Winter 2015-16 RADS

i keep trying to catch up before posting, but this thread moves too fast! I had my sim last week and start my 33 treatments tomorrow (Thursday). My doc said only aloe or aquafor if needed. I did get tattoos.

I plan to exercise throughout, so I'm glad to see that worked for some of you. Need to get my fitness back-i have goals!

Congrats to all who have finished!

Anyone have pressure on the opposite side of their chest after radiation... I'm having rads to right side, woke this morning with pressure feeling on my left breast side. I didn't have recon, so I don't know if it's just fro sleeping heavy on that side last night, or from rads.. I have a different appt time today, since I have a follow up with the breast surgeon... hate worrying about every little thing...

Have a good one, ladies!

Had my sim this morning; it was fine. The breath-gating thing is actually pretty cool, and I appreciate the fact that the tech let me look at my CT scan (I love seeing how things work, including my own body!). Got the three little tattoos and had the mold/bolus made. . . My first appointment isn't until 2/4, since I still have a tiny bit of healing to do from my scar revision, but I feel a lot better now about the whole thing. There's even a saltwater aquarium in the back waiting room that I can gaze at.

The CT scanner freaked me out at first, but now it's no big deal. It's weird how just knowing what something is like removes so much of the anxiety.

And, jeez, gown open in the BACK?! That certainly threw me for a loop!

This thread does move right along! Hope everyone has had a good week so far, we're almost to Friday which now in my mind means another week of rads done and not just another week of work done.

I have one of the earliest appointments in the radiation department and there's one lady who is right before me every day. Since I drop my son off at school and drive straight to rads, I'm usually getting to the waiting room before she's even called in so we've gotten to know each other a bit in the last few weeks. Her last treatment is next Wednesday and I was thinking of bringing her a cupcake or something in that morning.

yay Jabe! Is that hair growth I spy under your hat?

justmaximom....I think bringing her a cupcake would be fantastic!!! How sweet!

WooHoo!!! Congrats PattyMeg!!!

Congrats PattyMeg! How funny, I said this too: "Tomorrow I will probably get off at the wrong exit on the way to work, because I've been on autopilot these past five weeks."

But I haven't. And I don't know about you, but I'm glad to be able to wear dresses to work again since I no longer have to disrobe from the waist up to start my day.

congrats, pattymeg!

First treatment went fine. They did more sharpie marks and did xrays, so they said this would be the longest treatment although they'll do xrays once a week. I was surprised and relieved when they said I could put my arms down... I don't know at which point it went from imaging to treatment.

I saw an RO who was covering for my regular one. She said my skin is dry so go ahead and use any lotion for now. I have some lovely stuff from Trader Joe's with aloe and chamomile. I guess they save the aquaphor for later.

Hi all,

I've been reading all the posts here, moving over from the September chemo group. Many familiar names! It's looking like I'll begin rads sometime in February. Have a brief appointment with the RO on February 4 but had to beg off doing anything else just yet since I'm still a bit of a mess from chemo. Final dose of Taxol was January 11 but I was sick with fever and congestion the week before. Still have the congestion but it's slowly easing up. I still need to loosen things up from my surgery as well and, of course, developed a bit of lymphedema. I just need a bit more time even though it would be great to get it all over & done with. Also dreading the daily drive since the hospital is 40 minutes away. This seems to be a very long journey.

Anyway, I'm enjoying everyone's helpful hints, especially the cabbage leaves! Who'da thunk it?

Jabe if you are brave enough can you post a pic maybe on the hair board?

Mdoc I don't believe I said it causes pneumonia, just thinking it weakens the immune system and possibly the lungs. Easier to catch something

El Tigre,

I am in the midst of deciding whether to hold off on tamoxifen until after i am done rads, even though my MO says I can start right aways. My main reason is to sort out any sideeffects of rads and treat them, i dont want to confuse the issue by also dealing with side effects of the tamoxifen. I have heard that chemo continues to work in our bodies well after treatment is finished-i dont know how long but i wouldnt think a few weeks would be concerning. Just my thoughts.

thank you everyone for your responses.

I hate this disease. But it taught me to appreciate the little things more. Today I appreciated a clean workspace

Anyone else get TIRED during rads?
This is only my first week, but it hit me yesterday, really out of nowhere. It's a different tired than I ever experienced before.....it's more like a totally drained feeling and no matter how much sleep or rest that I get, I still feel it.
Last night, I had to go to bed at 7:30, I just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I woke up this morning, when the alarm went off at 5:30.....still drained, still tired. UGH!
I plan on upping my exercise, hope that will help.....but just wanted to see if anyone else experiences this?