Fall 2015 Rads

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  • Sloan15
    Sloan15 Member Posts: 896
    edited October 2015

    Yay kbee. That's a great accomplishment!

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  • molliefish
    molliefish Member Posts: 723
    edited October 2015

    great job Karen, I'm no runner but I know the work that goes into training for any length of marathon!
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  • Meme117
    Meme117 Member Posts: 194
    edited October 2015

    WeLcome to newbees and congrats to those who finished!

    On my forth week, red but ok. Using aquaphor and calendula and the cooling towel. Bit of fatigue but manageable.

    Chisandy thanks for all the info, very informative. Why is fat only surgically removable?

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  • inkster
    inkster Member Posts: 93
    edited October 2015

    Sloan - thank you! I was kind of feeling odd during and definitely after zapping, which was in turn followed by nausea. I figured it was all in my head, but kind of wondered if it was related. Now I know. And will be packing ginger in my purse along with my post-zapping cream. :)

    Speaking of cream, I know there was a long discussion about this, but just to add a delayed 2 cents: my RO gave me hydrogel at the office to use after treatments but then rather strongly recommended I find Calendula Cream. It's homeopathic and made from marigolds (yay! something pretty in cancer treatment). I bought some (on Amazon) and tried them both. I really like the Calendula Cream texture-wise - it's far less sticky. I'm just starting this path (session 3 was today) so the jury's still out on effectiveness.

    Others using Aquaphor surprises me. My tattoo artist used to recommend it to help tattoos heal, but switched to something else. I remember it being hard to work with and can't imagine trying to cover an entire breast plus armpit and section of back with it. More power to those of you using it and fabulous if it works for you.


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  • Brutersmom
    Brutersmom Member Posts: 563
    edited October 2015

    Sloan, I got light headed for lack of a better description followed by nausea. Your right it was an odd feeling. I was told to take 2 ibuprofen a 15 minutes before I left work for my treatment. That alleviated my symptoms. By Thursday the feeling would return again around the dinner hour. I am doing my treatments in the early afternoon. I found that if I took another ibuprofen the light headed feeling and nausea would again disappear.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited October 2015

    My RO said they used to prescribe some cream but it was expensive. I guess Aquaphor is relatively cheap. I might get that Calendula. I can't stand Aquaphor.

    Karen: You are awesome!

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  • mira845
    mira845 Member Posts: 68
    edited October 2015

    i started my boosts yesterday. I have total of 7. They put this template in the machine and position it directly over the spot they are zapping. I asked if the beamvgoes through me and the techs said its a different kind of radiation and it only goes a few centimeters deep. Really? Whatever. I'm hating all of this so what does it matter anyway.

    My skin in my boob held up very well, nipple, eh, very sore. My armpit also has some problems but its all tolerable. I used the steroid cream prescribed, aquaphor sometimes and the CVS brand after sun.

    I called my MO to see what the next step is. I finish rads Oct 27 and am leaving for a 2 week trip to Europe on Nov. 8th. (I have a great boyfriend!!). Originally she wanted me to do ovarian suppression with an AI. But since I'm going on a trip she want me to start tamoxifin before I leave an see her immediately when I get back.

    I'm wondering what the side effects will be and when they will happen. It kind of worries me starting a drug and being out if the country. Crap.

    Thanks for the estrogen lesson too! Great information!!

    I was doing very, very well on weight watchers before diagnosis but fell off the wagon and weight has been creeping back. I have about 30 lbs to loose. I don't have the enthusiasm to go back yet. I don't have the enthusiasm for anything these days. Depression? Maybe, but I think it's all based on circumstance not a chemical imbalance.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited October 2015

    There is a Tamoxifen thread somewhere. I would check on there for specific questions about Tamoxifen. If you want, I can find it for you.

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  • mira845
    mira845 Member Posts: 68
    edited October 2015

    thanks trvler, I've been to that thread....haven't kept up on it since t didn't think I'd be taking tamoxifin.

    I'm more worried about my specific side effects....cause as we all know, everyone is different. I've gotten off relatively easy so far...except for a stubborn drain, surgery wasn't so bad and neither was rads so far....could my third stage of treatment go so well? Three's a charm, but I'm not the optimistic type!!

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited October 2015

    I completely understand, Mira. I had chemo and did pretty well, relatively. Then surgery and had an easy recovery pretty much. Now I am on rads and then Tamoxifen after that. But the thing about Tamoxifen is that if you have a bad time you can stop it. I know it isn't ideal. I am just trying to take each day at a time. I hope you have a great in Europe! I want to go so badly. Where are you going?

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited August 2016

    Inkster - is there a special brand of Calendula Cream RO recommended? There are all kinds at Amazon. thx.

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited October 2015

    Today's the day! I'm taking everyone's advice with me. I am going to pick up a cooling towel today before my session.

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  • bjclaywell
    bjclaywell Member Posts: 49
    edited October 2015

    Hi all - can I join up? I had my "dry run" yesterday, and am starting with radiation today...yesterday the radiologist wanted to see if they could do the AccuBoost therapy for my boost rads, and they said it would work, so today I start my first of 8 AccuBoost therapies, and then after that, 26 regular whole breast rads.

    I'm a little nervous, but also a little relieved to just start getting it done. I've "lurked" on this board quite a bit, so I feel informed, and ready. I hope. :)

    Hope everyone is having a good day!!

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  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited October 2015

    Many here have donated . Thank you !........Wandering around and cheerleading again :)


    Donate today, make a difference directly in all our lives. By supporting BCO, we support each other. Thanks and Hugs :)

    image

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/110/topic/834331?page=1

    Link to the mainboard donation page

    https://secure3.convio.net/bco/site/Donation2?df_i...

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited October 2015

    Boiron (cream) and Weleda (cream and oil) are what I was told. Both seemed to work fine.

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited October 2015

    BJclaywell you're on the list and welcome (officially) to the group.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited October 2015

    Go somewhere like Whole Foods and smell that calendula cream before you buy it. I did that and didn't buy it. It smells awful.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited October 2015

    I like it.

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  • queenmomcat
    queenmomcat Member Posts: 3,039
    edited October 2015

    (shrugs) Tastes vary--does Whole Food's cream smell like the norm?

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited August 2016

    Thanks tvlr, it's in my basket at Amazon. Whole food down the street. Glad I didn't purchase yet.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited October 2015

    Yeah, I was wondering if it was the calendula or some scent that was added. Either way, I know me. Strong scents bug me.

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  • inkster
    inkster Member Posts: 93
    edited October 2015

    The calendula scent to me is pretty mild and it dissipates rapidly, but perhaps it's different for each brand. I'm pretty persnickety about smell and I'm with you: if it stinks, it doesn't go on my body. The brand I use is Boiron:

    http://smile.amazon.com/Boiron-Calendula-Cream-2-5-oz/dp/B000WRZOW0/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1445378251&sr=1-2&keywords=calendula

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  • courtleboo
    courtleboo Member Posts: 72
    edited October 2015

    Inkster: my tattoo artist recommended Curel ultra healing lotion.... It is wonderful. I have been using it for radiation as well and my skin has been good only getting pink like a sunburn.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited October 2015

    Inkster: I think that was the brand I saw at WF's.

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  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,773
    edited October 2015

    I use Earth's Best Baby Calendula. It's lovely.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited August 2016

    Earth's Best it is. Thx Molly and cute baby!

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited August 2016

    Does anyone know that radiation can cause secondary cancer?

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  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited October 2015

    Well, I'm knocking on the door here, as I'm seeing the RO next Monday, the 26, and will undoubtedly be starting rads soon after that. Nice to see some familiar faces, er, screen names here! Nervous about rads, but I've been reading this thread and all of your comments are so helpful! Will add my start date and number of sessions when I know more.

    Here's a question: I have lymphedema in one arm that developed while I was having chemo before surgery. The BS and lymphedema therapist both said it might go away after surgery, but that has not happened, so my MO wants me to start lymphedema treatment, i.e. wrapping. Has anyone done this while having rads? It's hard to imagine wrapping damaged skin if the rads include the underarm area where the lymph nodes were removed. The side it's on had--to quote the surgical resident--"we couldn't find the sentinel node so we took out a chunk of stuff that had five or so nodes"--and while they were clear in the path report, I imagine they'll radiate them. Any ideas how that works? Thank you!

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  • Brutersmom
    Brutersmom Member Posts: 563
    edited October 2015

    Marijen It can. I like you have a grade 3 cancer. The risk of recurrence with a grade three is much greater than the risk of a secondary cancer.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited August 2016

    Right. I know. Just wondering if any ROs tell you this, mine did. Also can make ribs brittle, I don't like that either. And cause lymphedema. And that is why I want accelerated radiation. Over and done. : )

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