Spring 2015 Radiation Sisters

Curlykat--Are you seeing a lymphedema therapist? Mine was able to help me to get my mobility back and she massaged out scar tissues that were restricting my ability to stretch. I hope you can get something worked out so you don't suffer too much with treatment.

Hi All! Springing into radiation; had my first rad treatment this morning. I pushed to use a prone position (face down) to give a little more protection to my heart and lungs, and its a little trickier positioning. But I underestimated how long that first session with treatment would take - the sim was so easy and I thought the first session would track similarly. Also, the technicians indicated they will be doing xrays with every treatment because it is the RO's preference for all his patients. (So glad others posted about the neglible rad from the xraying). But wondered if anyone else was having x's with every treatment?

I think it will get better as the routine settles in and would love feedback from those who are doing the prone position.

The good news is I can still kind of see the ceiling where they have blue sky and clouds.

Popssee--glad to see you are up and running. I had between 2 and 4 Xrays with every session. I don't see any info on your particular situation. Are you left side? They will basically take however many Xrays they need to perfect your positioning. They'll take an Xray, and then if they are off, you'll feel the table move a bit and then they take another one. I think I had five on one of the days, but it was usually between 2 and 4.

farmdau, I was also told not to use anything (lotions, etc.) until I needed them. Until symptoms showed up, I would put calendula cream on the area immediately after radiation. I figured it would be washed off/absorbed over the next 24 hours and wouldn't interfere at all. Oddly, I just couldn't do *nothing*. I needed to feel like I was doing something to help my skin heal.

popssee, welcome. I hope it all goes smoothly for you. I had an x-ray done daily, to check my positioning.

I'm 5 days out from rads now and basically feeling fine. The skin and underlying tissue is still a bit sensitive, but it is extremely tolerable. Not a big deal at all. The area of my boosts seems to be starting to peel now, too.

Started my 4th of 6 weeks yesterday. So far it has been good. Skin is a bit pink and I'm slightly swollen but no pain. I use Aquaphor on my docs advise 2x daily. It's messy but it works. Also very gentle in the shower with aveeno cleanser, cool water and no spray directly on the area. Just let water run down from my shoulder then pat dry. As someone else mentioned, no lotion or anything else before treatment. Just totally clean area. 8 bring Aquaphor with me and use it in the dressing room after treatment. Next week is the last week of full breast rads then a week of boosts and done. Driving down to treatment has just become routine and it is going fast. Hope you all are doing well with your own treatments. Love, Jean

Prone here too....began my 3rd week of 6. I was getting a CAT scan the first 9 times, and they've now switched to the daily X-rays. I've be putting on calendula lotion when I first wake...at 5:30 AM, 3 hrs before my appt....well before the 2 hr window. I put on Aquaphor immediatly after rads, don a cotton cami, then use calendula again at bed time. 12 sessions in and only very slight pink...but the nip seems very sensitive. I enjoy getting to talk to the same patients in my waiting area....co-ed. Most the guys are there for prostate, but met a woman with a brain tumor today......God bless her. Wondering if these souls I'm meeting will turn into lasting friendships or just be helping hands along my way. Sweet dreams, ladies

readytorock -- I was prescribed Zoladex (ovulation suppressor) and Aromasin (AI) because of the SOFT study results. So far, I'm doing OK. I've had some warm flushes and moodiness, but otherwise, I've felt fine. I'll be getting blood work done tomorrow when I go in for another Herceptin infusion. That typically doesn't show anything interesting, so far as I know.

JJ, I definitely get the house stuff. We are selling the coop we own in NYC. Our oldest son was living there but has moved up closer to us. He is handling most of the details as there is no way I could deal with this right now. I developed a rash under my non rads breast and also in the fold of my leg near the hip and in my navel. The doc thinks it's a fungal infection and prescribed a cream to use 2x daily. It is very red and itchy and seems to spread easily. Just one more thing to deal with. Lots of hand washing. I am trying to be careful not to spread it to the rads breast. Yikes!!! Love, Jean

hello flyerfan82. .also Dayton area. how far into rads are you? hope it all goes smoothly for you. This site has helped me tremendously.

I finished rad last week, and I am probably suppose to do what you are doing, but I am actually kind of avoiding, so I can have a mental break.  I don't even know what a soft study is?  I hope you get perfect results in everything.  Prayers for you!

Just finished treatment #11 out of 30 today and so far things are going pretty smoothly.  Very tolerable, a little darkening of the skin around armpit, a little sensitive.  Using maiderm and a gel that they gave me that is similar to aquafor but has aloe vera in it also.  After 3rd day of rads my fear of being close to machines and anxiety about being on the table susbsided.  Even on the day that they had to reboot the system and I had to stay in position for another 10 minutes or so (not fun).  Also had the radiation machine break down yesterday but they rearranged the schedule and got everyone in for their appointments -- Janiner, hope that everything turned out okay for you after the machine went down & wishing everyone well. 

I'm new to the site and this is my first post. I started RT three days ago. Fell apart trying to tie on the gown in the dressing room, realizing I've kept too busy the last couple months to really process my cancer diagnosis and the treatment (fortunate to have caught the cancer early). I've read so many varying experiences with any part of this, I'm a little anxious about what these weeks might hold for me.

It doesn't help that when I was teaching at a conference last week an older gentleman came up to me and said, "Don't have radiation. That was the beginning of the end for (his wife's name)." Even with all of the encouraging remarks from others, that statement has been a bit hard to shake. From the beginning and even now, I'm attempting to make intentional shifts toward focusing on what is good about each day, each moment, each part of tackling this and moving toward healing.

I look forward to reading all of your tips and encouragements.

just home from my first meeting with RO- very nice. go for Cat Scan to map my anatomy next week and then about 2 weeks later I will start the first of my 30 treatments. Rads will be targeted to my left chest area, left axillary, clavicle area and also posterior. Sounds like a lot but she feels I will do fine. She recommended using calendula crime which I have seen mentioned here a lot. Couldn't find it at 3 different places here in Tx - so was wondering if the Internet is my best bet to order from??? If so -is there just one type? Or if someone can recommend a store that would be great. Does it absorb well or will I need to wear some sort of tee shirt so that my work clothes don't get stained. Just curious. Also was wondering if anyone who had a MX used any products to reduce scarring? Someone recommended vitamin E oil, another recommended silicone strips - again - just curious. Glad I will have a few more weeks to heal, but also looking forward to getting started so that I can be done with this third leg of my treatment. Wishing everyone easy days as you go through treatment. Candy I

Just peeking in to see how things are going. Welcome, Rosy. Sorry you have to find yourself here, but I think you'll find it helpful and comforting.

I'm a week out from finishing rads and the whole area continues to feel sensitive, but very, very tolerable. It was quite an assault to the area, so I'm surprised I feel as good as I do this quickly!

RosyWorld-

We just wanted to welcome you to our community at BCO. We're sorry for what brings you here, but we're very glad you've joined us, and hope you find it to be a supportive and informative place!

We know this journey has many ups and downs (lots of downs), but you seems to have a good outlook, which is so important! And you're definitely in the right place for support and advice, and just somewhere to vent.

Good luck on the rest of your treatment, we'll be thinking of you!

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