Fall Rads 2014

Lolis...congrats on week one done and thanks for the info regarding your work out regimen. Can anyone explain why the RO recommended an oil free moisturizer. I have been using Bio Oil to help with healing the scars. Should I stop?? First rads will be on Monday.

Bippy625: Rads are not as bad as chemo. Chemo knocks you down much more. I had tissue expanders (TEs) put in place during my BMX, and will have them exchanged for silicone implants about 6 months after rads are done. My PS says that rads will shrink your skin and tissues, so she wants to wait 6 months after rads are done to do the exchange because by then, the skin and tissues should have healed to a steady state condition. She expanded the TE on my radiation/cancer side a bit bigger than my other side, to account for the expected rads induced shrinking.

hi Bippy,  I have five rads left. Had a BMX with TEs in February, did AC/T chemo through August and started rads in early September.  I chose to do radiation at a different hospital system since it was closer to my home, that system insists on recon before rads.  My PS (and my RO despite her organization) prefer delayed recon after rads.  So, I finish rads next week and will likely wait six months for my exchange to implants.  

Everyone reacts differently to rads, I have been using aquaphor several times a day since my first treatment, last week I added hydrocortisone because I was itchy.  Here is a pic...twenty treatments behind me (it went fast!):

Done with 14/33 (Did DD Act chemo, finished Aug 26) and the fatigue hit like a brick this week. Damn. I actually fell asleep at my desk on Tuesday, brought a cot to hide in a back office on Wednesday & took a 25 minute snooze. Took Thursday afternoon and Friday off. My onc verified that I don't operate machinery and basically said "good luck with that, it will last until a couple weeks after radiation" - ugh. Going back to acupuncture on Monday...cross your fingers.

My skin has held up great so far, I am wearing my mastectomy tanks this weekend, with the pocket for my foob. It's not so bad except I am not sure I can pull the braless look off for work, will have to head out and find a wireless cotton bra. Any suggestions?

I start my radiation on Wed at 2p. They told me I would have 33 treatments. They also told me to make sure I am drinking plenty of water and to increase my protien intake. Hope it all goes well.

Thanks for the love PontiacPeggy - be kind to myself, be kind to myself. A new mantra for me. And you're from The D, a city I send all my good energy to always. I'm a Saginaw gal born and raised, but have been in the mountain west for 25 years and always rooting for Michigan to succeed and overcome in all aspects. 

Bow1965, actually from Pontiac. Pontiac Central HS - we played Saginaw (and Arthur Hill) many many times in sports back in the day.  Just be realistic in your expectations right now.  Much more important to take care of yourself than complete another chore.  Do only that which is absolutely, positively necessary!

Nancy, thanks!  DH is improving but definitely needs the time in rehab so he can literally get on his feet!

33 treatments down. I am officially finished with rads. 

Overall, for those of you starting out, it's definitely not as bad as chemo. The hardest part was getting started, but like others have said, once you're in the routine, it goes by. I have been getting up for my 7:20 appointment for the past 6 1/2 weeks. Not wearing deodorant on my right side was sometimes frustrating, but I'm done!! Tomorrow, I plan to sleep as late as possible, but still get my son to school at 9. Hopefully in the next week or two I'll get some energy back and my skin will get back to resembling something like normal. 

Now all I have is every 3 week Herceptin through until April and a most likely surgery to get some symmetry going on.

Thanks to everyone for your posts - it has been a great inspiration knowing that I'm not on my own through all of this.

Good luck & you can do it!!!

I will be starting soon. I went for planning session a week ago. I am opting for proton therapy as I am on Herceptin, am young, and I had an affected node behind my breastbone. Trying to limit the damage from treatment has been my modus operandi.

This
morning I met with the radiologist and had my simulation. The gals were
great at finding a position I could put my left arm that would be out
of the way and still comfortable after my shoulder surgery. Because it's my left side that's being
radiated they want to avoid the heart and lung as much as possible.
They ran me through a CT scan while having me take deep breaths and hold
my breath for 15-20 seconds at a time. I have 3 black tattoo dots to
help them line everything up exactly the same each time. I start next
Monday, and only have to do 3 weeks. I was really excited to hear that,
hope it keeps the skin problems to a minimum. The nurse went over what
creams to use to keep my skin lubricated, and gave me the list of
changes to be concerned about, like if it gets moist and has drainage

So Halloween should be my last day of treatment, and then I ring that bell for good.

Congrats Jhodro - and you too Puffin - how awesome to be done or just know you only have three weeks to do this!  Puffin I went this morning for my sim as well. I met with the nurse last week and went over the cream etc. The RO is going to call me tomorrow and let me know if I need to get the TE deflated some. He wasn't too optimistic. He did say that I could go without radiating the middle of my chest, it is not solid evidence that it is really beneficial. I'm one though that has from the beginning wanted to do everything possible to make sure it doesn't come back. If I have to get it drained down to a reasonable size then I will do it. It will delay me about a week or two . I thought originally I would be done before Thanksgiving, now if I have to take this detour, it will be more like the first week of December.

I am so excited with everyone finishing and near finished. No matter where you are in this journey everyone is moving forward with 1 less treatment then yesterday....we celebrate every step in the forward process!!! I don't think no one evades skin issues of some kind but honestly I think even with the 2 small areas that got somewhat broke down I have had worse cases of good old sunburn!!! I was done on the 24th and have been slacking on aftercare with the lotions but honestly I just turned tan in those areas. Last week I picked 2 rooms and did some light cleaning, really just dusted and swept and mopped. It was not overwhelming although I wanted to more but resisted that urge until I am more 100% or close to. It felt really good to accomplish a goal. Over the weekend I kept 4 of my grandchildren; ages 15,13,3, and an almost 2...it was pleasantly chaotic...lol!!! Chaos has broken out in my family and I am kicking myself in the rear because under the stress of it all I started smoking again....oh I am so angry with myself!!! I have to buckle down and get some more patches and start over again. Other then that life after cancer treatments has been good....different but good. At the end of this month it will be a year since diagnosis and I can not tell you where the year went. Every segment...chemo (4 DD of A/C + 4 DD of taxol), then surgery and dealing with the drain for such a long time and finally radiation, seemed to take forever and I thought I would never reach the end. So those of you just starting your radiation, it does end and rather quickly!!!

I forgot who is having the long waits/rides and is blind, so sorry but scrolling up and down these pages is hard to concentrate. My city offers a program through the transit authority called DART and if you are disabled and unable to ride a bus you can get door to door pick up and return trip through a taxi company. It cost me $4 each way and sometimes there was a wait to be picked up on the return trip they always had me to my appointments on time. I was fortunate that my facility ran very smoothly and on time. I hope you get some kind of assistance. I know when I go to my PCP the office is always running behind schedule so I learned to get the first appointment after lunch and can get in and out quickly.

Continue the fight girls...you are almost there!!!!

I'm so envious of you gals doing all your cleaning.  I can barely manage to microwave my dinner right now.  Got DH out of the hospital after 22 days and have finished 25 rads.  DH is now in a rehab facility for 4-6 weeks and I'm praying I can finally get some rest.  When Hubby's in the hospital I have to be there to see doctors, make sure "stuff" is getting done etc.  Now I can get up at 6 instead of 5 - hooray!   But I sure don't have any energy to spare beyond what' necessary for hubby!

HomeMom, I love your attitude.  I certainly feel the same way you do - whatever it takes to kill this disease, I'll do it.  And what you may have to do (and have done) is far more challenging than what I've faced.  Kudos and love to you!

CharUSA - so glad you're done.  Do take care of yourself and try not to overdo.  It's been a hard year for you and you're forgiven for smoking again.  You'll conquer it again.  Love!!

Puffin2014, I have an allergy to aloe and tried the Tom's of Maine.  I am still numb under my arm from the SLNB but I sure was able to itch from the aloe.  I've gone "naked" since and, if I stink, I stink.  I'll go back to my regular deodorant in 2 weeks  Hopefully, the rest of you ladies will be able to use one of the ones Puffin lists (great list, Puffin!).

Puffin, Great list!  Tom's and Jason are in most grocery stores here.  My RO just told me today to avoid any deodorant that includes an antiperspirant.  He suggested cornstarch also, to help with any itching.

Pontiac,  I hope your DH improves.  I can't imagine dealing with that AND Cancer!  You must be one strong woman!

charusa and jhodro,  Congratulations!  Must feel good to be finished!

I had #8 today...26 to go.  My skin started turning pink yesterday.  RO looked at it and told me it's expected-not to worry.  ok.  

Wishing you all well,  lilyrose