Summer 2015 Rads

midgiemoon..Congrats. You're where many of us hope to be in a few weeks.

I just did #2 of 28. Surprisingly 2 was tougher than one, mentally. I was expecting the first would be the most emotional. So I prepared. But it was no big deal. I had all my walls up. I guess I blew all my defenses yesterday and was running on empty today. Overall, once I got there, I was ok.

Physically I did quite well. I interacted with ET a lot more. I even watched him with my peripheral vision as he followed me around the table. I even stared him in the eye when he was hovering over me. I dare say we might become friends, or at least have a mutual understanding.

I didn't feel a thing. I have no pain. When I got home, I put lotion on and threw a cooling pad/towel over a T Shirt while I watched a little TV.

2 of 28 done. So far no issues, no noticeable changes.

Had treatment 26 out of 33 today. DONE with whole breast radiation. Tomorrow the boosts begin. I was prone for the WBR, now I will be on my back for the boosts. I am quite red and my nipple is tender. The armpit is brown and the skin has ripples. Saw the doctor today and he gave me Silvadene for the armpit. He said the ripples are due to swelling. Thank goodness we are moving onto boosts. Not sure if certain areas of my skin would've tolerated much more. It's strange I even have the red radiation look in areas I was not treated. My doctor called this "radiation spread." If all goes well, my last day will be Thursday, August 27th. I think my first follow up will be six weeks after that. Typically, when and how often are the follow ups?

I had my followup only a week and a half after my last RT, (yesterday, in fact). I was kind of happy to see one of techs and talked her ear off like we were old friends... I wondered if I wasn't getting out enough??!!!

My RO only saw me briefly (as always). He said I looked fine and he considered me pretty much healed and said I was one of the easiest patients he'd had (which made me wonder if I wasn't asking enough hard questions!). He said the skin could end up feeling a bit tighter and tougher from the radiation. And I got no other signs I'd have any followup appointments after that!

Hmm...!

My skin IS healing up. It's still slightly darker, but I think it's fading. My boost area is no longer pink, although I can still feel a hard swelling of seroma there. The incisions are looking much less obvious. They look better than the incision for my port placement that I got back in November, actually! The one on my breast is looking very flat and is just a thin line. Under my arm, the skin is still a bit puffy around it so it looks a bit sunken still, but much less than it did during RT. And it's looking less red/pink. I still feel like putting some cornstarch powder under my arm, but much less than before--it's almost equal to my other arm, so that's a good sign (and also a sign of the heat-wave we've been having out here on the West Coast).

I've been feeling fatigued because it's been hot out here, I think. Otherwise I've been feeling pretty much normal.

It is kind of strange not to have something treatment-related to do for days on end! --But I'm sure I'll get used to that!

I need to start hormone-based treatments, but I haven't connected with my MO yet (he had to rush to a meeting the last time I was there...)

--

fatigue-- might also be caused by some low red blood counts. one of my docs said that RT could slow down blood production in any bones it might be affecting, like the breast bone.

nausea-- my docs were always asking me if I was feeling any (I didn't), so I'm guessing that nausea must be a know SE. Never worry about asking for meds for SEs. I'm sure the doctors have seen it all, and they are there to prescribe things and keep track of SEs.

meds and supplements -- I was taking tons and tons all through chemo/surgery/rads... Felt like I was a walking pharmacy. But I've cut way back now that all of that is over... not even trying to cut back, just no need to take most of that stuff! It's such a relief. I worried I'd be stuck taking a bazillion pills a day, but turns out that was only necessary for a limited period. Whew!

Good luck to everyone still at camp!

You all WILL finish! Summer is ending... (Most of the kids out here are back to school today!)

Two boosts left!!! I am not noticing any added pinkness from my already colorful state. My skin under my arm seems to be improving but I still have some very tender spots which makes wearing a bra a very short term thing. I can last for a couple of hours in my softest one...

My gift bags for techs are ready. Full of fun goodies and a note of pink moscato for each! The chief tech told me that I have been a happy cheerleader for the other patients. I don't think she realizes what a blessing those ladies have been to me...

My very patient dear husband is going with me tomorrow, and I'll be dressed in pink in a cute dress given to my by a dear friend.

I am so happy to have shared the journey with all of you! It's been such a blessing to all be in camp together! Thanks Hopeful for creating this lovely space!

I check in on Friday whooping for joy to be done!

~Midgie

Well 3 down, 25 to go.

Did anyone get instructions on breathing? Do you hold your breath while the ray-gun is on? I was trying to take shallow breaths so my lungs didn't expand into the radiation field. It didn't work. Does that freak anyone else out?

ET---GO HOME!

Keys-Plez: I had prone breast radiation (on my stomach) and that is supposed to protect the heart and lungs - so I didn't have to hold my breath. (I don't think I could hold it if I had to - would probably panic.) Today started my final boosts on my back - tried to breath more shallowly. Freaks me out too. . . They let me bring a CD and I concentrate on the music - helps me take my mind off of things a bit. My first couple of radiation treatments I was so anxious I thought I would jump off the table. I had to count to myself - it helped. Good luck! The first few times are the scariest.

I am instructed to take a deep breath and hold it. My treatments are on the left. Inflating the lungs pushes my heart down and out of the field. Another lady right after me who has the same RO said she doesn't have to because her heart is just out of the field breathing regularly. My RO does three sims - one on stomach, one on back breathing regularly, and one on back in breath hold. She then picks what is best for your heart. She says she tries to also get the lung out but can't always. She says the lungs recover nicely. It's the heart that doesn't. Holding my breath isn't too difficult. They break each beam into two parts and you breathe in between. Started my second half yesterday. 16/20. Somehow it felt good to make it over half way!

I thought for some cheap thrills I'd go get radiation #30, then get felt up by my MO. Oh, and Thai food afterward.

my RO was not present for my sim. He did a skin check today but this is the first I've seen him since I started radiation. I believe he approves my X-rays before they start though, behind the scenes.

Today was 6/20. Not too bad, getting the hang of this. Some days they are quick, some days they wait awhile with me on the rack. I'm guessing to get the dr to approve the X-ray before they start.

Lorazepam continues to keep my nausea in check. Using 99.75% aloe gel during the day when I feel I need it. Aquaphor at night. And am wearing a cami. I feel like I can't go anywhere because the girls are big and droopy without their bra.

I am tired when after rads, but it could be the Lorazepam. I also have sore achy muscles and joints. I don't think I'm drinking enough fluids. I'm drinking my normal amount but I think I need more.

Kbeee, My RO's nurse explained everything to me and then the RO came in, pretty much went over everything his nurse did and then he checked me before I went into the Sim room. I hope that you see him and he is able to answer all your questions, you will do fine, the only thing that was a little uncomfortable is when they tattoo you, it's like a little pinch but other than that, it's pretty easy.

sailorbev, I too wonder where in the world the techs go, I get so bored laying on the table that I start to count the lights that are up in the ceiling!! I love it when they come in and tell you to put your arms down, that is the best part. Congratulations on almost being at the finish line, that is awesome and it is great that you and your hubby are going to celebrate your end of treatment.

123JustMe, I would have been done the second week of September but with Labor Day in there it throws me one day into the third week!

pboi, I'm sorry about your fatigue, I hope that each day it gets better for you. I have heard woman say that it takes 6 months to a year for your body to heal and to not feel so tired, I'm hoping that is not the norm. I can't help you with the peeling issue you are having, I'm on number 18 and so far the area just looks red, tan, mean and ugly. I'm sure that some of these great ladies will be able to answer that for you.

And then there was one! Said my favorite rad tech today! I was the pink ribbon Santa delivering thank you gifts and plants to the staff. My friend gave me a cute pink ribbon dress for the occasion!

My plan is to sneak in a champagne split and drink it with my rad buddy when no one is watching tomorrow afternoon!

Or, I could just have a root beer float!

kbee, I see my RO every week, and by my xrays tomorrow I will have seen him 3 times already. He sat down with me and my entourage for an hour at the initial appointment and he and his nurse went over absolutely everything g twice, even the fact I am in the grey area for treatment and could back out if I wanted. If you have questions, can you schedule an additional appointment befor you start?

Pboi, I also peeled only in my armpit. It never hurt or itched like some described and I just kept the aloe and calendula treatments up twice a day for about 4 weeks after my last radiation. Now I can barely tell a difference in the skin color. Maybe just a shade darker than the rest of me, and that's the only tan ill be getting this summer!