Winter 2015-16 RADS

fearless the breathing technique I am having and posted about a few pages back expands my chest away from my heart. The sim mapped exactly where the rads would hit for whole breast. If the wasn't able to do the active breathing technique with the machine where I hold my breath, my ro said they would have me in the prone position then redo the rad plan and remap.

Here's my 2 cents worth on the short schedule (16 days 42.5 Gy and 5 days boost 10 Gy). I started turning slightly pink and I had very mild swelling at the beginning of week three. At that point my nipple was very sensitive to rubbing or touch. I started feeling a small amount of discomfort by the end of week three and my skin looked dryer under the cream I was using. I did not need any pain relief. Once I started my boost I had speckled areas from the top part of my treatment area that faded about half way down. Most of my redness is located under my arm. Once I started the boost my nipple quit hurting even though it was still in the treatment area of the boost. My skin got worse looking by the end of the first week after whole breast rads were finished. I'm three days done with the boost and everything. My boost area looks the same. I look a little tanner in the pink splotchy areas. I also started to feel a little more tired in the evening this week. I've not had any problems wearing normal underwire bras for the last two days. I've been able to work full time without any problems. I had my rads at 8:00 a.m. each morning and my employees never even knew. I did not want them knowing since I live and work in a small community. I am truly sorry for you ladies that have suffered and are still suffering. My experience wasn't too bad. I'm guessing it's because I have very small breasts.

I went to a new MO yesterday and really liked her. I will be starting arimidex in two weeks. I didn't want to confuse any side effects from radiation with the AI.

Oh, just wanted to add, my RO wouldn't let me use any topical antioxidants, take any antioxidants, or drink any antioxidants. So I have not taken any vitamin E, Fish Oil, C. I haven't used any creams with vitamin E or C in it either. I only use what he prescribed. I haven't had any tea, black, green, white or rooibos since the middle of December. I'm counting the days until I can sip hot tea on a cold night! My RO gave me a long list of supplements that I wasn't allowed to take. I want my cancer GONE, so I'm not tempting fate on this one!

Lube the boob....love it!

KateB79 and Shopgal2--thanks for sharing the info about rads and the heart. I wasn't told much about what they were doing with the sim and my fault for not asking more questions about this. I see my RO on Monday, so I definitely plan to ask her.

ctgal48--your info on your experience is very helpful. I realize we all respond differently but it helps to kind of have an idea of when to expect the changes. I will have finished day 9 a week from today and I was thinking that might be a time to start looking for changes in the skin. Thanks for sharing about the need to care more for the outside area of the breast. It makes sense for that area to be a little more sensitive to changes. I had already thought about under the breast being an area of concern. Guess I need to stock on up the corn starch since my boobs are rather droopy and beneath them doesn't get enough airing out.

Suz-Q--thanks for sharing your story also. I haven't been paying enough attention to the underarm area and based on yours and ctgal48's comments, I now see that I need to focus on making sure I apply more cream there. I will "lube the boob" and buy cabbage this weekend to have it ready when I need it.

I have found it interesting to read the comments about not taking the antioxidants also. It seems that has not even been mentioned by my RO or MO. Does this mean some of you have no intake of anti-oxidant foods either during radiation?

I'm concerned about my nipple area and how it will respond to the radiation. My lumpectomy was at 12:00, right above the nipple (I have a nice little "eyebrow" scar above the nipple---plus a matching one on the right since I had a pre-cancerous atypical lesion removed at about the same area). Based on what I'm reading here about "boosts", my guess is that there will be targeted boosts to the nipple area at some point. I'm wondering if that will cause it to be more sensitive. I don't know if my 16 day treatment plan includes "boosts" or if they will be added on at the end. I'm glad I'm reading these posts because I now have even more questions for my RO on Monday. She was not there when I had my sim or the day I started treatments, so I really haven't had an opportunity to talk to her about the entire plan. I need to make a list so I don't forget the questions I have for her. Thanks to all for continuing to share your experiences. They are so very helpful.

Had my SIM for rads today and they marked me up again... tralalala, and gave me more tattoos... I was surprised that they marked my neck, and when I asked, they said that they want to hit to superclavicular nodes while they're doing everything else, so that there can be no doubt that they got everything that could possibly be lurking about. Anyone else have this spot marked for rads?

I'm so thankful for the great techs at our center. Got my schedule, 8:20a, every day for the next 6 weeks... whoohoo! Just want to get this started.

Hugs to all of you amazing women out here!

Warrior On!

Etnasgrl....lube the boob was my take away, too....just hoping I can remember to use that line later on when someone needs it...

I was told not to take any additional antioxidants. A multivitamin is fine. Green tea is fine. Just don't load up on any supplemental antioxidants. My RO wasn't overly concerned.

I read an article once where some medical professionals were discussing whether or not antioxidants would 'protect' cancer cells from rads/chemo or whatever. I don't remember all of it, but it seemed like there was an argument over swapping out a handful of blueberries for a cookie. As if eating the junk was better, because those blueberries would protect the cancer. I think most of the contributors thought this was crazy and completely untrue. Personally, I think our food is often our medicine. So I'll lay off the supplements, but not the produce! That being said, all my healthy eating didn't keep me from getting cancer in the first place. Maybe I should try ice cream and Oreos before my next treatment! Haha, kidding!

KCInmin -- crossed posts - ha ha you are wicked just mentioning ice cream -- I was a pretty healthy eater too, but I've had a lot of hormone supplements over the years..... so suspect it was that.

Welp, 3 down, 27 to go! Naturally, no side effects yet as it's too early. I've been really tired but that can be attributed to (a) getting up at 6 am to go to rads (not a morning person, but better to go before work than call attention to myself by leaving work early every day) and (b) this was also my first week back at work after my hysterectomy, so getting used to being upright all day again.

The center where I'm having my rads done has two changing areas for patients. There are four, large lockers in each, with an adjacent cabinet holding gowns to change into. The lockers have keys in them attached to wrist bands so that you can simply slip it on your arms. Each room also has a bottle of lubriderm for patients to use.

My scheduled time is 7:40, and there is another patient before me at 7:30. We've both been getting there early, so they've been taking her at 7:20 and me at 7:30. I'm outta there in 10 minutes and able to get to work just a little after 8. (We spoke briefly as we crossed paths and yesterday was treatment 10 for her and 3 for me so she's a week ahead of me.) I've put some of the Radiaplex in a travel-sized bottle in my purse along with a stick of Tom's of Maine deodorant, and just wait to apply both until after my treatment. One note: the nurse who did my 'education' said that I could use regular deodorant. I mentioned that I'd read online that the aluminum in deodorant could interfere with rads, but she said no, not an issue.

I'm applying the RadiaPlex 3xday as instructed and taking my usual supplements (collagen, flaxseed oil, calcium, and magnesium citrate). Also bought a Clever (yes, that's the brand name) coffee cone to brew coffee at work.

Hi KatieB, I've always eaten healthy, exercised regularly, maintained a low BMI in hopes of keeping away type 2 Diabetes that plagues my family. Not in a million years did I ever consider that I would be diagnosed with cancer. It was a real blow to me. I think that's why I never handled the diagnosis very well and went on an antidepressant a month ago. I'm doing so much better mentally since. My next big hurdle is to start Arimidex in less than two weeks. A bit scared about the side effects, but I'm trying to keep an open mind about them and not invite trouble before it happens

Nope, no vaccinations for me. As a matter of fact, that wasn't even brought up by any of my oncologists.

I think radiation is harder on your immune system when they are targeting bone... ???

No immunizations for me. Was never mentioned.