Fall 2012 Rads girls......come on in!

Going for my 1st zap in an hour.  Looking forward to getting this underway and see an end to active treatments.
MO said corn starch was acceptable to replace deodorant (NOT IN MY BOOK!!) so this morning I liberally dusted baby powder under there... I had forgotten it was corn starch based.  Thank gawd I'm not doing this in the heat of the summer!  Will be sure to ask about Tom's tho... I looked at it when I was in the store over the weekend but wasn't sure.

So Grateful, does that mean you are lubing Bob the Boob?!?! 

Aruba--leaving in about 30 minutes for #2, prone is okay.  I think it is probably more uncomfortable than supine, but I feel it will be worth it and it doesn't last very long so it's easy to put up with.  I have been getting headaches-your face is in that doughnut thing and it gets hot (I redirect my thoughts to walking on the beach!!).  I'm not sure if the headaches are from tension or not.  This last week has been horrible emotionally and I feel I'm coming out of it..feeling a little more positive about things, so I'll see how the headaches go.  I had about a 2 hour session on Tuesday for the setup which the Doctor changed after doing another CAT scan.  I was really sorry to hear about your job, but your plan to relax sounds good!!

I have been informed that natural honey is a good soother for radiation burns ?    I have no idea about it, but will ask my RO when I see him next Thursday.   I have heard about it for burns (not radiation ones) but.... ???   I dunno there's so many 'natural' things out there I am always a little sceptical about these things, but always prepared to check them out.

I am lubing the boob (or least the chest as my boob is no longer - but lubing the chest doesn't rhyme) - Grateful thanks for that expression - love it, with Glaxal Base as recommended by my RO.   I dont start rads until Oct 4. 

Xtina et al: I feel you all. Totally.

You know what they don't tell you about this whole breast cancer thing is how much TIME it consumes. Besides the bald-faced terror and anxiety, it sucks up so much time. With appointments, treatments, boob-loobin', recovering, shopping for a bra that isn't painful, filling out paperwork, and on and on and on.

Hi everyone,

I have just joined this group and thought I might mention that my RO recommended Miaderm for my skin, starting one week before rads and continuing two weeks after. I am at 28 of 35 and have just started boost treatments. My skin is red and a bit warm but putting on Miaderm 3 times a day seems to have kept the skin ok. It's a mix of calendula, aloe vera and hyaluronate developed by oncs especially for our radiated skin. I think it is worth trying, even at $25 a tube. I hope not to get blisters / sores as some of you have experienced.

Went for the Tatoo's today.   Because I have prior tatoo's they asked if I minded if they wrote on me...so on the old ones there are big X's and the word OLD.   It was just to help them in the setup.   Got home...discovered that they wrote and drew alot.   Was funny some came off on my bra...but now that I am trying to wash it off it is staying on.

One of you mentioned counting backward from 300...I tried that while the machine did its thing to line up everything...tried prayer and also tried thinking of being on the beach.    But must say I was getting anxious as at one point the woman left the room and told me to stay still as they needed to check one more thing.   It seemed like 10 minutes.....and being by myself my anxiety was increasing by the minute.

They did get some info from me and one thing was a number to reach me during the day in case the machine broke down.   The way they asked it seems like something that does happen from time to time.    I remember one of you mentioning in a prior post.

So I go back the 9th for the simulation and start treatment on October 10th.  Will be finished about the time my (step) great grandson is scheduled to be born.   (Yes I am too young to have great grand children...but my husband was 15 years older than me.)   They know he will be a boy...and is being named after my late husband.    So hopefully it will be something to keep me going during treatment.

Was thinking since we are being radiated.....those that finish around Halloween could do something with all those items that glow in the dark.

Hey RayRay,

 I keep the emotion tamped down, but sometimes when Im' lying on that board and watching those machines rotate over me, I feel so defeated. So helpless. 

 It's not a rational feeling, but I feel all exposed and beat up. I know it's all for the good, etc. etc., but I think any human being on the face of the earth would feel emotional when getting radiated on our exposed boob day after day after day. It sounds normal to me. And there ain't no cure for normal.:-)  

We'll get through this. Eight down, 27 to go for me. Election Day is my last rad! 

Ok.  I was on the table for about 45 minutes today all for 30 seconds of radiation.  Does that really do anything? 30 seconds in the microwave doesn't even heat up a cup of coffee!  So happy the numbers were good and I could get started today.  I forgot to ask them when exactly I am finished but if I go for 6 1/2 weeks then November 12 is 33 treatments.  10 days before Thanksgiving and 11 before my birthday.  I think that's a pretty good present

Hi RayRay,

Miaderm is available at the pharmacist, no script required. I get it from my hospital's pharmacy as it is a few dollars cheaper. And I really do believe it is why I haven't suffered a bad skin reaction. If oncologists developed it after studying our skin reactions, then I think they might have the right idea. You can also look it up on their website for more info. And best of all it is not greasy.

I count the seconds on each rad treatment ; one cat & dog, two cat & dog, etc and at the end of 25 secs it's over. I can put up with that for the hope that it is zapping those little beggars inside me. It is a lot easier than chemo when they were pumping the equivalent of mustard gas through my veins. 

Hope it gets better for you.

I too, have 6 zaps at each session.  I stare at the red light above that they used to line me up and then hold the button down with my hand that shows breathing apparatus all is well... and wait with that scuba gear in my mouth and nose plug on (what a lovely sight I must be!).  Then I hear.."take a deep breath...and hold".  I think my longest hold is not even 15 seconds.  When I practiced with machine I held for 30 seconds but this does not ever seem like that long. Just finished #8,,no SE yet.....Have a great day all!

Patti - love the glow in the dark idea!  I just might use it!

I can't get over how fast your treatments are going JPMom.  It seems like yesterday you were getting mapped and tatted.  Hope mine go as fast.  I called today to find out when the last day is expected to be and I got 11/15.  I just needed to have that goal in mind, ya know?  
Has anyone else used their iPod while in treatment?  They have a counter in the room that I put my purse on but I would have killed to have my own music instead of OPERA!!!  That alone made me naseaus lol  I was fine with what was playing when I went in but the cd must have changed over and next thing I know there was this caterwauling (Please forgive me if there are opera lovers out there?  I am not one of them and I have a very varied taste in music.)  Luckily it was very near the end of the session so I didn't have to endure it for very long.

Did 4 this morning. No SE except headache. I wasn't told to hold my breath !? Is it supposed to be that way? Eeek!



Jpmom you did great! And you looking great too



Heading to south of Florida and stay for weekend kinda of mini vac! Much needed!



My nurse told me my RO will see me on Monday after radiation and every Monday to check me out to make sure I'm ok . So far I'm good I put aloe Vera everyday 2 x



Hope everyone have great weekend!

Unless you are doing prone position or have that scuba gear stuff on you can breath normally.  I find that i hold my breath anyway.  Just some insane hope that it will damage my lungs less...  17% of my lung is affected by this...grrrr

rn4babies- My Oncotype was 25- very close to your 27.  Well into the "grey" area to warrant chemo as an added insurance against recurrance.  I'll take every bit of insurance offered against recurrance!  Good luck to you with your rads!