Spring 2014 Rads

momto3boyzaz 33 treatments is std for lumpectomy on left side. I am left lumpy and have 28 full breast and 5 boosts. It takes time to put the treatment plan together, it is run through several staff members to tailor specifically for you.

Had #6 of 33 today. So far, I'm just a little pink and my armpit feels tight, otherwise, I'm OK. RO's nurse looked at me today and said I looked good. Can't imagine on what planet a mastectomy looks good, but I'll take it. Pushing onward. Thanks for posting, rads ladies--I enjoy reading about everyone else's experiences.

thanks, flagirl, we always hit Beals!,  will see how my skin is doing by then.

so interesting how different things are done everywhere! had my first boost today - no sharpie at all - just a couple of films that the doc looked at & then they said i was good to go. I did do my regular zaps also

yesterday was the lady before me's last day & i tried to get there earlier to clap her out but she was already gone  i'm sure the people working there get de-sensitized to the situation but it is a big accomplishment for each & every woman/man to finish & wish it was recognized in some way...maybe i will bring doughnuts ha! if i can get them past the nutritionist!

be well, Rads buddies, the sun will rise

had my first of five boosts today. Can't sleep shortness of breath, and some pain took a Tylenol waiting for it to kick in. I have about ten marks and lines on me from set up. Told to be careful and try to preserve marks for boosts. Set up took 20 min. Five axis photon. Can't wait til this is over. Two more days then wkend break. Ten more left. .

momto3boys---hope everything went well today.  I am thinking about you. The first day is stress cause its a new first time experience.  You will be fine.  No worries.

Flagirl- our DX is very similar, and I got mine three days after yours. We even had surgery on the same day. That was my second if three tho. They had to go in three time with Lumpectomy to get clean margins because they kept finding more cancer (multi foci).  But finally got it all. And my breast doesn't seem much different for all they took out (at 11:00 point).

My last boost got put off another day because the machine is still down. I hope I get it tomorrow, otherwise I will be waiting six days total with the weekend.

Does anyone know when we can start using normal antiperspirant again??

onlyme! ha! i agree! that's why when they say "usually it doesn't happen" i get ready!!

everyday i learn something new - now i have to go take a cool shower to rinse off this ointment lol

Andrea i assume you can go back to regular deoderant when you're done with radiation - altho that is one of the suspects of breast cancer, right? now why hasn't someone come up with a non-aluminum deoderant that actually works for us menopausal old ladies??

one more for me TG!  "breast" is tighter than a drum

it's rough - but it did go faster than I thought

Crystal deodorant is a brand name.  It is a hard dome shaped crystal that you wet before applying to activate.  It isn't sticky or unpleasant. I got mine at CVS in the deodorant section they have a couple of scents. Not an antiperspirant. Only one more day--- then weekend break.  Looking forward to having some energy for the weekend.

What a day!  Thank you for the well wishes, I needed them.

I guess everything hit me today, as like you redheaded1, I went into panic mode.  My heart started racing and my blood pressure (which is traditional chronically low) was the highest it has ever been in my life.  They were ready to send me on over to the ER.  Thankfully I got it together and will take xanax tomorrow before I go.

They still don't have a final plan in place, the sticking point is 8 or 10 boosts.  And I have one of the bolus things placed on me.  I didn't really get what they are for, but just read about it and I guess it helps penetrate at the surface level?  Mine is in the shape of a state (have more sharpie .  I also have the area that will be radiated marked, it is much bigger than I would have thought (that is in red).

I think and they think, it was a combo of having my dry run, my first treatment and they've decided to do a PET Scan next week.  I had an unusual finding which led to the (DCIS) incidentally.  But, the unusual finding on the MRI can't be determined.  Report had said atypical hemangioma (but they are extremely rare in the sacral area) or potentially metastasis.  Hopefully it is my first and last one, but just the thought is overwhelming.  

AndreaJ50-Sorry, what a pain.  

Keepthefaith-I don't have much tissue, as I mentioned I had so little after nursing three kids, I have silicone implants.  Can't wait to see what happens.    It looks like we may have the same protocol as I've been told 33-35 and 8-10 of those are boosts.
Flagirl-You are getting closer to the end.
Notbuyingit-Tomorrow is your last one?  So happy for you!  Today was someone's last day before me and they brought in treats cookies and cupcakes.  I normally never eat that stuff, but grabbed a cupcake.  It was so good, vanilla with a fresh strawberry frosting.

A little bit of rads humor--

The other day, the was a young male tech in the room, getting training. Usually I have two women doing it all.  He asked me if I was ok with him being in there. I said No problem. Then I asked him if he had a Sharpie. If he had a Sharpie he had TO GO!!!!!! 

NBI, congrats on being done with rads today! Happy Dance! 

So sorry to hear what some of you are going through. I know when they did films on me last week, I was freaking out, but luckily, no panic attacks. I always get a little nervous on "see the Dr day"!

faery, cute story! Don't know about shaving; thank goodness, I have no hair under my arms anyway!

momto, I hope your scan goes well and they find nothing. I have a hemangioma that they found while doing a breast MRI in 2009. I'm not sure what part of my liver it is in though. I think they are fairly common. Hang in there! Let us know~

TGIF! Enjoy your week-end ladies~

NBI - happy graduation day! Do something wonderful this weekend to celebrate, knowing we are all there with you in spirit.

Andrea- I was told to get either "Toms" or " Arm & Hammer" deodorant because neither has aluminum in them. I was surprised when I found "Toms" in my local grocery store (on the bottom shelf) and it was the same price as the name brands. I had read a long time ago that you shouldn't use an anti-persperant, because sweat is necessary to cool your body off. I started looking then for a plain deodorant, not anti-persperant/ deodorant and could not find any locally. I wasn't worried enough to do an intense search. Then I heard that anti- persperant so may be related to cancer, because they stop the lymph nodes from doing their jobs. I was so glad when the RO's office told me about "Toms". I will never go back to the regular.

Today is a landmark of sorts for me, too, I will be 1/3 done with rads this afternoon! 

Happy Fri everyone. Enjoy the 2 day break.

Hi all...has anyone had breast tissue changes happen during rads? A change that would require another CT scan sim during to, I guess. I started boosts early to give my armpit a rest (very irritated). I only had one when the doc decided that the original boost site isn't lining up precisely? It was explained it could be an incision healing issue, but it makes me think "what now?" And I wonder if I need to be concerned....

I think I am at 22/33 right now.

Machine is still being worked on. If they get it working by tonight they will open up Saturday. Luckily I am on my last boost...I figure if 32 rads didn't do the trick then one more 4 min session won't make a difference. But darn it I want to ring that bell!!' Lol.

Faerywings-too funny!!

The first time I went into the room and disrobed I told them there really should be music playing if I'm going to strip in public. Lol.

Now I am a but worried I am getting so used to taking my top off I might  do it every time  I enter  a room...dentist, restaurant..oh dear!!!

Anne- I will look for Toms (never heard of it) or Arm&Hammer. Thanks.

Congrats to all who are finishing up. 

I remember celebrating 1/3, 1/2, then 2/3 and now would just like to finish. Lol. It really will go by quickly for those of you starting.

I had a very sore under arm the last week, but it is almost healed now.

Gentle hugs to all!!

AndreaJ50

 I do hope you are able to get your last one in tomorrow. So true about learning to be more open disrobing. I had a moment early on where I saw several doctors in one day and everyone brought a friend in with them. I told my sister I was half expecting to get Mardi Gras beads I had flashed so many people in one day! Best of luck.