Summer Rads 2014

Hi Count_it_all_joy and thanks for starting the Summer 2014 thread!

For you, and all who join you throughout the season, here's some helpful info on the main Breastcancer.org site on Radiation Therapy, includinginfo on types of radiation therapy, what to expect during the process, and how to manage side effects.

Also, the Treatment Side Effects section is a great resource for tips to help manage any side effects you may experience.

You may also find it helpful to read the Spring 2014 Radiation thread, for more tips and tricks from others who've been there!

Hope this helps!

--Your Mods

I finished rads today! 25 total, no boosts! I have a dark area by my clavicle but it is getting better, only had 23 to clavicle area. It's been a long 9 months since diagnosis but I'm so glad it's over. I will have recon surgery in a few months, so I will enjoy these next few months with little to do medically!! Hope everyone is doing well!!!

I'll be starting rads sometime in July. I am 3 weeks post chemo and am scheduled for UMX w/immediate DIEP reconstruction on June 6. I'll have lots of down time after surgery to learn from all of you. I thank you all for your guidance and support.

Gramof2boys - what a great time of year to get a break from all of this...congrats!

Hi everyone

I will start rads sometime in July. I have one more chemo left and that is scheduled for 6/5. I'm done 5 rounds of TAC and am sooooo ready for this part to be over. I'm not sure still how many rads I will be getting, I actually haven't thought much about the radiation part of my tx. I've just been trying to get thru chemo one second at a time.

I was dx'd 10/22/13, stage 3 IDC with 6 out of 25 lymph nodes positive. I had a double mx on 11/27 with TE's. Had to have TE's taken out in January due to infection and lot's of complications.

Glad I found this thread

Mary, no change in the MRI was good news, my internal Mamm. LNs were about the same size, so I am hoping they do not have any tumor or at least none left after 20 weeks of chemo. The few axillary LNs that still  left, show up nl size and consistency. The spot on the rt breast  was exactly the same, the radiologist was certain it was just a blood vessel on end. If it was tumor they said it would have disappeared after chemo. Best news was the CT scan did not show anything in my lungs or mediastinum. I was worried since my cough had come back a bit, funny it is gone again now. 

Wishing every one a good holiday weekend, for those getting rads now an extra day break to heal. 

Barbara

hi girls...tangandschris...aren't we excited about last chemo??!! My 6th TAC is June 2!!  Seeing radiation onc on Thursday....so I will know more on when I start then....SO READY TO BE DONE!!!  Duh...

I have also been following spring rads...what is a boost?  And what important questions should I ask RO?? Thanks and glad this thread was started...Rosie 

Rosie welcome!! Boost are to the actual surgical incision.  I'm having what is considered a standard dose of 33.  25 whole breast and 8 boost. Ask about what creams/lotions they approve of, how often you should apply and anything else on your mind.  Also ask how often you'll see the RO.  At my center its standard to see her every Tuesday.  The rest of the time it's me and the techs.  I've got 6 tattoos which are small black dots.  They didn't hurt.  I did not have a mold made so I'm not sure what that is.  Tell them all the medicines including any supplements you take.  Some are weird about that.  I timed my actual radiation and it last a whole 16 seconds! 

Rosie I didn't have positive nodes but I did go into my meeting with a "let's get them both off attitude".  What helped me was having a very well rounded breast surgeon that showed me data that mx vs lx/w rads produced the same result.  So my way of thinking was... We'll save them this time but if it ever happens again these girls are coming off! 

I haven't tang.  Someone toldme to drink green tea but I've never heard of spraying it.  

I'll give you the same info that someone gave me and it squashed my fears.  Some people get no reaction, some get a little red, others get even more red and have open areas.  So my experience will probably be different than yours.  I have rather large droopy breast.  My tech today said he was worried about that area and told me to take extra care in keeping it dry all the time.  He's been doing his job for years so I'm gonna get me some cornstarch powder and make sure it's always dry! 

Any suggestions txplanner? 

Hey Debz! We started the same day! I've got major boobie hang too.  I'm concerned about the underneath and so is my tech.  My RO keeps saying oh you'll do good.  The tech said that it would start at the 10-15 treatment point.  Another lady had mentioned to always make sure that area was dry before treatment.  I think I'm going to cut up an old cotton soft shirt and make me some sweat catchers lol.  

Hi, all! I was diagnosed with IDC, Grade 1 on April 15, had my lumpectomy and SNB on May 12 (Stage 1),  will have a CT scan, tattoos, the beanbag-like mold on June 3 and will start radiation treatments on June 9.

I will have 25 whole breast sessions and then my RO is letting me take a couple of weeks off to fly to California to see my daughter. When I return, I will follow up with 5 sessions of boost. I should be finished with the treatments on August 8.

Nice to meet everyone!

Good idea Sunshineinky,  it is so hard to keep that area dry in the summer months. Good luck with your Rads. We can compare notes.

Thank you for starting this thread. Last week I posted for the first time on the Spring Rads 2014 thread but thought I should jump over here since I am soon to begin my treatments.

My journey is a bit unusual. I was diagnosed with IDC in November of 2012 and had a UMX. I was told I did not need rads or chemo, because as far as my surgeon and oncologist were concerned, all traces of cancer had been removed, plus my oncotype score was low. After the first of the year, I began searching out reconstruction options and decided that the DIEP would be a good fit for me. I live about 3.5 hours from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and heard of a wonderful PS there who specializes in the DIEP procedure. Before I could meet with him, I was required to be seen by Mayo's cancer department. They reviewed all my records and saw something suspicious on my MRI. Instead of a biopsy, I decided I wanted my remaining breast removed so in May 2013 I had my second MX, with TEs inserted just under my skin. My PS wanted to stretch the skin from my first MX for a better long term result. I was diagnosed with LCIS so I am happy with the decision I made. I was scheduled for the DIEP in October 2013, but my PS was in a horrible accident and was out for several months. I was given the option of another PS, but I really liked Dr. Saint-Cyr, so we rescheduled for April 30 of this year. The surgery was a success and I am healing beautifully. BUT, during surgery, a positive node was found in the center of my chest. I spent an extra week and a few days at Mayo going through multiple tests, including a PET scan which showed several suspicious areas, a bone biopsy (ouch), a stomach scope, and numerous blood draws. After nine days of waiting and testing (and hearing the word metastized) all tests came back negative, praise the Lord. I will need rads in two areas which will start June 2 and will run for either five or six weeks. I am remaining positive because had I not had the DIEP procedure, the node would not have been found. It was tangled up between my rib and a vein. My RO said the cancer is a local, regional recurrence. I wonder how long it had been there, but I can't focus on that. I will be staying at the Hope Lodge and am actually looking forward to the experience. Family and friends will stay with me when they can and I'm sure I will find a whole new network of support at HL and from all you lovely ladies sharing your experiences on this thread.

My apologies for such a long post!

Ann

Where would you find that txplanner?