Spring 2016 Rads

I did think Iammags is in San Francisco proper and you, Artista, near SF... currently checking my map to see where you guys actually are! I will say (to people outside my province or country) that I'm in the Toronto area, and while we spend a fair amount of time in the city, we actually live about an hour southwest - so I get using the major city as a reference point to those outside the area. It's so expensive to live in any major city nowadays. My nephew lives in SF proper and, while he makes a very good living, he has to share a house with three other people in order to live within the city. My husband lives and works in Boston during the week, and prices there are astronomical as well! He lives in a shoebox which is why I rarely spend time down there with him.

To UserNameForReal, my therapists explained to me that the weekly x-ray is to ensure everything is still properly lined up because things can shift slightly with weight loss or gain. Just ask your therapists/technicians why they're doing what they're doing; they're usually happy to explain the whats and whys. I get an unsolicited daily education because our center is a teaching center and there is always at least one student present so I soak in what she's being told. Yesterday I had two students and they went through the process of lining me up by themselves (under the strict guidance of a senior therapist of course!) so she was having them explain to her what they were doing and why until it was "perfect". It was interesting.

Bjsmiller - you're going rogue, taking the Arimidex without your RO's knowledge! lol Glad your treatments are going well. I have my weekly RO check-in today, and my weekly x-ray.

Have a good day, everyone!

thanks Grazy for the feedback. I have another question regarding radiation for you or anyone else here on the forum:. I'm concerned about developing hypothyroidism in the future, does anyone wear a lead thyroid sheid during treatments, x-rays or mammograms??

So sorry, iammags. Mine was at 3:00--not sure what that means. And I meant to toss out in the SF-area discussion that my middle, who graduated from college a year ago, is living in Union City, working in San Leandro. When I went to visit last month I stayed in Milpitas--I'm getting to know the area!! (And we did do Muir and Napa--must have been near where you live?)

I know this is going to sound odd but I feel absolutely giddy. Went in for my first treatment session, although was told last week it would probably only be a mock session and the two techs who were with me today said there was no plan to treat me. I was kinda bummed about that--last week at the sim someone said if it went well and there was enough time, they'd go ahead and zap me. The techs did their thing--marking/measuring/X-raying/. . . and then the RO came in to look everything over. It all went super smoothly so they went ahead and treated me. I about started doing the happy dance when I got off the table. The one thing I'd been nervous about was the breath holding--never been too good at that--although I didn't quite understand that if I couldn't hold my breath long enough, they'd just re-start for however much longer they needed. Well--I got two zaps from one side--one was about 12 seconds, the second even shorter. They said the one from the other side might be a little longer but I think it was about 15 seconds. Really all easy peasy.

So 1/20 done!!!!

started boosts yesterday. Only 4 more treatments to go!

Then I have my port taken out and I'm done

I had my CT Simulation this past Monday. I go for my verification on Tuesday and first treatment on Wednesday. I am nervous and anxious.

Wenrisa and igay1ord - so excited for you that you're almost finished. Congratulations! You should post a pic of yourself ringing the bell or whatever you do at your cancer center!

MelanchologyinNC - you've got this - I keep saying that radiation is "underwhelming" - it's so low-key and quick!

cnibgoc - only because you asked for opinions am I chiming in.... I would take this last added layer of protection that radiation will give you; why not? You've already been through the hard stuff with mastectomy and chemo. 18 radiation treatments will go quickly (I've done 10 and I feel as though I just started, and I've had no side effects). You mentioned long-term risks with radiation; there are rare long-term risks with chemotherapy too, I didn't let that scare me off. I wouldn't do something for a 1 or 2% benefit, but I would for 10%. The actual radiation treatments are quick and very easy. Just my opinion!! It's your body and your decision

Hi melancholy. Just sent you a private message. I hope we can help ease your anxiety and nervousness.

Grazy--I'm already planning on taking a few pictures in the treatment room today because (1) I thought it'd be interesting for family/friends to see the setup and (2) what else are we going to do with all that time in my appt?? Really--I think once they get me all properly aligned it'll be like two minutes. Hooray!! And I always have a calendar hanging in my kitchen. I put my first three appt times (Wed/Thu/Fri this week) on it in purple permanent marker, thinking they'd be easy to see, but after yesterday I added a big "1" with a circle around it in the same super visible ink. I figure I'll do that every day I finish one and before I know it I'll be seeing that "20" with the circle around it. :-) I was also doing some mental looking ahead--with Memorial Day week in there, I'll only have two five-day weeks. I really think this will work out relatively well. (Well--except for the fact that one of my kids is getting married nine days after my last treatment. More about that in the coming weeks. . . )

Artista--I'll probably visit about once a year as long as my kid is out there. Of course part of me is hoping some day he'll move back east. . . ;-)

Grazy--you're right. When I first got the diagnosis I thought, "Really? NOW??" because I knew what a busy few months I had coming up but it has been a *great* distraction. I keep thinking of this spring as a rollercoaster. (It gets better, though. The wedding is at my house. And the next day we're hosting a pig roast for ~125 people. Aiyiyi!!)

I'm pretty sure I'm done. The SEs seem to be horrendous for me. Last week I was hospitalized with chest pain/can't breathe. That was pain like no other. That was 5 txs in. Yesterday not as bad but I was eyeing the phone at times for help. Aches, pain in neck now/constriction- just all around horrible feeling. Can't sleep. I mean I've done 8 and I have 20 to go?? This stuff adds up I know. I can't take any more. I'm calling the office at 8 when they open and talk to the nurse. This rads crap is tougher on me than chemo was and it's 8 down. And I am so very pooped.

RO of course says it's not rads, when I was in the hospital. How do you know? I may be the small % that has such probs.

Artista- I'm so sorry to hear that! You have to talk to your MO, too. Maybe it's just not worth the pain. Good luck, to you. Keep us updated.

Ingerp and Grazy- You're hysterical! I'm usually into it, too. I guess because it's an adventure and I've always been curious about science and medical stuff and, honestly, it's something different. But I'm over it now. It's kind of like the first day of school or starting a new job for me. Exciting at the start and exhausting at the end.

Lemint- I'm right behind you. My last day is tomorrow. I have blisters that are getting crusty and itchy, my boob is red, and I have horrible fatigue. I asked my RO and he said the physical SE's will get better within a week or so but it may take more than a month to get my energy back to normal again. Yikes.

Luckily, I'll be convalescing in sunny Mexico! Good excuse to lay around with a mojito under an umbrella.

#CancerIsNotMyFriend #CancerKissMyASS #RadiateTHIS!

Artista--that just sucks.

Lemint--no personal experience (yet!) but I've been reading these discussion threads a lot and it seems like SEs tend to peak 1-2 weeks after you finish treatment and then you should see rapid improvement.

iammags--I kind of get that too. Definitely not the adrenaline rush I experienced yesterday. Honestly it took a little longer than I expected--still tons of marking and checking (I know--all good!) and they taped some wires on me to record radiation and took yet another round of X-rays. I was thinking I'd pop in, get lined up, have the treatment, and be out in like 10 minutes but it took most of the 30-minute appointment time. And hooray for vacations! Someone suggested to me that after it's *all* over (treatment, wedding, pig roast) I should take a few days and go somewhere and do NOTHING. That's sounding pretty sweet.

Thanks my friends. I didn't go to rads today to rest. Tomorrow I have appt with pcp who saw me in hospital. Of course the rads folks are wanting me to come back. I just can't see doing 20 more of this. We'll see. For now I'm on vacation so to speak until Mon from it in my mind.

Grazy your husband rocks! I hope that he takes you somewhere amazing.

Ingerp- did you ever mention who's wedding your planning? I love the pig roast idea!

Artista- sounds like a quiet weekend is just what you need. It's supposed to rain on Saturday. Perfect weather for relaxation.