Fall 2013 Rads

I had my dry run today. No tattoos at this facility, though I have my old ones from home. I just counted up how many rad appointments and it's 44! I counted a couple times. I go twice per day and see my RO twice per week. I have 5 different colors of markings from the top of my neck to the bottom of my rib cage. My nurse told me I have 11 fields to radiate but I think the machine moves 5 times. They have me hold my breath for each zap. Rads are on my left side and taking a breath moves the heart away a bit.



I saw my MO today. He wants to see if some of the fluid in my pleural effusion (the pleura is the space between the lung lining and chest wall) can be aspirated. It's small and may not be accessible. The pleural effusion can be caused by cancer, from radiation and other things. My MO is being super cautious with me now. I can't decide if I want that PE to be accessible or not! But really, if it's caused by cancer, knowing is the best for proper treatment.

Hello everyone,time has come for my radiation to begin. Had my 3 dot tat done Tuesdays. Will know next week when it will begin. 2 weeks has past since chemo and I really feel great. So I'm waiting for somthing to go wrong. But maybe nothing will happen. I quess I really for got what it is like to almost feel normal.



Sandra so glad you are going to Chicago. They will be so surprised to see you! Have a great time and a safe trip!



Annie thank for letting us know about the aloe leaves. I hope that I can find them were I live. Its such a small town we dont have much for stores but I will try.

So once again I have gotten more info from every one here then I would any where. Thanks for all the sharing .

Hi All!

I just finished my chemo a month ago, and my MO had no intention of doing rads, but my meeting with the BS yesterday threw me for a loop. I am sceduled for dmx and DIEP recon at the end of October.  She said that immediate DIEP recon might not be possible as I may have to have radiation.

I was confused, and asked why- she said that though my MRI showed a complete clinical response to the chemo, that there may be some cancer not shown by the MRI still in my nodes. My initial needle biopsy of the one node that was a concern showed no cancer. She said they will only know for sure once al the tissue is ttested after the bmx

She is taking my case to her hospitals tumor board next week and I have an appt to discuss the issue after that. Did any of you had this kind of situation happen?  A difference in opinion about rads with your MO and BS?

And I see one person has, but have any other gone ahead with recon with the possibility of rads looming ahead?

Thanks for any input you may have.

Health and happiness to you all!

Just finished 25 of 28 reg rads with 5 boosts as well. The RO told me the boosts aren't as ominous as they sound and he wishes they didn't use that term. He also told me they are easier on the body than the regular rads.

Yesterday the rad nurse gave me a patch of Mepilex with Safetac to but over my nipple and what a relief! So much better. 

McKatherine, ask your RO or nurse of you can use 1% hydrocortisone with aloe. With Aloe is the key and very much helps with the itching. 

Take care Ladies.

Graceforme,

Congratulations! You must be so glad to be down to one more. I should be starting on Oct. 14. I am still swollen and having pain at three week post re-excision. I was wondering if anyone knows if they will still do rads if still having issues?

Hi Ladies, I just started rads on 10/1 - glad this post was started.

Anyone else have to do the "breathing technique" to avoid getting the heart in the rad field? Based on my original planning CT, RO thought it would be best to do this technique because my heart is relatively close to my chest wall. Apparently they don't do it everywhere? Just interested in how common it is...

Had #18 today. My skin is definitely showing changes- sunburn like and feeling tight. Still feeling tired, and can't seem to sleep well.

4sewwhat

Your camels brightened my hump day:-)

I did 3/25 today.

I didn't realize they were going to do x-rays before each session. At least they have done them for all 3 of my sessions. They don't explain much.

I am feeling really tired and nauseated today. My nurse thinks I have stomach flu and said the RADS. Should not make me nauseous at all.

Has anyone had nausea and/fatigue so early on?

Hi AryaS, today was 6/25 for me. I have an X-ray done each time before the treatment. Ro said thy make sure mapping is still correct. I found out yesterday every 5 treatments they do several X-rays for the same reason. After treatment 3 and 4 I felt nauseated and dizzy but was also out doing errands. I didn't have a hat on and forgot my water. After that I wear a hat every time I'm out and I drink so much water I could float away. I think it's helping. I was told rads doesnt do this but I'm finding from others it can happen so your not alone.

L2Girl- I think you are the first I have ever read " enjoying rads " what are you taking I want some...ha. I closed my eyes as the scanner moved -claustrophobia. I found this a good time to say my rosary as I knew exactually how far I would get on each of 4 zaps. I finished 5 days ago and already finding my energy returning.



Jo6202- Yep finished 5 days ago. Burn deepening in color. Like a weird purple tone now and a mid line right down my neck- must get a few turtlenecks but not that painful at all.
Use nothing w/alcholol in it because I will burn like the devil. Once the burning clears then I am thinking lots of choices to prevent rubber neck. I got some cream w/vitamin E in it. I am also not back in a bra yet and discovered that cheap mens sleeveless tanks work great - Hanes or FOL, much cheaper than buying ladies ones.

All in all compared to 6 months of chemo this was not too bad.



Wishing you all a smooth RADS therapy.West coast still doing 5 days a week for 5-6 weeks sad to say.

Hi TwoHobbies-

 Thanks for the insight. I did not even know they could do that and will def. discuss that with my surgeon!

Thank you!

And Bounce- I agree with you.

JWoo - I also had neo-adjuvant chemo and my tests showed no tumor left and felt no rads were going to be needed by choosing a skin sparing BMX with DIEP recon.  I was adamant I did not want implants.  My surgeon said a frozen section on my nodes would be done by the hospital pathologist during surgery and if they came back clear they could proceed with the DIEP.  If they came back suspicious they could place TE's and delay the DIEP surgery.  Since you can only do DIEP one time I decided to do delayed recon and am so glad I chose that option instead. My nodes came back clear during surgery but my final path report came back as a near complete response.  Some undetected DCIS was found in the original tumor bed and I am going to do 5 weeks of rads after all.  You never know final results until final path is done.   

Good luck with your decision.

Today is my 3/34 rads - I woke up with heaviness in my lungs and coughed a few times. Seems to be a bit better now. The lotion they gave me is not from USA and not comfortable with using it. I'll ask about using aloe and caledula cream.



The RO clinic I go to seems rushed - they are very kind and my RO is skilled but feel a bit like I'm one of the cattle being herded in. It's so different from my chemo experience.