Spring 2015 Radiation Sisters

I had my first of 8 boost today. Wow 7 to go. So far not to bad and i hope it stays this way. Now they are just doing one area so i hope the rest of the breast is healing. I to am a redhead and thought it would be a lot worst. I did not need Chemo. As i read through the boards i think that those who have had Chemo are having a harder time maybe because the chemo is not fully out of your system and contributing to the side effects. Also the ladies who have to work and wear bras all the time, all this is irritating. However or the situation we will all get through this. I use pure aloe from the plant in my back yard. I asked my Doctor and he said its the same plants they use to make in the bottle. I clean the nice thick leave very good and peal it. Just use the jell and put in fridge. also use Aquaphor which they have a basket on the table and we can take as many as we need. also, because my breast is a D cup i put Corn Starch once a day in the bottom to keep it dry. Anyway some place might not allow certain things and thats ok. The main thing is for us to heal and find the best method to do so.

I also have more then 2 techs at all times. -- I see some of us are finishing up at the same time but most will stick around to help the newbie with their question. Hope everyone is recovering well. Glad Jean in back from the GI problem. My prayers and big hugs to all of you.

Redhead -- hope your session was quicker today! I can't believe it took the radiation therapists so long to position you yesterday.

MombieZombie -- ugh about your skin peeling. Hope it feels better soon!

Jesika--Yay! You're in the home stretch! I start boosts (5 of them) on Friday. Glad to hear you are doing OK so far. My friend's skin is down right scary, and it only took one boost for her to get that way. You give me hope!

Daisy--I'm on Herceptin too. Maybe my taking probiotics from the start saved me from what you are going through then? There are so many choices to make and obstacles to get through in all of this. I'm glad to know that I made a good choice that may still be helping me. I hope the probiotics help you. Please share how that goes. I'm glad your rads are going well so far.

Redhead--Was thinking of you today too. Did things go easier today?

I think I may have already said this--sorry if I repeat myself. Rads are kicking my butt today. I am soooooooooooo tired. Tried to take a nap. My insomnia is getting in the way. Has anyone here ever taken melatonin during the day before? Regular sleep meds don't work on me. Melatonin works, but it costs me a head ache. Not sure if I should try it in the day or not.

Jean--Glad to hear it. It pays to speak up. I finally got my team to understand the gravity of how badly I'm effected by all of this emotionally. I was forced to tell them more about my past traumas, but they finally get it. My RO says that I have all the symptoms of PTSD. My boost set up is going to be handled very differently than the things that were bungled in my first planning sessions.

Mombie. I'm glad to hear your team is accepting your needs. Gentle hugs to all!

shelley--Awkward indeed. I think I would have been frozen with fear if a guy showed up in my team. I requested no men, so I'm safe.

I did have a female student show up among my techs one day. She didn't know about not touching me or undressing me. I had to resist throwing up and it was a strain to explain that I can't tolerate that. Triggers more trauma.

Jean--Thanks for sharing that. I am doing my best to not let this scar me further. Trying to reach for what all of this can teach me instead. It helps, unless I'm in that rads room. I just have to brace myself until it's over when I'm in an actual treatment. So glad it's almost over. I do believe firmly that the challenges we go through in this life have the benefit of making us better, kinder people if we choose to allow ourselves to look at it right. Like a sword being forged in the fire. Hugs back. I appreciate your gentle heart.

Hugs all around. So grateful to each of you for sharing and caring.

Thanks Cherice. Sorry you are stuck waiting for your start date. Bummer for sure. Once you know you have to run the gauntlet like this, you just want to start running and hurry to come out the other side! I understand the naked on a table thing. That is nearly paralyzing for me. I have to still be bare until I'm in position, but then I get to be covered. I can hardly breathe from the panic until the cover is placed. I especially hate when they tell me to take a big breath and they watch and then put marks on me while I hold my breath. I feel like a germ under a microscope....among other things. I'm sorry you felt uncomfortable.

While I was sharing pains and panics with my sister today, she reminded me "think Hawaii, think Hawaii, think Hawaii!" DH and I are going there in a month. So glad I have something extra to look forward to. I hope all of you have something you can reward yourselves with when this is all done, even if it's just lunch with a friend. It helps to keep a happy thought tucked in your pocket.

The count down is on...I start on Monday. I just got a big tub of Glaxo cream (it's the only thing I'm suppose to use??) but the aloe in the fridge sounds refreshing.

I'm not planning on working during rads. 19 yrs with the same company with less than a handful of sick days takes all guilt away ...to be honest I'm not really looking forward to going back to high stress corporate. I'm not sure I can put my head in the game like I did before. Just another thing that BC has done (this time maybe for the better.)

I'm trying to make a few meals and have them in the freezer..oh the planning we do as women!!!

I'm scheduling all my appts for late afternoon so DH can come with me. We are an hour away from the hospital ....ugh!! We are planning a much needed trip once all of this is done. Costa Rica is calling us!!! I've been told I will need a sun guard shirt as after rads you are more at risk for sunburn.

Add me to the list of those with ongoing GI issues. The lingering effects of the chemo, like neuropathy, I'm sure is contributing to it, and clearly the radiation doesn't help. Also I've been taking antivirals prophylactically since I had shingles just as I finished the chemo, and those drugs cause the same issues. I've just become accustomed to always having an anti-diarrheal medication on hand. Now, I feel like one of those commercials for V8 juice where they slap someone upside the head. All during chemo I consistently ate Greek yogurt, partly for the probiotics but also because I like it. For some reason I've not bought it for a few weeks now. I've got to get some. So thanks for the slap to the head.

The gel in the fridge sounds delightful. I'm in my 4th week, and so far only a small red area, nothing severe and no pain, but I'm not counting on it staying that way. My RO recommends Miaderm, and I've been using it faithfully, and now I will look for some aloe gel to have on hand in my fridge.

Hey everyonr. I was so happy to have my concerns about 2 techs addressed. For me at age 71 there isn't much of a modesty issue but more having 2 sets of eyes to make sure I'm set up correctly. Today hubby was with me when my (male) rads doc examined my breast. That was a bit awkward but mostly because I kept looking at hubby to make sure he was ok. Actually now that I think about it it does have a comic element. Love, Jean

Cassiecat--Hurray only six! I have seven. We are going to hit the finish line nearly together. Good luck. We can do it!

Jean--You are just adorable. I love how you just keep smiling.

Hester--It's a bummer to add knee pain to all of this. You said you didn't remember injuring your knee. Are you maybe sleeping in a different way to avoid laying on your raw side? I get knee pain if I sleep funny.

Evilmidget--So sorry you were feeling bad at that treatment. I'm glad they are trying to take such good care of you at your treatment place. Was today better I hope? I heard the Silverdene is great. I also heard it ruins fabric. Any trouble there? My friend puts non-stick pads over the area of the cream to help prevent it getting on her shirt. She also said it was hard to wash off. What are you doing for that?

Kathy--Often near the last of your rads, the last 5 to 8, the dosing is raised and they consentrate the beam to where the tumor was. It's called a boost.

I guess I should add that it involves another planning session, though I think not as long. I am told that the doctor will come and draw on me, where the boost needs to happen. They designs special blockers to protect the rest of the area. Those are loaded into the machine and are unique to you. I am also told the machine comes a LOT closer to your body for these. My boosts start on Friday.

Mombie -

I haven't heard anything about another planning session and mine starts on Friday, too. I hope that doesn't cut into my Friday afternoon nap time! Please share hear what you learn from your session!