Winter 2013-2014 Rads

Jmfrankel, thanks for your story. You are young for bc, but sadly there are too many young ladies here. I have lots of family history, but they were all dx in mid- late 60s. I am a very active 58. I play competitive tennis & golf, hike. We all have had a difficult year, & even though treatment will continue in 2014, I am very confident that the worse is behind all of us..

Hello everyone, 

Wanted to give an update on how it's going. I'm at 8/30 and I'm doing okay.  I have felt fatigue after treatment #4 and it's been with me since; it's not real bad, but I do feel different, like I could just lay down and take a nap. I don't know what chemo fatigue is like since I didn't have it, but I don't feel like my usual self.  Eating small snacks seem to help some to restore energy. Today was my last work day for the year, working at a high school and won't have to return to work until Jan. 6th, so happy about that! I will be able to get more rest now, at least sleep in. I am not a nap taker at all but might take one now and then if I feel I need to.  I hear the worse fatigue is usually towards the middle to end of treatment time. I do wonder how it will progress.  Busy around this time of the year with Christmas but with more time home it's all manageable.  Going to treatments are a breeze, I'm done with the whole thing back at work on my lunch break in about 35 minutes, max. The only days it might be a bit longer is when I see the my onc. Dr. once a week. I get my weight checked every week too, still slightly losing. Starting just the last day or two I've had some little pains in my breast,  arm and underarm area.  My breast is a little swollen too.  Sometime I have a heavy feeling in my chest an hour or two after the rads treatment that may include a burning sensation.  It comes and goes, almost always gone by the morning.  I first mentioned this to the techs as to what it could be and they told me it's not from the rads, it's heartburn and anxiety related.  Dr. said it's not heartburn!  It's some kind of reaction I'm experiencing.  He thought it might level off in a week or two. He showed me my CT scan and it shows how the beams are nicking my lung, ribs and chest wall.  He said they want the radiation to clip the chest area so when I breath during treatment they want to make sure the beams are hitting my breast between breaths.  There is no holding breath or gated breathing done at this hospital.  I've searched and searched google for this particular side-effect of burning and heaviness in the chest and find nothing, but he said it's possible. A friend of mine who is also getting rads treatment, same hospital has also felt some slight heaviness in her chest too. I don't know if my anxiety is making it worse, perhaps. I haven't put any creams on yet, but bought some Aquafor and already have pure aloe gel on hand at home. My skin looks okay. I hope everyone is getting along fine.  Always appreciate all the comments. 

Hi Everyone.  Just finished #24/28 and am getting crispy especially by my neck.  Fatigue not too bad but the driving 2 hours each way 5 days a week is tiresome.

I had my CT/simulation yesterday, and it went very well. I'll start rads on January 2nd. I was surprised to hear from the RO that I'll be having both my lumpectomy site and my axillary lymph nodes radiated. I didn't realize I'd have the nodes zapped. He said it's because I only had two sentinal nodes biopsied and one had cancer cells, so he wants to radiated the other nodes that weren't removed in case there is cancer in them. Anyone else having their nodes radiated too? Will this increase my chances of getting lymphedema or cause any fibrosis type issues?

Same here on the nodes. I elected not to have my sentinel nodes taken out, so I was surprised to hear they zap them. I'm also looking forward to hearing comments.

Holeinone, I can understand why you would want the radiation to your nodes. All my tests indicated no node involvement and I elected not to have the SNB due to other health issues, so it surprised me to hear that the RO wanted to zap them. I was just curious if everyone gets them zapped routinely? The RO told me I would get radiated from the side so it would automatically get my nodes. On another note, I think most people have no clue what someone with a cancer diagnosis goes through. Unless you've gone through it yourself, you really can't understand. That's why I love these boards - everyone gets it.

Candi07, I'm glad your simulation went well. Thanks for sharing your experience and good luck on Monday.

lindacam, Wow, you're almost done - how exciting! I've got a pretty long drive ahead of me as well. I hope the time goes quickly.

leslie, It sounds like you have your hands full - you going through radiation and your mom going through chemo. I can't even imagine what that would be like. Bless your heart.

Rosecal, 8/30 and you're doing great. I understand your anxiety - I'm feeling it too. Thanks for sharing your experience. It helps to know what everyone else is experiencing.

SlowDeepB & Sally, thanks for listening & the support. I needed to rant a little..it will all work out. My kids are 30 & 27, so they will take over.

So I am also curious about the "dry run". I assume it is what it sounds like. You go, lie on the table but they do not zap you? My RO did not say anything about that or the tech. Seems like for those of you that have a long drive, it would be very inconvenient. My cancer center is very close, but it still seems unnesscesary. 

Rosecal, I started taking Omeprazole, during chemo, horrible heartburn. I think some of it is stress also, because I am still  experiencing it. Hope your time off of school helps with fatigue & you will be 50% done by the time school starts back..is that right?

Linda, you will be done before the New Year? Lucky girl.. That is a long commute...sorry..

Leslie, wow, you are the super woman of the group..kids, your mom, being a nurse & rads...

Hope all has a good weekend....Busy time for everyone...

Holeinone, Yes, by Jan. 6h when school starts again, I'll have 16 finished, just over half-way. Thanks for asking.  On the simulation or "dry run" you are not zapped, just lots of x-rays taken. That is the longest visit you'll have.  The only hard part for me was having my arms over my head for several minutes and they ached so bad. The tech worked as quick as she could, kept saying "don't move".They still ache for the zaps now but it's much better and it's only a few mins. I hope everything is smooth sailing for you, I had a long wait of 12 weeks between lumpectomy and radiation and so relieved I'm finally on my way.

SlowDeepBreaths, I hope your anxiety diminishes. We all have different levels of the "unknown". I still have to tell myself  I am not in control of the situation, but I do have control over my attitude. Thanks for your comments, much appreciated. I did not have radiation to my nodes in my neck; only one sentinel node with isolated tumor cells, so that did not qualify in my doctor's opinion, plus I'm Stage 1, Grade 1.  Do you get extra (radiation) when they zap the nodes or it is all included as they move the beam to the neck area? Just curious about that.   My total rads including the boosts is 60 grey according to my rad. onc. 

Went to appointment to see radiation dr.Had to be there at 11:30,got in at 12.Wanted me to go to lunch,and come back at 2:30 to get mapped,for radiation,for 6 weeks every day,except on weekends.Went back,and waited ,and waited.Finally a nurse came out,and ask me to bear with her,because she was working me in.I really tried,but the patients sitting there said its always like this.I told them im not gonna sit here all day.They finally took me back,and i ask to go to another office,thats closer to my home.So now i have an app.the 26,of Dec.But i can assure you i will not sit all day .Theres alot more Drs . in my area.I really hate to be like this,but when you have been through so much,with chemo,and now this.My treatments would have been only 10 min.

Thank you all for your encouragement! I am blessed to have a big family to help support my mom and me during our treatments! We just take one day at a time! I am so grateful I did not have to go thru chemo! I just love having other people to talk to who get it! I pray everyone else gets through it all without too many complications!

Hi everyone...just catching up on everyone's posts.  Big hugs to all of you who have already started or are enduring long simulations, drives, and doctor's visits.  I am still waiting to even get my simulation scheduled until PT clears me.  When I do get my rads I'll get entire left breast, axial lymph nodes that weren't taken all the way up above collar bone plus some lymph nodes that are behind chest wall I think?  My RO said a study was just completed 2 weeks ago showing the benefit of rads to the lymph nodes behind chest so now it is the protocol.   Lucky me....more rads:). 

Spoke with a woman at miaderm to see if I could get a free sample. She said they only gve them out at the doctor's office.  She said there is a special online at amazon right now for 4 tubes for $100 I think?  Not sure I want to buy 4 tubes until I try 1 but their stuff sounds pretty good.  Interested to hear if anyone is using this yet.  

I was told to use aquaphore, which I am.  Also, gave me some samples of miaderm (radiation cream) its about $30.00 online for 4 oz. tube.  Hope this helps.

Did you look it up online? miaderm.com  Here is the phone # 877-462-7727

Hi.  I had a PICC line and it was removed before rads.  Did 6 months chemo, had a 2 week break than rads.   Have just finished 24/28