starting rads feb 2017

Bumping this for ladies who are starting rads in February

I'm here, either way!! Still hoping for brachytherapy, but will be starting in Feb. either way!

Hello ladies! I will be starting radiation- 25 external beam radiation sessions on my right chest wall and nodes to be exact - next Tuesday. I had my right expander fully expanded yesterday (ouch!) and had my CT Sim done. Gotta confess I was struggling with decision to go forward with rads as I've also been battling kidney cancer at same time (they found mass in a full body PET scan after BC diagnosis). I had my right kidney removed on 1/11 so we're going warp speed here (mastectomy was on 12/09). I had 20 weeks of chemo first, mastectomy then, then kidney removal. My MO thinks it will decrease my risk of recurrence than standard since most studies on radiation efficacy were performed on women who had surgery first, chemo second. I had positive lymph node before chemo and one after. Crossing fingers she is right.

It's nice to meet a group of women who will be undergoing rads same time as I! I've got my cream ready to go (Wellskin GlaxalllBase- approved by RO nurse) and am working on positive attitude (i.e. keeping focus off of potential side effects and on chances are it'll be lasering the shit out of any micromets I've got in there that could make trouble later.

HI annoyingboo

I have simulation tomorrow. We are following the same path except mine was idc. What kind of radiation are you doing. I was offered the shorter 4 week higher dose. Not sure which way to proceed yet.

I haven't started tamoxifen yet....and dreading it. My MO said I could start after rads so we could see true side effects.

Wishing you the best

I will see my MO on Feb 9th, if mammaprint t is low risk then no chemo after radiation which means he will probably give me a prescription for tomoxifen on the 9th to start taking when radiation concludes on the 15th. I'm not crazy about 5-10 years on pills. A, I know it's very hard to trust they are more helpful than harmful. I guess we need to look at all the brave warriors on this site who've gone before us and are doing well for inspiration. I do love the I idea of a few days break and I will probably copy you on that that! All the best ladies

Hello fellow February girls!

Told today that i will start February 8th. Hopefully done March first if no snow days:)

Glad that I found this forum. I had my first radiation today. I'm hoping it'll go by fast with minimal burning. I will have 33 treatments in total. I had chemotherapy, surgery, and now rads. I'm on tamoxifen, and it's not bad at all. Although the chemotherapy already put me into menopause. My next big decision is to remove my ovaries or do a full hysterectomy to keep my body from producing estrogen. Idk what to choose.

I was reading your post shanna and it hit just how many variables there are in this journey. Just getting cancer out of our bodies leads to so many decisions and treatments and possibly other surgeries! You have been through a lot and I'm glad to hear you are tolerating the tomoxifen well. Like annoyingboob, I'm skeptical of taking a pill for the next 5-10 years . I'm coming up on that part though so maybe I just need to get my head wrapped around that next. I've just beem focused on the next step of radiation but hopefully after that I can learn to accept the next steps.

So looks like a couple of us start radiation next week!

I was also told 5-10 years of tamoxifen. Expecting to get the Rx when I see the MO on Monday, He said I would start during radiation but didn't give me an actual date.

I also considered oopherectomy, but I was told that does not necessarily mean that they will take you off of the meds as other organs and your fat cells still have estrogen. I figured that's actually a decision that can wait a while until after I see has I handle the drug. I have stayed away from all of the literature on tamoxifen as I am concerned that I will be looking for side effects to happen - mind over matter, right?

A-boob I prefer that too!! I'll bring it up on Monday :-)

Hi ,

Havent committed to date for rads yet and have an appt on the 8th with MO . I will see what the recommendation will be at that time as far as additional tx. Ie: hormonal will be . Right now, I have to wrap my head around radiation. 4 week every day except weekends . Thus 5 days a week. Sounds doable , but it is on my left side and I have a stent in my LAD artery. I hope cardiac issue poses no problem for the heart or my well being there. I used to smoke so also hoping lungs will not be damaged . I have not smoked for 5 yrs but I think my lungs are still vulnerable due to past hx of smoking!

Anyway, hope to share my experience with yours and gain friendship, support and insight on this new phase of BC .

Thank you Shanna , I will ask about it for sure. With every phase , there is so much to learn . I am hoping the 4 weeks goes by quickly and with minimal sides.

I am not sure fightingirl. It sounds interesting less likely to damage my heart. But I believe my initial DCIS covered a largecarea and was deep so not sure . I will ask about it when I see them on Wed again. Its funny , I still had anesthesia brain last week so my husband actually had to go over a few of the RO details with me again. He did say we talked about the breathe therapy during Rads. I was trying to break from BC for a few days , but now I am thinking I have face this soon so let me see ! But then I start stressing ! BC has down a number on us! Lol .. I sure couldn't imaginecriding this train without you ladies. Enjoy the evening