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

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  • melmcbee
    melmcbee Member Posts: 1,119
    edited March 2013

    Hey Meg Im in your backyard. lol. My bs was Dr Agnes David and my ps is Dr Desai both from Jax. Good luck on your first day. It will go by fast.

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  • melmcbee
    melmcbee Member Posts: 1,119
    edited March 2013

    Queenkong, Im sorry about the gastric reflux you are experiencing. I took my chemo stomach meds for a long time after chemo and I also took either prilosec, pepcid, zantac or tagamet which are over the counter everyday. My prescription phenergan or compazine everyday. It helped tremendously with the burning. If your mo or ro approves you might try aloe juice. It has an awful taste but if you refrigerate it than it isnt so bad. I would hold my nose and gulp it down. You just need a small amount like a coffee cup size. I use to drink it years ago for an ulcer and I believe it healed it. I hope you feel better.

    Oh and Meg, I love your hair too.

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  • Megroy23
    Megroy23 Member Posts: 32
    edited March 2013

    Girl this is my hair before chemo! I look like Uncle Fester right now! Lol... But we will both have our hair back before we know it and although I swear I will never complain of a bad hair again EVER, I probably will during a FL summer night! Just keep pics you like in view and remind yourself that this is temporary. I've always been the person who looks for what people are on the inside but I don't feel the need to deny I miss my hair! Best of luck! Meg

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  • Megroy23
    Megroy23 Member Posts: 32
    edited March 2013

    OMG... Don't you love DR David! I drive from Mandarin to use her because all other docs recommend her! I'll wait at least three months after rad ends to talk to Dr Desai about recon... I can wait, lol! I have to go back and read your history now- I hope you are doing great and man is Fernandina beautiful! Xoxo

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  • Megroy23
    Megroy23 Member Posts: 32
    edited March 2013

    Thank you Lisa, most of my siblings are still in Chicago and I was just there in Dec - not for a fun reason but its always good to see all my snow bird family members! Best to you!

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  • melmcbee
    melmcbee Member Posts: 1,119
    edited March 2013

    Hi Meg, Yes I love Dr. David and all of the other doctors are in love with her. However her beauty and kindness is she is extremely smart and we waited 1 month to find any documentation to back me not getting an axillary dissection but there wasnt any with my history. She didnt want to do the dissection but she felt it was my life if she didnt. Dr. Desai put the tissue expanders in during my mastectomy from dr david. They work well together. You and I are the same age. Im 43 too. I also work at Baptist Medical Center Nassau in Fernandina. I hope everything went well for you today.

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  • Megroy23
    Megroy23 Member Posts: 32
    edited March 2013

    So are you doing rad through FROG drs or where? I'm using Dr. Ackerman, he didn't think I needed node dissection since it was originally in my supra clavicular and Dr David couldn't operate there anyway so I pray this rad does its job and gets it all! I had such a great response to the six rounds of TAC! So do you know Beth, the baptist beaches cancer patient advocate? Wonderful!! I did my chemo at Baptist South / Dimascio...very satisfied w team of drs and that is key as I'm sure we all agree!

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  • Lisa1637
    Lisa1637 Member Posts: 101
    edited March 2013

    First day of week 2 and there's definitely a suntan going on (not quite a sunburn).  Yet nothing lotion worthy, no pain/itch yet.  Stickers have been replaced by tatoos.  That center one caught me by surprise...OUCH!!!

    The cafeteria in the hospital actually has our very important anti-inflammatory...FLAXSEEDS!!

    Best to everyone!!

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  • daisymom46
    daisymom46 Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2013

    Finished last of 36 treatments today!  woo hoo!  happy dance all over the kitchen to kelly Clarkson's 'stronger' song. It has been such an encouragement to read ALL  of these posts.  My skin got very red, but only a few tiny blisters.  Just used Aloe gel from Trader Joes and another cream.....whose name I can't remember!  nausea went away after regular treatments and just before boosts started.  hang in there all!  Knowledge is power!  Keep asking those questions...to each other here and to the RT's and RO's!  Was supposed to start Tamoxifen tomorrow, but thought it would be more appropos to begin on April Fool's Day!  lol :)  Congrats to the others who finished this last week!  You did it!

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  • CarolynVM
    CarolynVM Member Posts: 137
    edited March 2013

    QueenKong, I got vicodin which I took at twice the recommended dosage.  (It wasn't a very strong dosage.)  I didn't dare drive so I got rides to radiation and slept most of the rest of the day.  The pain was horrible for only about a week and I am SO glad to have had the good stuff.

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  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited March 2013

    Daisymom46 - Congrats 36 rads wow yippee! Yes, Stronger. Very encouraging.

    Im new to rads 8/28+5. How many boosts did you have and how long are boosts...1 minute 3 minute? This is such a mind game to hold still. Lets us know how skin recovers in a few wks.

    Thanks for the encouraging info and April Fools sounds good to me for RX:))

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  • Lisa1637
    Lisa1637 Member Posts: 101
    edited March 2013

    Congrats DaisyMom!!  You did it!!!!!!

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  • daisymom46
    daisymom46 Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2013

    RMlulu ~  You will be there before you know it. Cool I had 28 regular treatments and 8 boosts.  Boosts were only 30 seconds or less!  I had tattoos applied for regular boosts because my skin was irritated under stickers, but for boosts I only had stickers....some raw skin when I peeled them off yesterday, but am sure it will heal soon.

    Lisa1637 - thanks for the congratsSmile

    I sucked on a breath mint every day just before going in.  It helped me not to panic and to lie still.  Here's a question.....my body odor on my radiated side was.....well.....horrible during rads treatment.  Smelled very different....kind of burnt you may say.  Did anyone else experience this?  Seemed to have lessened when boosts began. 

    Also spoke with another nurse re: nausea (doctors and 2 out of 3 nurses said my constant nausea just couldn't be from rads!) this nurse said in her experience that very large busted women (of which I am NOT blessed...very small) who get radiated on the right side (same as me) have experienced nausea during their treatment. interesting

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  • CarolynVM
    CarolynVM Member Posts: 137
    edited March 2013

    Daisy, thank you for sharing the armpit odor information.  My arm pit smelled ghastly!  I used either Tom's of Maine or a crystal deoderant.  Both of them worked fine at the beginning although the crystal was best.  Toward the end I could barely stand the smell and I couldn't wear a shirt more than a few hours before it had to be dumped into the laundry.  I had my last boost last Friday and still get a whiff of the nasty smell but nothing like it was during the actual treatment.  It was horrible!

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  • daisymom46
    daisymom46 Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2013

    CarolynVM - thanks for making me feel better to know it's not just ME!! :)  I'm familiar with 'Tom's' deodorant.  Please explain 'crystal' deodorant.  I am not familiar with that kind.

    I have taken a lot of photos at rads and last week when I took a photo with 2 of my fav radiation therapists I thought I was going to knock them down with my.....not-so-fresh scent!!!  They must be used to it....or just their usual sweet selves....didn't say a peep.  Even when I did!   Bless them. Can't wait to be smelling good again,lol

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  • daisymom46
    daisymom46 Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2013

    Fight4two - two of my stickers got repositioned about one week after I started.  The RO came in and they discussed it.  I had 11 stickers.  I asked for the tattoos and received 9.  they wouldn't tattoo the ones on my 'belly' that helped them 'line me up'.  They put more stickers (6) when they did the boosts. and they made a lead cut out to go onto the unit that attaches to the linear accelerator for my boosts so that only the area they want gets...'boosted'  the stickers there kind of got 'baked' on.  for those that did not get tattoos, did they get changed regularly during tx?    Asking lots of questions eased my anxiety.  I also felt better when I saw those certificates on the wall (they are somewhere public..........look for them) that helped me know they are trained professionals.  1 RT made me very uncomfortable (was not acting professional) and I did let my RO know about it....was blessed to not have that RT again but don't know if it was because I said something or not.  For those few minutes each day..........it is all about us ladies, so be sure to communicate with a supervisor or RO if needed (as someone else has already mentioned)

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  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited March 2013

    Hey daisymom46 & CarolynVM



    I have not shaved my left armpit since March 1...ugh. But I do rub aloe all over my left side to prepare for rads. The aloe seems to cover a multitude of scents...because there is no odor on the left side:) which is good because I sure could not stand to be with myself after surgery.

    RTs ask each day if I have any questions so I feel like I'm in good hands...counting down!

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  • CarolynVM
    CarolynVM Member Posts: 137
    edited March 2013

    Daisy, the crystal deoderant is a solid block of white mineral crystal that you get wet and then rub across your underarm.  It can also be used under breasts or on your feet or anywhere else you want to control sweat.  The first time I tried it I bought it at a health food store and I don't remember the brand name or packaging.  It lasted for over a year of daily use.  The second time I bought it I got it at a Publix grocery store.  It's Naturally Fresh brand with Aloe Vera.  It's hypoallergenic, paraben/PG free, fragrance free and aluminum free.  The package looks like a stick deoderant with a green label.  There's a pink BC ribbon on the clear plastic top.  I think it works much better than Tom's but obviously doesn't work good enough!  The stench is basically gone now that I'm done.

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  • gemini4
    gemini4 Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2013

    RMlulu, don't worry about not shaving your rads armpit -- my RO told me the hair will stop growing where it gets treated.  Sure enough, my treated armpit is smooth as a baby's bum.  I don't know if it's permanent, but that would be one nice benefit!  ;-)

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited March 2013

    Doing the HAPPY DANCE for all who finished this week!!!



    I haven't shaved under arms since my hair fell out last Aug from chemo. Darn, don't miss it either LOL



    My RO nurse told me the rads would kill the sweat glands on that side, I think the Taxotere did when it tried to kill me. I haven't used, or needed deodorant since that awful time.

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  • melmcbee
    melmcbee Member Posts: 1,119
    edited March 2013

    Hi Meg, Yes I got my rads at Dr. Ackerman's And Dr, Perkin's at their Fernandina office. I also dealt with Beth alot during the beginning. She took care of hooking me up with Dr. Desai and was at almost all of my appointments at Dr. David's office. I havent seen her since I dont go to Dr David anymore. Dr. David did my mastectomy 1 month and the dissection the next month. I wasnt sure what FROG meant. Is it First Coast Oncology Group? Please tell Beth that Melanie the xray tech from Fernandina Baptist Hospital said Hi and I hope she is doing well. She is an excellent coordinator. I hope you are doing well. Hugs

    Ladies it sounds like everyone is rocking and rolling on through this process. Hugs to all.

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  • QueenKong
    QueenKong Member Posts: 154
    edited March 2013

    My skin broke last night. :( I've been having so much pain. Under the breast it cracked and is peeling. I've been feeling so edgy and bitchy the last couple of days. I want to crawl out of my skin, itch it and peel it off. They gave me percocet and the SS creme to help. I've been trying to sleep with the fan blowing on me to cool of my burn. 

    My last supraclavicular radiation treatment was yesterday. I have one more full breast treatment tomorrow and then 5 days next week of boosts.  They did the simulation for the boosts today. If they don't delay which they might because the burning is so bad. I was okay until this last week. I've got the espogus burn too and reflux. So many rays go into our bodies during these treatments. i wish there was a way to flush them out.

    Does anyone have any dietary suggestions for helping with the skin healing? 

    Too add to the other posts. I haven't shaved on the side that is getting rads, I haven't used any deoderant. I find I really need to shower every day or I have this weird smell in that area. One day, I didn't get up with enough time to shower before my treatment and I felt bad for the radiation staff that had to treat me because I know I smelled weird.

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  • 5LuvBugs
    5LuvBugs Member Posts: 506
    edited March 2013

    Girls: I don't think your suppose to use "anything" on your skin until After your daily radiation, I was told it interferes with the treatment. I put my aloe or Silvadene on in the dressing room before I leave. !!!! Better check...

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  • QueenKong
    QueenKong Member Posts: 154
    edited March 2013

    That's true 5Luvbugs, after the treatment. 

    I can't sleep. 2:54 am

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  • Energy_isme
    Energy_isme Member Posts: 14
    edited April 2013

    Hi QueenKong and sister's doing their rads,

    I finished my rads on March 21, 2013 and then my boyfriends kids came to stay with us. Gawd I was so tired, sore and did not want any company but got through it. I am finally feeling better today and the really dark skinned has peeled off under my arm. My chest wall is pretty red. I have been using coconut and almond oil, pure aloe vera, hydrocortizone and flamazine. It is the itching and burning that drives me nuts. However, I finally seem to be over the hump and things will likely start to get better and easier everyday. I used some pain killers to help me sleep and my doctor was fine about prescribing them.

    Gosh you have had a rough road my friend and like you, I cannot wait for my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes to return...I am so sick and tired of this sh$&. I had some angry, crying, furious days about 5 days after I was done my rads but I was also tired, sore, and not sleeping. I know this all normal, but really going through all this is not normal per se.

    I had to go for a mammogram the day after I was done rads as I found a lump in my healthy breast and the surgeon, radiologist and technician were all on board about doing a biopsy on it. I am scheduled for April 10 to have it done, then we are off to Mexico on April 15, for 10 glorious days!! Sunscreen city here I come. I did not have anytime off to miss any doctors app'ts....

    Good luck to all who are done and hang in there to those still getting treatments....the end is in sight!!!!

    Energy

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  • QueenKong
    QueenKong Member Posts: 154
    edited April 2013

    Ah this so sucks. Where are the rad girls? Is there another thread?

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  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited April 2013

    Hi Queenkong-have you found the 2013 Survivors thread? i have my one month rads followup appt. this morning.  I can't believe everything has healed up.  I just have some peeling going on.  My rads area is still darker than my ohter boob, but there is no hair growing on the bottom half of my rads armpit.  It feels strange, it's too smooth!

    My 16yo daughter is leaving today for a field trip to NYC for choir/band music festival.  I'm so excited for her, but kinda jealous since I've never been.  I hope she sees some famous people.  My husband used to always see someone when he was there on business.  Check us out on the other thread.  Sending healing (((hugs))) and thoughts your way and hang in there!  Sheila

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  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited April 2013

    Quennkong it's the IDC 2013 Survivor's thread.

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  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited April 2013

    Hi y'all



    Come join us in the Spring Rads....yeah it's SpringTime! Looking forward to SummerTime and life without tx...oh yea there is that pill thing...

    QueenKong- sorry that your skin has broken down:((. Each morning I check my girl praying she is ok...this is 13/33 and beginning to see pink tan ... Rest hydrate lube cross fingers and toes...this to will pass and keep pressing on and counting down!

    Sending calming healing thoughts (((hugs)))

    Cindy

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  • Lisa1637
    Lisa1637 Member Posts: 101
    edited April 2013

    Hey spring rads ladies!

    Finished 12/33 and have officially switched over to a sport bra and plan on wearing it until the end.  My radiated boob is swollen and the skin is irritated.  I'm glad my running days got replaced with lower impact yoga.  I had no idea that the redness would extend up to the clavicle. 

    I hate to complain because I truly an grateful for so much but this phase is awfully unpleasant.  Does anyone else actually feel the radiation seeping in?  4 more weeks and it's done...for the first time in several years I am actually thinking about a post rads vacation.  Ideas anyone?

    Wishing everyone well!! xo Lisa

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