Winter 2015-16 RADS

mdoc524, I had that itch with Taxotere, along with a rash that developed on my upper chest and down my arms. My MO prescribed extra steroids, as it can mean that you are having a bit of a reaction to the drugs. I also used over the counter benedryl and hydracortisone cream and it helped. Today I just feel a bit sunburned, but the RO recommended just hydracortisone cream for now and will prescribe a steroid cream if it gets worse. I have a three day break over the Christmas holiday and she also suggested using coconut oil over the entire area along with my shoulder and upper back as I was also getting a beam through my upper back through to my axilla for extra coverage as I had 1 positive lymph node prior to chemo. After chemo the Sentinel node and the three extra nodes they removed were all negative for the cancer, so the Taxane's worked! All in all, things are going well. Today was 17 of 25 regular treatments and they started planning for the five boosts, which if I read my report correctly, will be a lot smaller dose overall. I'll have a break both this week and next as I will only be getting four treatments with a three day weekend for the holidays. I am looking forward to getting some rest too. It seems that even working part time, by Wednesday all I can do is sleep. I come to work, get my treatment, work for a few hours then go home and nap for a couple of hours then it's back to bed by 7:30.

My understanding is that the Canadian protocol refers to the shorter (and more dose dense, I believe) approximately three week version of rads, as opposed to about six weeks. That is what I am getting: 16 sessions altogether. so far it is going well. There is research showing it is effective (and it is certainly more convenient), but unfortunately, I couldn't find a quick link on the BCO website to share with you.

Octogirl

Hi 2mnykds,

The simulation places you in the optimal position to receive radiation treatments to your breast. Two techs and my RO doc placed me on the table with this bag thing under my upper back, shoulders and head.The bag thing was filled with something that conformed to my body. The doctor and the techs worked hard to make sure I would be comfortable in my mold position for my treatments. My hands were placed over my head and the body mold comes up on each side of me to ensure the exact position for each treatment. They did a CT scan, x-rays and tooksome real photos too. Once they determined the position that they wanted me in one of the techs gave me 5 small tattoos. I had to hold very still for most of it. My breasts were exposed most of the time. They do this on the same table, in the same room, under the same machine that gives you the radiation treatments. Except the treatments are very short.This session is very important. The doctor will determine your treatment plan from the simulation. He/she will calculate the best angles to completely treat your breast with the least amount of damage to normal tissue. The RO also consults with a physicist and a dosimetrist to calculate proper dosage. This part is done after you leave. My treatments consist of two 20 second zaps and two 5 second zaps. I have a 20 and a 5 second zap at one angle and side then the machine swings over me to a different angle and delivers the second part of the dose, a 20 and a 5 second again. Everyone has a different plan because no two bodies are alike. I hope this helps. it's not scary at all!

2mnykds, I am almost certain they mean 15 minute appointment times. The machines are quick on the actual 'zap'. Getting you into just the right position takes at least as long as the radiation itself.

I am working full time during rads. However, because of the type of work I do, the workplace is shut down for ten days at the end of December for the holidays. This is great timing as the hardest part for me has been carving out time when I am at work to drive the 40 mins to rads, have the treatment and drive back: now that I am off work and enjoying the holiday until after the New Year I feel much more relaxed. However, if I lived or worked closer to the rads center, that wouldn't be an issue for me. We are all different, so you will have to see, but my experience thus far has been that only the distance I have to travel to treatment and the varying treatment schedules, with last minute changes, have been an issue with work (not the actual treatment).

• I'm also working full time during rads, but I'm off next week for the holidays. My treatment center is about 30 minutes away from home, but only about ten minutes from work. I also have the first appointment of the day at 7:25, so it doesn't interfere with work. I start at 8:15. I'm a little concerned about the fatigue, because I am a preschool teacher at Head Start and it can be very physical at times. I'm going to play it by ear, as far as taking days off or possibly taking a shorter day here and there. Two of my kids are out of the house, but 2 are still home, so I'm still busy at home as well. I think we all have to see how we will feel before we can make any decisions. Hope all goes well with your treatments.

StefLove, we made them yesterday, and they were delicious! We used rum instead of vodka, and sat out on my deck drinking them, because the temperature in New York has been so warm. A four day break from rads, good food, great family, and delicious cocktails, is just what the doctor ordered. Hope everyone who celebrates had a lovely Christmas. Patty

Thanks to everyone for posting. I have found so much useful information from reading this and other threads. I see the RO the day after tomorrow and so have no schedule, or idea, really as to treatment duration or start. I had a lumpectomy almost 3 weeks ago and have been able to get back into excercise slowly. Does anyone here know if you can kayak/paddleboard during radiation? I've gone out twice since the surgery but am concerned about the sun and salt water. I'm in Australia so it is our summer and the beach beckons!

Thanks again!

mdoc, I completely agree with what StefLove said. Radiation is so much easier than AC + T. It's like a spa treatment by comparison! (I keep telling myself this, and it's mostly true.) Today was 20 of 30 for me. Just a little flushed and itchy, but hydrocortisone helps and this is nothing compared to unpleasantness of neuropathy.

My simulation was done in the CT room but they also did my "tatoos" there so I guess every place does things differently.

Justmaximom, I was a little confused by this too. First I had the CT which they described as a mapping CT and gave me blue x's everywhere and put stickers on them and said to try not to wash them off. I later found out that those x's help the radiologist know how to position you, which way to tilt you etc.They also made my bean bag mold that day. Once the CT was done RO and radiologist got together to see what would work better prone position or on my back and then I had my Sim a week later. The day of the sim they gave me tattoos and they told me how many treatments( Canadian protocol 16 treatments, higher dose and 6 boosts). They printed me out a schedule of all 22 appointments ( they had asked me at the CT what time worked best for me and tried to accommodate that) and I started RADs two days later. I was confused too because I heard everyone talking about their Sim so I thought the planning/mapping CT was the same thing, but it wasn't. I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion. Patty

Pattymeg - drinking on the deck? Wow, that's pretty good for Dec. In Chicago, we were hit with ice and sleet today. Work let us out 2 hours early, thank goodness, and driving to rads and home was challenging.

I'm back on rads, after 1 week off for the pinkness I got from the Aquaphor. Finished 7 days of radiation and a anti-inflammatory cream, that I'll bring to radiation tomorrow. Of course, I bought a $14 container of Aquaphor, thinking it would last me throughout radiation, and now can't use it because of reaction. I really don't want to use anything except natural items like Aloe or Calendula cream, but for today I was told not to use anything.

Someone helped me immensely here by posting a link to a video of radiation treatment. I was very nervous for the SIM, which is longer than anything. Today they took some new films and did some new marks; I managed to keep most of the others by facing away in the shower and not letting water run over that side at all.

Not sure how many visits I have left, but I'm with you on this journey. The numbers of recurrence are reduced significantly with radiation.

Have a great night.

Linda

hi Mary, I start radiation sometime in Jan. Thanks for starting this discussion. I'm most concerned with getting over the chemo side effects in time and having energy to teach through rads. (33 sessions recommended).

I have six regular treatments left and I am tired! I am working part time, but may reduce my hours even further starting next week. I am getting pinker over the breast and under the arm, but my collarbone and upper chest are flaming red and the RO told me today that it might get worse because of the thin skin over the collarbone and the amount of rads to that area. I do have some redness up on my neck, but that is because they are zapping the supraclavicular nodes. Last week she prescribed cortisone cream and it helped in my armpit, but today she gave me some Mepilex dressings to use because everything rubs on the collarbone area...seat belts, clothes, etc. I put on the dressing and had relief in minutes. After the regular treatments I have 5 boosts, and she told me that since they are no where near the collarbone or upper chest that I can expect to experience some improvement in that area shortly after my regular treatments end. The fatigue is no where near what I experienced with chemo. I just need a mid afternoon nap and early to bed. Chemo had me in bed for days and so weak that I needed a walker just to get around!

Hi Tessio and TulipsAndDaffodils, We welcome you to Breastcancer.org, and sorry that you have joined the club that nobody wants to be part of. We're all here for you, and routing you on!