Fall 2013 Rads
Comments
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I do think its weird to go into the center and make no eye contact with anyone, go get a gown, strip, give them your "card" then go in and climb up on the table and away you go. I had my time moved up to 0730 starting monday so even the reception people won't be there yet.
The technicians have been pretty nice at my place, they ask things like- what are you doing this weekend and actually listen to the answer, they are also very respectful of my privacy and helping me sit up and get off the table. I am "outsourced" for my radiation from my health system because of where I live but its still pretty good experience-wise and the equipment is world class -
im sorry bounce.... trust me.... it gets better, but at least your techs can be human. I had good techs.. we joked around everyday to kind of lighten things up & when my mom passed away, they were really kind... The hospital I went to... my rads techs were the kindest peoole I saw on a daily basis.... im lucky to have no complaints about them..
Maybe try to "engage" with them... they are probably not wanting to make you uncomfortable in a sucky situatiin, but dont know YOU & what would make it better for YOU.,,
I am sorry..,,,
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bounce - so sorry the techs are cold at your place. I had one guy on my team who was a little quiet - but we still picked on each other a bit - everyone else was awesome.
I think I was so focused on the space-age-ness of it all that I didn't think about being alone. Just channel your inner nerd and pretend you're stepping onto the sickbay of the starship enterprise every day.
JanerT - I had chemo before surgery, so the oncotype was unnecessary. I think if you have a tumor over .5cm and you're HER2 positive, they'll skip the oncotype because chemo is recommended for everyone in that category.
Hope everyone enjoys their weekend! -
Ladies you are so sweet.
Today after I was told to sign in (finger print scan) by a technician who barely looked at me I said: "Who am I." He looked up - glared - and said: "I know who you are." But I waited without moving so he was forced to say my name in order to move things ahead.
Luckily the other technician asked me how I was feeling and I thanked her for asking. After that she made a bit of an effort to smile.
I can see I have 20 more days to reach them and make them understand I am a human being!
And you are right - it does get better. Today I was more at ease with everything that was going on around me. I am beginning to be familiar with the routine.
You ladies are the best. -
Good morning Ladies and the one dear husband who is here for his wife,
Last Friday, I finished my 10th day of Rads and in that time, have had new techs every time. Like I said before, there is nothing about rads that is comforting, soft or soothing. I've had ONE tech that treated me like I was a human and not a specimen. Just to look at that damn thing they call a BED is daunting. By Fridays, I am pretty much calmed down but Monday mornings, the anxious demon is in my chest again.
Good for you Bounce for forcing them to realize that you are a PERSON with FEELINGS! When I went on Friday, I waited and waited for someone to come & get me for my 'treatment'. In that time, I was getting more anxious and angry. I felt like they forgot about me. Finally, I got up and was headed to the dressing room to leave and a tech noticed me and asked me my name. I told her and she said Just the person I'm looking for. How can they feel ok doing that? I know that they see everything but are they that hardened? Sigh........
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Hay denilynne - Sorry you too are feeling the chill!
Try to bring some of us along with you in your pocket. MsP will be spreading light and calmness. LisaSp will be making all the technology seem marvelous and I will be making bad jokes - like - What's my favorite book this month? 50 Shades of Gray! (Even though I haven't read the book and I'm getting 60 Gray).
Don't ever allow yourself to be forgotten - if you have waited longer than usual - venture off and ask someone if you have been forgotten. ndgrrl has the funniest story about being forgotten -
http://community.breastcancer.org/topic_post?forum_id=91&id=807576&page=26 - I hope this link works.
It wasn't funny at the time it was happening but she shared it afterwards with a smile.
LaurLauralind5 - Good luck for tomorrow.
Hugs to all -
It's been over a weeks since rads ended. I've got a couple of blisters now and two open spots. None of my skin broke or blistered while in treatment. It's not bad, not oozing or anything. But it does hurt, even considering I am numb on most of the area. I use a holistic healing balm. I'm feeling more tired now that I'm home, too. I don't know if it's my body working harder to repair or if it's because I'm resuming mom duties. I'm really glad to be back home, but I have much work to do! So much low priority stuff pushed to the side for much of the year. I haven't even unpacked! But did do my laundry.
Don't anyone who skipped chemo feel guilty! Or anyone who had lumpectomy vs MX feel guilty! When I was first diagnosed they thought MX would be all I needed, along with tamoxifen. I felt like I was getting off easy. My MO set me straight. Then we got my pathology and then recurrences... It's all crappy. The less treatment the better chances of quality of life. I love hearing that someone does not need chemo!!
My rad techs were very sweet and upbeat. I didn't feel the anxiety and isolation going in for my treatment (twice per day!). In the beginning I did find myself crying a couple times after, not knowing what triggered it but understanding it is stressful. There was a lot of chatting in the waiting room, but there were 6 machines and the majority for BC patients. This was at MD Anderson. When I had rads the first time there was one machine and very little waiting, so not much visiting at all.
I saw my RO twice per week because I had treatment twice per day. He would look at my skin, check the lines (I had about 6 different colors with tape over), ask how I'm doing. The PA would visit just before him. My RO palpated me at the consults and before I began treatment.
Much love to all! -
My relationship with the technicians is good and getting better. i don't know if it is due to the "incident" that happend a week or so ago. There was a new guy who helped that day. I have to do the gated breathing technique where I have to use the glasses and Isee a screen that tells me when to hold my breath. That day they all left the room and I had a blank screen. Mind you, that happens when he has to go in and out of various screens before he starts. I was not rally concerned and waiting for it to pop up. Finally, I said that I couldn't see anything. The new tech came barging back in, scolding me " You have to tell us when you don't see anything, it is very important!!" The next day I had a little chat with the regular guy and he was embarrassed, I could tell. He said that they (the technicians) should ask ME if I can see the screen. Long story short, they have been really nice. It is hard enough that you go there every day, this is not necessary. Bounce...I feel for you. Hang in there, sweetie, we will get this over with. In one piece.
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I was lucky to have wonderful rad techs. There were days I know they were stressed and a little distant but all in all they were kind and caring. It didn't hurt that I would bring the staff really good home baked cookies every now and then.
I think sometimes the techs distance themselves because they see soooooo many patients per day (1 every 15-20 minutes). Also, it would be difficult to deal with sick people all day long. Once I caught my regular tech crying because she had "lost" one of her favorites. The clinic I went to for my rads treated all types of cancer. There were many older men there being treated for prostate cancer. For some reason the men always talked to me and shared recipes. ???? LOL!
Thank you all for your support. You certainly are very special women.
Here's to a fabulous and radiant week.
Cakes -
Just trying to brighten someones day. Hope it worked. Gentle hugs to all who need it. -
Charger, I "busted" out laughing. You need to tell us how to make these. I want to take to my rad techs. -
Here is the recipe..
Follow this easy recipe for your own, at home, Mammo-Graham.
What you will need:
Chocolate Graham Crackers Split In Two
A Roll Of Marzipan (from your grocery store)
White Frosting
Pink Frosting Gel
The middle of the Mammo-Graham is Marzipan, which you can cut into slices. You should be able to get approximately 13 slices from a roll. Heat the pieces for about ten seconds in the microwave to make them pliable. Mold the Marzipan so that it is flat where the cookies will sit with a rounded bulge coming out. Use white frosting as paste to keep the graham crackers stuck to the Marzipan. Use the pink frosting to make the nipples. -
Holy graham cracker! I am still busting out laughing over that picture, 70charger. Too, too funny!
Denilynne, I an so sorry that your rad techs are so cold! I had two techs. James was a cold fish and Helen was a total ray of sunshine. Somehow those two personalities created the warmth and efficiency that I needed. What I have found is that people are always warmer when you are interested in them. James was so much more friendly when I asked about his children. He was so animated when he talked about his babies. So sweet. I work in IT and I think that rad techs are nerds...they are attracted to the technology and the software. They are not for the most part "people persons".
Just a suggestion.....if your rad techs are cold and lack humor and sensitivity.....take them a platter of Mammo-Grahams.
Radiant showers of love, joy and good health to all.
MsP -
Rainyday thanks for the recipe! I have not made them, I just found the pic & posted it for a tit bit o'fun. I see I accomplished my mission by putting a smile on someones face today. -
70charger Soooo funny! My daughter and I busted up! Gracers -
Now I'm hungry for smores! lol...
My techs are not that warm and fuzzy either. I have to stay still for too long and it really hurts. When it goes over an hour, I ask for a break and lately they tell me to hang in there and won't let me put my arm down. (I'd like to stick them in the same position and see how long they can hold it.) But I do try to stay calm and think happy thoughts. I ask about their weekends or their pets just to try to stay connected somewhat. I brought them a bucket of bagels once, but maybe some homemade cookies are in order next. Five days of regular rads left then a week of boosts. My skin is breaking down where I had an eschar. Hoping it will hold up a little longer. -
Skin fading everyday, but still feeling the pains inside...
Im sorry fir those of 5ou with cold techs... mine were awesome.... I was llucky, I guess.
Hang in! When its done, things get better so quickly....
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Hi Lovelies!!
Absolutely love the mammo-grahams! Hehe
Well it's Monday here in NZ and I've just had my last radiation treatment today! Yay - finito, done, dusted, out of there!!
Here is a pic of the room I visited every day for six weeks
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oh forgot to add that I also had a follow up appt with my MO today too. Got a bit of a surprise - as after telling me during chemo I wouldn't need tamoxifen - he now wants to put me on it for 5 years.
I know nothing about it really and what to expect taking it. Has anyone else recently started it too?? I guess there is another thread on here with info about it. -
And just one more thing forgot to say (few I think they must have radiated my brain today!! Lol)
I heard the best song for us today on the radio heading into my last treatment. It's a new song by Jack Johnson called 'Radiate'..lol -
I always thought no hormonal therapy if hormonal receptor negative! I don't know much on triple neg, though. I'd really want to know why he changed his mind and if the side effects of tamoxifen is worth the benefit...and what is the benefit if you are ER/PR-. -
Hello ladies
I hope you are all feeling radiant.
While making a huge effort to get a new technician to relate to me as a human being today I discovered that I am not going to have my boosts as 5 doses of 2 Gray at the end - but am getting an extra boost to the tumor bed throughout the radiation (my boob gets 2 Gray each day and the tumor bed gets 2.4 Gray a day).
Instead of 2x25=50 + 5X2=10 = 60 Gray
I get 2.4 x 25 = 60 with the extra 0.4 being to the tumor bed.
Anyone else had this?
Wouldn't it be nice if the doctor bothered to tell me why he made this choice. Originally when I saw him he said I had a bad hematoma and he would decide if he should give me the boost with the last 5 treatments or after them. Clearly something changed between then and my simulation or he thought of something new to try out!
Anyway - I am relaxing about the whole thing! I bought a freshly squeezed vegetable juice today to try and give my body some healthy vitamins to help repair any damage to healthy cells.
I cannot tell you how bad it tastes.But I am sure its good for me (like the radiation) so I'm pretending its a chocolate milkshake.
And a little tip which might help someone feel more comfortable - I discovered that if I put a little cushion or wedge under my back so I am lying slightly on my back but not flat on it - and I lie with my boob balanced just right - not pulling down or to the left or to the right - but just balanced in the middle of my body - it feels much better.
Hugs to all -
someone I know is starting rads soon, and her doctor recommended 15 treatments instead of 35 which were planned, since she's over 50.
Anyone know why this would be? Anyone else doing less treatments? -
15+5 boosts is the standard treatment for over age 50 at my cancer center.
Found a link to an article:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045%2813%2970386-3/abstract -
Kruise - congrats! Thanks for the pic of the rads room - now I know what to expect when I start tomorrow. I hope they start me tomorrow as planned - I have strep throat - the weekend was a total washout, but I'm on amoxycillin so hopefully that will get it. I asked the tech about the gated breathing goggles when she called to schedule me; she said they looked into it, but they were "all sold out." Really? Is there that big a demand for gated breathing goggles? Oh, well, I hope they have something rigged up when I go tomorrow.
And, as I go into it, I hope I can keep my sense of humor like Bounce does, my sense of compassion like MsP, and my sense of self, like all of the rest of you. You really are all just so beautiful. XO -
Kruise, congratulations on the successful completion of your treatment. You were always so very radiant, but now you have your formal credentials.
Your treatment room looks just like mine! (Except my radiation techs were messy and had more carts with random crap on them along the wall)
Please make sure you get more information about Tamox. There are significant side effects and risks with the anti-hormonals and you want to make sure you are getting benefit that outweighs the risk. It seems likely that you are TN but have some level of hormone receptors that are low but not zero.
It's Monday, ladies.....time to head out to the treatment center, put on one of those ugly robes, hike yourself up on the treatment table and kick some cancer a$$.
Bounce, I do not eat enough vegetables, so yesterday I made vegetable soup in your honor. And you will be pleased to know I did not have chocolate HaagenDazs for dessert.
Shine brightly friends!
MsP -
Summergal - you had better take earplugs with you tomorrow because there will be so many of us in your pocket yelling and cheering for you the technicians are going to ask you what the noise is about!
Seriously though - good luck. I hope you can take it easy as you can and tell the technicians if you need a break or to move etc. if it gets long (which hopefully it wont).
I have taken to going back to the waiting room after my treatment - which is a very nice room - and sitting and having a cup of coffee. I just chill for about 10 minutes and let myself rest and then its off to work and the rest of the day. But those 10 minutes are really helpful in keeping me calm.
Best wishes. -
MsP - Veggie soup is a great way to disguise veggies. My MIL fed my FIL carrots every Friday night for about 50 years in the soup even though the man professed to hating carrots and not being able to tolerate them.
Whenever he would launch into an anti carrot tirade we would all have to stop ourselves from falling off our chairs laughing - and my MIL? You never saw a woman look more interested in her husband or more angelic!
She always called her soup-stick-blender her magic wand. If my FIL ever discovers he ate carrots for 50 years he is going to have a stroke.
Kruise - well done - it seems like once you have seen one linear particle accelerator you have seem them all! I was struck by how different it feels lying on the table and having the machine move around you than looking at it in pictures. Its a huge piece of machinery to be entangled with. And of course once I am lying down and can't move my glasses don't cover the entire range of the room and I can't see what's on the screen hanging off to the side and find that very frustrating.
I wonder what the electricity bill is like for a machine like that? I have no idea how it really works even though I have watched a few animations of it on YouTube.
When I try to understand physics my brain feels like someone used a blender and turned everything to mush! -
thanks guys - and good luck with your first one summergal. It will all seem very 'freaky' at first but you will get used to it.
Yes it is always different being on the actual machine than looking at it that's for sure.
Yes MsP they tell me I have a low Progesterone receptor percentage and think there is now support to show that Tamox can offer some benefit, but I WILL certainly do some research on this. I had thought having AC chemo had sent me through menopause but MO told me there is still a chance I may start up again. I really doubt it - my poor body feels like its 90, so I doubt it would bother putting energy back in to kick starting baby-making options lol
So maybe I better chance my diagnoses now to ER- PR+ HER- :-) -
Hi all--I'm 12 days out and thought I'd post a status update. Over this last weekend, I finally got past the exhaustion. I didn't even realize how tired I was until suddenly, I was no longer tired! My husband is cracking up at me now in the evenings as I zip around doing things, get some work done, etc. I guess if the side effect of radiation tiredness is feeling this amazing when it lifts, it may be worth it! Interesting, I'm having more pain in my breast now than I was for the last few weeks of radiation, especially at the boost site which didn't bother me at all while I was having them. It's not unbearable, but I'm aware of it. The pinkness is fading considerably and the rash I had in one place, while it's still largely there, is no longer itchy, so I count that as a HUGE improvement. The itchiness was making me nuts--had to excuse myself to the bathroom at certain functions just to stand there and scratch/moisturize/try not to scratch/etc. Hope you all continue to do well.
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