Summer 2015 Rads

Thanks for the input regarding the waiting room. Maybe there is something more that they didn't show me. I don't think so however. I do not plan to strip from the waist up and put on a gown that ties shut with a small string and then go sit amongst the public. We'll see what happens on Wednesday. I appreciate the input. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't being overly sensitive (I figured I wasn't!)

Some of the positioning depends on the fields being treated, of course. I have 4. I NEVER look to the left but do see the ceiling while being positioned and part of the right side of the room during treatment. I do think it's unusual not to have a mold, however.

I'm with everyone else - having to sit in a gown amidst the general public would bother me and I don't think it's at all appropriate. Someone needs to have a talk with management - or maybe start with the social worker or patient advocate...

Thank you everyone! Was too tired to post yesterday. Under my breast and under arm are quite sore and have to use Mepilex to wear the bra I need for the non treated side. More tired today than at any time through treatment, just the accumulation of tx, and many long drives (4 hours total every day). Overall I was lucky to have almost no fatigue during rads, but also no chemo prior either (onco type 3).

There was a separate waiting area for those of us in gowns, and I too would be really uncomfortable waiting with everyone in those crazy gowns, because I was always holding the girls just to be comfortable! If there is no alternative what about 2 gowns, one tying in back, another tying in front for more coverage? This disease does stink, and treatment shouldn't make it worse!

Hang in there everyone!

The machine was fixed so I got to start this morning. The techs (2 female, 1 male) were kind and took time to explain what they were doing. 6 tattoos--enough to make a constellation! The only noticeable redness is where I had contact dermatitis from having stickers on for over a week--they pinked up enough that it looks like I fought off an octopus. Since my answer to "What happened to your breasts?" is "Shark attack," an octopus fits into my story well.

Thanks, Darumama and others. I am going to call on Monday and express my concerns over the waiting room situation. It's not that I am overly modest, it just doesn't seem right to me. I think that patient privacy and dignity should be respected in some way. Some of the people in the waiting are not having treatment, but waiting for people having treatment. I was particularly bothered because I did not see a single other person in the room in a gown. It's not like I go to my family doctor and they have me dress in a gown and then go and sit in the waiting room with everyone else. Just seems odd to me.

Looks like I'll be starting rads in August. Last chemo is Monday and went for my markings this week. I have sat in waiting rooms with a gown on for every procedure that I've had, from mammogram to cat scan to wire insertion for lumpectomy to radiation markings. They always give me two gowns, the inside one closes in back and the outside one closes in front. It hasn't bothered me as there is usually someone else wearing one as well.

I appreciate you all sharing your experiences, it helps to lessen anxiety. I will only have 16 sessions so I feel fortunate that side effects may not be too bad. My tech recommended Glaxal Base cream from costco. Has anyone used it?

I asked the rad tech why radiation causes fatigue and she reminded me that the body wants to rest when it's healing, and that radiation kills cells. This reminded me to keep up hydration, protein, rest, and gentle exercise to support that healing.

I started radiation on Wed - the 4 week course, so I am now 3/20ths through the treatment. I am amazed at how quickly they can get me in and out - the first two days I was walking out of the office within 15 minutes of the time I entered the waiting room, and the third day was only 20 minutes despite the fact that one of the two machines was down so they were having to treat everyone with a single machine. As for gowns, I am taken to a dressing room where I remove everything on top, put a robe on, and then leave the door open a crack. They then get me from that room and take me straight to the treatment room across the hall. I was very tired but that was because my 16 yo daughter and I were doing massive sight-seeing before each appointment (we live about 100 miles from Seattle, so this was a fun chance for her to hit all of the museums and attractions that we have not been to in years.) Next week will be more relaxing as it will be just me in Seattle.

rosiesgirl, I think you are right to say something. It is one thing to sit in a private patient only area with other patients in gowns or awaiting treatments but quite another to wait in a general waiting area with family members etc. This just doesn't seem right.

DianaNM, the WalMart $1.68 tank tops are surprisingly wonderful. I really like the fact they are long and they are very soft. They come in a ton of colors. I had to ask the sales clerk to help me find them.

There is a lot of conflicting information on supplements. I am taking a lot right now and plan to take Taurine to help with radiation fatigue.

Peace and healing,

Nancy

Re: Walmart cami Look in the juniors section. In my store they were on a table right in front of juniors. They were running out a few weeks ago when I got mine. If you don't see them try by the sale or clearance stuff. Or better yet, ask

Super, Darumama. Thanks a ton.

QueenMomCat, the Playtex P844 have no undersides and are very soft. They were fairly inexpensive, too. You will want.something without wires (causes friction) and SOFT. Also something you won't mind ruining with lotions and cream.

There was another one suggested, too, earlier in this thread. You might check back a ways and see if you can find it.

Hi, I bought a nice bra at Target that is really comfortable, for about $21. I am a 38D and wear a large. See The picture for the model.

I had a great day with my beloved yesterday.... If you are ever in Maryland, after you visit me, you must go to Fort McHenry, home of the Star Spangled Banner!

unfortunately , I am running a fever today. One of the women who works for me has been very sick, and I think she shared it, ugh.

Well, last week was interesting because the radiation machine stopped working and I skipped two days! They said the battery died and they needed to re-load all the software, so it took longer than they expected. I actually didn't mind taking a few more days off, although I worried since I'd just had the Friday before the 4th off, too! But the techs told me that it was all OK because I was over half-way through my treatments. For some reason that makes a difference...

So I just did #19 of 35. I just learned that the last week of treatments was for boosts--and I may or may not get a full week of them depending on what the RO thought. Hmmm...

Waiting Room... I'm lucky, even though I'm being treated in Los Angeles, I'm at a little satellite of the Angeles Clinic that was just purchased by Cedars-Sinai. Cedars was a bit farther from my sister's house, where I'm staying, so I'm going to this little branch. There is only the one machine, so that's why I had to wait until it was fixed. But I also NEVER have to wait and never see any other patients there, except for maybe once or twice! I just run in, sign at the desk, run right back where they ask my birthdate, etc., then go to the changing room, run out and into the radiation room, like down, get tugged into position while lying on my back with arms up in little braces/rests... No form-thingie... just lying there with short gown over my top. Around 30 seconds from one side and the machine moves to the other side and another 30 seconds, then I'm up and out!

I get to chat a bit to the cute, boppy girl tech about what we did over the long weekend and about a cool dessert place over on Sawtelle. And that's it. I actually kind of like it! It's so nice being able to get out of the house, unlike when I was doing chemo.

I think I'd complain if I had to go out and sit in one of those big waiting rooms in a hospital gown, too! I hadn't had to do that before... For mammos, they'd call us back to change and we'd wait in a tiny area in the back with a couple of other women in gowns... Of course, that was in the Breast Center at Cedars, so it's all bc folk... Lots to chat about if we want to... or just sit and watch the tv or whatever...

So far I've just been using Calendula cream and Aloe gel. They told me to use it 3x a day from the very beginning because rads can dry out the skin and make it itchy and irritated (and the first treatment did dry out my skin!). I haven't been doing it 3x a day... more once or twice... and there's a very slight pink-ness at this point and some little itchiness, but I'm still wearing my regular underwire bras (I'm an a/b cup, so it's not like they're holding up that much)... but might switch to something softer if things get a bit more sensitive.

Fatigue--not bad. I sometimes feel the urge to nap, but not every day. Most of the time my energy is pretty good.

Good luck, everyone! Fascinating hearing everyone's different experiences.