Summer 2013 Rads

Ladies...you all ROCK...my surgery was last week and my first appt with RO is tomorrow...I really have no clue yet on my treatment plan as MO is not until next week. My surgeon said I will have rads but thats all I know for now..they also mentioned Herceptin since I am HER2+....so happy to find all of you

You can't wear deodorant at all? Or just when you go for treatment. I'm going to smell awful in the summer!

Hi DanaM, how are you doing with your recovery?  I had mine 4/9 and feeling great now!

IamNancy, looks like we will be starting around the same time... they have me down for 5/13 and I'll be going for 6 weeks.. ugh.  I go in tomorrow for my first ever tattoo and imaging.

Robin3, I read somewhere no deoderant, but I'll ask when I go in tomorrow.  There are threads on here that give options that give alternatives.

Idesim- they told me to use regular cornstarch.. how is that gonna work? how can I go to work in an office without dedorant?? LOL what tatoo? they told me they'd be marking me with a magic marker pen and I have to keep from washing it off.. although they will touch it up now and again.

IamNancy.. of course I forgot to ask... sorry!!!  Yes, tattoo.. they gave me 5 of them.. and they HURT!  Little dots which I assume is what they use to allign you.  How the heck are you supposed to not wash off the marker, especially after multple weeks?  You're worried about deodorant when it sounds like you can't wash!  j/k

Hey Summer Gals!

For you, and all who join you throughout the season, here's some helpful info on the main Breastcancer.org site on Radiation Therapy, including types of radiation therapy, what to expect, and how to manage side effects. You may also find it helpful to read the Spring 2013 Radiation thread, for more tips and tricks from others who've been there!

Hope this helps!

--Your Mods

Hi Nyama, I am hoping you get the news you want and can avoid chemo.  I'll let you know how rads goes

Thanks you for the link Mods!

Colleen, thank you and thanks to your sister!! I was wondering if that would work... I didn't like the sound of the baking soda paste.  Any hints are always welcome.

There is a deodorant that my rads nurse says I can use- the brand is Tom's of Maine. But she says to bring it in for me to check because there is a variety of Tom's that has aluminum in it. Aluminum isa metal- hence the problem. Check with your rads group to see if Tom's in OK with them. It's not a great deodorant and doesn't seem to control wetness very well, but its something!



I start 7 weeks of rads on May 13.

Iamnancy.. I was warned about the tattoos, so no surprise for me on that... but I've been surprised that most seem to get marker and no tattoo.... .. and yeah the CTscan is a bit daunting. Good on you for being claustrophobic and being able to get through it.. I would imagine that to be difficult.

TMM60, you start the day before me.. good luck... thanks for Tom's tip, I'll have to ask.. it's funny, but for me since chemo I don't seem to have odor there.  I read somewhere limes work and you could use it for a week.. I'll have to research that on further.

I talked to people and they said the Tom's of Maine stuff is ok'd for deodorant. But if you google it, they did a study up in canada and says that the deodorant doesn't make a difference. They originally said no because it makes your skin burn more because of the aluminum. I'm seeing my oncologist tomorrow and will start grilling him on this. Cause as of today I have 3 weeks left of chemo. Two more treatments. Next week and two weeks later! I've been waiting for May! May means the end of chemo!!! :-)

How is Tom's of Maine? Does it control wetness and odor? I'm a fitness instructor and would rather not smell like a swamp. :-)

Hi Everyone,

I have my first meeting with my RO tomorrow. I had a lumpectomy 4/8. The found grade 2 & 3 DCIS, and unfortunately I was left with a dirty margin that we can't get clean so off to radiation I go unless the plan changes.

Right after they found the DCIS, I also found a lump in my upper thigh. My PCP thought it was an enlarged lymph node or maybe an infection. We waited a few weeks for it to go down on its own. It didn't. PCP was going to start a course of antibiotics, but I end up with a post surgical infection after the lumpectomy so my BS beat her to the antibiotics. Lump is still there. Had an uiltrasound, and it is not a lymph node but an area of fluid. Now PCP has referred me to a general surgeon and radiation can't start until we find out what is in my leg. I had asked my PCP if this was related to the BC or would impact radiation, instead of an answer I got a surgeon referral. Now my RO wants to know what it is before we proceed.

I think I got spoiled going to the breast center I go to. They answer all my questions and spend as much time as I need them to. The lack of communication from my PCPs office is aggravating. I ask a question and instead of an answer get a referral. URGH!!!!!

So for now the plan is to start radiation this summer, unless whatever is in my leg is nasty and changes the diagnosis.

Heart2930, I have the same problem with my PCP.. my cancer care team are fabulous, but the PCP's office.. a nightmare.  I hope you get to the bottom of it and can proceed with treatment soon!

I meet with the RO this Thurs. waiting to find out if rads are a definite, or if we can wait until we get the pathology back from surgery.

But, since I'm getting chemo first, not sure they'll find much.

Hi Idesim....2 weeks post surgery BMX..feeling not to bad...went out for first time tonight for dinner with my hubby and friends....very tired after but still awake...go figure!