Winter 2015-16 RADS

There is a BELL!!! I just didn't see it as it is in the first waiting area not the treatment back room waiting area...also they give you a certificate and do a little thing at the end of treatment. I had such a crappy week...believe it or not rads was not the worse part of my week. One week down ..6 more to go!!!

I think because I am not doing whole breast rads my drs didn't give me anything except a tiny sample of Aquaphor, I bought Calendula cream the Baby Cream and Bioron brand and the pure aloe gel. I have been using all of those at night but don't know what to put on immediately after rads. It is red and itchy afterwards and last night felt like a bad sunburn. The aloe provided relief but what is miaderm? Should I buy this to put on after treatment? I can't do aquaphor and put work close on it will ruin my clothes. Any suggestions

Also, my tumor bed is near my clavicle and after treatment my mouth is so dry. Anyone else experience this?

Gargen -- sorry for your additional test...sending positive vibes your way for negative results. Hugs to you as you wait.

and Hugs to all going though it right now...this journey isn't easy in any way and I am thankful for the support and encouragement from everyone here!

Happy weekend!!

Diane

adarkadapted - I felt that way with sim, but actual treatments way faster, and now they seem even shorter as I have become used to it. Justmaximom - congrats on going to work 'au natural' -- when I first did I was so stressed before hand, but reaction was great, and it felt very freeing to be me, and as hair has grown and changed I now say I am in the hair of the month club!

Kateb although I have pretty trees to look at on the ceiling, I would wwwaaaaay rather have a fun fish! Feeling a little prickly itchiness starting above breast in area that normally gets lots of sun, but rest holding up ok after #23 of 28.

I realized yesterday after I got the appt card times for next week, that they are not open for Family Day this Monday [a Canadian holiday -- quite new to BC, so I hadn't factored that in]. The plus means a long weekend, but the negative is I need to miss #28 which has now been scheduled for the following Monday. I have a pre-booked, can't change appt in Vancouver with PS to check the results of rads. It is due to new RO initially forgetting I had diep, so he had changed me to 16 instead of 28, and when I pointed out I was supposed to do 28 it took a few days to recalibrate......................... I can't imagine only doing 27 of 28 will make a huge difference, as I am still in the therapeutic range.

Phoebe, can't they just do number 28 on Tuesday, after you return? It wouldn't really be any different than another three day weekend. I had two three day weekends in my 28 session treatment due to Christmas and New Year's.

KateB, we joked at work that I was getting Superhero treatments (since radiation figures into Spiderman's origins), and that maybe I'd develop Superpowers . ☺ (I work in an elementary school, we're a silly bunch sometimes.) My mantra was "Super cancer fighting powers!"

I've been done for about 10 days, and the peeling is finally subsiding, and I'm not quite as red as I used to be. However, I've noticed my armpit on my radiated side is getting tighter in the last couple of days. Has anyone else noticed this?

yes Kate I did. I also have the active breathing machine and the mouthpiece tastes nasty. It went away after a few days

welcome, Martini. Sorry you're here, but glad you found us!

No weird taste for me, but I did tell my fiance I expect to come out of this with superpowers.

Well, I officially finished on Friday! And I'm just coming back to provide more encouragement--I did not have a bad response at all. I'm quite pale and I sunburn easily. But with 33 rads treatments, I came out with redness, but almost zero pain. No blisters, no raw skin, and so far no peeling. The last 5 days were boosts, so the skin outside of the boost area has been done for 9 days now, and looks great. I had always heard that things can get worse for up to a week after rads, and then get better. So my non-boost treated skin should definitely not get any worse, and I'm very happy. The boost area seems fine. The only thing that happened relates to fatigue. I had gotten though rads thinking I had no fatigue. Then yesterday for the first time, I was exhausted, in that weird chemo-fatigue kind of way. But I feel better today, and hope that was it. So anyone who has a tougher time, you have my sympathy!! I'm not here to brag, but to try to make it less scary for people just starting out--I got so nervous by all of the bad stories, so I promised myself I'd come back to report if it went well. Good luck everyone!!

Tulips

welcome Martini it's a big relief to have a plan and start date. Glad you found us. When I started my bc journey I feel like I knew nothing bco has not only educated me but introduced me to so many wonderful strong women to help guide me through.

KateB I had some stabbing pains too that's all just normal nerve pain should subside . I'm also having a little discomfort from I think fluid build up. I'm going to ask if I can wear my lymphedema sleeve during treatment. I was tired too but I'm getting up an hour earlier than usual and it was just a crazy week with my poor sick niece. Now I hope I don't end up with strep. Kate I know it's hard to think about all we endure with this diagnosis but if I had rads initially I might not be going through this now. My Dr has been beating himself up but I don't blame him or don't like second guessing I feel like everything happens for a reason and as I am going through this another of my friends is as well. I think it helps her to not have to walk alone. Hang in there you will be done before you know it

Thanks on the miaderm tip..my sister is a prime member on amazon so she gets free shipping . ,ordering today.

Wishing a peaceful day for all

Diane

Mary, it sounds like maybe we're going to walk the same path. Interesting you feel the same symptoms of a cold that never comes. I didn't know if it was the radiation or I'm really fighting something.

Okay, so it sounds like everything I'm experiencing is normal. That's reassuring!

The "I feel like I'm fighting a cold" thing must just be fatigue from tx. Too bad it hit me after the second day of zaps. Sigh. . . Only 23 to go (if I forego boosts).

Mary, my nurse said the same thing about mastectomy patients. I have a bolus for every treatment, which directs even more beams right onto my skin. Right now I'm using Miaderm and aloe during the day and Aquaphor at night. . . . Fingers crossed that I don't "pink up" too quickly.

MissV, here we go again, indeed. This'll be my first full week. I'm planning to hydrate like I did during chemo (which caused the worst fatigue I can imagine)--a gallon of clear fluids a day!

At least I get to see my little red fish in the morning.

I had heard prior to starting rads that radiation can shrink your breast. As a matter of fact, when I had my lumpectomy, the plastic surgeon wanted to reduce and lift my non cancer breast because he said that my cancer breast will shrink greatly due to the radiation and this way they will match. ( I refused to let him do that though.)

As of right now, I am 19 of 25 treatments in and have not noticed any shrinkage at all. Both breasts look the same, minus the cancer side is pink.
Did your breast shrink? If so, when did you begin to notice?

It sounds like the PS was sure about shrinkage but it seems odd to try to make your breasts match ahead of time. I have yet to see a PS because of being advised in my case to not consider plastic surgery until later. However, right now I wish I had a lift on the breast that was not removed while I was under. It is hard to be so lopsided and I am avoiding using my prosthetic during radiation.

Kate. No bolus for me. Straight up 28 zaps.

And my breast actually swelled up a bit. I have TE's in and lots of extra skin so my PS was optimistic that I would not have any problems with reconstruction later this year.

Looks like I'm bucking the trend as far as usual mastectomy reactions go. Just goes to show, we're all different.

A couple times at night while failing to sleep, I've had an upset stomach. I ended up taking some Zofran and Tums, and that took care of it.

@marijen, my understanding is that's the only way they can be sure it's all gone.