Fall 2013 Rads

LisaSp, yep, 1/2 way through. Last week was pretty good except for the day I saw my RO. I waited 40 minutes. She had forgotten about me.

Lorrie, thinking of you today. {{hugs}}

Found out I am getting 2 Gray. I am 48 shades short! Or 150 over! ha..

I normally never swear. I once worked for a Carnegie Hall concert pianist, very classy, well educated lovely woman who swore like a truckdriver. She would sit at her baby grand and play heavenly music and if someone came in who annoyed her, she'd tell them to "f-off". I found it hysterical and now "joke" swear to lighten things up.

Summergal, your treatment sounds similar to mine. I am convinced the inexperienced team places added pressure and stress because they haven't gotten used to how to behave smoothly. My techs make me very nervous. (not to mention the hideous room!) The shrugs, the rushing around, wrong breathing cues, and generally all the questions they have to ask the physicist and dosimistrist and doctor make me uncomfortable. In addition, I know I'm the first guinea pig for the gated breathing at this hospital and combined with the length of time it takes them to get their act together it is almost unbearable. Do NOT blame yourself. I just finished my last regular treatment on Friday. Even after five weeks they still took too long and seem unsure of themselves. My treatment typically lasted an hour. They have gotten done in 35 minutes, but only twice. And I am a champion breather. I've never not held my breath as long as they asked. For the long holds it's typically 35-41 seconds. I do not run and I'm terribly out of shape, but I can hold my breath until the cows come home. But it takes practice and meditation calm. I can hear them whispering in the control room and they are always impressed. The physicist always makes comments like, "Look at her breathe!" And the techs are getting sick of it so they reply back to him, "Yeah, Ray. She's been doing it all her life." Now when he remarks they have come backs like, "She's breathing like her life depended on it."

I'm doing the "coached" breathing with image-guided therapy using a tracking cube picked up by the camera. From what I was told, the goggles mentioned are used in conjunction with the type of machine being used. I don't think you can just buy goggles yourself and use them independently to monitor your breathing. I did a lot of research about the gated technique because it seemed no one else was doing it. Now almost everyone is getting on board! If someone has used the goggles perhaps they could confirm they used them during the CT planning stage. The planning and measuring is very important.

My machine is not compatible with goggles. Some places also use snorkels to force proper breathing. That would make me totally claustrophobic!!

In addition, it is not simply holding your breath at the deepest inhalation. At some point your lungs and tissues shift and wrap around your heart a bit. It would not be advisable to simply breathe as deeply as you can. They do the CT scanning to find the ideal breath hold area and there is a range, not just one cubic volume of air to hold. I did my 4D simulation with a cold. I'm sure my volume was compromised because I felt like I had to cough constantly. But we only have so many things in our control.

I would talk to the techs and doctor and tell them how you are feeling. Xanex or another calming medication might work wonders to alleviate the panic feeling. Once panic or anxiety sets in, there would be no way to hold your breath or follow instructions.

Gated breathing is not hard. But it takes a village to treat a patient. Between the physicist, techs, and me; we all have to be in coordination of timing. More complicated than just two people timing their release during 50 Shades of Gray. lol...

Congratulations to all the Radiant Ones finished!

One week of boosts left for me. I'm going to try to muster through. Beet red and skin is breaking down and open, but I just want to be done!!!

Hi Ladies. 22 down and 3 full rads and 5 boosters to go. The machine wouldnt work again yesterday this whole weeks been full of delays. Bounce my rad onc checks me out everyday my skin and how its reacting as well as when I was down with my asthma and sinus he checked out my breathing and guides me and changes my soap or d cream from aquaphor to Lipikar as mentioned. Yesterday the machine was down and it seems water is an impt element for this machine to work. Strange. He said something like d water pressure was low and due to which d data which goes to the machine and syncs the treatment according to each patient wouldnt go across to the machine. Weird right. Anyways after an hour it was back to normal and the reason they ask us to check(atleast with the hospital where I am treated) that our name appears on d screen before treatment is to make sure that the computer synced to the machine has the right name and therefore radiates the right area. Sorry im not too technical of a person.

It was weird but yesterday while being radiated I actually smelt an odor of something burning. When I got home i realized it was my skin! The area areola looked toasted! What a sight i just layed on a thick layer of goo and had to take an arcoxia for d pain and soreness and swelling! Yuck! The only thought that keeps me going is 8 more to go!

Have a great weekend sisters! Lay on d goo thick n nice to let our skin heal before another week of feeling radiant!

Hi Radiant Ladies!

Sorry, have been MIA for a couple of weeks. Trying to finish a paper for my last class!!!

I am 19/34 (last 8 will be boosts) and my skin is holding up well. I put my "boob lube" on 3-4 times a day and take off my sports bra as soon as I get home from work. Skin is just pink. No peeling. Working almost 40 hours/week. I did tell my boss that I want to go part time after Jan. 1st. (enough hours to keep my insurance). I say, live life to the fullest!!! We have all faced down the cancer demon and we are all strong enough to kick its ass!

Hi Bounce. When I check in,  the techs have me look at the screen and it has my info and picture on it. I have to say my name and birth date. Weird that they don't ask you your name. I guess nobody would have the same fingerprint, but it would be nice if they addressed you by your name. We feel like just another pair of boobs being run through as it is. Geez...

sounds like lots of different ways to confirm its "you" from biometric ID to verbal confirmation. I have a plastic card with a bar code on it and my picture- it goes everywhere I go and I can scan myself in when I arrive with the bar code reader and they know at the machine I have arrived. A pretty horrible picture but hey what can you do it does look like me at 0715 most mornings haha

26 of 33 and I look like a fried turkey leg. The rectangular rad field is from the center of my chest wrapping around to my back. The whole thing is a deep maroon color now and decidedly crispy. Except for weird little pink patches that I suspect are from air pockets on bolus days. I have large blisters on my side. I am just praying that they don't bust before Tuesday. The tech told me that when they so I will have to have a break. But I asked her about it yesterday and she said they may be able to go ahead with the boosts even if the skin on my side opens up. I am so uncomfortable and nothing is really giving me any relief. Boo

Jo6202....I got my emu oil over the internet. I made sure to buy the refined kind. It was around $50 for the bottle. I'm still using the Aloe, emu oil topped with Aquaphor. The occasional hydrocortisone helps with the itching. I notice my collar bone area seems to be the darkest. None of my skin hurts at all - it just itches with a mild rash. I haven't really experienced any fatigue yet

Just a side note....There was an 83 year old woman that just finished up her rads for BC and I was talking with her daughter in the waiting room while I was waiting for my treatment. She is still a practicing attorney and her daughter and she own their own practice. Amazing. Such an inspiration!!

I'm molting. I am 17 days out and I hurt. My skin is peeling like crazy and I'm oozing in a few spots. So, DeliriumPie, you are not alone. I try to air it out and I put aloe and a holistic balm on my skin. I'm taking ibuprofen for the pain. But maybe I need to pull out the narcotics for sleep!

I looked up my treatment info; I got 66 grays! Lots! No wonder I feel this way. I find my body to be very tense, especially my shoulders. I stretch often. But I scrunch up fast. I'm hoping for much improvement in the next week!

Lorrie, what a great way to honor your mother.

I need help on which technique to choose. My bc was on the left side. Does anyone know if the deep breath hold is more effective than the regular technique? The facility close to me doesn't offer breath hold because they don't have the equipment. The facility across town from me does. The Rads Mo feel the end result will be the same. The decision is mine to make.

Hi Candi07...You want to know whether to choose the gated breathing or not. In my case, my RO was the one who suggested it because he did not feel comfortable enough.because my tumor was on the bottom close to my heart. Too close for comfort, I guess. He explained that the breath holding moves your heart lower, hence moving it out of the treatment field. I don't know where your tumor was located. I would think that would influence the decision. . Ask your RO, he should be the one to advise you if it is necessary or not.

Bluebird- virtual hugs it sounds like a frustrating and painful situation How long do you have left to go? Is it possible you need to take a "radiation vacation" and allow your skin to regenerate a bit then continue?

Hope you get info and pain control tomorrow

Thanks. I'm just so sad about the whole thing. I've been looking forward to finishing, but I'm just so miserable and I am dreading tomorrow. I can't see that a break would even help at this point.

Here's a photo of me last Friday. It's already gotten worse over the weekend. Even more open areas.

Hope this isn't too graphic for everyone. If so, let me know and I'll delete it.

I hate having to look at the wall of mummies and faces!

P. S. Those mummies and faces are creepy. That's a very bad place to store them. How thoughtless!

Oh Bluebird! I am so sad and tearful for your pain and suffering. Surely your doctor will have some comfort for you tomorrow. We're all here for you.

Love, MsP