Fall Rads 2014

HomeMom, thank you.  You can't begin to know how much I appreciate it!

Nancy, it really will go by quickly.  It helps that the treatments take very little  time, too.  Good luck!

Good Morning Ladies - 

I'm happy to have found this forum.  I started my 3rd week of radiation and doing quite well.  We chug along over the George Washington Bridge to NYC around lunchtime & traffic hasn't been too bad.  I only have 16 treatments.  My RO said there was a study of about 7,000 women from U.S., Canada & Europe and found that 16 treatments had the same benefit as 25 for women 60 and over in my situation.  Also, which is unique, I am lying on my stomach with my arm stretched out.  It's not the greatest position because at first it hurt my shoulder so badly that now about 5" below my shoulder is numb - ugh.  The good part is - my shoulder doesn't hurt when stretched out and it's probably due to the numbness! LOL  I was told to put Eucrin on after the radiation and put a cream on that the Dermatologist gave me at bedtime.  Also to make sure their is no residue of cream before radiation.  It is all working out fine.  Is anyone on this forum getting only 16 treatments and lying on their stomach?  Just curious.

Marie

three more treatments...  Come 2:00-3:00 I'm  so very tired...  just when the kids get home, figures, right?

I'm itchy, I've ditched my bra.  Not too much to complain about.  Doc says skin will continue to actively react for two weeks after the final treatment.  

Looking forward to getting this behind me.

hugs all around!

Had my first real rad today. They put goggles on me, sort of like for a virtual video game. I could see a graph that charted my breathing and I was told over a speaker to take a deep breath and hold it while I monitored myself keeping the breathing line even with a level line indicated on the graph. I heard the tech say "Hand me.....bolus" to another tech and I felt him put something on me in a couple of places but since I wasn't able to move, I didn't get a look at it. I googled bolus when I got back to work and I've seen references to it on this site but once again, no one at MD Anderson mentioned anything to me about it. If you've read any of my previous posts, you'll be aware that MD Anderson docs don't share much info with the patient. The patient has to learn everything on their own and know enough to know what questions to ask and you have to ask in a timely manner because I learned the hard way that I should have requested brachyherapy or internal radiation right after surgery. It is no longer an option for me at this point. Oh well, we live and learn-  some of us faster than others. I've encountered some very bright women on this site who have helped me tremendously on this journey and I hope I can pass something along to anyone traveling behind me.

Jhodro - yep, I started TCH in June after surgery, the doc dropped the TC part after 4 infusions but the H will contine on every 3 weeks and you and I we will finish around the same time.

I've been away from these boards for a while, just want to check in. Finished the last of six boosts to end my rads yesterday morning. I considered baking for my techs, but didn't after all. They did get my thanks for the good care they gave me, and the good humor and courtesy they showed.

As each of my fellow sufferers 'graduated', I got them a card. I feel so fortunate to have gotten through so lightly, relatively speaking. 

Jhodro, I was really fearing for my poor nipple, so sore already, when it came to the boosts, as they were centered on the excision point right around the areola, but oddly the soreness stopped when the boosts got underway. Maybe the boosts numbed it. 

So, my experience of the rads: deep redness, some itching, sore nipple that eventually calmed, unpredictable periods of head-whacking fatigue. Frequent headaches, nothing I can't handle w/ aspirin or whatever's to hand. Still have fatigue and headaches, but I expect it. Worked through the treatments taking the occasional day off, sometimes needed to go home early.

Occasionally I found that if I forced myself to walk around, I could get through my tiredness. Should of tried this more often, as my job can be stressful but sedentary.

My very good wishes to everyone looking forward to getting out the other side!

mmta, in my experience with rads, my fatigue was never as bad as it was with chemo. When i did get tired i tried to take it easy and/or get out for some exercise. 

Sailing: congrats on last day of rads today, do you get to ring the bell?

Amy, I'll be joining you with AIs (Arimidex) next Friday.  Isn't it great that there is something we can do for years to prevent BC from returning?  The rads have been easy - even with the fatigue.  I realize that some have been very apprehensive about having radiation but that was never a problem for me.  Good luck with your AI!!!

Blownaway, I did not have chemo.  I am starting Arimidex after my rads.  Although my RO said there is nothing to stop me from taking it during my rads.  Apparently no one has actually studied whether AIs and rads conflict or complement and he suspects they complement.  

As for which drug to be on, I'm 69 and way way past menopause.  AIs are for us past menopause, though I gather sometimes tamoxifen is used for us, too.  As for which AI, my MO said any would do fine but chose Arimidex since it is the oldest of them and he seemed to feel it a good place to start.  I didn't have any preference either.  I too have a bit of osteopenia but my MO isn't concerned about it.  

Are you having chemo, lumpy, rads or all 3 or Mx?  Whatever your MO recommends is the way I would go for when to start the AI.  Your experience may differ since you are triple positive and I believe that that can make a difference in your treatment but I don't know for sure.  

BTW, my RO changed my treatment to include 6 boosts and 27 "regular" treatments.  I did have one boost, out of order, today.  Tomorrow I get my last regular treatment, then the remaining 5 boosts.  Sometimes things get confused

Good luck!

Puff no bell but the team gave me a certificate  that they all signed and I took a picture of all of them.

Now just a check up in four weeks. Start Letrozole Sunday. Waiting to find out out you. Didn't see anything from you on chat.

Had my first radiation tx today. I was surprised that after all the xrays and reconfirming everything it only took 5-10 min. Is that normal? Also I am real sore under my L arm kinda by my SNB and my left side. I was thinking maybe because my arm was over my head for so long. Just wondering...

I go for my rads sim tomorrow, a bit nervous. I have actually had a week that was uneventful, not playing role of lab rat and could actually forget about all this! Now back to reality I guess. Thanks to all with the great advice for skin care, and deo list Puff was great... got all your tips saved on my phone. I am about 6 weeks postop  now from my last lumpectomy, and have noticed a lot of change past week or so.. I guess "she" has finally shrunk up, have a bit of a skin fold / crease from surgery site (lateral aspect of right breast just below SNB incision). Also have noticed a firmer area that is puckered, I guess scar tissue forming. Just curious how much change you ladies noticed with rads to shape /etc of breast, not the superficial skin irritation, but breast size. I am wanting to get a bra with partial "foob" and wondered how much more changing she would undergo before it would be safe to go for bra fitting. I am wanting to get it on this year's deductible, which has been well met! Best wishes to all~~

Nancy, it will get better. Promise  You'll get more comfortable with your rad position and figure out how to best ease any discomfort..  I'm very pleased with Aquaphor and I'm not a lotion or cream person at all.  Keep some handy.