Spring 2014 Rads
Comments
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So today, my second rad treatment they used a bolus...this will be used every other day. anyone else familiar? Is this what some of you call *boosts*? Here is what I just copied:...
"If you are receiving radiation after mastectomy, the therapist may place
a bolus (a flat piece of rubber-like material) on top of your skin,
which increases the radiation dose to your skin and to the tissues right
below it." -
A boost is treatment to the tumor site area. It is usually done at the end of treatment protocol. I just found out today I will be having five proton boosts consisting of five axis positioning. Anyone else have that? My regular treatments are external beam rads.
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Hi Vintagegal - I haven't posted on this thread before but started reading about a week ago and already have learned alot - so thanks, ladies. The techs used the bolus every other day for the first two weeks but said that was it - they wouldn't use it for the rest of the treatments. I just had 12 of 30 today and haven't had any problems. I see the doctor every Monday and yesterday she finally told me to start putting some lotion on my skin - said the area right below my neck will be the first to start itching. Well, now it itches - kind of wish she didn't say anything!
Back to the bolus - the techs explained exactly what you learned - it acts as another skin layer so that the rads stay closer to the actual skin and are better able to treat it.
I'll have 5 boosts after the first 25 - finishing May 16. I understand the boosts to be targeted specifically to the area where the cancer was located, as opposed to the entire chest area. The days are surely flying by - and I'm ready to be done!
Saltyjack/Bev
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Thanks so much SaltyJack/Bev!
I have always learned more here than any other place!
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so I have been on the hunt for Rash Guard shirts. The only ones I could find were too tight and pricey. But today I went to Target and in the Active Wear section I found sound workout tshirt with UV protection. And the best part was they were only $12.98. They had some for $8.99 in the men's dept.
I am hoping to wear one over my swimsuit at the beach along with sunscreen (of course).
I hope I got the right thing.
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Okay, I am bummed. In the scheme of things this is not a huge deal, many women face much worse. But, does anyone know how it is determined how long each person gets radiation? I know many factors go into each of cases, but I'm now at 7 weeks. I was originally told 4-6, last week 33 treatments and I was supposed to do my dry run tomorrow and first one on Thursday but my plan isn't ready. So, dry run and first treatment are now Thursday. I asked to confirm if is 33 treatments and she said no, it is 35. Age, location, grade, my size was less than 1cm.
I have a few questions for Thursday.
Flagirl, I was told at my mapping I would have 7 boosts. -
Hi VintageGirl
I had my 8th tx today and I get the bolus every other day although I had no idea that is what it is called. I had DMX at the end of Jan with no reconstruction, and they explained that the pad acts like the skin or fat that would normally be there. Hope this helps
Anne
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Momtothree boys- I am curious so many holding breath. I have a history of cardiomyopathy so I was very anxious about radiation on left breast. I had an Echo preop-first normal one- so my radiation oncologist is confident I will do fine. He explained how radiation criss-crosses versus straight on above heart used years ago lessens the effects on heart. I have never been told to hold breath. I have a lot of respect for radiation oncologist but I will ask on Monday-can't hurt. I am doing 33 treatments, 28 regular and five boosts. In terms of skin, I had a pretty involved quadrantectomy so very little tissue left under incision site-mostly seroma under nipple-so I am prepping myself boosts going to be rough. I know all our plans individual and I still had 2 very close margins opposite side of surgical cavity so radiation needed to get started maybe sooner in healing process than I was ready for. Have something in other breast which will need MRI again when inflammation from radiation settles down. A little nervous I may do all this and still end up w mastectomy but staying the course and hoping for the best. I will start Tamoxifen after radiation-taking that three months at a time and hoping to do the five years. Not really ready for hot flashes at this point in my life but I have two sisters who had IDC and I need to give it a try. Good luck!
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Have2laugh: Many centres no longer use the breath holding technique due to improved equipment and technique. Recent studies also show no difference in cardiovascular SE whether or not right or left side is radiated. So do not worry if your centre does not use this. Many practices differ from place to place based upon RO's preferences, their equipment, etc. Boluses are sometimes used everytime, sometimes every second time, etc. Boosts are not used or vary in their number, etc. This can be stressful when we do not understand why we appear to be receiving something different, so please ask the technicians as they are also quite knowledgeable and of course, your RO will also have an explanation.
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Hi ladies - I'm being treated at MD Anderson in Houston with the "breath hold" technique (after a left side MX). When they did the simulation, they took x-rays of where my heart was with "free breathing" and breath hold. When I hold my breath, according to my RO, my heart drops and goes inward - so it's farther from the field they're treating. The tech said that the machine they're using for me can do both free breathing and breath hold treatments but some machines can only do one or the other so there must be some difference with the way the radiation is administered.
I always have to hold my breath but some of the pulses (or whatever they are?) are short - like less than a second - and some are anywhere from 15 to 25 seconds. They said the longer pulses are when they're treating a bigger area.
If that doesn't make sense or it's not right, somebody please correct me! Thanks -
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Andrea- Iam now 6 months out from RADS. I found that mens tank top underwear worked well instead of a bra and pretty soft. I would put a shirt over it.
SaltyJack- You made me recall that on the long pulses I would think one Our Father, one " Hail Mary" and be just started another when it was done. It helped my not think they were increasing the intervals and prevent panic attacks.
I had 28 Rads over 6 1/2 weeks. Cannot even tell where it was now. Hugs to all.
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I had #4/25 today, saw RO after treatment. I asked about swimming, he said it would be ok early in treatment but chlorine drys your skin out so limited time in pool. He also said to limit sun exposure to rad areas, probably need to wear rash guard shirt. Then he said I will have to watch sun exposure to rad areas for a long time after finishing rads, probably for a least a year or more!!! Well I hope my skin holds up because I love to swim and go to the beach, also go to grandsons baseball games. Well the hunt is on for rash guard shirts! Looks like I will swim after the sun goes down! No boosts for me since I had mastectomy and had PCR after chemo.
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Hey Have to laugh---- I started my rads the day after you did! So we are on the same path, even though I am IDC.
GIRLSTRONG_---DOING a HAPPY DANCE FOR YOU --- WISH IT WAS ME
Flagirl---from the time I spent in the dressing room with a woman about done, her skin got worse when the boost started. I hope that won't happen to you, and I have heard that you can continue to have SE for a couple weeks after you are completely done. She told me the RO was not concerned since it was still dry---but she was told to use here aquaphor 5 times a day. I use my Xclair 3 X a day. I pray that everyone here has minimal side effects and that we all can continue to prepare for the worst but expect the best !!!!!
Ladies, when I am laying on that table trying to keep my panic down, I just pray that God will keep us all safe and the doctors wise and the techs competent and the equipment working and that at the end, He will use our trials to abenefit in some way we may not even understand---but for Goodness in His eyes.
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SaltyJack
that sounds right to me. I was told the breath holding keeps my ventricle in a downward position. As you, some times it is a couple seconds, then the next will be around 20 seconds. They did quite a few xrays etc during the sim & the dry run to get all that positioning correct for the breathing.
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went on line to shop for rash guard - every one i clicked on said they were sold out!! maybe i will find one in FL
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TB90-
Thanks for the update on the breath holding. My initial thoughts and plans were to just to do bilateral mastectomy due to my history and family history but my radiation oncologist, surgeon, and team convinced me I was good candidate for conservation and radiation. He is very current on techniques and we specifically addressed my cardiac concerns so I am sure I fall into the group with newer equipment that spares heart. I work nights 12 hours and trying to do most shifts on weekends but between commute and fatigue it's harder than I thought. New start time today so should help-some days I had to come home sleep for two hours-get up got to radiation and come back and sleep few more hours. Not good. For those looking at shirts-I looked up rash guards and I see selection on Zappos. I am not all that familiar with site but might be worth look. I know it is hard to avoid sun and water on vacations but beware warm waters we have here in Florida breed different types of nasty bugs. I am not sure I will even swim in my own pool unless skin completely intact.
Redheaded1- Hope you are doing well. Nice to have someone on same schedule. Good luck!
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this is one (of many) I bought yesterday at Target. Comes in sizes XS-XXL for $12.98 in Active Wear dept. it says it blocks harmful UV rays so I am hoping it will do the trick!
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Hi ladies,
I had my first RT yesterday. I have 25 in total to the chest wall, axilla and supraclavicular after a mastectomy.
What creams/ oils are you using? Were they recommended by your RO?
Do they work?
I would really appreciate your feedback on this.
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Havealaugh: And you described the newer techniques very well with the angled radiation that skims across some areas to directly hit the targeted areas. That way the radiation does not come down on the chest directly. None of my beams came from overhead. They were all angled from the sides. Was very reassuring. If radiation can be reassuring in any way! Now that it is done, I seldom think about it or the long term SE's that worried me so very much each and every trip to CancerCare.
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Amazonwarrior- I had lumpectomy, so I don't know if Mastectomy works same way or uses same stuff but my clinic gave me a list of creams--all were over the counter except for two that required prescriptions (Biafine and Xclalir) I am using Xclair. Today is my 10th treatment--no burns yet, and I am a fair redhead. just minor pink after treatment that goes away The list had Aquaphor (greasy and will stain clothes) Calendula cream (I bought a tube of this at natural food store) and some others. I read everything I could find in clinical trials---Calendula (marigold) had good results, and so did one called Miaderm. I think you may need to get that ordered by Walgreens if you want that one. In clinical trials, the Biafine didn't perform any better than the aquaphor used in the control groups. Important to cover the whole area---have your RO nurse or the tech show you. Underarm area, under boob area, the side of the chest to the middle of the breastbone. I apply first thing in a.m but more than 4 hours before my Rads , immediately after rads and at bedtime.
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momto3boys---Confirm with your doc, but -if they said 7 boosts then your are probably at 35. Standard treatment is 28 days with the boost added on to that, unless you are doing a high dose, shorter day schedule, which is not likely.
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I have the bolus for every tx. Had #18 today. Very red but no blisters yet. Fatigue is setting in. I'm glad to be past the halfway point.
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Amazonwarrior---the other crème on the list was Cetaphil. the top 3 on the list that the nurses liked were Aquaphor, Calendula, and Cetaphil. I coulnt think of that one to save my soul. You find it with the cosmetics instead of the other lotions at Walmart, or Meijers.
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My RO recommends Miaderm or California Baby, both of which have Calendula in them. So far, I am doing well with Cal Baby- a bit cheaper than Miaderm and can be found at Target in the baby section-you don't have to order it.
#16 today, but who's counting, right?!
Glad to see you here, Saltyjack! I hope you are doing well.
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My RO recommended Udderly Smooth (dollar store). Aquafor ruined my best bra, nightgown and tank tops. But I used it over my nipple and underboob over the cream.
I got very sore under arm but in retrospect I think my tank top rubbed that area.
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my last day was supposed to be today, but machine is being fixed so tomorrow will be my last treatment. I think I broke it yesterday, lol. It stopped working part way through and the tech had to restart the machine to finish off last 30 seconds.
Hopefully they will work out all the bugs by tomorrow. Tech assured me it would be fine to miss a day (after all I do take breaks on weekends).
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Hi AmazonWarrior
I just started radition this week, just had #3. I had bilateral mastectomies last month.
My RO says EUCERIN.
But I have AquaPhor, as well as Miaderm ($36 Amazon) which is specifically for radiation therapy skin issues. I also have Aloe with lidocaine (no alcohol) which is a cooling gel.
Every dr seems to have a different suggestion. I also already use organic virgin coconut oil & vitamin E oil on my skin. So I am not sure what combo I will use!
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Redheaded1-Thank You! I see all different numbers on here from people so 35 seems like a lot. This is a standard does was told between 5-7 weeks and ended up on the longer end.
SaltyJack-I'm at MD in AZ and it is done the same way from what I'm understanding (hold breath technique), but tomorrow is my dry run and my first (my plan wasn't ready today for the dry run).
have2laugh-SaltyJack explained it above, it is the way MD does it at least.I'm curious my nurse said they will provide all creams, etc. as needed. So much discussion on what to use, do all Dr's not do this? Many just suggest what you should use? I will be seen once a week to look at how my skin is doing unless there are issues they will look more often.
Good Luck to everyone today! -
Good luck tomorrow. As you get started another thing that really helped me was buying a few bras that are like little exercise bras but thin. These made a huge difference especially for me where my incision is. Even though I wasn't wearing underwire and I am not big, I was still swelling since surgery on left side by end of day and made worse with radiation. I bough a size bigger than I normally would and just picked up at TJMAXX for like 10 dollars each. I just finished number 11 today and I am using RadiaPlexRx gel after radiation and at night provided by radiation group, Cortisone to itchy area when needed, and Aloe gel which is wonderful cold out of the fridge. A friend bought me large bottle of aloe gel online or honestly I would stick with gel from doctor. My sister had no issues with skin and even in last week didn't need lotion provided by her doctor so we are all different. Might want to see what they provide before investing a whole lot.
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Grammy - great idea....today when they were doing the long pulses, I prayed (normally I just count one-mississippi-two-mississippi but it seemed to go much more quickly today!)
You ladies inspired me to ask some questions....the techs said the boosts (at least for me after a MX) use electron radiation and it will be limited to the area of my scar becaues they just want to treat the skin there. The rest of the treatment uses photon radiation and treats the deeper areas. I need to read up a little on both but at least they got me started.
13 of 30 done. Momto3, I'm interested to see what you're told about how many days/boosts, etc. It sure does seem that no two are the same.
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