Summer 2013 Rads

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  • LW0919
    LW0919 Member Posts: 196
    edited July 2013

    I had a fantastic 6 week break after my 6th and final chemo before the actual rad treatments started. I felt like a normal person for a while, no weekly or daily dr visits. I enjoyed every minute of it. Back to the veins though, just had my 7th rad treatment...only26 more to go.



    Yesterday, the techs did X-rays again before starting the treatment. They said they do them every so often to make sure everything is going ok....? I keep thinking about that and the statement. Did any of y'all have more xrays throughout rads?

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

    Yep, had xrays done every week to make sure they were still aiming at the right spot, I guess.  I think it's pretty standard.

    33/34

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  • encyclias
    encyclias Member Posts: 302
    edited July 2013

    I had periodic x-rays all through my rads.

    Carol

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  • LW0919
    LW0919 Member Posts: 196
    edited July 2013

    Thanks that's a relief. All I could think of was that they screwed up and wanted to see how much damage was done!



    I fell asleep on the table today. I mean knocked slap out. I was awakened when one of the techs freezing cold hand touched my boob to pull the wedge out from under my right boob. I nearly jumped off the table. It scared both of us!

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  • Johnetta
    Johnetta Member Posts: 56
    edited July 2013

    I will be starting in a few weeks. You fell asleep? Do they take that long? I imagined it would be a quick zap and done.  I have my consultation next week so am totally clueless on what to expect. 

    It is great to read all of your posts. You seem like a tough, encouraging group of gals.

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  • melody46
    melody46 Member Posts: 279
    edited July 2013

    Congratulations GWTF Shipsgirl and encyclias! Heart I had what looked like freckles all over the boost area and they are just starting to go away 5 weeks out.  My RO said it could take a few months to go away but compared to what I looked like just a few weeks ago I'm OK with that.  Patricia I have always hated water too, so having to drink tons of it is still a struggle.  I gave up Gatorade and am now drinking water with squeezed lemon wedges.  I cant believe how sluggish I still feel.....

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  • encyclias
    encyclias Member Posts: 302
    edited July 2013

    Thank you, Melody.

    Johnetta, the rad treatments I had took about 4 minutes or so.  I got four zaps to my breast from different angles: left, overhead, right, and then through my back upward to my breast.  The zaps themselves only take a few seconds each.  The positioning is what takes the time.

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  • LW0919
    LW0919 Member Posts: 196
    edited July 2013

    For me, it takes about 15-20 minutes. I had lymph node involvement so they do 3 different areas, the breast, under the arm pit and then the super clavicular area (collar bone). They come back into room to adjust the machine and punch in codes for each new setting before going back out and closing the metal door so it isnt like i was left alone for the entire time. It couldnt have been more than 5 minutes each time. I think I was just exhausted from a long week of working 10 hr days.



    Here's what I don't understand, the thing (machine) gets right up in your face so I asked if I should be wearing goggles. They said it was so precise that it pinpoints a certain area and is down to an exact science but then they all leave and shut the big metal door!! So I close my eyes (like that's going to help) thinking I'm doing something to protect me from going blind!! I must not be too worried though since I fell asleep with both boobs hanging out and radiation beaming out of a machine 6 inches away from my head!

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  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    I had 6 fields, two different bolus, on 4 zaps each day, and one of the fields was electron zap (with bolus).  My tumor was originally very large, and very fast growing.  I had xrays at least 2 times a week.  This week I had them every day.  The more I was at RADS, the more I realize just how exact they are.   I spent an average of 30 to 40 minutes a day on the table.  They were constantly checking and double checking my alignment, the measurements, etc.  After xrays are done, they have the oncologist chech them before resuming any treatment.  

    Tonight, I'm happily wearing my frogg togg towel.  It was cool when I put it on, but within 5 minutes, it's hot.  Yes, my skin is that hot right now.  But it feels really good and I can keep it on for hours at a time without worrying about my sharpie lines.  Sealed

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  • CLYDAY
    CLYDAY Member Posts: 81
    edited July 2013

    Congrats ladies! It's another step closer to recovery! To the ladies who get regular massages...how often do you go and are their special instructions on how they should or should not massage? ? My PS was very short with me and just said don't manipulate the TE. Think he is pissed that I am not going to consider any sort of FLAP...I am very petite and will not go thru with it...either implants in or TE out!!

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  • Lenn13ka
    Lenn13ka Member Posts: 313
    edited July 2013

    Congrats GWTF, Nyama and encyclias!!! Enjoy the rest of the summer. It is nice to be done!

    Good luck to all of you mid summer rad ladies!

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  • ItIsWhatItIs2013
    ItIsWhatItIs2013 Member Posts: 541
    edited July 2013

    Congrats, GWTF!!!

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

    gowiththeflow super cool - congrats!!!!!!!

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  • patriciahurtado
    patriciahurtado Member Posts: 489
    edited July 2013

    Thanks my ladies I will mix my intake water with watermelon ...!it taste so good that will get me through a gallon a day???!!!!



    Well I read that we need to think about it like this ..... If you have two piles of wood one that had water one didn't ... The one with water will not burn as quick as the one without water .... And that's how skin should feel like.....for the healing process.... 8/28

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  • SophiaAnne-Marie
    SophiaAnne-Marie Member Posts: 20
    edited July 2013

    Laughing Congrats on finishing up ladies! I thought I heard bells ringing Wink I start the prep work sometime next week (Ct scan, etc.) and then will be starting 7 weeks of treatment after that. I'm actually looking forward to it, because it's one step closer to being done.

    I've also found that focusing on the positive helps as well. I find it so encouraging to hear stories of things being scary, what does or doesn't work (my Lindi pad's on it's way Laughing) or bad SEs and how to deal with them because these things can and do happen. But I also love hearing when things go right, like the thread ScienceGal started about getting through rads with their skin in-tact. It's helped me so much!

    Oh, and ask your doctors if it's OK to take Astragalus. It boosts immune function during and after rads, so this might help ease some of the SEs and help lower the chance of cancer showing up again. 

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  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    SophieAnn, you have the right attitude.  By the time I got to RADS, I was mentally done.  I never really had a positive attitude with it.  I'm a wimp when it comes to pain, and I just didn't want to be there.  I went in each day kicking and screaming.

    You will love the LIndi pad.  rinse quickly with cool water after each use, and put back in its container and ziplock bag.  Mine is still working hard.

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

    Gowiththeflow how is your skin doing today?



    I bet it is great to NOT be heading in to rads!!! what will you do with your "does radiation make my butt look bigger?" buttons now?



    The positive mental attitude is, I think, important. I approached rads with the attitude that I want to nuke every stinking cancer cell in the area, and that big machine is helping me do it. Sadly the good cells in the way have to be killed too, but as a cell biologist I know that healthy skin stem cells are migrating over to repair the radiated field each day. hence all the protein to help replenish them, and also help keep up our imune systems.



    Have a wonderful day girls, I am sure ready for the weekend. After today's appointment I have just one week- five days to go. Counting down.

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  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    I'm sore, but mentally knowing I'm not doing anything to make it worse helps me.  I put the frogg togg towel on for a few hours last night and that soothed it well.  I still was up in the middle of the night to take pain meds and reapply lotion, but that's okay.  At least it works and I can get back to sleep.

    Today is my son's swim champs.  3000 swimmers in two days.  I'm planning on bringing him down and settling him in, and going inside to see some friends.  Not sure how long I'll hold up down there though.  My sister's train gets in at 6:30 tonight and I'm excited to see her.  

    We leave early tomorrow morning for our long awaited vacation.

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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Member Posts: 99
    edited July 2013

    I finished radiotherapy a week ago. CoolCool

    But still feel tired/lacking in energy and red and sore.FrownFrown  I saw the onc registrar this morning and he said that the effects peak at 7/8 days after treatment finishes.  

    Did others notice this?  How long does it take before you start feeling much better?

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  • melody46
    melody46 Member Posts: 279
    edited July 2013

    My RO told me I should start feeling more energy about a week ago, which would be a month out, so far nothing

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  • Heart2930
    Heart2930 Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    Bluefox- Congrats on finishing! My RO said skin issues can continue to get worse for 7-10 days. After about a month I should see my energy improve. It is getting better at this point, but definitely not where it used to be. I am 4 weeks out right now.

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  • SophiaAnne-Marie
    SophiaAnne-Marie Member Posts: 20
    edited July 2013

    Congrats Bluefox Cool

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  • CassDugan
    CassDugan Member Posts: 100
    edited July 2013

    Halfway done today: 15 of 30.



    My skin is pinking up a bit but is otherwise in good shape. Though the fields do not include my esophagus at all, I have a persistent lump in my throat as well as frequent heartburn which I'd never experienced before in my life. My RO says it cannot be related but I'm skeptical, especially since I can google and find many medical sites that state that it can be an SE of whole breast radiation. I am fatigued, but whether it's the rads, the lack of sleep (those shooting pains aren't helpful), my long commute, stress, or any combination of the preceding, who knows. But, overall, doing pretty well I think.

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  • SophiaAnne-Marie
    SophiaAnne-Marie Member Posts: 20
    edited July 2013

    Go CassDugan! Half-way to the finish line Wink. Umm, and yeah, your throat runs just passed it, so why would they think it's so bazaar? Try a little ginger tea, that's great for digestion. 

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  • Lenn13ka
    Lenn13ka Member Posts: 313
    edited July 2013

    Congrats GWTF, Nyama and encyclias!!! Enjoy the rest of the summer. It is nice to be done!

    Good luck to all of you mid summer rad ladies!

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  • Jen987
    Jen987 Member Posts: 145
    edited July 2013

    Congratulations to everyone finishing up this week.  Celebrate to the fullest.  I finished #15 today.  My skin is holding up well.  Only slightly pink and alittle tender around my lumpectomy scar.  The fatigue started a couple days ago though.  

    Everyone enjoy your 2 days off and have a great weekend.

    15/35

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

    Thanks for the congrats everyone.  I rang that bell so dang loud I was deaf in one ear for about a minute. LOL!!!

    I'm done I'M DONE I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Whoopeee!!!!

    34/34

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  • Lin43
    Lin43 Member Posts: 108
    edited July 2013

    I am four weeks out and my skin is a muddy tan color with one sensitive area remaining. Wounds are healed and I don't have any red bumps like Heart has but have a lot of tightness so I do stretches and physical therapy.

    I have been yawning more than usual the past few weeks...like I need more oxygen. Energy is up a bit though not at pre-rad levels. My RO says give it up to three months to feel like pre-rads. As long as I am improving I am feeling ok about it.

    My integrative medicine oncologist recommended astragalus post-rads so I am taking that for immunity. She also recommends ashwaganda and a serving of broccoli, cauliflower, or arugula daily. And she likes tumeric, flax, kimchi, mushrooms... I love my appointments with her. She is so knowledgable and worked with Dr. Andrew Weil so her ideas are similar to his. He has some wonderful books on health and diet.

    Wishing everyone a healing weekend.

    Gentle hugs

    Linda 30/30 Finished 6/26

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  • CassDugan
    CassDugan Member Posts: 100
    edited July 2013

    Congrats to Nyama and all the other women have finished and continue to be such an inspiration to the rest of us!



    Sophia, all I can say is that the RO showed me the plan and that it did not include my throat. The RO said that if my lymph were also being treated (SLNB negative, so it isn't), then the field would include my throat. It's hard to know what to believe. Given the timing and the unusualness of the symptoms for me, it seems like it would have to be related.



    How about pain? I couldn't sleep for it Thursday night. I'm up again tonight, Friday, after only a couple of hours.

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

    Nyama congrats!!!! So happy for you!!!



    Heart and Lin and all the others- thanks for your post-rads posts, again to let us know what to expect.



    I have five more and my skin is now red enough that my RO will let them take off the gold chainmail drape that brings the rads closer to the surface of the skin. I think that is a yay? Not sure yet. She said I am red enough now that she is confidant that we nuked any cancer stem cells hiding in the skin (I had a skin sparing mastectomy and exchange surgery prior to rads).



    So I am expecting it to get worse over the next couple of weeks and I really appreciate all your posts!



    CassDugan, two words for you- pain pills! Your docs will give you vicodin or something similar. If you use them sparingly as I do you dont have to worry about addiction. But sometimes they REALLY, really help. For the skin pain and, for me, the joint and back pain that persist after chemo.



    I am just SO happy for everyone who is done and getting back, slowly, to their new normal. I cannot wait to join you. counting down.



    Hugs!!!!



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