Spring 2016 Rads

LIFEOFBABS I have the same fear as you do. I'm so scared that the RADS might do something to my heart. I asked to have RADS in a prone position but they said it isn't appropriate for my case. My tumor was 1.6cm from the chest wall. I had a small (1.8 cm) tumor with no lymph node or vascular involvement. ER+ PR+ HER2-. STAGE 1A.

I wish I didn't have to go through the RADS at all. The Letrizole is bad too. HOT FLASHES all night, randomly during the day, followed by CHILLS.

The cure is worse than the damn disease! Sorry I'm frightened and confused. I really do not want to go today (Simulation today RADS on Thursday)

Randi1035 and LifeOfBabbs- I hear you. I feel the same way. The statistics are really good for the rad/hormonal therapy scenario and I hope that it works for all of us .I think that my MO told me that after the two methods I'll have just the same risk as a person without cancer getting I've already told myself that if I get another tumor I'm having a mx. But I don't want one so I'm going to rads. Besides being radiated and full of meds, women still get another diagnosis, true. But I could hit by a truck on the way out of the door today, too.

Between two teenagers and the three illnesses that I was diagnosed with in the last 8 months (diabetes, bc, chronic lymphatic leukemia) I have gone off the deep end more than one time. I have no idea how I'm going to manage all of this. But, I gotta let some of it go. I take an Ativan when I get too stressed out. And I just keep swimming...(like Dory in finding Nemo). Keep swimming...

I have appointment with RO Friday to tree all about radiation. Still haven't gotten oncotype results in. 2 1/2 weeks post reexcision for clear margins. Now I'm having abnormal vaginal bleeding. I'm not afraid of Mets, but makes me wonder if something is wrong in female parts that caused the high estrogen and progesterone cancer? I'm going to tell RO and maybe he will do pet or ct to check things out? I would feel better knowing for sure. Did anyone here start hormone therapy before rads? I haven't yet

I have 6 more days of treatments, 2 of them boosts. I haven't really had any issues with radiation (yet) other than some redness under my boob. I think that any fatigue I am feeling is more from the mental stress, not the radiation. I drive myself crazy.

I also am constantly thinking about recurrence and how I will lose my mind if that happens. I really wish my mind had an off switch. I am doing what I can to lower my risk....radiation, exercise, and changing my eating habits. No hormones for me as my DCIS was receptor negative.

This whole thing just really sucks.

Lovinggrouches Hopefully the bleeding is because of stress? I know that I started my period (which are very iffy these days) on the day of my first surgery. Good luck.

tbalding- The worst is not knowing what to expect. And the waiting. There is so much waiting! You're on the right track. Good luck to you!

Things are starting to move quickly now. I saw the RO yesterday, had a mammo today, will have a CT tomorrow, then I'm on to rads. I'm in for about 20

treatments. Whew...

hi all!! Hope every one is well today!!! Had my visit with RO and he said the breast looks GREAT, scar tissue will be minimal and was happy with oncotype. I will do simulation Monday and I'm guessing will start week after next. Did any of you have RO tell you that you will have between 20 and 28 treatments, "depending on how things go"? I didn't remember to ask him why he said that because he was examining my breast at the time and my brain seized up!!! Lol! Not sure what to expect for simulation since different people have different experiences. Do they always tattoo you?

Hello all! I start 33 rads treatments on Monday. I had my SIM today. I'm still exhausted from finishing chemo 5 weeks ago, so I'm not looking forward to adding another treatment that will make me even more tired, but other than that, I am not very worried about rads in general. I bought a different button up shirt for each weekday to wear to treatments so I don't have to change into a gown when I go. I asked and they said as long as I don't wear a bra underneath, that would work for them. It will shave a few minutes off each appt I figure.

Hello to all, and thanks to the Mods for starting this thread. I call tomorrow to schedule my rads for breast/axilla, so don't have a treatment schedule yet. Already had rads to two bone mets and weathered those two weeks really well, so I'm hoping this will go okay, too. I started Anastrozole on March 5 and didn't notice any SEs until last week when I started to feel achy joints. It gets better once I get moving and nothing I can't handle so far, but makes me feel years older than I am! This does suck and so engulfs your life, but I remember someone who was years out from tx and commented on the July '15 chemo thread about how it all gets better slowly, but surely. She said she felt at the start like she had this "Chemo Radio" constantly playing in her head, but as time went on she listened less and less until she could no longer hear it. So looking forward to that day and this last phase of treatment.

iammags, keep us updated. I hope things go well!!

I found the rad sim to be pretty interesting, actually. Everyone at my tx center is super nice. I think that the tx is going to be fine, just a pain in the ass. I have to drive so much for a 10 minute tx. Oh well. I hope it zaps the hell out of this cancer!

Good luck to all this week who are starting tx!

teach6, I also start tomorrow and will have 33 treatments. Good luck! And so it begins....

I had my first session of radiation today. The weird part was my breast felt warm, and it still does. Did anyone else feel this? I also found out my Oncotype Dx score today and it's 58. That's a hard number to take. I was hoping it would be below 38 and in the low risk category. But 58 is in the high risk category.

Hey autumn! I'll try to answer your questions. Today was my first real treatment.

1. Your dr should tell you everything you need to know. I asked if I could wear button down shirts so I didn't have to change into gowns. They said yes. Your RO will tell you what lotions and creams to use and not use. They will tell you how long before each treatment they want you to have nothing on your skin at all. No deodorant! They'll also tell you how many treatments you'll recieve.

2 and 3. The Sim is a simulation of what you actual radiation session will be like minus the radiation. I had a first consultation appt, then the appt where they did the tattoos, made a plastic mild of my chest, made a special pillow that I use every treatment, and did a CT scan. Then I had the sim appt. It lasted about 20 minutes and they ran through my radiation treatment minus the radiation and took xrays during it to make sure everything was where they wanted it. From consultation to forst rads was 1 week. I've heard it's longer for others.

4. Not very scared at all. The ladies are super nice at my treatment center, they let you choose the music and make you feel comfortable. You feel nothing at all during the treatment. They reassure you they will be looking for skin changes and help you out along the way.

Babbs- So sorry to hear of your high Onco score. You must be a little scared. Cancer sucks!

I thought I was having the SIM today, but all I had was the marking and ct and they told me the oncologist has to make a plan and get with nuclear to see if the machine can do what he wants and they will get back to me in a week or so. I'm guessing then I will have to go for SIM and THEN start treatment? I'm not 3 weeks post open yet, so I guess it's good I have more time to heal. Gotta be sure I don't mess up the marks lol!! All my husband would do is laugh when I told him and he can't wait to see my marked up breast lmbo!