Winter rads 2014-2015

Options
1…3536384041…106

Comments

  • mqt64
    mqt64 Member Posts: 103
    edited January 2015

    Good morning all. Good luck to all of you on the east coast! May your treatments not be interrupted. I live in upper MI and have been concerned about that myself. So far, so good. Feeling sad, scared and fortunate all at the same time this morning. My sister in law died last night of lung cancer. She was diagnosed with stage 4 in December. I start rads today. Rollercoaster...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dacre
    dacre Member Posts: 84
    edited January 2015

    To mqt64: My deepest condolences to you and your family. My sincerest belief is that your sister-in-law will always be truly loved and remembered.

    Hang in there girl....it's okay to feel...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dacre
    dacre Member Posts: 84
    edited January 2015

    To CassieCat : Hang tough girl....You can do this....kind of what I say to myself everyday....no one said life was easy...problem is ....not one said how tough it can be. Just remember...you are never alone in this....

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CoyoteNV
    CoyoteNV Member Posts: 575
    edited January 2015

    Dacre - Thank you for your kind words and I am truly honored that you think I that's how I am... but this is so-o-o much bigger than anything I can say or do. I know there area mean spirited women in the world - I've met a few and a couple have been discussed in this topic!  Maybe they do end up with BC and are just not drawn to a group like this, but there are certainly a high percentage of care-takers (both professional and personality-wise) amongst us.  

    I spent some time this morning tending our Warrior List.  I found (as difficult as that is to believe Winking) that I actually made some errors in start dates and such.  Did you see the parade of smileys? Yahoo!  We are going to get 'er done!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WndrWoman
    WndrWoman Member Posts: 333
    edited January 2015

    Just came from treatment #27. Rather frustrated that the blizzard will postpone my last regular treatment until Wednesday but you can't do anything about the weather. My RO said today that with some types of cancer it is important to keep up consecutive days. With breast cancer she said it is the cumulative amount and ok if days are missed. I know my center will not be the only one closed Tomorrow. We are supposed to get 20-30 inches.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CoyoteNV
    CoyoteNV Member Posts: 575
    edited January 2015

    mqt64 - My sincere condolences to you and your family.  I know personally how emotionally difficult this is for you.  There are a thousand contradicting emotions. I wish you peace and comfort.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • CoyoteNV
    CoyoteNV Member Posts: 575
    edited January 2015

    Okay forget the snow angels.  I don't want to lose you at the bottom of all that snow.  Be careful out there!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • magdalene51
    magdalene51 Member Posts: 2,214
    edited January 2015

    Hey Bippy! Check in with Hermits, they are asking after you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mqt64
    mqt64 Member Posts: 103
    edited January 2015

    Thank you all for your kind words. My husband and I do appreciate them. Just found out that services are on Saturday so can leave for downstate after rads on Friday. Small blessings.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pita119
    Pita119 Member Posts: 85
    edited January 2015
    mqt64

    So sorry to hear of your sister-in-law's passing. My heart aches for you & your family.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Professor50
    Professor50 Member Posts: 220
    edited January 2015

    I am coming out of the woodwork to say that I just completed day 16/30. It feels good to be on the second half. Can anyone say WHEN a person might start feeling bad if one is going to feel bad? I have put in 3 weeks and honestly still feel like nothing much has happened. My boob is a little pinker/tanner (and maybe a bit firmer) than it used to be, but otherwise, it is pretty much the same. Actually, to be honest, it looks better than it ever did. My left breast was always a little bigger and flabbier than my right. So, with the lumpectomy and rads, right now my boobs match in a way they never did before.

    My question is, if things are going to get much worse than they are, would that have happened by now? Or might it happen at any time...?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WndrWoman
    WndrWoman Member Posts: 333
    edited January 2015

    mqt64 A difficult time for you. So sorry.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WndrWoman
    WndrWoman Member Posts: 333
    edited January 2015

    Professor 50 - My RO said bigger boobs tend to react more. I am at 27 and still have no fatigue issues. I started with scarlet color and peeling in armpit around 24 and just now have a little peeling in fold. Rest is sunburned but not itchy or sore. You may coast or see some SEs after several more treatments. Hope you get off easy.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MagicalBean
    MagicalBean Member Posts: 362
    edited January 2015

    Professor: For me, it never got "bad". My skin got progressively pinker and itchier, and by the last 2 weeks there was peeling. Healing began immediately after rads. I used Aquaphor religiously. I never did get fatigue maybe a bit sleepy some afternoons, but nothing that held me down.

    mq64: I'm sorry about your sister-in-law.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Saltygirl
    Saltygirl Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2015

    hello everyone! Just popping in to say hi. I am now in my 3rd week of rads. Had number 11 of 28 to be exact. So far SE's are minimal. Getting a little more tan under my right arm but that's all. I guess there is some fatigue but mainly from the drive which is 50min one way. But I have 3 kids (6,4, and 2) so I'm always tired so it's hard to tell what is from the cancer crap.

    CassieCat- I like you had a complete pathological response to chemo and had clear margins after a mastectomy. Thought I could avoid RaDs but alas I am here. My team thought there was some benefit in it for me along with the idea that I am young (35) so they wanted to be aggressive.

    Welcome to all of the new members of the group. I stressed MAJORLY in the days leading up to RADs but once you get through the first one and just get into the groove it's not so bad. You can do it!!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bippy625
    Bippy625 Member Posts: 890
    edited January 2015

    dacre, I used to LOVE Mr.Bill! Oh noooooo!. You made my day.

    Mrqt64, I too am sorry for your loss. One of our closest friends passed from small cell lung cancer in October. I hate this disease.

    Coyote, thanks for keepin up our dates.

    I was very weirded out today but feel better now. Just want it over.......

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mqt64
    mqt64 Member Posts: 103
    edited January 2015

    Thank you all for your kind words. My husband and I do appreciate them. Just found out that services are on Saturday so can leave for downstate after rads on Friday. Small blessings.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Nomatterwhat
    Nomatterwhat Member Posts: 587
    edited January 2015

    mqt - prayers go out to your family.  So sorry for your loss. 

    Cassie - I finished rads a couple of weeks ago with no problems.  I had 28/5 and had mostly itching because of the nerves regenerating.  I also had the BMX, which got all the cancer, but just to be on the safe side I traveled thru chemoland and radland.  Now I am in PT due to having lymphedema and some cording. 

    To all the ladies in the snow fall areas, be safe in your travels. 

    Dacre -- Mr. Bill was one of my favorite characters from Saturday Night Live!!!!  I always loved Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd doing the news .... "Jane you ignorant ......".  GREAT SHOW!!!!!  GREAT memories from the teen years!!!!!  If only we didn't have to grow up.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited January 2015

    treatment 1/33 yesterday. More X-rays since the doc made some changes. Good decision to do this during lunch, only 15 minutes to get to the hosp from my office. I can definitely do this in an hour and 15 minutes. Second treatment postponed to tomorrow due to blizzard. We're getting hammered in the Boston area

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mqt64
    mqt64 Member Posts: 103
    edited January 2015

    Good morning all. 2 down and 28 to go! I must say that I really admire those of you who are doing this with working and/ or small children. You should get an extra smiley face at the end! Thanks again for all your kind words and thoughts. It was strange but that was the first time I cried. I knew you all understood my emotional mess. Doing better today. Saltygirl, Professor, and nomatterwhat, your posts were so encouraging. Coyote NV, thanks for keeping track of us. Could you change me to mqt instead of nqt? Thanks.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 721
    edited January 2015

    Yesterday the RT thought my armpit and breast fold area looked worse and called in the RO who gave me something called "Radia Gel." He also told me to stay home from work, go topless all day and night, keep my arm above my head to air out the armpit area and guess what? Relief already. Thank god. Not sure if it's the Radia Gel or the airing out or not putting on a bra and going to work, but I am much less sore today. 4 more boosts- I am so ready for this to end. Of course it might have been nice for them to give me some of this Radia Gel and good advice about a week ago when everything started peeling, hurting and oozing, but better late than never. Anyway, anyone with problems might want to ask for this stuff-I see it has aloe in it as one ingredient.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ladyb1234
    ladyb1234 Member Posts: 1,426
    edited January 2015

    Joining this group and see a lot of familiar "faces". I start Rads on 2/9 for 5 weeks -- 25 sessions. I am also a left side RAD.

    I went in for my Rad simulation yesterday, it wasn't bad and the techs were wonderful and funny. I received my Rads Schedule. I was surprised that my schedule was reduced from 33 RADs to 25 RADs, I knew there was a possiblity of reducing to 30 RADs; however was very surprised at the 25. I will have RADS to the left chest, underarm, and up to my neck due to the # of positive nodes. With so much territory to cover as explained in the simulation by the RO, I am surprised at the reduction to 25 treatments.

    Question: How many of you are getting the standard # of RADs, 30-35 vs the new shorten schedule which is usually between 4-5 weeks. I have a call into my RO. She may have mentioned this during my consultant (not simulation) but due to fatigue and chemo brain I may have missed it and/or didn't grasp the meaning until I saw it on paper. I also believe it maybe due to the fact that they never found a primary tumor and I only had cancer in the lump nodes, which is a rare presentation called "primary occult". The medical team scheduled me for several MRI's and US to make sure and results were negative for any cancer in the breast area that could be seen. Interesting enough the main page on BCO.org had an article discussing the shorter RADs schedules that a lot of ROs are adopting.

    Thanks in advance for your feedback.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • magdalene51
    magdalene51 Member Posts: 2,214
    edited January 2015

    Hi ladyb, I just asked my RO the same question. It's 28 tx followed by 5 boosts to the incision area, so 33 total. Glad you reminded me to ask.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bippy625
    Bippy625 Member Posts: 890
    edited January 2015

    chiming in.....Hi Mags & Ladyb!

    My RO says I only need 25, no boosts, as I had bmx. With lumpectomy they do more since there is still a tumor bed. I am so bringin my techs donuts, they are the bestest!


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • intothewoods2
    intothewoods2 Member Posts: 11
    edited January 2015

    Hi all! Just wanted to join in...I see my RO for the first time tomorrow...not sure what to expect but glad to have this site to bounce off of once things get underway! See ya soon!!!! :)


     

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WndrWoman
    WndrWoman Member Posts: 333
    edited January 2015

    Welcome ladyb1234 and intothewoods2. We have seen this winter lots of variations, not just the standard 28 plus 5 boosts. Depends on your situation, type of surgery, center's equipment, dosage, etc. Hope all goes smoothly.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • quiggy
    quiggy Member Posts: 315
    edited January 2015

    Hi everyone;

    Could really use your feedback please.

    I'm nearly two weeks post op and 6 days in my RADs. I'm still having some pain from surgery (it's not unbearable though). Starting to get a pink color on my breast and underarm.

    My RO told me today that pain is UNUSUAL and gave me a look of disbelief. FYI, I did not ask for anything but responded honestly when asked.

    So it's all in my head?

    Is the RO just being dismissive?

    I don't know why this bugs me but I cried all the way home and feel like a fool for speaking up.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Pita119
    Pita119 Member Posts: 85
    edited January 2015

    Mags & Ladyb!,

    I had 20 treatments...15 regular & 5 boosts.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JustJean
    JustJean Member Posts: 327
    edited January 2015

    Hi quiggy - welcome to our little club here. Laugh, scream, vent, cry, question - whatever you need to do. I'm the resident grumpy griper, LOL! Well, not really, but I was during rads!

    It's my own personal observation that ROs are so, oh, let's call it narrowly-focused, that they can't see that anything exists other than what they are expecting. I had several side effects but after the first couple of them that weren't ones that my RO would admit to (or the other ROs at the treatment center for that matter), well, I felt very dismissed. After that I just shut up and figured that if I had something that needed attention I would call my beloved PCP.

    And pain two weeks after a surgery is normal. Sheesh. Honestly, why won't they admit that kind of stuff?

    Sending a gentle hug your way...

    JJ


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • chrissie29
    chrissie29 Member Posts: 121
    edited January 2015

    Ladyb1234-Although my sentinel nodes were negative but tumor was large so I am getting radiation to my chest wall as well as all 4 lymph node sites like you.  I am having 25 regular sessions and then 5 boost sessions.

     

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories