Winter 2015-16 RADS

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  • Andraxo
    Andraxo Member Posts: 410
    edited February 2016

    Mary - try not to stress over it...it was the right decision! Steroid injections are great for shoulder problems (tendonitis, rotator cuff issues). It stops/reduces inflammation. And...likely your shoulder would get worse without the injection if having to put your arms overhead repeatedly. A pediatrician friend of mine who went though radiation for breast cancer last year recommended that I use a steroid cream (topical OTC cream) for the skin inflammation in addition to the aloe and miaderm. I haven't mentioned it to the radiation oncologist, but will likely just try it on my own.

    It will be interesting to see how well I do with taking the Spanish class with my chemo brain, but I'm still working doing all admin and it is OK...just some word finding problems. My brain felt the most fuzzy around chemo round 4 - it was hard to be at gatherings or even work meetings where I had to be "on" and in group conversations...all I could do was listen and not contribute.

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited February 2016

    KateB79.....It IS weird when it's over! I was finished on Monday and now it feels so odd not to be going everyday. I'm not working right now, so it's even more strange as rads gave me something to get up and go do.
    I'm looking for work now, so that's taking up most of my time....but still, it's a big adjustment!

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  • Brimton
    Brimton Member Posts: 87
    edited February 2016
    Katie I'm still a little scared about soy. I will ask my daughter about tamoxifin and soy. But I think she will say the research shows it's ok. I'm a vegetarian but I'm just sticking to natural foods. Nothing processed. I'm taking theracurmin which I asked one RO about and he said he would take it. My RO said she didn't know anything about it. She did say don't take any extra vitamin A but C is ok as you pee out any excess. The A gets lodged in your fat cells. She also said to stay away from green tea just because it has caffeine.
    I deleted that research post cuz I thought people might think I was telling them what to do. Everyone is so individual. As far as BO goes I do a spit bath when I think I could be stinky. i stopped wear deoderant, except for Toms brand, a while ago because I didn't want to get cancer. Don't get me started on that!! I have doing a dog training class every week with my 1 year old hound rescue mutt. It can be a bit taxing on my arm. I'm on lucky 13 today! I'm starting to feel itchy. I want to SCRATCH!! Back to the cream ugh.
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  • Twnkltoz
    Twnkltoz Member Posts: 215
    edited February 2016

    what are the under shirts some of you are wearing? I couldn't find them.

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  • Brightsocks
    Brightsocks Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2016


    JuniperCat- Yes the three week extra juice shorter time.

    Suz-Q- I hope to keep up with working out and moving around. I thought I had a boost in my plan but that was not my plans as I asked a few more questions today. When did your fatigue hit?

    My fear levels went down from yesterday I was talking a bit more to the nurses who are there to help. I just wanted to run yesterday!

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  • Suz-Q
    Suz-Q Member Posts: 205
    edited February 2016

    Brightsocks, I didn't start getting fatigue until the end of my boost. I really only feel tired in the evening. I have a normal amount of energy throughout the day. I'm 5 weeks out from treatment and sometimes I still feel a bit more tired than I think I should. Mostly I feel back to normal. My work is not physically demanding, so it hasbeen easy for me to work full time throughout treatment.

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  • LindyC
    LindyC Member Posts: 231
    edited February 2016

    I found soft cotton tanks at Costco. Twin pack, one black one white, Calvin Klein brand. Very comfy. I also got oversized kirkland brand mens undershirts (short sleeve) to sleep in after slathering myself silly with cream.

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  • morelandks
    morelandks Member Posts: 51
    edited February 2016

    Oh Ladies - I am so sad! I managed to leave my wedding ring at the hospital yesterday - lost somewhere in the Ativan haze of my last "long day" on the table. We've been married 25 years. I've lost my wedding ring to cancer, for crying out loud! Waaaahhhhhh

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  • Twnkltoz
    Twnkltoz Member Posts: 215
    edited February 2016

    oh no, @morelandks! I hope someone turns it in. (((Hugs)))

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  • mdoc524
    mdoc524 Member Posts: 336
    edited February 2016

    Hi All ,, first thanks so much etnasgrl, Suz-Q, KateB and Andraxo and everyone else for chiming in on my rant .. woke up this morning with unbelievable Steroid Flushing all over face, neck, chest and stomach - much redder on treated area .. was up for 3 hours during the night not realizing it was the steroid and I took an Ativan .. this was same se I would get from the Emend and Decadron during chemo AC days - but you all were right - RO was perfectly fine with Shoulder steroid injection and was more concerned with how red the treated area is now so she is prescribing cream to use with the Calendula .. it is only bothering me with itching in certain spots so far so hoping it holds for the duration. BTW - my shoulder is better - not cured but better

    WooHoo LindyC - Congrats on finishing and I watch my hair grow daily LOL!

    Kimmer - on BO and wearing Deordorant - I have noticed increased sweating due to being thrown into menopause with chemo so I have been wearing it on my non-treated armpit and I do put a swipe or 2 on my treated arm after treatment each day .. RO said you can wear it as normal and not comfortable to wear it to treatment! I do think I smell.. Also when the door closes for me I say a little prayer for all of us here and some family members for healing and I also thank God for the machine that is zapping the cancer! I also sometimes talk to the machine telling it to make sure it only zaps what it is supposed too..I think of the machine as insurance against recurrence and try to stay focused on that .. just a few things that help me!

    Dorothy - I am left side cancer and don't need to do the active breathing. I had mastectomy with Tissue Expanders and RO had my PS fill the expanders fully before Rads to pull them away from chest. SIM showed my heart was out of range with normal breathing although I tell the machine each day to make sure it is still missing my heart! A for cream - Calendula is an ingredient I believe in Miaderm and I use California Baby brand Calendula Cream that can be found in the baby section at most major chains - Walmart, Target and other drug stores - also my hospital pharmacy sells it too but not sure what the brand name is so you might want to look for something that has Calendula in it

    CatFurr - love the 7 Dwarfs reference - hilarious! Hope your shoulder is better and I can so relate! Beautiful new Grandbaby - Congrats to you!

    Hang in there LindaB - hope your anxiety and depression gets better -spring is almost here (knock on wood)

    KateB - I get dizzy sometimes too after treatment - not terrible and gone once I drink and eat something! Try not to think the worst - easier said than done sometimes - right!

    JerseyGirl - hear ya on ovaries - I was on fence for awhile but when I hit the sudden chemopause and there is strong history in my family I felt it was a no brainer! Hope your Echo, SIM went well and that you got your treatment today

    Brightsocks - Congrats on getting started!! Can't say I have felt ill but I have gotten the occasional dizzy from not hydrating enough before and I sometimes feel like there is a lump in my throat like I can't swallow a few hours after treatment - not all the time or everyday so can't figure it out! I am thinking it could be the days I don't hold my head far enough to the right during the treatment - who knows! I will say hydration is huge- I try to drink 70-80 ounces of water per day

    Andraxo - I am 6 weeks post chemo with about 1/4 inch of hair but all white and fluffy still

    luzeelu - Good luck with #1 tomorrow - glad you are getting started - you will do fine!

    PeaBrain and all - thanks for the support of my fluffy white hair LOL - I hate it but will take what I can get - send me some of your dark hair please!

    Durhamgirl - got same call this morning moving my appt to later in day today due to broken machine which was better than yesterday where me and 4 others waited 45 minutes before I asked what was going on only to be told our machine was down and could not move us - one man was holding bladder whole time - I told them how frustrated it was to sit in the waiting room watching everyone get called back and advised them they need to come out and talk to their patients. One minute after I sat back down they called my name - told them to take the man with full bladder first - he almost hugged me - C'mon people!! Gave the RO an earful today on their process - she tried to explain not as easy as it sounds to just move people between machines and I said I get that but her techs need to come to the waiting room and inform their patients and told her about the man with the full bladder and she agreed. I also don't agree that it is difficult to move people when I was moved and called back one minute after I complained ... so was not surprised to get call today that the machine was down but was thankful to not sit and wait! I saw the RO today too and was in and out today in less time than I waited yesterday - UGH - sorry to ramble - on a steroid high! Good for you to hold them to getting you in and out !!

    Yep Duzy - time is flying for us - my skin is pretty red now so have a prescription cream to use with OTC cream .. Brimton - you hanging in there with us ??

    Have a good night all - Happy Friday tomorrow - looking forward to the Weekend off

    Mary

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  • mdoc524
    mdoc524 Member Posts: 336
    edited February 2016

    Oh No morelandks - did you have to take it off for treatment? hopefully someone will turn it in .. sending hugs to you!!

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited February 2016

    kate...regarding the stiffness: have you started Tamoxifen? It can also cause that, in fact is a common SE I think, as is the case with Arimidex.

    Or it could be the rads: in the Fall Rads group it was an on going joke that all the ROs would say "It's not Rads". Not that funny I guess.

    Lindy and others finishing, YAY! and Congrats!

    Octogirl

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  • Suzanne1971
    Suzanne1971 Member Posts: 40
    edited February 2016

    Hi all, I'm new to this board, but was active in the Chemo July board (hi Mary all my July gals!)

    Tomorrow is treatment 9 of 33. Feels like eternity til it's over, and I'm already tird of going everyday. And apparently I suck at breathing, so that makes this more uncomfortable. I can't seem to match my inhales/holds. I did great the first week, but then things took a turn. The irony here is that the tech told me to focus more and not get distracted by other things. Little does she know that the days I rocked the breathing were the days I was most distracted- I decided to come up with Haikus (odd, yes! I'm not a poet. At all!) to keep my mind off of this.

    Might have to return to haiku writing during tomorrow's treatment 😜

    I harbor a bit of resentment about rads, and am trying to shake that off. I'm a bit of an exception to the rule, as chemo killed every last cancer cell (hooray), but no one expected me to have a complete response, so no one could say with 100% certainty that I needed radiation. I decided to do it as I want to look back and know I did everything I could.

    I am already getting the little red dots. I couldn't see them but my RO noticed them yesterday. Other than that, Aquafor every night, and emu oil after treatment (emu!? Yes! Read about it on a thread here, and thought I'd give it a try).

    Hoping to ramp up my exercise next week, not that I really feel recovered from surgery.

    For those who finished chemo recently- FYI, I finished at the end of October, and my hair is 100% filled in (and quite trendy looking, apparently), so it will happen! Hopefully quickly for you!



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  • mdoc524
    mdoc524 Member Posts: 336
    edited February 2016

    Hey Suzanne - great to see you here -well not that I want you to have Rads but I am with ya on throwing everything at this and not looking back! Rads are not fun and we have such a great group here so similar to our July chemo group! Hope your breathing gets better .. Glad to add you to our group

    Mary

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  • Twnkltoz
    Twnkltoz Member Posts: 215
    edited February 2016

    for those of you waiting for your hair to come back, I recommend taking a picture every week. When I look through my pics, I can't believe how much it grows from week to week!

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  • luzeelu
    luzeelu Member Posts: 101
    edited February 2016

    #1 rad done. 27 to go.

    It went OK other than a brief computer delay. It's been about 6 hours and I don't feel any different, but perhaps it's too soon to feel anything different.

    I hear ya, Suzanne. I wish I could skip this part but have resigned myself to it.

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited February 2016

    Oh mdoc..a sisterfriend for sure...every rads treatment-.I always prayed for healing for self and other fam members, prayed thanks for the technology and each machine that gave us rads and for the staff that helped us all as their jobs were so hard- dealing with those trying to beat cancer often in pain or fearful...how hard for them- and also just talked to the machine after that.

    Morelandks- so sorry about your ring. Hoping it is found and turned in and back on your finger!!

    Everyone else- hugs to all!!

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  • Brightsocks
    Brightsocks Member Posts: 159
    edited February 2016

    just another question ladies. Do you place cream on your back can you get burns there as well? I had a friend who had a issue but I am just not sure.

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  • Suz-Q
    Suz-Q Member Posts: 205
    edited February 2016

    morelandks, so sorry to hear about your ring! (((Hugs))) hopefully some honest person has found it and turned it in

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  • mairew
    mairew Member Posts: 84
    edited February 2016

    Hi everyone I am starting rads on Monday 33 sessions including 5 boosts at the end. I got marked up during SIM earlier in the week with sharpie and sticky tape. Should I go ahead and get the tattoos? I do a dry run in the am so I can get them before I start for real on Monday. What worked best for you?

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  • biscuits
    biscuits Member Posts: 3,304
    edited February 2016

    Brightsocks: I was told to put cream on my back and side...anywhere that is in the "path" of the radiation

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  • Peabrain
    Peabrain Member Posts: 268
    edited February 2016

    I had to miss two treatments this week to attend a friend's funeral, so those two get added to the end. Wouldn't want to miss any of the fun. So I will finish on Mar 1 and have my ovaries removed on the 2nd. No rest for the BRCA positive.

    @Kate - I am with you on the joint stiffness. When I go to stand up, I shuffle, bowed over like I'm eighty and everyone makes little concerned faces. And then it smoothes out and I'm good to go. I haven't decided if it's loss of estrogen fro pm the chemo or the rads or both.

    @mdoc - I am very sorry to hear that you have found another SE and have had to relive your rotator cuff injury! Hang in there. I'll be sending good thoughts and dark hair.

    @Suzanne - hello from another July chemo kid!

    @moreland - sad sad sad about your ring. Here's hoping someone will find it.

    @mairew - I strongly did not want tattoos and they have been able to work with the sharpies and stickers. A couple of times one fell off and I just put a bandaid over it and they refreshed it at the next session. It does make lotioning a tad tricky, but I just didn't want more extra marks on my body if I could avoid it. I think the choice is up to you.

    @everyone - in no time at all, we will all be done with radiatio

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  • LMN
    LMN Member Posts: 35
    edited February 2016

    My back is red and I did put cream there all along. Right now I am three days past completing 44 rads in 22 days. Today I am blistering but was lucky that I happened to see my oncologist (I still have targeted chemo every three weeks for HER2) so if it gets any worse he will prescribe silvadene. Funny, my blood counts are all kind of low. He was willing to blame it on the radiation (I'm not sure the RO would have lol). My doctor wants me to let the blisters dry out for now so I am only putting cream on intact areas. I ran out of the carragauze the RO gave me. The good thing was my skin held up right to the end. I am glad to be able to share that I made it through and reading these posts helped

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  • Neen56
    Neen56 Member Posts: 14
    edited February 2016

    I have a question for those who have completed radiation. I began treatment today and should finish March 10th. How long after that will I feel fatigue? We have a long planned trip to Europe on April 30th. Will I have returned to my normal activity level by then? For most of the trip we will be on a luxury cruise where I can do as little, or as much, as I want to do but I am hoping to feel well enough to walk around ports and see the sights. Will I feel up to that 6 weeks after radiation ends?

    Thank you for sharing your experiences with recovery from rads. Much appreciated.

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  • Twnkltoz
    Twnkltoz Member Posts: 215
    edited February 2016

    my back is getting a pink spot. I have my guy put aloe on when I remember at the same time he's here and available... So once a week, lol!

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  • abigail48
    abigail48 Member Posts: 1,699
    edited February 2016

    I think it was on this forum but can't find it now. I've been thinking that kavakava could deal with the very uncomfortable itching the poster mentioned. my sister brought some of this back fro hawaii years ago and my biker made me try it once though it's liver toxic. like various pharmas, it deadens nerves

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  • Brimton
    Brimton Member Posts: 87
    edited February 2016
    So sorry MORELANDKS. tell the hospital ASAP. If not turned in they might reimburse you. (Brimton passes a hanky and a hug to MORELANDKS)
    SUZANNE You are killing off those cancer cells. Welcome to rads. we are in it together.
    LUZELOU Sorry you are here with us but you too are doing everything you can do.
    MDOC So sorry about the waiting room and machine. thanks for the prayers.
    You are a kind person.
    Thank you ALL for being here. hard to talk to anyone. They are just going on with their lives.
    I'm putting together a thank you gift basket for everyone to celebrate being have way DONE on Monday. Hugs all.
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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited February 2016

    Neen, your trip to Europe sounds absolutely lovely and I think by six weeks post rads you will be fine. I am almost six weeks post right now and while I am sleeping a bit more than previously, my energy level is close to 'normal'. My advice would be to start walking now if you don't already...even short walks will help you build stamina. And have fun!

    Octogirl


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  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 747
    edited February 2016

    I tell you what: I feel like I should check this thread more regularly! So much happens in 24 hours!

    morelandks, I certainly hope your ring turns up. Do you have to remove it for tx? I'm allowed to wear all my jewelry (which isn't much, but still).

    Brightsocks, glad you're doing okay. I put cream everywhere in the treatment field; I asked the techs in the first week how far back to go. Now I have a nice tan line there, so it's easier, but they were really helpful.

    Suzanne, welcome! I hear you on the rads resentment. . . . I decided to go all in and treat an aggressive BC with aggressive treatment. I freak out about once a week, usually on Tuesdays, about radiation and its many evils, but then I take some deep breaths, come here to vent, slater on creams and gels in layers, and remember that this was my decision. Like you, I couldn't imagine looking back and regretting NOT doing something that was an option. I'm pretty sure the cancer was gone when I started, but I'm an odds player, and I really like the sound of "95% chance of no recurrence" better than "80-85% chance of no recurrence." (See what I did there? I'm all about NO recurrence stats these days.)

    Re: breathing: do you wear the goggles? I have this game I play with the goggles: I try to make my breath look like ocean waves. It helps. As does drawing out the exhale. But I like the haiku idea, too. :)

    Re: hydration: yesterday I went for Herceptin, and my favorite chemo nurse took one look at me and said, "you're dehydrated. Stay for fluids today." I stayed for an extra 300cc than I normally get for Herceptin, and today I feel pretty darn good. So our imperfect science might have some empirical evidence: chemo nurses know their stuff.

    Red dots, a tan box, some redness overall. . . . But 11 down. I might just do the boosts after all; we'll see what happens next week. I definitely get fatigue in the afternoon; it comes in a big wave, and is accompanied by dizziness and a little bit of nausea. Taking a 20 minute power nap really, really helps. Yesterday I couldn't fit the nap in--we were at the inspection of our new house!--and I got my second wind eventually. Exercise helps, too. I've been going to a BC program at my local YMCA, and I really like it. In fact, yesterday's class kicked my ass. I couldn't believe it; I used to squat my body weight for reps, and there I was with two 7lb. hand weights, feeling the burn. That said, it's sooooooo good to be back to exercise. There were moments, especially during chemo, when I was pretty sure I'd be on the couch for the rest of my life. Not so.

    Another week down, and now two days off! Woo-hoo! We've got this, ladies. We really do. Sending love and light to all of you.

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  • mdoc524
    mdoc524 Member Posts: 336
    edited February 2016

    Welcome Welcome mairew! So sorry you are here but so glad you found our awesome group! Good luck Monday! I got the tattoos - have 4 of them - 2 on the side of both breasts you can barely see - one in clavicle node area very tiny and the last is the largest down center on my boob sort of - looks like a big dark freckle .. I really did not care about them -whats one more battle scar but can understand those who do not want them..

    Twnkltoz and Brightsocks - I was told upfront that my back shoulder blade area would be in the treatment area and to lotion the whole area - I am finished 14 tx with 20 more to goand that area is red like sunburn and itchy after lotioning 3x per day - now I get 2 Zaps to clavicle nodes which could be why it is red! RO gave me now prescription cream for that are and a few rough spots on the front! My husband puts the lotion on my back when he is home but when I am alone I put it on using a tongue depressor or a soft tip spatula - awkward yes but gets job done!

    luzeelu - glad day 1 went well and hope the rest do too

    HappyHammer - smiled at your sisterfriend reference - absolutely .. finding all things to be thankful for help me personally stay positive - not always easy!

    Peabrain - So sorry for the loss of your friend (hugs) - thanks for the shoulder well wishes! The cortisone shot definitely helped - will last a few weeks then hopefully it calms down

    LMN - so hope your blisters heal quick and your counts come back up - not fun!

    Neen56 - agree with the others - you should be OK within 6 weeks maybe not 100% but OK - trip sounds great!

    Brimton - hugs right back to you! What's in the Thank You Basket??

    KateB - good for you on trying to squeeze the exercise in - I tell myself everyday to get back into it and then not so much - here's to next week LOL

    All - to add salt to the wound I woke up with the worst head cold - chills (no fever), headache - sinus crap either stuffed or running and sore throat - you know I will be eyeballing everyone in the waiting room to see who gave it to me LOL!! It was probably my kids! Happy Friday ALL

    Mary

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