Summer 2012 RADS HANG OUT

Congrats Kim, Karen, and Taraceta!  It is such a great feeling to be done!

Diane - Hang in there.  I also had a cold during rads and found I had to have a cough drop in my mouth while on the table to keep me from coughing and thus moving. 

Taraceta:  Congrats!!!!!

I'm in that final home stretch as well.  Completed my 21st (out of 33) sessions on Friday, and have 7 more full chest/armpit sessions, followed by 5 boosts.  RO was using a bolus on me for the first 19 sessions, but I managed to develop a nice itchy rash on my chest area (that received quite a bit of sun in my teens and 20's), so he stopped with the bolus.  I've been using Domeboro 4 times a day.  It's basically Epson Salts on steriods.  I soak a washcloth in it, then lay it on my chest for about 15 minutes.  It's done wonders.  This is followed by a good slathering of Miaderm.  I didn't think my skin could actually improve during this process, but it actually has since I started the Domeboro.  My underarm area is very sore and dark where they are hitting the nodes.  Have pretty much given up wearing a bra except when totally necessary (i.e. leaving the house).  I'm working from home right now so am able to spend most the day in just a loose t-shirt.  I've also had to stop working out since sweating was just making it worse.

I read someone else on this board that radiation is like a marriage.  The first 2 weeks are the honeymoon period where everything's easy and you say to yourself, "yeah, I can do this". Then, reality sets in and you soldier through the next 2 weeks.  The last 2 weeks are when you decide you want a divorce.

I'm definitely ready for a divorce. 

Sharon has 6 more zaps to go.  She's sore and itchy in "the blasting zone".  Her left faboob is about 1/2 again bigger than the right one.  The skin color ranges from fire truck red to dark brown to almost black.   She has been working some and is running on her energy reserves.

I will be so VERY GLAD when all of this is done.  I got a double dose of the "gotta fix things" trait.  I'm a guy (dose 1) and an engineer (dose 2)...and I can't fix it.  All I can do is to make things easier for her...which I'm trying very hard to do.

 She too is an engineer.  In her case, it's nuclear engineering.  She understands exactly what's going on, but she says it shocks her when she thinks about it--that she never dreamed that she would have first hand knowledge of the effects of high energy X-rays on human tissue.

 Sharon gets on the site sometimes, but rarely posts.. I wish she would.

 Eric

Eric:  Thanks for posting.  Give hugs to Sharon for us.  You need to remind her we are not a bad group!  

Raelen:  I loved yoru analogy of radiation.  It's so right on!  

Belinda:  I will be doing the happy dance for you on Monday.  My last treatment was on Friday and it was a very, very emotional day for me.  Totally unexpected. Just giving you advanced warning.... 

eric ; it is so right on when we feel helpless in regard to "fixing" things! sharon is lucky to have you on the journey!

my left (tx) boob is pinkening up...have completed 9 of my 34 so finally 1/4 thru...

Karen, I fear it's going to be emotional...I get weepy just thinking about it.  The technicians have been outstanding.  Bought some cookies for them to say thanks!

DONE DONE DONE.  ...and I did cry.  I guess we just get on with business while it's happening.  It was a mix of relief, joy and stress relief.  

Boost area is doing the yucky, moist yellow peeling.  Doctor prescribed silvadene and I have to debrid with a mix of perioxide and water.  A little bit of an owie with my open incision but I will deal with with it.  

Cross posting this so forgive me if you read this more than once.   Who's next to finish? 

I know it was weird today not having to drive to treatment!  I think my boss was happy that I didn't have a 2 hour "lunch"!   

I think several are very close to finishing and I'll be waiting at the finish line for you doing a happy dance! 

Belinda:  CONGRATS!

Kim:  I hear ya.  It was wierd, but nice! 

KCB: COngrats...You are on the home stretch.

Congrats Belinda and onvacation! How wonderful.

My first rads is tomorrow. I'm a little afraid, just getting my energy back from chemo.

Summer51: Boosts are just radiation to the area where the cancer was.  A lot quicker than the whole breast.  It really didn't affect the breast anymore than the other treatments.

I am glad you were able to be with your daughter.  How's she doing? 

Kim,

Thanks for the info on the boosts.  So glad to hear you have finished and you are able to head to Florida. Where will you be staying? We go the Panhandle in Panama City Beach.  Love the Gulf.

Enjoy each and every second and have more than one adult beverage.  You've earned it.

I plan on taking the same precautions you mentioned. If it's too much, I'll just stay inside and read a book.  It will be great to get away. Just need to make sure my daughter will be ok if we get away for a week.

Have a great day.

Diane