Summer 2013 Rads

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  • mshelton
    mshelton Member Posts: 66
    edited July 2013

    Great information for those of us just starting.  But 24 pages.....I gave up trying to read it all. lols

    I'm starting on 7/11 with 33 treatments planned.  Wish me luck with few se.

    Marlene

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  • btdemo
    btdemo Member Posts: 52
    edited July 2013

    Thanks for the feedback on the queasiness/nausea.  nyama: I will try protien.  I nibbled some crakers yesterday and that seemed to help. 

    wishing you all calm, healing energy

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  • jennykeith11
    jennykeith11 Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2013

    Hon, you look young. Listen to your doc - get the rads. You might regret it if you don't - more so that I think you'll regret it if you do.

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  • IamNancy
    IamNancy Member Posts: 1,158
    edited July 2013

    I am done... hip hip hooray! the nurses/techs and even the receptionist hugged me... awesome day!

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  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    WOOHOOO!!!!  Congrats Iamnancy!!!!!!!  And tomorrow is Independence Day!  Celebrate your independence from RADS!

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited July 2013

    Nancy yahoooo! Your done, I hope your skin held up and you are comfortable . Now celebrate! Have some fun, it has been a long journey and you can put it behind you!

    Wish me luck I start on Friday!

    Dance -Dance -Dance!!!

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  • LW0919
    LW0919 Member Posts: 196
    edited July 2013

    Hi everyone. I've finally made my way over from the chemo boards. I went to see my RO today for mapping. Lots of people in the room looking at my boobs. I should be used to it by now but it was still a little awkward. The tattoos weren't too bad just a little uncomfortable. My first treatment is scheduled for next Wednesday. I am ready to get these 33 rounds over with! I hope it goes by fast.

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  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    Good luck slv!  

    LW, I made a pin for when I went in for surgery that said "breast cancer is like mardi gras, everyone want to see your boobs"

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited July 2013

    GWTF- I love that, should make a t shirt with that. I'm so use to everyone looking at my boobs, but I'm not really shy. LW looks like we will be doing rads together-I hope we both fair well! What areas are you getting done?

    I saw my BS today who said my LX has healed nicely, but did warn me that rads will change the appearance and I will notice more of a divot. I don't care as long as I don't have bc! I also asked if she could refer me to the lymphedema clinic, as I am pretty worried about that. I have a "teaching class" and then I see a nurse. Hopefully this will calm my fears.

    Hope everyone has a good night!

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  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    slv, pm me your address and I'll send you a button.  I'm making some in the next day or two for another friend, so I can make you some too.  

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  • Heart2930
    Heart2930 Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    IamNancy- Congrats! Woo Hoo!



    Welcome to everyone new! Wishing you a smooth journey!



    Well I got the biafine today. It is very different that everything else I have been using. It is not greasy at all. It just sinks right in. It also doesn't burn like the aquafor. Since it isn't greasy it is allowing the areas of skin break down to stick in the crease, so the vote is still out on this stuff. I am going to try using aloevesta over it to help with the sticking. For everyone battling skin issues I will let you know if it works better than all the other stuff. I might try the emu oil if this doesn't work, but like some others I am having a tough time with the fact that it is actually made from emus. If the biafine doesn't work I might just have to get over that.

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  • LW0919
    LW0919 Member Posts: 196
    edited July 2013

    GWTF: that's too funny! What a great idea!



    Slv58: they are doing the right breast, axillary and armpit area because of the lymph node involvement. They told me that they expect to see scarring at the top of my lung afterwards. I guess that is to soften the blow, since they are stating that fact early on? Are you getting multiple areas done? I guess the larger the area they treat the greater the chance for a reaction. I'm a little worried about that. I don't want my skin to bust open! My RO is sending me to the lymphedemia clinic too. Hopefully it will be in vain!

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  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    Heart, I started biafine today.  I'm getting a bit red, but so far my biggest discomfort is still from surgery.  Can you dust some cornstarch over it to keep from sticking?  I know I read somewhere to use that to help with sweating under your arms.

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  • Jen987
    Jen987 Member Posts: 145
    edited July 2013

    I'm coming here from the April chemo board as I start rads on Monday. Looks like I'll be doing 35 total, 28 regular and 7 boosts. Can't wait to get this going so it's that much closer to being done with all this. What a crappy year we've all had. I told my husband I want a do over of 2013. LOL.

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  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    Welcome Jen.  Look at it this way, you had 2 months of 2013 before DX.  I spent xmas eve and new years eve having tests done after my DX.  

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  • LW0919
    LW0919 Member Posts: 196
    edited July 2013

    I had my biopsy on 12/23 which was my Son's birthday, spent Christmas worried to death and then was diagnosed on 12/27, my Mom's birthday. Needless to say New Years was a bust. This year has definitely sucked! It's starting to get better now that chemo is over but I'm with you Jen987 we should all be awarded with a "do over"!

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  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    oh, LW, at least I knew over xmas.  ((HUGS)).  I agree, do-over!

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  • Jen987
    Jen987 Member Posts: 145
    edited July 2013

    GWTF that's terrible. So sorry to hear that. I found my lump in January and had my first doctors visit January 16th on my son's 21st birthday. It's been downhill from there. Cancer just sucks doesn't it.

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  • LW0919
    LW0919 Member Posts: 196
    edited July 2013

    GWTF: are you a matchbox twenty/Rob Thomas fan? I saw your tag line and it reminded me of a Rob Thomas song "Fire on the mountain" with a slight change referencing the breast of course!

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  • Jen987
    Jen987 Member Posts: 145
    edited July 2013

    LW0919, big hugs to you too.

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  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    I actually like most music.  I changed the words of "Beds are Burning" by midnight oil.  

    That's actually my ringtone right now, but I'm starting to think of changing it to Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash.  

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  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 1,120
    edited July 2013

    LW and Jen, welcome! I am just ahead of you- five zaps down so far, covering the entire breast and supraclavicular area. No boosts for me because my tumor was so large and I had positive lymph nodes, they are just blasting the whole area where those creepy little cancer stem cells might be hiding out.



    I am with Slv, I will weather any SE or skin storm coming as long as I dont have cancer!

    Currently a NED and praying to stay that way, as are we all of course.



    Heart I am glad you got the biafine, I sure hope it helps.



    Happy fourth to everyone!

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  • IamNancy
    IamNancy Member Posts: 1,158
    edited July 2013

    Heart-hopefully the biafine will be the solution to your skin problems.... its so hard to get the right one - we are all so different.. I think the silvadene is working for me but I didn't have the skin breakdown that you did..

    To all of you that are just starting, surpisingly it goes quickly.. I fell into the routine of going there easily and it became part of my day.. I am grateful that we have such technology.. that said, I am so glad today is the first day I am no longer under treatment.. just want to get on with life now.. I know there is still the 5 yr meds and dr appointments already scheduled for the -well I don't know, maybe they keep you coming for years..but I still feel over the main treatments.

    Now to just get my hair back and be done with these stupid wigs!

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  • caitlin61
    caitlin61 Member Posts: 214
    edited July 2013

    Congrats IamNancy!! Hope you feel up to a big 4th of July celebration today!



    20/30 done for me so I can see the end in sight. So far, skin is still doing well.



    Melody, I have stomach issues that sound similar to yours in some ways. Always okay when I wake up, then late morning start getting this gnawing/burning sensation about where my esophagus meets my stomach that gets worse through the day. It started during the latter stages of chemo (finished 7 weeks ago) but was definitely worse this past week. Yesterday, RO said radiation to the left side can sometimes cause stomach issues, which was news to me. Anyway, think mine is probably lingering effects of chemo. Hope yours clears up soon! I've been taking Prilosec since Round 2 of chemo, but have since added Zantac and now Gaviscon. RO wants to try upping dose of Prilosec and/or Zantac before doing anything else.

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  • slv58
    slv58 Member Posts: 1,216
    edited July 2013

    LW, I am having right breast, axilla, chest wall and supraclavicular-in other words everywhere! I guess because I'm triple negative because I had PCR from chemo and no nodes were involved. I keep thinking this plan is overkill but then at the end of the day, if it comes back I know I can say I did everything to get rid if it. I just hope I don't get heart issues or even cancer (25 years down the road!) from radiation. To be honest, I'm feeling like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place and am pretty anxious about starting tomorrow.

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  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    Add me to the everywhere list too.  From collarbone to bottom of rib case, from center point in chest, to under my arm.  It actually looks sorer than it is (thank god for some numbness hanging in there from surgery).  I noticed it's very tender on the incision site, but i have bolus there every day so that would be expected.  I'm hoping i hold up well outside today.  Having about 25-30 people over for 4th of July and it's sticky out there.  I've always gotten a rash/itchiness under my breasts in the heat of the summer.  Even though they're gone, I worry about the heat and humdity causing a rash/itchcing.  I've been trying to be good all summer and staying inside as much as possible.  I've even been leaving my son's swim meets early because 8 hours in the heat and humidity can't be good for me. 

    Have a wonderful independence day everyone!

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  • DiZZyMom
    DiZZyMom Member Posts: 245
    edited July 2013

    Congrats, IamNancy! Love the Mardi Gras phrase, GWTF I am 18 of 30 treatments through. My skin looks like I've spent too much time in the sun. And in the last couple days, I've developed itchy rashy bumps over part of the treated area. I am mixing hydrocotisone with the aquaphor and hoping things don't get significantly worse as I head into the home stretch of this chapter.

    Good luck to everybody starting and Happy 4th to all Cool

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  • ldesim
    ldesim Member Posts: 1,333
    edited July 2013

    Congrats Iamnancy!!!!! WOOHOO!!!!! 

    Welcome LW, Jen & Mshelton ... sorry you have to be here, but you're in a good place :) 

    Heart, hoping the Biafine is helping and you are finally getting relief.

    Cheering on all you ladies just beginning as well as those in the homestetch!!!

    Sorry if I missed anybody... Happy 4th! 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2013

    My RO says I don't need to use anything on my skin unless I start to have issues.



    Any thoughts on this Ladies?

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  • DiZZyMom
    DiZZyMom Member Posts: 245
    edited July 2013

    I have used pure Aloe immediately following treatment and then Aquaphor at least 3 x/day and at bedtime proactively. I am over 1/2 way through and am just now getting an itchy rash like reaction, but no "breaking down" as others have described. I know I am far from out of the woods, so I am just hoping to get through the rest of the treatments without experiencing anything severe. I don't see how using these products proactively could cause any harm. Worst case scenario is you'd have softer skin. BUT I am not a doctor, that is just my opinion. Best of luck to you!

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