Winter rads 2014-2015

Absolutely right, y'all - worst under my arm. It's starting to peel a bit now. Love seeing that new skin underneath it.

And this was the 4th recurrence for me.

Funthing-I have not. My understanding is that you cannot have it twice on the same side, but you could have it once on each side. Correct me if I'm wrong, anybody.

Happy you are done, Carynbrit. Enjoy the extra time in each day.

Texas94 I have fair skin. After 25 treatments, my breast has a sunburned look but not sore or peeling. That is happening in the armpit where the sun does not usually shine. With all my unshaved hair I wouldn't think fair skin mattered there! Drink lots of water, slather on cream or gel, and hopefully you will not have too much trouble.

Chrissie29, I'm a left sider...and get weekly X-rays to assure accuracy of the radiation...and I use Aquafor twice daily, right after my treatment and just before bed. Your RO Nurse will likely spend some time with you when you do your simulation and let you know what potions your Dr. prefers that you use. It sounds like your RO is going to find a good solution for keeping the rads away from your heart. My RO said he would consider treatment with me on my stomach if necessary, but he decided to leave me on my back after a CT scan and X-rays to line everything up initially. I'm relying on his expertise!

I am going in for my 9th treatment today. That leaves 24 to go! The last ones will be "boosts" as I understand the plan. Some days I am in and out of the treatment facility in 15 minutes. Other days it is not so quick! The treatment is quick, but equipment problems (one machine was down one day) and the recent addition of a new patient into the schedule just before me who requires a lot of attention and encouragement from the techs have slowed things down a bit. Yesterday I was there for an hour.

Happy Weekend, everyone! It's cold and rainy in SC....hope it is sunny where you are:)

Thanks WndrWoman, CoyoteNV and Nomatterwhat! I know everyone's different, so I have my fingers crossed. I was MISERABLE though chemo and basically home-bound, so I'm hoping I get a bit of a break through radiation.

Hi all, I start rads on Monday morning, and I'm a bit concerned. I have the aloe gel that the RO wanted me to use. Any other tips that may help? I am concerned about the fatigue because I just wrapped up chemo and surgery. I am so tired already, I just can't imagine more fatigue on top of that. And what is cording? I have seen it mentioned several times, just curious.

Thank You!

BeachBum, Here's a link to info on cording. I would summarize it, but I think the entire article should be read. http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/aws

I'm using Aloe and am 4 weeks into rads. I'm pretty red, but no blistering. I'm getting tender and have some stretchy bras and soft t-shirts to wear (with or without the bras. Fatigue has been an issue for me. My RO has run blood tests trying to figure out what's causing the fatigue. My counts are good, so they don't know why I'm so tired.

funthing42 -  During a conversation with my RO, we talked briefly about doing rads in the same area a second time.  He said that with the correct equipment and in certain circumstances it can be done.  Look at information about TomoTherapy equipment; I think it mentions it there.  I certainly understand your fears... I'm with you in that.

 

Simulation went well yesterday, I am starting rads on Monday January 26. I got permission to skip,2 days for my business trip in March, so tentative finish date is March 14.

The nurse gave me some info on relaxation techniques, and she let me know that there is a massage therapist on site every Thursday. I declined the massage since I'm doing rads during lunch, and I want to get back to work as quickly as possible. There is also a nutritionist that I can talk to. Still no sharpie marks, just the tats. They took a lot of pictures at the planning session, perhaps that is all they need

Sorry Everyone to be the "Debbie Downer"....but I'm just not feeling very positive right now. I just feel like I'm falling apart. I hate everything that has happened since I went for my physical last July. My primary DR had been on my "ass" to have a colonoscopy....so I agreed. I also reminded her that I needed to have a mammogram. The last biopsy was in 2009 and it showed no cancer. I have had mammogram's every year since then....sometimes diagnostic...and even ultrasounds. Whatever it takes I am willing. So I scheduled the colonoscopy appt and a mammogram. I was really concerned about the colonoscopy...if you can say that was good...well mine was fine. Needless to say....the mammogram didn't go as expected. I have to say that after several months..I am totally feeling the emotional repercussions of this entire experience.

My 25 reg radiation treatments are now done-5 boosts next week and that is it!

I was doing great until this week. Now I have oozing sores under my left armpit and in the fold of my left breast, red, peeling and itching everywhere else. Ugh! Took a couple days off work this week - I have been working short 6.5 hour days and that worked until now-although I took off less for being tired (still feel pretty good that way) than for tenderness. I now own the world's largest collection of uncomfortable bras-I keep buying new ones hoping for one that doesn't hurt after an hour or 2 of wear, but no luck. It is getting to the point that getting dressed is the biggest barrier to working! And we do have a dress code that prohibits the topless look-no one wants to see this anyway, LOL.

So far my treatments have been in the prone position, but boosts will be given in the reg supine position (I don't know why and at this point I'm not sure I care). The simulation for boosts have been done and the area is smaller (trying not to wash or oil off the sharpie circle this weekend) of course, tighter beam and all that, so hopefully my underarm and fold of my breast will get a bit of a break!

Found out they give everyone a CAKE and a certificate at the end of radiation treatment. Geez! Since sugar is not on the list of foods I put in my body these days, my husband and stepson are looking forward to the cake (they are not good Paleo eaters and are always looking for a chance to cheat)! Husband has promised me a nice steak dinner if I give my cake to him however! Can hardly wait for this to end.

labelle

I was looking into doing the paleo diet as well. How long have you been doing it...is it hard? I am 10 days without sugar so far but I haven't made many other changes. I love diet soda so I think that will be my biggest struggle. Where did you educate yourself about this way of eating and why? Just curious as to what made you choose it? Hope you don't mind sharing with me. :-

Hi to all. A question for anyone: finished 33 rads 1/5/15. Still get sharp shooting pains and itching...pains are not as strong as before but still quite bothersome. The itching seems to be coming from the inside. Seem to recall the rad techs saying that rads irritate the inside of the breast. Still doing creams 3 times a day: vitamin E oil and Calendula. Then a dusting of corn starch to protect my clothes from the oil and creme. The sentinel node incision in the armpit bothers me more than the breast incision. Anyone have shooting pains and itching? And when does it stop? Thanks for any info.

ForHisGlory My instructions say no ice packs or heat.

Dacre You are terrific. You replied to your own message! You can be wishing this had never happened and still be strong in dealing with it.

PoppyK I was told to put Aquafor in the very red spots like the fold. Can go right over my Calendula cream. Where there are peeling spots under my arm, I was given a prescription for Silvadene.

Irritating weather forecast. Possible significant snow Monday night to Tuesday which should be #28, the last before the boost. Keeping my fingers crossed.

ForHisGlory, I started a Paleo diet last Feb. seven months before my BC diagnosis. I've always been fairly healthy food conscious but for some reason my body seemed to be telling me we needed a big change and pronto! Now I think I know why. With Hashimotos I felt a gluten free diet would be beneficial and from there it wasn't much of a stretch to Paleo.

There are tons of good Paleo books, the Paleo Leap website is a great place to start and there are a lot of tasty recipes online for free. I don't find the diet itself difficult to stick to, no calories or carbs to count, just a list of foods to avoid (sugar, anything processed/artificial anything, most dairy, gluten, corn, soy, lentils, bad oils). The diet is lots of veggies (fresh organic) fish, seafood, meat (pasturized /hormone/antibiotic/and cruelty free) eggs, fruits, nuts, seeds, good oils. But without processed/prepackaged options, food prep is a lot of work. Glad I made the change, got used to Paleo cooking and found some easy "go to" recipes before BC started taking center stage around here.

It you do it, I would advise you to find an healthy meat source other than the grocery store. We joined a meat CSA, once a month pick up meat from a local organic farmer (actually, they deliver to our local health food store and we pick it up there). CSA makes it more affordable than buying organic pasturized meat thru somewhere like Trader Joe's, and will join a local CSA for organic veggies in the spring. That we pick up weekly at our farmers' market. We are in TN so the veggie CSA is over/nothing is growing right now.

But that was the Paleo diet. Paleo is also a lifestyle kind of thing for many, avoiding not just processed foods but chemicals in our beauty care products and homes (cleaners, soaps, detergents) doing low impact kind of exercise and getting lots of fresh air . The lifestyle changes are coming for me but more slowly. Believing in the value of anything you do makes it easier to keep doing it. I believe Paleo eating and living is worthwhile.

I lost 20 lbs (and those were the last sticky 20 lbs, I wasn't really very overwieight, I'm 5'7 and went from 145 to 125) on the Paleo diet within 4 months without even trying, my thyroid medicine was reduced, cholesterol and lipids levels fell, and before the BC diagnosis I felt better than I had in years. My PC says at least I went into this BC thing primed and in great shape and she's right, but it still sucks!

I was never a soda drinker, but I've read some people find club soda/sparkling water with a little lemon to taste or stevia to sweeten to be a good Paleo friendly soda substitute for their soda/diet soda.