help you so much.  You can also but this support tape (like to wrap your wrist or ankle) that is velcro like and and wrap it higher around your stomach to hide the tubing better.  Most thought I was just carrying a bag.  

     BTW, I take Melatonin and it works great!  I used to take Advil PM but you can take benydryl will on taxomifen so I needed to find something else before I start that.   

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  • Belinda977
    Belinda977 Member Posts: 381
    edited August 2012

    Tina, I wore a long shirt with a belt and looped the tubing through the belt.  Pulled the shirt down.  I did feel self conscience at first but I did get used to it.  Hang in there!  Like you said, it will help you so much.  You can also but this support tape (like to wrap your wrist or ankle) that is velcro like and and wrap it higher around your stomach to hide the tubing better.  Most thought I was just carrying a bag.  

     BTW, I take Melatonin and it works great!  I used to take Advil PM but you can take benydryl will on taxomifen so I needed to find something else before I start that.   

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  • Belinda977
    Belinda977 Member Posts: 381
    edited August 2012

    Tina, I wore a long shirt with a belt and looped the tubing through the belt.  Pulled the shirt down.  I did feel self conscience at first but I did get used to it.  Hang in there!  Like you said, it will help you so much.  You can also but this support tape (like to wrap your wrist or ankle) that  is velcro like and and wrap it higher around your stomach to hide the tubing better.  Most thought I was just carrying a bag.  

     BTW, I take Melatonin and it works great!  I used to take Advil PM but you can take benydryl will on taxomifen so I needed to find something else before I start that.  

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  • tina_jason
    tina_jason Member Posts: 147
    edited August 2012

    Roberta- You are so right about the emotional part being difficult.  These past few weeks while waiting for this to heal I have felt better than I felt in months physically but emotionally I've been a wreck.  I hate it!  When I started to cry today driving home from the doctor's I actually talked myself out of it.  I get tired of crying sometimes.  This is just another step in the healing process and just like chemo and surgery I just have to get through it!!!

    Belinda- Thanks for the tip.  I'm taking this thing camping this weekend.  It should be interesting!

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  • naan1004
    naan1004 Member Posts: 520
    edited August 2012

    Hello ladies, i'm here to join the rad party. Here's a little background about me. I finished chemo 5/22/12, had rad consult soon after, then had Lx on 6/8. Then my MO decided I need more chemo and I said, "what!" and couldn't stop crying from the shock. I cancelled my follow up with my RO thinking I need more chemo. Well turns out my old MO made the mistake of noting in my chart that I had an Mx and not a Lx, so thought I was not eligible for rads and being TN, no hormone treatments either. My much more observant New MO discovered this error and said I had more than enough chemo and the next step was rads, so here I am. I have my x-ray and tats today. Not sure if the game plan is gonna change any since I first met my RO prior to surgery and will follow up with him post chemo and surgery. Very nice to have u rad gals by my side during my rad journey!

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  • ro-berta
    ro-berta Member Posts: 134
    edited August 2012

    Good morning nan, Sounds like you have had a very hard time also. The story about your M.O left me speechless. Welcome aboard I am sure it will be much easier ( the treatment) now. From your little picture it looks like you have a very nice family! What would we do without them.

    Belinda it is nice to hear about the melatonin I was kinda hesitant to take it, I am glad it works!

    Tina, Camping! that will be so nice. Just to get away from everything. And if you feel like a crying jag I say go for it, it is part of the healing process and remember trees don,t talk!

     Well off to rads.. skin still intact and softly turning slightly pink, so far i am a luckey girl. I just hope some of this fluid build up would go! hahaha

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  • naan1004
    naan1004 Member Posts: 520
    edited August 2012

    Had my x-ray and tats today, it did hurt a little, the tats. My first rad will be on Mon at 1pm, not looking forward to it, but the sooner I start the sooner I finish. They have me there for 36 rads, minus Labor Day, whoopee! My girls (9 & 6 yrs old) will accompany me til school starts, the receptionist promised to keep an eye on them. The nurses seem nice, but I felt so lost didn't really know what to expect. I'm sure it will get better once I start getting into the flow of things.

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  • ro-berta
    ro-berta Member Posts: 134
    edited August 2012
    HI Naan, It is intimidating and scary at first but then in a few tratments you will be an "old Pro" It does get easier. You have been through chemo!!! and you will get through this, which will be so much easier. It must be tough doing this on your own but it is nice to see that the nurses and staff will keep an eye on your girls. Thank goodness for kids! I have 2 grandsons one is 6 mnths and I haven,t been able to hold him much or watch him (yet) since i had my suegery and I have a 8 yr. old me and him are what he calls a "team" He is intellectually challanged so he knows gramma has an" owie" on her boobie and can,t play much. He brought leggo,s over so we could play together and i wouldn,t have to move. The kids are deffinately our strength!Well off to rads i go. Take care Naan you and the girls enjoy your dayWink
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  • Kay-in-NH
    Kay-in-NH Member Posts: 26
    edited August 2012

    I'll be starting 6 1/2 weeks of radiation on Monday, August 13th.   So far, the initial CT scan, tattoo marks, and "test" run all went smooth.  The RO and his team are all very nice.  I've got my 100% Aloe gel and recommended lotions all set & ready to go.  The only thing I'm still unclear about is if there's a need for a light tissue self-massage afterward each daily RAD dose.  I seem to recall reading something about this, to keep the underlying tissues from becoming hardened.  Any thoughts, RAD buddies?

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

    Had 7 rads and today had physio: warm up and 3 movements, one is where you lie down and circle your arm to above your head. The woman came over and pushed my arm flat on the floor. I have had all my nodes removed and I have very good movement but not that good. The pain she caused I could have hit the bitch, now my hand is swollen and my arm feel worse than I went.



    Not a happy bunny

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  • rachel11
    rachel11 Member Posts: 99
    edited August 2012

    Hello everyone!

    Wow! Go on a short vacay and and there are these new rad sisters on board. Welcome to all of you!

    Started my rads on Wednesday, so I am now 3 down and 18 to go! The first session was a bit longer than all the appts because they need to take a couple of pics before starting. The sessions are so quick, once I get into the room I am in and out in seven minutes. I bought the Glaxal base cream and the non-aluminium deodorant (at $11 thank you very much!). So far, no real SE except for some pain in my breast after the first and second treatment. Did anyone else experience this?? I mentioned it to my technicians but they didn't seem to be too worried about it.

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