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

hello ladies, 

I wanted to speak about my sentiments also , concerning the radiotherapy.........I am OK, comfortable ,may I say comfortable?; with the hospital/doctors( all mans)/technicians ( all young mans) . maybe because they are very professionals? their attitude really helps  and make me comfortable. I trust them all( I had all my treatments in the same hospital)

I don't know, but I hate cancer , so I love each treatment than helps to kill the cancer.......

just the traffic is a bit uncomfortable...every day 2 h at least

I wish all the best for every body. we'll finish and we'll be OK with the new life 

@Virginia - I go to Carle in Champaign. I see that is where you live. Where do you get your treatments?

@Laurie - I have 3 kids and not much family help unfortunately.  The kids are all too involved (i.e. basketball, Scholastic Bowl, etc) to miss school and they have managed to keep their straight A's through all this, so I am trying to keep their lives as "normal" as possible.  If it gets too much, I'll find a way to stay an occasional nite in a hotel.  My work is flexible and I can take it with me, so at least that's something.   How far are you into the treatments?  Is the fatigue taking its toll? I managed to drive myself too and from all the chemo treatments and all the doctor visits over the last 8 mos. I'm not very comfortable asking for help, but I will have to ask friends to drive me if need be, I guess.  One day at a time, or its too overwhelming........

Naddine,  I am 15 treatments out of 20.  Due to my commute. my doctor offered me one of the Canadian/European protocols of higer doses for shorter time (four weeks instead of 6.5 weeks).   I am so appreciative of this protocol which makes things "doable".

I've not had a problem with the severe fatigue yet.  After driving back and forth to radiation and work, attending a conference and going on a couple of mile hike yesterday, I feel lazy today, but that's it.  However, I don't have children to care for which is far more energy-consuming than my schedule.  I've always driven myself; from what I've heard, radiation is much easier than chemo and you should be able to drive yourself to your appointments...so that may add some relief.   I don't know the age of your kids, but maybe instead of asking your friends to drive you, they can step in an watch your kids for an evening which may allow you to stay overnight a  2-3 times.  If you could stay overnight even two nights in a row, you may find things easier....I hope

Hi Fall Rads Ladies: (some of whom I know well from other threads) just wanted to pop in and say how much I highly recommend saline soaks. My RO said 3-4 times a day, in particular once the skin starts to show reaction. Once the skin begins to break down that's all they would let me use aside from a barrier cream. My skin held up very well and healed so fast.

I DID find I got tired- not chemo tired, but sleepy so that I really looked forward to bedtime. I finished two and a half weeks ago, and feel mostly back to normal now (ha)

All the best wishes to you all as you go through this phase.

KCB, thanks for the encouragement and great to "see" you again!

Hi Tina,

I was nodding the entire time I read your post. It made me feel much better. Like I'm not crazy. 

I, too, am coming to the end...sort of. We also get to worry about this after every mammogram. I feel so many conflicting emotions and I am a little afraid to feel them all because I have to hang tough and get through the final 12 treatments.

I don't want to do this anymore. Part of me is kicking and screaming as I go in and do this day after day. I'm also tired of sitting there with my breast exposed and pretending like it's perfectly normal for three strangers to stare and draw on my breast.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Today I feel...weird. Tired in a strange way. Not so much sleepy as just very low energy. I should really clean the house, but ...bleh. I'm sure this is normal but I just hate it. I want my energy back.

Junif, I'm so sorry. How awful for you. 

For what it's worth. Today would have been my husband's 56h birthday. He died of a heart attack while we were on vacation on July 20, 2011. I was diagnosed with breast cancer a year later. He and I were married almost 21 years.

Like you, I'm trying to hang in there and look all cheerful and happy to be there tomorrow and its the LAST  thing I feel like doing. 

I may have to reward myself with breakfast out or something. Literally bribe myself to go. 

Junif- so sorry to hear about your mom. It is so painful to lose your mom, you are so vulnerable now also. Mom's are so important and one of your biggest fans!



My mom died between my chemo and rads- has made it so much harder. I just want to talk to her sometimes.

Oh Kim--I'm so sorry about your husband.  My Mom was 91 and had a wonderful life, so I shouldn't complain. Your life was interrupted and is so unfair. Oh and bribing yourself--I do it everyday in order to get through!

Nkb--I'm really sorry about your Mom.  Sometimes, no one understands like a Mom.

Well, I guess we all get mentally prepared for Monday...here's to bribery!

Hugs everyone... such heartache.   You are such strong women.

Hi ladies,



I have been sooo busy. Finally got to catch up. S many new people going through this. So many hard courses. Hugs to all



I am done with 29 and have four more to go. They are just boosts to my lumpectomy site though. Thank goodness. I am not having all that much trouble with what is left of my little booby. But have itching and redness on the back of my shoulder and in my axilla. The axilla is just plain irritated. But they don't have to radiate those sites any more. The end is in site. Hard to believe that this nine month ordeal is almost done. Just tamoxifen and monitoring.



Kill cancer.

Junif- so sorry to hear of your mom

Nkb- hugs to you as well

Kim- sorry your husband passed away at such a young age..xo

You are all strong women. We are all strong women. 

I also feel emotionally drained...found myself emotionally eating tonight for the first time in ages (chocolate) and it's because it's Sunday night and I don't want tomorrow to come and start the rads roller coaster again... although I only have 3 left.  However, my skin ,esp base of neck is very red and raw.  Hoping it holds up.

Although, I'll be happy to be done, not sure how to transition forward to a 'normal' life now. Anyone else finding this?

Hugs to all as we start a new week....

My RO says the skin heals fast 2-3 weeks. I have 4 more to go. I am not sure what I will do with the time. I have a MO appointment in a couple of weeks. I suppose I will get some kind of imaging and then would really like to her the words "you are cancer free" this has been such a long horrible year. It is hard and wonderful to believe my last treatment is on Thursday. Then it is healing time. I am sure the energy levels will take weeks or months to recover. The hair years. If ever. I am scarred and have fear of recurrence and lymphedema to live with but man I plan on living.

Junif- I am so so sorry to hear about your mom.  My thoughts are with you.  Hugs. 

Hi Rads buddies! I've been checking this site pretty frequently since my diagnosis in July, but this is the first time I'm posting. I'm currently undergoing radiation to my left chest wall (down to my last 9 treatments- woohoo!), and I'm having the fatigue and skin "burns", but I'm also having some shortness of breath. My Rads onc. said that I shouldn't have that, but I do. I've been keeping pretty active (walking, taking my dog on hikes, going to work, etc), which I know I'm supposed to do. I just don't know if this is something anyone else has ever experienced...?

I've been so thankful for this community of women throughout my diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes I just come on here to read comments so that I know I'm not alone in what I'm feeling.

Lots of love and healing to all.