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

Almost Done!

Today I had my first boost, then the weekly meeting with the RO. I was expecting 8 boost treatments, but he has changed it to only 5 boosts, so I only have 4 to go. I have gotten through radiation pretty easily. Quite a bit of fatigue, and I made real adjustments in my daily schedule so I would neither wear myself out or feel too frazzled. I had less than a week of open, moist skin under the breast, but that is closed and healing now.

After the techs suggested (as many of you have) letting the area get some air, I got my trusty Sharpie and put on an old sweatshirt, laid down in the position that would move the boob up enough to expose the troubled area, and used the Sharpie to "tattoo" the sweatshirt to mark the "treatment field" where I wanted air. Then I cut a flap in the sweatshirt, so I could air out the underboob while still keeping my arm and shoulder warm.

Today at my first boost, they outlined the area of the boost with the Sharpie. I think it looks like a fallen-oven snowman and I'm thinking of adding to the drawing with a different color Sharpie to add eyes, hat, scarf, mouth, and maybe buttons down the front before tomorrow's appointment.

I'm getting a little frisky here at the end of treatment.

My RO says I won't have a mammogram until May, which will be one year from the mammogram that started this whole thing. He warned me that they may want additional views and such at the May mammogram because it will be the new baseline, so I don't have to freak out when they read the films and ask for more.

heidismom--

I don't know why the boosts were shortened, When he was updating the person who schedules his appointments (changed my visit with him next week from Thursday to Wednesday), he said that he had "changed the fractions."

I decided -- totally on my own and in the absence of scientific evidence -- that electon radiation, like that used for the boosts, doesn't cause the same fatigue that the regular radiation causes. I may have to drink more caffiene to make this "true." Hey, it's worth a try!

The texts are precious!

Oh I love your texts from sons too, cowpower. They do help us keep it real, don't they?

Virginia, hope all goes well with the AI.  I am starting mine, Arimidex on 1/1.   Had my first rads boost today, 6 more to go.  Not a moment too soon for certain areas of skin to get a rest, mainly where bra rubs under arm.  I'm toasted and ready to be done.  NOT looking forward to hormone therapy AT ALL, but dr and nurses all say I'll be fine. How do they know that???   Really, the message from MO and RO was very serious:  we know it seems like overkill for the tiny micro-invasion you had, but a recurrence is much more difficult to treat, so much more aggressive.  And they tell me I'm young at 53, want to live many more.   So I'll give it a go!  But first going to enjoy the holidays with family and eat sugar and then really clean up my act in the New Year.  Exercise is already good, but I'm still 25 lbs heavier than I should be, and yet very strong underneath the flub!   Has your skin improved slowly or quickly?  How about emotionally?  

You have Good news all around! My fatigue really hasn't been bad until last couple days but I've been overdoing it, I know. Son home from college, tree decorated tonight, good distractions from my own situation and the horrible shooting in CT today. My heart breaks for the families.

dventi: How do you feel now about doing the Canadian protocol after chemo? I would like to do the shorter program, but my RO is reluctant to do it after chemo -- she says there's not enough data to recommend it. She thinks there might be additional side effects that don't occur when doing IMRT without chemo. Obviously a sample of one isn't conclusive, but any info I can get would be helpful.

Thanks!