Fall 2013 Rads

Hi Ladies,

I am now 24/28 done. Just took my first nap on day 22 and skin is now "sunburned". Not painful but irritated. I have found that wearing a loose t-shirt inside out has helped. It's amazing that the seam of a t-shirt can be painful!

I told my family (husband, 2 boys 23 & 25, daughter 22) that honesty was the only way I goinghave to hadle what I need/expect and for the foreseeable future it was going to be all about me. First time in my adult life it has been all about me. I have been living with my daughter who is in grad school while going thought treatment - no commute this way. I have to say we have had a ball. We have a "date night" on Wednesday and treat ourselves (or I treat) to a good meal. Being with her has really helped to divert my attention from the obvious.

Thursday after my last treatment my parents and my whole family are going to have a celebratory dinner.

Let the healing begin! Now to getting reconstruction and hair!

Hope you all have a great week and take some time to appreciate all that God has given us!

Thanks for asking, Jo6202. No, I didn't start last week. I am having the dry run on this coming Tuesday and I am hoping that I will start a day or two after. It just has been dragging on, or so it seems. I was diagnosed on July 5. I really loved my surgeon, he was very kind. You are right, they need to be reminded that we are scared women and we have never had this experience before. When my RO mentioned that he was going to have me hold my breath periodically to protect my heart during radiation, I told him that I was concerned about my heart, I had been so healthy and this came out of nowhere. Do you know what he said? Nothing!!!!! That would have been a great opportunity to look at me other than a target to aim his beams at. Grrrr...
I just want to get going..

hi ladies. I have not followed this thread in a while since my rads were delayed over three weeks due to healing issues. I've been reading through the last five pages tonight and have to say that you all sound like such a great group of women with excellent advice. It's always amazing to find that when I have been away for a while and start catching back up reading the posts, that so many are describing the exact feelings I've been having.

I am three zaps in and an emotional wreck. I'm already having some redness and tightness. Sore throat, some nausea/reflux feelings also. Fatigue has been huge, but i know that is from this chemo that is kicking my booty. Of course I thought it was brilliant that I could do rads concurrent with my new chemo regimen. Starting to question that decision. I've been using a cream called remedy that the techs suggested. Has anyone tried argan oil? I'm thinking about trying it but have not seen anyone mention it. My chest is also getting rock hard around my scars. It was like that after bmx but has eventually gotten better. Now it's as bad as ever.

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend rad break and has a pleasant week.

rainy day... I have to hold my breath thru my treatments.... To help protect my heart as well..

A physicist at my hospital developed a thing recently, where I can look at a projection of my breathing on the ceiling to make sure it's at the same spot each treatment.... They tell me he's introducing it all around the med community now.

After 2 days off from zaps, my boobie is even more red.... And especially where they place the bolus. I just keep telling myself... By the end of this week, I'm closer to done! Now that could mean 'done with treatments' .... Or done.... Like cooked, till done. Haha

Ah we'll, we do what we have to, right? Someone sent me a message once....

" you don't know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. "

Well.... I choose to "try" to be strong... I use to consider myself a really strong person... This crap has repeatedly tried to defeat me. But I'm also considered to be stubborn & I "ain't" gonna let this beat me!

We will all have a great week!

Hugs to all

Lorrie

Hello radiant ladies!

It's early morning and I am wide awake again. Aargh! Well had 27/34 on Friday and then jetted off to Chicago for my grandsons 1st birthday. Got so many hugs and cuddles from my 3 grandsons....that was definitely chicken soup for the soul and am so glad I took the chance to go. My boob is definitely red and angry, but I did just fine. Tomorrow is the last reg treatment and then 6 boosts.

Lav, good luck starting tomorrow. You will do fine. For me, radiation was not scary because when I chose lumpectomy, I knew that radiation came with it and I dealt with that at the time. For me, chemo was much tougher than radiation but it's not a contest. Each of the treatment has challenges. I walk and lift weights every day and it has helped me to ward off fatigue. Plus I spend the walking time to think about how much cancer I am killing each day. Hate cancer.

Love to all, MsP

MsP my rad. Onc told me that I cant be exposed to sunlight and I usually go for my walks early in d mrng but even if its not sunny my arm tends to get tanned a bit. Thats what worries me about my mrng walks. Jo6202 my rads are on d left side as well and Im asthmatic as it is. My onc. Rad gives me d impression that theres nothing to it and I shouldnt have any side effects but I want to be prepared for everything. Hope all of you have a good week.

Hi everyone - hope you are getting through each session with strength.

Sophiamarie- my mom is more than halfway done with the rads so I think she just had a bit of a "cranky" day with the rash bothering her. She is ready for this to be done...she's just tired of it. She is on the countdown now. I think she is feeling a bit better now.

My mom is using her lotion and aloe; the lotion feels better to her. Her rash did improve over the weekend when she was off. Good to know it will improve once it stops. It doesn't bother her as much as it did initially. She tried the hydrocortisone cream but it didn't help. She only has 12 more rads so I think she did really well so far for having very sensitive skin. She worried about this a lot before she started. Little fatigue showing up now later in the afternoon but not bad at all. All in all, she has done pretty well so far, I think. Her appointments are pretty quick, even with the xrays each week.

Does anyone know why x-rays are taken during rads?

I can understand doing them before hand to plan but why again during treatment?

Hi Bounce!

The techs at my center take X rays weekly just to make sure everything is lined up properly. With the tattoos, stickers, markers, seems like overkill, but I would rather be safe than sorry!!

So, had my last regular treatment today and my husband gets to take off my stickers tonight and give my back a good scrubbing. I am sooooo excited. Tomorrow boost #1. The tech showed me the mold she made for directing the radiation to the boost area. Very cool.

MsP

6 boosts to go and you are done. Congrats!

Were the x-rays done with you lying in the same position as you did the treatment in or standing up?

Thanks MsP

I know what you mean about having to ask questions.

My surgeon (who I thought was great) neglected to tell me there is a tumor marker left behind after surgery.

I have no objection to it - it serves a purpose - but I should have been informed.

What is happening to "informed consent"?

No wonder the entire process makes people nervous and depressed.

Bounce,

Not everyone spends the time to educate themselves about their treatment and/or seek out information and support. Your friends and family are right....you are doing well....you prove it by being an active participant in your treatment. Go get em, radiant one!

MsP

Gracers, and Lav, one down for all three of us!

First rads today, took an hour. It is too long to hold a position. I hope they get quicker after this.

Deleriumpie, I also have the rock hard areas going into this. I hope it doesn't get worse! My radiologist only allows aquaphor or pure aloe to be used. Haven't heard of anyone using the argon oil.

Hi again radiant ladies - I haven't checked in for over two weeks and boy am I sorry - I caught up with you all tonight and learned so much... I got treatment 9/33 today, and cried all the way home. I haven't been sleeping well and my nipple is so sore in spite of using lots of Calendula cream. I know I'm crabby because of the insomnia, but the last 3 treatments there has been a new technician getting trained during my treatments and something has gone wrong every day. I don't have confidence that she knows what she is doing! Then my work friend called tonight - I haven't talked to her since she got furloughed (we are federal employees) and she asked when my radiation would begin. It hurt my feelings since I started nearly 2 weeks ago! It made me realize how alone I am - not just on the table during treatment. Chemo was tough physically, but radiation is so hard for me mentally. It's time for that to stop. I am seeing my doc tomorrow after treatment so I am going to ask lots of questions. Thank you so much and bless you for sharing all your thoughts & experience. I really did learn a lot tonight reading through your posts - not just how to take care of my skin, but how to care for me.

Karibari, I am so sorry that you are having a tough time, especially dealing with a technician trainee. Yikes, can't they just pretend they're experts? This treatment is so tough and long. Everyone thinks I'm so tough, but I have cried many times and it feels so good. Once, during chemo, I was ironing (which I love to do...I know, sick, huh?) and I just couldn't do it because I was so tired. Bawled my eyes out. And I have had to pull the car over several times when I couldn't stop crying while driving home from work. Somehow even with the fatigue, we still can't good rest when we sleep. I am feeling better every day, but I don't expect my friends and even some family members to keep up with my treatment...I think they have ADHD and they have their own daily lives to manage.

StacieRae, congratulations on your progress. It's so cool that your chemo killed your cancer before surgery. You're right, that is something to be positive about. I was fortunate,and did not have a Seroma and..I am very healed from surgery so I hope someone comes along to give you some assurance. . Maybe your doctor will let you have a short break if you ask. I will only speak for myself that after chemo, radiation has been easy for me and I hope you have that same experience.

I have my first boost today. My skin is holding up pretty good. Mostly itching and small areas of peeling.

Have a radiant day, ladies

MsP