Fall 2013 Rads

I'm enjoying my first rad-free weekend. One week down - five to go :-) I have ended up with a bit of an itchy neck but I think it's a reaction to the cream I was using and overheating at night.

Congrats Graceforme on finishing.

Thanks MsPharoah - I will ask about the breathing.

I had a mini breakdown at the end of my chemo treatment - I just kept crying for no reason. Have done ok so far coping with starting rads but it all is a bit freaky and it is a huge year. We have put our bodies through an awful lot - and it's going to take a long time to recover. So vent all you need to ladies - what better place than here where we all understand completely.

Some great advice from my naturopath, especially for those nearly finished rads, start taking a couple drops of pure iodine in water everyday. It's the natural antedote to radiation. Also google 'astronauts diet' or something like that on food and diet that helps flush the radiation out of your body.

I'm so sorry... Goingforward! That sucks! I didn't think they could do that when you are gone for med reasons...

I worked as much as possible during chemo... There were a couple of 10 hour weeks tho. I have an amazing boss & now his wife is in chemo for BC.... Jewish! I don't have insurance, so I tried to go as much as I could in order to keep up on my monthly med pmts.... I'm glad to be able to work (so far) through rads, but got a wave of chemo SEs last week. Weird! The aches & pains.... With rads I just seem to get waves of extreme exhaustion... I've tried to explain it to others as almost feeling dizzy with being tired.... If I get up and move around, it seems to get a little better, but if I were to close my eyes, I'd be out like a light!

Today is 6/28! Last week started out ok, but by the end of the week I was so tired from the long drive there and back. And the wait for my turn is up to three hours! I started out by bringing my computer and working, but by the end of the week I was too tired to work. During chemo I had trouble sleeping and needed to take a pill every night, now- I'm so exhausted that I collapse to sleep at night and sleep through the morning med free! And I'm only one week down!

Good luck to everyone this week- I hope everyone is feeling rested up and ready to face another week!

Grammy, sorry you're not feeling well an I hope it heals quickly! Have you tried something other than aloe? Maybe something with lavender would help?

I noticed my hair is starting to grow back! You have to look with a magnifying glass to see it, but I definitely have some light fuzz! I hope it grows back normally, this fuzz is not what I expected...

GrammyR,

A trick I learned one summer years ago as a short order cook. Wet a tea bag (regular-not herbal) and rub on the burn area. Amazingly it takes the pain away very quickly) One of my grill co-workers taught me this and I've used it all these years for every type of burn imaginable. Works every time! Something about the tannins in the tea....worth a try!

Annie

L2girl- I agree w/your feelings about rads - every time I hear the zaps I'm visualizing any stray cells exploding!! I too ask the techs many questions - reassures me that they really know what they are doing!! LOL. The techs are great and I feel fortunate to be here.

Cider8- You are a very awesome lady - going to rads 2x a day and not being home with family. I am sure your DH and kids can't wait for your return so everyone's life including yours can go back to some semblance of normalcy. We are in your pockets and when your rads are done we will all celebrate you.

Hugs, M

jbdayton-

Thank you so much for your story. The more I think about it the more I think I will just be canceling my recon till I know for sure. I don't want to go through all of the DIEP surgery just to have it endangered by rads.

The saying in my family is " If it can happen to anyone, it will happen to Jeni." haha. Better safe than sorry with this.

To all of you ladies- Thank you for sharing everything. Although it makes me apprehensive about rads, all of the info and tips you put on here will be great if I have to do it. It is wonderful to see so many people that have never met support one another this way.

I wish you all health and happiness!

Cider8, I can't imagine going twice a day! I was just feeling like I needed to get psyched up to start week 2 (and I only had two treatments so far) - at 1x a day. My life has been on hold since this all began this summer.

JWoo,

I was told by my breast surgeon that I might not need chemo and won't need radiation. My MO put me in the "gray area" for chem so we did it then MO Said no radiation. Saw RO and once again in the "gray area". Had a second opinion and now have 19/28 rads down. Very frustrating as I am not a "gray area" kind of person-I see things very black and white. I am now considering reconstruction and I am sooo conflicted as to what procedure and when. It is nice to see the end of treatments is near. I can only pray that Tamoxifin will work it's magic!

Hope everyone has an uneventful week!

Carla, that sounds like a wonderful idea except that this whole thing has made me get super paranoid of sugar and refined carbs that I can't enjoy those things anymore! Maybe when I'm on tamoxifen I can find a balance..... Maybe.

vwbordelon-I am going for my radiation simulation tomorrow but then I can't start because I am in "a gray area" as far as chemo and MO is waiting for more tests on my tumor to make a decision. I had been told all along I would'nt need chemo by BS but MO has other opinions. Waiting for oncotype test to come back so she can give me her opinion. Hurry up and wait again!

I've mentioned this before so please excuse the repeat, but for anyone that didnt see it my lymphedema therapist suggests taking a cut up old t shirt or soft cotton flannel and soaking it in aloe, chilled if you want and draping in over the radiation site. That way you don't have to rub where it hurts!

Hope that tip might help.

Bikergirl, I didn't have to have chemo so I can't comment from experience, but I don't think it's easy to really compare. I've only got 2 days down and I'm dreading tomorrow. The treatments themselves aren't really anything - it's the emotions that go with it. If you have a grip on that, you'll probably do fine. I swing one way and then the other. Unfortunately right now I'm back in the depressed side. But then I also have a friend dx at the same time with terminal brain cancer, and I just found out that another friend has dcis - and she's a divorced mom with 3 beautiful daughters. It's too much. And I keep letting myself look at dx here, and that majorly depresses me when I see someone with a similar dx - and they now have mets. So hopefully you're a more positive person than I am and you'll be able to keep your head above this!

CarlaK doing a Starbucks here and there sounds good to me. I am supposed to start radiation next week and doing something special after may help with anxiety or feeling bad. Pumpkin spice latte w nonfat milk and 1 less pump is good also.

When I found out I had the big C, I changed my eating habits almost immediately. No sugar, little fat, vegies, fruit, seldom had meat. Didn't want to feed those tumors. As soon as I had my mastectomy I let up a little. When Chemo started I let up a little more. Still eat better than before but food is somewhat comforting during this time. Before cancer I would have had Pumpkin Spice latte w whole milk and with as much whip creme as I could get also would have gotten a vente vs a grande.

4sowhat thanks for the tip. Sounds soothing.

Cider8 my heart is with you. Twice a day ugh. Also being away from your family. Do you get to go home on weekends?

Bikergirl from what I've read it isn't as bad as chemo. Although I'm still not looking forward to it. Deep breathes. We will make it through this too.

Hoping for a good week for all of us - Carla

GrammyR.....My RO explained to me that since my breast has been removed, the radiation will be going to my chest wall, previously untouched by my former radiation. Also, my right armpit will receive radiation, which it did not receive before, though it did burn after the previous radiation and now hair no longer grows there. I really am concerned about radiation there and what it might do to my skin there.

Thanks to everyone for sharing ways to keep our skin as comfortable as possible. Since I did radiation 12 years ago, I know that pain and soreness are a side effect of radiation and for a while afterwards, no one will be able to hug us because of the soreness which will linger for a while. My skin returned to normal previously and there are no signs that I ever had radiation years ago.

Sending out painless hugs and wishing everyone the best possible outcome.