Winter 2013-2014 Rads

TeamKim - you can get Domeboro at Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy. It's near the hydro-cortisone cream but ask the pharmacist to help 'cuz it's kind of hard to find.

Those of you just starting you'll be surprised how quickly it goes.  2nd boost today and 5 to go!

I have my dry-run appointment this afternoon and then first treatment tomorrow. Nervous! Argh.

Is there anyone else here who is having rads to an unreconstructed chest? (It seems most ladies here are doing post-lumpectomy rads).

Lojo and Bec65- Yes, I had a bilateral mastectomy, unreconstructed, and 1 lymph node involved.  The MO and RO felt rads were important because of the 1 lymph node.  I just finished my 28 rads on Monday. I had absolutely no problem and wish the same for you.  My skin turned a reddish brown from midline across right chest and underarm and an inch or two on top of front rib area.  I had no burning or blisters and no pain.  If I didn't look at my skin or lube the area 4-5 times a day I never would have known I was undergoing rads.   I had no real fatigue until the last few days.  Since I am retired and not working I only wore a bra twice in the 5 1/2 weeks and then only for an hour or 2.  I saw no reason to take any chance of irritating the area when in this cold weather I had a heavy cardigan on anyway and no one knew or cared that I was braless, me included.

I could be totally wrong since I have only my own experience to go by, but I think the lumpectomy gals have a harder time with rads because of all that breast tissue and tender nipple area that are getting radiated.   PLEASE don't overstress about the whole procedure.  I was a nervous wreck about it the first couple of days, but after that it became routine, the rad techs were wonderful, I was only there 15 minutes most of which was undressing and dressing and lubing up.  I put that cream on thick in the dressing room a minute after I got off the table!  Good luck!  

Lojo and Beck65:  I start rads to my left mx site (no reconstruction) tomorrow.  Receiving 25.  Peaches, thanks for your reassurance.  I was starting to get myself worked up, but your experience helped.  I woke up and thought to myself that today is the last day before I poison my body.  I have worked so hard since the dx, lost 25 lbs. work out daily and my cholesterol went from very high to just above normal. I have loved the transformation (wished that I had one this earlier thought), and now have to but this body though rads.  But I gave myself a good talking to and have decided to view the rads as healing rays that will rid my body of any possible rouge cancer cells.  And I will be purchasing fresh flowers tomorrow to brighten up this dismal winter in Manitoba.  Lojo, Beck65 and others.  I will be following your paths and wishing you all the best too.  Let's go girls! 

Risteadman - congrats.  And congrats to everyone else who is finishing this week.  If I go back a page I'll probably loose my post, but I know there are others.

Week one done.  Weird when you start on a Thursday.  I had reconstruction 2-1/2 years ago after original BMX and my radiation is for recurrence w/node involvement.  Coming after two different chemos and axillary node dissection I sure agree w/the "poison" comment but I'm told I'll get another 25% protection w/radiation.

Reporting on what I have learned the first week:  I guess I have to drop my control issues and just look at this as my current job.  One day they took me 15 min early.  The next was 30 min late.  Today there were machine problems so it was 1-1/2 hours late.  I was given a shirt today that the hospital guild makes.  It looks sort of like 'scrubs' but has velcro down the front & both sides.  It's an alternative to gowns so you can come straight from home to the room.  I'm too cold so I'll give it back for someone else to use.  

I will see the RO every Wednesday.  I will have new X-rays taken every Thursday - I guess to make sure we're on track but there are no tumors left to see, so who knows what they're tracking.  I did see the mapping and the graphs today.  Really interesting. The plastic piece that covers my chest is called a "bolus" to draw the radiation closer to the skin because I had a chest wall recurrence and skin is considered part of chest wall.  I'll have that every other day for 2 weeks, and yes it will supposedly burn the skin worse than regular beams.  I do have nine (9) zaps (or beams) with EVERY treatment - some super clav, some whole chest, some with cones to focus the rays.  I forgot to ask her today what they were focusing on.  I do know they will be hitting all level 2 & level 3 lymph systems. 

The damage to my right lung will hopefully not be more than 25%.  Of course that's on top of my years of smoking.  I'm using Miaderm and also have 100% Aloe Vera gel.  I may add Aquaphor on top like TeamKim is doing if the skin gets bad.  Thanks to whoever recommended a throw away shirt.  Once I put on the lotion, the 5 colors of permanent magic marker on my skin bleed onto the shirt.

TB90, I love your idea of healing rays!  That puts a different spin on the whole radiation thing.  I like to visualize things in a beautiful way and I would rather think that way while I'm laying on that table.

Thank you for your insight!♥♥♥

Hi SBP. You almost have it 100% correct about the pocket party. The only part you are missing is that some of us have been known to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer. I have frequently heard the clinking of glasses and way to much laughter coming from my pockets. Lol. And they leave my pockets messy sometimes, but Kim taught me the secret - twirl around and poof, your pockets are clean again. You're totally right about the hugs, love and smiles though. And I know I feel more peaceful knowing my sisters are in my pocket whenever I have a big appointment or I'm scared or depressed. It's good to know you're not alone.

O and we go on vacations together too. The one who is going takes an over the door shoe holder, so we each have our own little space. ;-)

My first treatment was good. Not as quick as yours but pretty quick. Other than the tingling, I didn't feel anything. And I'm not at all pink or anything, but I didn't expect to be either. 

As far as Kentucky goes, the first 2 times I was there, I had misfortunes. A car accident once (black ice) with about 40 other cars - strangely none of us hit each other, just ditches and road barriers and in our case the bottom of a bridge, backwards. The second time, the muffler fell off my car. I had determined not to go back at that point. But some friends were going down to golf and we thought ok. We had a great time. Last time was even better, the people were so nice and friendly, offering to show us around, recommending restaurants, it was super. That time we were just tourists! Had a blast!

About the appointments, I mis-spoke yesterday. First, I am 16+4 not 15+5. And second, when I looked at my schedule, I was appalled. They were all over the place, I'd never remember and it would really inconvenience work because they'd never be sure when I was going to be there and when I wasn't. So after my appt I sat down with the secretary. She not only changed my appts but the RO's too so they meshed with my new schedule. I get Rads every day at 3:00pm then go home. Except for once a week when I see my RO after my appt. My thanks to her for helping me work out a better schedule.

Well, I've written a book here. Better go have my bath and crawl into my beddy bye. Nite nite all.

Thanks to all for the pocket party to celebrate being done.  Funny, when I was born weighting only 4 lbs ( 4 weeks premature) the newspaper called me "Vest Pocket Venus".  Guess I've been a pocket girl for a long time.  I learned more about Domeboro.  Pharmacies generally stock it seasonally because it is considered a treatment for poison ivy.  Now that they have learned it is helpful for the radiant lady itch it will be on hand all the time.  So if not in stock, ask them to order it.  Already today the itch is better.  The nurse on last day warned me not to soak in a tub, go to a pool, or let hot water run on my breast until healed.  All that can harm skin.  Just gentle washing that girl by hand (not rough cloths) for best results.  You are all headed for healing.  I'm staying here to keep up with the news.

I need some information..i finish with my last radiation today..33,and with that 8 boost.Red and a little sore,but i can handle it so far,with medaderm,and aquafor,which i get from the Dr.I got a prescription,from the chemo Dr.and im suppose to start arimidex after radiation,and also a bone density scan.Ive tried to get someone from my reasearch nurses to get some answers,but ...no one calls back Do anyone of you have to go on arimidex when you finish...or a bone scan?????

Kayezzy, 

It is standard for all cancer patients to go on either Tamoxifen if you are premenopausal or Arimidex if you are postmenopausal. There are exceptions, stage 0 ladies that had a mascetomy. 

I finished rads 2 weeks ago, started Arimidex 5 days later. The bone scan is to give you a base line, as Arimidex is hard on your bones. 

Your MO can give you the statistics for the benefit. In my situation, with lots of positive nodes, there is no choice. For some ladies, the benefit is so small, and if the side effects are horrific you might decide not to stay on it. So far, I cannot really say I notice anything. I'm still fatigued but that is to be expected. 

There is an active thread on Arimidex ( Anastrozole, generic name ).  There are other drugs that some ladies switch to if they do not like Arimidex.   

One Week Partial Breast Treatment Update: 

I had my 5th treatment this morning, only 4 more to go.  The first night I had the hot breast feeling which I cooled down with some fresh aloe leaves.  Yesterday after I finished the afternoon session I could feel some tingling but after that nothing.  I saw the nurse and doctor today and the only sign was a very slight pink in the area and very slight swelling below the nipple where I am getting the radiation.  They were very pleased with how it looked. Otherwise everything is pretty much normal.  They gave me some pads to put in my bra is my nipple gets irritated but I haven't needed them yet.  I am wearing a very old soft cotton bra.  I put the calendula cream (it looks more like petroleum jelly) on every couple of hours. 

I asked why more people don't get this protocol and was told you have to be Stage I, no blood infiltration, no nodes and low grade ( I am a grade 2) to qualify. 

So far so good. I will try to post tonight.

One down, 27 to go. I think one of the techs has no other job than to tell me to hold still. I also didn't realize the marks for my supraclavicular nodes would be visible half way up my neck! Scarves, I guess. The nutritionist said no green tea during rads. Has anyone else heard this ?

Also, I am feeling a little flushed/warm in my face this afternoon. Normal? Unrelated? (I've stopped the tamoxifen for the duration of rads).

I finished my regular radiation this past Wednesday.  I have received two boosts and have four more to go.  I didn't have any major problems with my skin during the regular radiation (16 days).  However, after two boosts, I am very red and sore--nipple area, under breast and in my armpit.  I have been using Aquaphor and aloe.  I don't think I will wear a bra after today until the entire area heals a little more. Any other suggestions?  I'm so close!!!  I've been looking forward to February 26th ever since I began radiation.  I couldn't have asked for a better team and radiation oncologist.  They have become like family and I'm sure I will miss seeing them.  However, I know there will be many other ladies that will be around to take my place--unfortunately.