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

Hi all

Haven't posted in a while....but have been following all your posts.  Had 15 out of 28 today. Brought cookies for the rad techs at halfway mark yesterday.  Skin is hanging in there.....getting a little sensitive and slightly pink. I am using Miaderm cream and keeping my fingers crossed as I know effects continue for two to three weeks post rads. Still worried about losing the TE on the left side.

JPmom- I am also having mild nausea off and on 

Pam- I had a complete lymph node dissection as well and originally they were not going to radiate the axilla, but they did find some cancer cells outside the nodes and lymphatic vessels (in the axilla) so now I am having rads to the axilla, supraclav, and chest wall as well, even with the BMX. Each case is so different.

Hope everyone is doing okay and looking forward to a little break for the weekend.

Hugs to all

Hi all! Had #8 of 33 today. No problems with skin (so far), used aloe Vera everyday 2x a day - after rad and before bed. I had X-ray once a week too and follow up with RO once a week too. I had blood work done the first day of my rad, not sure if again ?



Jpmom, I get nausea too, right after rads and it goes away in an hour or so. I get headaches once a while too I think from rads?



During rads I can't move my head but on the corner of my eye I can see red light goes on when rad starts, so I counted.. 1st and 2nd 15 sec each, 3rd 30 sec. All three different positions the machine moves.



My techs are awesome always makes me comfortable. My nurse who in charge of everything, such as if I have questions, concerns, etc. also is soo nice with me. I see my RO once a week.



Luckily it is only 5 minutes drive!!



Next Thursday is my 3rd herceptin (every 3 weeks for a year)



Hope everyone is doing good! I say this is doable, (so far)



Hugs to all!

Pamelahope - today was my first treatment. 27 more to go!!

 Congratulations RayRay!!  

Are you finished with your active treatment now?  

7/36 and all is well.

Welcome Pat, Pamela, and PBrain (three P's!)

Pat - My RO also prescribed Mometasone - I use that right after "treatment", then I use Aloe at night.  It's been working really well, I am on #14 today and am just a little pink but that's about it.

Pamela - I am having the full breast and axilla area radiated .  I only have two zaps at about 10-15 seconds each.  Tried counting them like 1 alligator..2 alligator.. but my pacing with that kind of thing is terrible so it's anywhere in between those times!

Ray-Ray - Congratulations on your last treatment!  YAY! Go celebrate this weekend!

I hope everyone has a great weekend - I'm sure we can all use the break!  We traveled out of town the last two weekends and I'm a tad burned out from all of that and this, so I'm just looking forward to some time at home.  And some sleep.  Taking out mom for her b'day on Sat, but that's about it! 

Bonlee, It sounds like the fear was worse than the treatment.

Thank you for your advice everyone. I may get a second opinion on areas of radiation.

Everyone sounds like they are doing good so far.

For those experiencing nausea, I got that after my PET scan. I think it was the radiation. Did you have that too?

Pam

Three down, thirty to go.

Junif- i was told that if I DON'T see the doc once each week; insurance usually won't pay

so that might make that time waster a lil more tolerable for you?

i'm with jeannie57 tho i have 6 til i'm done! gals; it isn't so bad.....

a few days ago, my nipple started getting tender- i mentioned to my nurse and she gave me a few sample tubes of aquaphor -it is greasy-she said just put it on the nipple area as generoulsy as i want. i'm still using the other gel on the rest of my boob, chest area and the top of my shoulder and back and it really is keeping my skin in good shape! back to  the tender nipple-i am wearing a tank top under my blouses instead of a bra ,,,feels a bit strange going to work braless but they don't know and wouldn't care!

rayray..congrats and whooooooooooo hoooooooooooo !

enjoy your weekend everyone! rainy here in northern ohio but doable!!!

Hey everyone, Amy here.  I'm new to these boards as well and am starting radiation tx on Monday!  A little nervous, but will be happy to be that much closer to being done w/ cancer tx (...knock on wood), as I'm sure everyone is!  Wishing everyone a nice, stress-free weekend!  

I really wanted to do the Mammosite, but my cancer was too large.  

I just finished my first week; 5 down, 15 to go (one of the European/Canadian protocols).  I am so excited I am 1/4 done...yay!  My twin sis sends me a cute or funny or sentimental text every morning as I'm arriving for my treatment.  Considering she lives in Australia and it's 2am her time, that is pretty darn nice. 

So far, no side effects except my breast felt warm one day  I did have tattoos, but they are tinier than my freckles;I really don't know how they even find them.  I don't have any markers or stickers yet.  As for headaches, I usually get a very nasty two day migraine once a month; the frequency usually increases when my body is stressed.  I haven't had the headaches yet, thank goodness.

I use Calendula every morning and night.  I apply Aloe 2-4 times during the day. I add 2oz of Aloe to my Orange Juice every morning (the kind of Aloe you drink) and I am taking more vitamin C and E than usual.

I am feeling good today.

My RO's office has a big basket of Aquaphor samples on the way in/out, but it has lanolin in it, which I don't use. They also have a big box of aloe packets, but I took one today and its got fragrance, artificial colors, and preservatives in it. Yuck.



Before I started rads I was lubing with Ultra Repair Cream once a day, after showering. Now that I've started rads, I use that after showering, then again right before bed. Also, Aloe Plus gel right after rads. When I start getting pink, I'll switch to Dream Cream, it's heavier and more moisturizing.

I will see my RO once a week, also, but she said it's to check my skin.  Idk, whatever.  She did come in and look at my skin right after my second rads, when I was having my CT scan redone.  

Well here I am, 4.5 wks after my last chemo and still struggling. Supposed to start my first rads on the 2nd but was postponed due to my side effects from last chemo. Dr. wanted to give me an extra week to recover so I start this coming tuesday now. My Gp said its going to be so  much easier, i replied I'm actually looking forward to it, bet you don't hear that often lol. jpmomof3 I'm so with you on this emotional roller coaster, I know its not going to be bad but I have the wors anxiety ever. So glad to hear you've had your first and all went well.

I was so positive and upbeat during the first five chemo and then I just lost it, which is completely normal. Working hard to be upbeat but like I said working really hard. Joined a Circle of Strength support group that really helps. Love this forum too! 5 weeks to go...yes there is  light at the end of the tunnel. Going to be an awesome Christmas...so grateful.

xo

My chemo infusion nurse kept asking me if I was going to get the mammosite radiation, almost pushing me towards it, but I think it's only offered for women over 45?  I'm 37, so I didn't qualify.