Summer 2013 Rads

Finished chemo today, and was met with the surprise that the RO I saw in Feb no longer comes to the center where I'm being treated. Wasn't really sure what what to do, but have made appointment with new RO, at my cancer center (seeing him on May 29th).



Like several of you, I'm worried about additional risks of left side radiation (I had unilateral MX on that side). I have the additional complication of having been born without a pectoral muscle and may have some abnormality in my chest wall too. Just started doing some more in depth reading today and sounds like I should be a candidate for some of these methods you've mentioned (bolus, breath holding) too. There just doesn't seem to be much separating my skin along the incision from the chest cavity, with the lack of pectoral muscle. Hope whoever I end up with as an RO is willing to customize a plan for me. I actually wonder how much benefit I'll get from irradiation of the incision/chest wall, since I had good margins - lymph node area is another story and I know I need radiation there.

Well I had my first treatment yesterday. The breath hold thing was actually much easier that I thought. I had to hold for much longer times during the sims than I actually did during the treatment.

It has been getting warmer her in NH, but so far the Tom's deodorant doesn't seem too bad. Initially I had bought the Pears soap they told me to, but the smell is really medicinal so I just switched to Dove unscented which they said is ok too.

Question for all of you already undergoing treatment. When I go to treatment we use 2 angles. The first from the top is fine, but when the beam comes in from the side it feels like little needle sticks all along my breast bone. Do any of you notice this as well?

Heart2930, I also had my first treatment yesterday. I was nervous about holding my breath for 45 seconds, but you are right, it was quite a lot shorter for the actual treatment.

I didn't feel anything during the treatment, but I was a little tender already yesterday evening - didn't think I'd feel it so fast, but my breast is still drying up from breastfeeding so maybe it's a little more sensitive.

Are you on a 33 treatments schedule as well?

I wear a cotton tank under my bra so I can use the Aqua all the time, plus I want to get used to it in hopes of being able to wear a bra the entire time.

3 down for me.. I don't notice any redness or darkness in the areas, but I'm sure that will change.

Heart, no I don't feel anything.  Not sure I would like to feeling that too much that you describe... I would say something. Congrats on getting through your first

I'm not noticing a problem with the no deodorant yet, and I've been sweating off an on.. so hopefully that lasts!!  

Congrats on last round Dizzymom!!

Looking forward to two days of not having to go to the hopsital... woo hoo!

Hi ALCS97- I asked the radiation technicians about the pain, and she said it is just static electricity. She said people tend to feel it even more in the winter. Today it was more humid and there was no pain. Yeah! Summer is starting so hopefully no more pain. The 45 seconds is much easier that I thought too. Do you get to wear the glasses with the graph to see where you need to hold your breath to? I am actually having 30 treatments. 25 regular and 5 boosts.



Hi Idesim- The pain was not actually so bad. It was more irritating and uncomfortable than real pain. So I wouldn't worry about it happening.

I am trying to understand the tank top under the bra also.. isn't it uncomfortable and bulky? I would love to wear the aquaphor all day and night but its so goopy and sticky.. my clothes would be stained.. unless I get the hang of tank under bra..

Has anyone started Tamoxifen? I see my MO next week for my prescription and I'm feeling kindof squirmy about it. He said among the other wonderful side effects it causes mood swings and depression.  Same thing with the chemopause I'm in, it sounds kindof scary

Melody, I started Tamoxifen almost 2 weeks ago and I was terrified to start.  So far I have not experienced side effects.. in another thread I was informed that they take a long time to kick in.. so you should be ok through your treatments... at least I hope you will be!

Actually the tanks I have been wearing are hubby's old Fruit of the Loom white tanks that shrunk in the wash and he passes on to me lol. They are rather thin from lots of washings and probably because they are underwear.  They are  not as bulky as I thought they would be and it is undetectable under clothing.  This way I can have the Aqua on 24/7.

Hi Melody46,



I am scheduled to start Tamoxifen the day after I finish radiation. I am kinda squirmy about it right now too, but for different reasons I think. Tamoxifen has a very small chance of causing endometrial cancer. I have had a partial hysterectomy but still have really bad endometriosis. I am really concerned about this. Since I have had a partial hysterectomy I won't show any symptoms of endometrial cancer until it is too late. My MO researched this for me and only found 2 cases studies ever when someone with a hysterectomy and endometriosis turned up with the cancer. I know 2 cases are not a lot but they are not zero either. So I don't know what I am going to do. Since I had a dirty margin after surgery that we could not get clean the Tamoxifen is pretty important for me. I have a consult with another doctor or Monday to discuss this but I am probably going to take the Tamoxifen.

I had a lumpectomy on March 21 (no node involvement) but did not get clear margins.  On March 28th they went in for a second time.  They thought they had clear margins but the pathologist looked at it again and said a tip was out of the margin.  The doctor suggested chemo, rad, and a estrogen blocking pill.  I chose to not have chemo.  I am in the middle of radiation right now.  So far no SE's except tired in the afternoon. I am taking a exercise class before I go to rad's...this has helped me emotionally a whole bunch.  I put a cream on my breast that the doctor gave me as soon as I come out of radiation each day.  When I get home, I slather aloe vera on my breast ( my plant looks awful - haha)...so far I have not had the redness etc.  

Hi all!  What a batch of wonderful information you all have posted here.  I am so glad to have found this thread.

I am still waiting for my first rad.  My lumpectomy surgery resulted in a seroma/hematoma and my RO didn't want to start rads as it was on my last visit to him.  I get to see him in about ten days and hope we can go ahead with this.  Long periods of time between various procedures scare me to death that the creepy little mets are having a world tour of my body.  I had my last A/C chemo in late Dec, and didn't get an LX until early April.  The LX revealed a 3mm residual carcinoma, but with clear margins and negative lobes.  Now I am waiting again, this time for the rads.  I have lucked-out with a great RO, though.   I just want to get this over with and try to enjoy what will be left of the summer when it is done.

Sharon, my aloe plants are ready to go to work.  All I need are the rads to go with them...sigh.

Just realized that my signature data are wrong.  There were a few nodes positive for cancer at the very beginning which are now neg.  Need to get around to fixing it.

Thanks to all.

Carol

Posted new pic to match my name --- what do you think?????

Lin43, too good points you made.. 1) 3 days off next week and 2) we're 1/10 of the way through!  Loved hearing both of those lol.

ChickaD.. it oozes personality.. I love it!!

Hi Sydneyluv.  I am with you... radiation has made me the most anxious yet of all the procedures... maybe because it's been such a long road to now.. who knows.  The Savi device sounds intriguing.. I've never heard of it.. not surprising since I would not have had cause to know may of the terms and procedures associated with BC before now.  How does it work?  8 days doesn't seem long enough to have healed enough to have something inserted.. ouch.  

Hi IamNancy,



I am only 2 down with 28 to go and yesterday I was fatigued too. By late afternoon my legs felt like they had lead weights in them. Already started to burn too. I am a little concerned because I still have a long way to go. My nurse practicioner said some people start to burn on day 1. I was kinda hoping I was not in that group, but oh well. At least next week we have 3 days off.

Hi ladies - I'm Peg. I am starting day 14 tomorrow and I have 6 more to go after that.  I am just starting to notice a little difference in my skin - it just started to pink up a little.  I have noticed the difference in my fatigue and stamina though.  I am really tired in the late afternoon.  I guess it doesn't help that I broke my left arm 3 weeks ago (fell down some steps) but thank goodness it wasn't my surgery arm....I was so nervous about that.  I am hoping the black cloud will quit following me!  I have been reading your posts though - hope you don't mind if I join you!  Happy Sunday!