Winter rads 2014-2015

Hello everyone, just stopping in to ask for thoughts and prayers for my rads start tomorrow. Actually looking forward to moving along now but I do get nervous. Since its the first time after the simulation I'm thinking it could take a little longer than the rest of the treatments (but not sure). I'm taking my little bottle of calendula lotion along as others have suggested.

Happy Friday!

Beachlady28,

I finished rads last Monday & will now see the RO in 4 weeks, the BS in Feb & the MO in Feb. My MO told me to start the arimidex the day after finishing up rads...why after< I don't know. Techs told me that 2 of the MOs on staff prefer their pts to start after rad but the others have their pts start before rad...go figure. So, I am still a little sore & have some small blisters...the nurse told me to use the cocoa butter with vit. E lotion twice a day. My BS told me that I will have my first mammo in June...6 months after finishing rad and then every 6 months for a couple of years.

Good Morning Ladies, I have a appointment on 1/9 to discuss/schedule radiation. Any tips, comments, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My Oncologist wants to schedule more chemo to start 1/20. Since I just started feeling well from chemo and surgery, I cringe at the thought of here I go again!

Thank You!

Good luck, Reader and Fiona. My early sessions were longer especially the 1st. Now 3 times a week they skip the cone beam and it takes less than 10 minutes on the table. You will do fine.

10 down/ 20 to go! So far, so good.

3 free tickets and a $5 winner on my radiation lottery scratch tickets.

For you ladies just starting, a suggestion--take old clothes.  I ruined a brand new mastectomy bra due to the blue sharpies and started wearing a t-shirt under my bra so the sharpie didn't rub off .  I have a couple of shirts that show some markings but they can be worn under a jacket.  It will be over before you know it. 

Wnderwoman, when my skin started to hurt I put a sock under the breast to avoid the skin on skin problems.

Boosts start Monday!!!!!  I can hardly wait. 

Question about the Sharpie and marks on clothes....did that happen the day you got your tattoos and measurements? Or do you continue to get marked after that session? I went for my tattoos, etc. about two weeks ago and the tech covered them with waterproof stickers....so I'm still sporting my blue Sharpie. He told me not to pull them off, that they are easier to see than the purple tattoos I guess we all get.

I hope I do get to get started on Monday as planned. The small unhealed spot from my lumpectomy is still there....it has come a long way since I had to pack it twice a day. It's almost closed! Crossing my fingers!

Have a great weekend, all you BC fighters!

I got my tattoos as well as sharpie markings during my sim.  I only have 4 tattoos, but everyday I would get sharpie markings above my breast and under my arm.  I went to Walmart and bought some over sized men sleeveless t-shirts (Hanes) and wore them under my bra to protect my clothes.  I always changed into my hat before I left work just to give my head a rest from my wig.  I had films every 5 rads to make sure things didn't change (that is what the tech told me) and "Mr Bolus" every other treatment.  I always made sure that when I was done, I had my wipes to clean most of the marks off and applied my aquaphor to calm down the heat.   Now I have the blue sharpie markings with the clear stickers for starting boosts on Monday.  I did not like rads on day one and I still don't like them, but I am so thankful they are almost done.  They do go fast once you get into the daily regimen and are much easier than chemo.  You can do this ladies!!!  I also wore the same bra and t-shirt for the last 30 days and will for the next five days.

Don't beat yourself up about the bra wearing - I wore one 24/7 from surgery and it made not a whit of difference to seroma production as I had lots of it from the axial incision which burst but perhaps that is different to your lumpectomy one.

Thanks to all of you for good advice regarding RADS and clothes. Not sure when I am scheduled for this but sure to be soon.

Best of luck to you all.

Hi ladies. I just got my rad appointments. I see the RO on the 8th, Sim on the 21st. Rads start February 9th. I will get my last taxol on 1/19 God willing. I'm really looing forward to being done with chemo. Love, Jean

Hi all,

I'm reading that so many of you only had to get a few tattoos. I have at least a dozen...not done all at one time. They are small, thank goodness but they are permanent.

Good morning everyone! I have been lurking on here and reading about all of you incredibly strong women. I have learned about lotions and tank tops and trials and praises. Thank you all for sharing your stories so that people like myself know we aren't the only ones.

I have just finished number 10 out 33 yesterday and now I get my weekend break. I'm sore at my incision site and I'm just getting over a stomach bug that my lovely daughter passed on to me, so to tell the truth, I'm feeling a bit fragile today. I'm thinking some extra rest might be in order. I start back to work at a middle school Monday after two weeks off for break.

My doc gives out Miaderm cream while your in treatment and says not to use any thing else but I've read about putting aloe straight from the plant on every morning also. I'm an F cup now, but can't wait to see what I'll be a year from now.

Hanging in there, one day at a time.

Lilactulip, I think I read not to use aloe straight from the plant. Not sure but you might want to check first.

My RO said not to use the aloe from the plant.  He advised to get the Fruit of the Earth Aloe from Walmart.  I think someone else said they bought the same Aloe from Amazon in a pump bottle.  The aquaphor and the Silverdene he prescribed have also been a skin saver. 

Welcome to the Winter Rads Topic, gemmafromlondon, zjrosenthal,lilactulip, knittingPT, and quiggy.  The first of the year is starting out with lots of hope for good things to come.  There is certainly a lot of good help and support here for and from all of us.  I'll get you on the Warrior List. When you firm up the date that you get your first treatment, I'll make sure the list is revised to show it.