Winter RADS 2012 Club...Please come join the fun!

I started the 3 week protocol Sunday 11/18 and was on the Fall Rads thread so I overlap into December so here I am!!!

After two treatments I  must be official now because they gave me my swipe card to use when I get there everyday that signals their computer that I am there!

Terri

Sonya,

Bless your heart for having to go thru the chemo but happy its over for you. Radiation should be much easier on you after enduring chemo. Thanks for starting this thread.

Terri

Loneskier: I hope you can get that early slot...but if not and have to start off with another time, you can tell them about your wishes and when it frees up they will move you to it if they can. They were trying to accomodate me at my center but they start at 8:00 and the last one is 4:00. And welcome! I am a morning person too. I will keep my fingers crossed for all of us that the snow holds off for a while.

Heidismom: You are 1/3 of the way through. I just had 9/31 and picked up some literature from the nurse about lymphedema. I didn't know you could get that if they nuke the underarm where nodes were removed.

While I was there the machine crashed. We all had to wait for the repair. When I passed the monitor/camera there were about 6 guys in suits standing there and the nurse said they are getting a new machine since the one I am using has been there since they opened. Ummmmm....please tell me the machine is in good working order...Please? I hope to goodness they looked away when I had my treatment! When I passed them on the way out I saluted them and said, "hello boys!" My bad.

Loveof......you're funny, but when you're at your most vulnerable, (i.e. exposed in front of strangers!) it's best to become a comedian and put everyone at ease.    I'm sure your machine was fine, they must just go and go until they break down.  Lots of use I'd say.

And don't think I'm not aware that I'm 1/3 way thru, always counting and calculating!  After tomorrow, #13, that is half of the whole breast radiation completed.  Asked my husband last night if he could see the pink skin, and he was so funny, said I don't know, I never get to SEE them!  True, like that commercial for Directv.  I've become a closet dresser in my menopausal chubby 50's.

I didn't have lymph nodes removed since I was diagnosed with DCIS and it's not the protocol.  Once the pathology from lumpectomy showed a micro-invasion the docs discussed me at their weekly conference call and decided it was so tiny the odds were miniscule that lymph nodes involved and no need for more surgery.  They also said "maybe" to the question of whether I'll need hormone therapy.  I have to be mighty convinced to go in that direction.  Meeting with MO next week and I know he's ready to hand me a prescription for after rads and I want to TALK.  I'm just reaching the far side of menopause right now, so no to Tamoxifan.  Will peruse the threads on this topic.  I'm not young and I'm not old.  Almost 53.  So back to the lymphodema, hope you don't have an issue.  I think I've read here somewhere about massaging the area. 

Hi ladies,

I was in the fall gang and ended rads on 10/31.  I happened to check in back there and saw a request for someone "well endowed" to come on over so thought I would hop over here and see where I can help.   Looks like you were discussing bras.  I too was in predicament of trying to figure out a decent non underwire to wear during rads and after.  Someone suggested I try out Lane Bryant (I had never stepped foot in one before) but that was the place I found good support non underwire bras.  I bought a few.  As Rads progressed, I dropped the bra all together so that I could let air get to the underboob as much as possible.  I even bought a tall fan so that I could lie down and let the air hit that area.  I bought some mens tank top undershirts and wore those to treatment so I could put on the gel right after and not ruin any bra or shirt from the markers.  Figure I could just toss the men's shirts away if they got marker on them and they did.

  Remember to keep loobin the boob, get air to that underboob and ask your center for mepilex, I think it was called.  A foam that could be cut into strips and placed on underboob or underarm area to avoid rubbing.  I had 25 rads and 6 boosts and my skin held up good until the last week when I had peeling on the underboob and underarm area by SNB scar.    The saline solution from Tazzy also brought great relief..just felt so cool on the warm skin.  I also used aloe from trader joe's as well as radiagel supplied from my center.  Hope this helps!!  You will get through this!!!!!

Anyone getting a flu shot before starting rads?  My family doctor called and thinks I should have one prior.  Never had one before, but I guess there are some confirmed cases of influenza in my area.

Hi ladies!  I'm joining in as my first rads is this coming Monday, Nov. 26th.  I had a BMX but an involved lymp node and am triple negative, so here I am.  I've stockpiled Calendula and Biafine, and am hoping for the best!

Regarding the importance of nutrition, does anyone have any insight into what, exactly, we're supposed to be eating?  My physical therapist said a lot of protein was good, but I haven't heard any other specifics.  Also, I've read that a glass of red wine a day helps with radiation, but I know it's contraindicated for BC...any thoughts?

So nervous re: rads but I figure it's got to be easier than chemo!

Wishing you all a great day and a happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks, Cider! There is a PS in our area, Dr. Robert Ferguson, who does flaps. My PS does not, so after I'm done with rads, I'm going to schedule a consultation with him. From what I've read so far, I think a sgap might work best for me, but we'll see what he says. I'm not sure how to let my PS know I want a second opinion though. My RO suggested Dr. Ferguson, and I've heard some good thing about him.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Enjoy your day off rads!

Hi momtopiglet: I just finished #10 of 31 and also have no skin issues, just a bit pink. I don't have fatigue like I expected (so far) probably because I have been tired all of my life (anemic) and it feels normal. I haven't heard about Accuboost before. I hope you can get someone to make the Thanksgiving feast today! It must be a challenge to get any rest with 4 kids. Good luck!

fhny2012: Welcome! And happy Thanksgiving to you too. I hope that your rads go nice and smooth. It seems that you are prepared to "loob the boob" with your products. Good! Yes, it is definitely easier than chemo. However, root canal in a back alley is easier than chemo. I am 1/3 of the way through my rads, but it is the after effects of chemo that bother me more than the rads. My nails are falling off from the Taxotere 3 months after the last treatment! grrrr. I digress....anyway about the nutrition...are you a healthy eater now? It is always good to attempt to make right choices like fruit and veggies and protein (I choose peanut butter) while keeping the bad stuff to a minimum. MODERATION is the key. I haven't heard that about wine and rads....you're not making that up are you? Personnally I think Sam Adams Boston Lager helps with rads!!! But I am conducting that little study all on my own!

Loving and cvmarilyn: Welcome to you too! Lots of helpful information here to get you over your fears. The doctor just can't cover everything and there are personal things that we need answers to and you will be able to ask anything and everything here. It is scary and the emotions go haywire the first couple of days, but after that you will talk with the nurses and other patients and it is not scary at all. I hope your treatments go well too!

Outdamnedspot: (Just love that name) My husband and I got the flu shot this year for the first time. We volunteer at a hospital with our therapy dogs and this year that hospital was very serious about everyone getting it if they volunteer. If you don't you have to wear a surgical mask when visiting. We kind of felt maybe they know something we don't since they are so urgent about it. I think that you should ask your Radiation Oncologist though because I saw mine for the first time a week after I had the shot and he said after being on chemo he would not have advised it so soon. I told him (with a twinkle in my eye and a cocky smile) "I didn't ASK YOU!" He just laughed. My last chemo was August for crying out loud.

Aruba: How are you doing now? Thanks for coming back to check in on us!!!! That is how we all are getting through this...with the help of our sisters that went before us. Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

Hey all!  I'm here too.  I start on December 3.  I already have my tattoos have one more simulation to complete.  Just a heads up to those who haven't had their simulation yet...be mentally prepared to be photographed and tattoed.  I wasn't and it bothered me a lot.  I have peach fuzz!  My autistic 9 year old has taken to kissing my head.  It's very sweet and makes me happy.  I had been trying to hide my hair growth to surprise them at Christmas.  But, I think this is better.  My daughter is excited too.  The toddler has been rubbing my head all along .    I'm going to have 33 treatments.  I am also trying to keep my nails on my fingers due to Taxol.  Any advice on that??

solatino...even Target has sports bras.  You shouldn't have much trouble I would think.  Have a good Thanksgiving!

Welcome, BexH! I think it's really cute how your children are reacting to your peach fuzz. Very heartwarming indeed!

I think I've been on Facebook too much. I keep wanting to "like" posts!

Just got back from the sims appointment.  Lots of Sharpie and three tiny dots.  D-Day December 5!

Good thing I am past being embarrassed.  It was a tech in training, a young guy, who I'm sure was about 20,  doing the positioning and marking.  Double checked by the other staff.  Geesh!  

I started Tamoxifen on November 13 and no side effects...yet.  RO wants me to discontinue it so if there are any SEs it can be determined whether it is the med or the rads.  I'm worried about not taking it as it feels like a safety net.

Any thoughts?

Welcome internutz1. I hope it goes as smoothly as your chemo. Lucky girl! My chemo almost took me under. I go for 11 of 31 today. I am "loobing the boob" 2 times per day with Alra. Also, I am meeting with the lymphedema nurse next week since I had nodes removed during surgery.

Stay safe everyone during the Black Friday madness. I am not going to hunt for bargains this year.

Loveofcritters, Where did you find LE speciailist?  I don't have LE at presentbut once checked and did not find many in this area?