Winter rads 2014-2015

Ugghhh - had my simulation today and lost it again just like I did during the scans last week. I just can't handle the breath-holding apparatus and clip on my nose - I feel like I can't breathe. We had to stop and start all over again when I started crying. I made it though, and now that I did, I think I will be ok for my first rad on Monday. I know I am strong after all I've already been through, and I'm not going to let this bring me down! I will look at this as a challenge from here on, and I love a challenge.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Kelly

Cath57, I can only hope the RO is more positive about your wanting to understand your cancer treatment. It is a plus for you. My RO started by saying that nowadays the doctor explains the health problem, gives you options and let's the patient make the decisions. He gave me quite the biology lesson (not my strong suit in school but this was for sure what they call a teachable moment) and made a decision tree using my pathology.

Also two techs prepare me each visit for the zap. I shut my eyes as soon as I hit the table, but not my ears. When I mentioned that they changed a number called out, the tech apologized for leaving me out of the conversation, explained the change, and ever since talks me through any change. All good naturedly. Hope you find a tech like that.

I am DONE!! Finished my rads!! Cried all the way through the last one. Can't believe this part of the journey is finally done. The techs gave me flowers after I finished. Such wonderful caring people I had. Part of me is still burning, part is peeling, I'm really really tired. Here's to a new beginning!! You all just getting started, you can do it. We are here to support you. To those that finished, congratulations!!!

Merry Christmas to everyone. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday! Very grateful to each and everyone of you!

Hope50 - WOOOHOOOOO! Congratulations at making it through! Have a great Christmas and heal well!

Hi everyone,

Question? How often did you have blood work during radiation? Did you have films done as part of rads weekly?

The machine got stuck the other morning and tech told me it was because they were doing films, and they do them weekly.

I found out yesterday that my WBC was low. 2.9 which on average starts at 4.0. So after telling them I refuse weekly blood work, they agreed to wait until end of next week to retest. Also not another until last week of treatment. I didn't even have blood work but every three weeks when on chemo. I think weekly blood work on rads is over kill. I'm not a lab rat that they can do unnecessary testing on. Anyway we came to a compromise. RO was very nice and explained films will not anymore exposure to radiation then Regular treatment. I was concerned I was getting more rads then I signed up for. Besides the fact no mention of films before. Tmrw will be 6 of 33. Happy Golidays to all.

catie 57: Weekly due to medical regulations. They must do them to make sure placement is correct.

Catie57 -

Also, if you do have a low WBC count for any reason, they may want to follow and make sure it does not need to be addressed.

I have a feeling you are having the blood work for some other reason besides the radiation.

Also, they may be checking other things in addition to the WBC count.

Maybe now that you are done with chemo, they need to keep following because of some long term effects, but during the chemo they may have been testing your blood to make sure they could keep giving you the chemo at that time.

I have also found that there are many aspects of the radiation treatment that have not been fully explained ahead of time, but I have found out about as I go through it.

Catie57, I was incredibly fatigued after my first week of rads so they did blood work to make sure my counts had come back up from chemo. They were good so they didn't check them again. Because yours were low they need to keep track. When they're low you are more are very susceptible to infection. Your skin is breaking down and could blister which also puts you at risk so if your counts are low you could be at risk for sepsis.

I had films done every week to check position. No blood work done but I didn't have chemo.

I am almost done with radiation, but will be having a "clean-up" surgery in the future to become completely flat.  Does anybody know how long I have to wait after finishing radiation before I can have my last surgery?  

But, Coyote, you did it with one hand tied behind your back .

Tired but proud of yourself.

For those that had chemo and have finished rads or near finished, how is your hair doing? Coming back in yet?

Hope50: I finished chemo (Taxol) 11/12 and then started right into radiation. I have one more radiation treatment to go and am continuing on herceptin. I was getting very depressed because my hair didn't seem to be growing at all other than a couple very fine hairs. To make it worse, i hadn't lost my eyebrows or eyelashes during chemo but then they fell out during radiation. I kept joking with my daughter that all i wanted for Christmas was my hair to grow back. The day before Christmas, I could actually see some hair growth starting. It no longer feels prickly and is starting to get soft. I guess it is my Christmas miracle. I can't wait for the day I don't need the head scarf or wig...

Linda, What is the Livestrong program you signed up for?

to Gongshow16,

what is pure aloe and glaxol cream product called?

thanks