Winter 2015-16 RADS

Hello Ladies ! I should be starting in January , 5 weeks ( 25 treatments). I have my CT scan scheduled for December 14th to get my mold and markings done. Wishing you all the best !

Sloan - thanks for sharing your pics and experience. It's so nice to hear positive stories about treatment! We obviously never know how things are gonna go for each of us, but here's hoping we can all stay encouraged!

Octogirl - I hope you slept in!

Shopgal - cute avatar!!!

Welcome to all the new ladies joining in!

I had my Sim pushed a back a week later... They wanted to squeeze in another fill (tissue expanders) before I start. So that means I'll likely start my real treatments the week of Christmas (the 21st). Merry Christmas to me! Lol! As long as it does what it's supposed to do...

Where does everyone go for their Rads? How far? I ask, only because I know some travel farther than others depending on where you live. And it's interesting to me, since we have to go daily!

I have to drive about an hour each way. I'm in MN, and travel into Minneapolis. There are closer places to me, but not under my same network. Plus, I have to have treatment to midline and 'something else' (can't remember)which they don't always like to do at all places near me anyway... Plus, I like my Rad Onc a lot, so sticking with her... It wouldn't be so bad of a drive, except that we've hit WINTER and SNOW here. So it could make for an interesting 33 treatments.

I'm 4 treatments from finishing. Let me know if any of you who have had mx have any questions. I found it comforting when the summer rads ladies who had mx answered my questions. Because of the large field of radiation and number of bolus I had my skin didn't hold up as well as Sloan so I am glad you are seeing both sides of the equation. Even so let me assure you that this is all doable.

Morning all! I slept till 6:30...which for me is sleeping in.....

It is about 35 to 45 minutes drive each way to my rads location, depending on traffic....I live in a semi-rural area, and that is the second closest location to me. The closest is only a mile and a half....which would have been fabulous. Unfortunately, I was not completely comfortable with the RO, and my MO and his staff weren't at all enthusiastic....and encouraged me to go to the one I chose. I was happy with my choice until the last minute cancellation, but I guess stuff happens. Would have been nice to get some reason: I mean, if everyone of staff got the flu, that would be a good reason to cancel apts., but it is a little annoying to be cancelled with no apology and no reason.....all right, I am done whining. Will let you all know how the sim Monday goes.

Fortunately, we don't get snow here, which is a good thing given it isn't a short drive...

Octogirl

Hi all,

Started my radiation on Monday. 33 treatments in all, so I'll finish in mid-January. Fortunately, it's only about a 15 minute drive. I'm getting radiation to three spots; where the tumor was, where the lymph nodes were removed under my arm, and above the tumor site (chest/neck area).

Creativevintage-I also felt some soreness after my treatments, especially in the evening. The Radiation Oncologist said that occurs in a small percentage of people. It felt like an internal sunburn? Crazy description I know. :-)

Mdoc-hope you are feeling well. So great that you had dinner made for you! If it weren't for friends and family bringing us meals throughout my chemo, we would have lived on cereal! I am also a twin. I have a fraternal twin sister! She's been great through this!

Thanks Molly, I'll try that. My skin is slightly tight but fully healed at this point. Maybe I can soften the skin in case TE migrates north lol.

Molly, I turn that function off, on computer, phone, and ipad. I thought you meant scars.... : )

hi all! I had my first radiation today. It was easy and they had even scheduled me with the massage therapist who is there on Wednesdays which was AMAZING! My breast does feel a bit sore, which surprises me, but it sounds like others have had the same thing. Trying to figure out whether to keep this cut up t shirt under bra or try a camisole with shelf-bra under the bra or none. It feels a bit chafing right now. Recommendations

mdoc524, I have found the most important thing with rads and TE's is to keep on top of the ROM stretching. The skin shrinkage over the TE can make your pecs pretty tight. Jabe, I ended up buying a cotton bra that goes over my head two sizes too big so that it was just enough support to not flop around but no chaffing. I was wearing just a stretchy bra and it was leaving marks under my breast. The tech told me it was going to be a problem. I also did the cami under a bra which helped. At night I used large men's white t-shirts to bed so the aquaphor doesn't ruin my clothes.

Fruit of the Earth Aloe Gel at Amazon - 24 oz for $8.73. Thank you Chisandy, it's in my cart.

All my doctors are about 5 minutes from my work (it WAS easy to duck out for a quick appointment) but 40-60 minutes from my house since I am not working during all this. In Southern CA I don't have snow, but we do have construction and traffic 😀

Maybe if I'm able to drive myself, I'll time my rads close to lunch and have lunch with work friends. I am hoping I might feel like a normal person again now that chemo is nearly done

Patty - thanks. We shall see how it goes

Hello ladies. Well, it looks like I am joining you here. I just found out that I do not need chemotherapy (yay!), and I will meet with the MO on Wednesday to set me up for RT and to start tamoxifen. I am so happy to get moving on things finally! I have been lurking here and on the Fall 2015 group and getting some great tips. I will let you know when I have a date to start. My BS (who is also the Breast Cancer Center director) had mentioned doing the short protocol so I will also see if that is still the case.

ChiSandy - I am not certain why my MO chose tamoxifen, since I haven't spoken with him about it yet (just over the phone for the good news and to set the appointment), but I was kind of expecting that I would receive it instead of the aromatase inhibitors. I already have osteoporosis in my hip and osteopenia in my spine along with cholesterol readings that are either at or above what they consider to be the normal range (although my ratios are great, so I am personally not so concerned about that). I am wondering if I would be a candidate to start on tamoxifen and then change to AI at some point.