starting rads feb 2017

Great news Ruby!! I know how relieved you must be.

yay Ruby .. so happy for you . I know that feeling . Great job aboob on your first day . I am glad it went well . Cowboyup , come join us here and congrats on the ability to cowgirlup on your horses again. That's so awesome!

I finished day 7 and I am not getting any se's sovhopefully they will be mild if I get any . I am on my back and they utilize the breath hold technique. I hope it is working to prevent organ damage! Ugh!! Just don't like to think about the what if's!

I am going in for a bone density scan on March 1st. I think it is so they can check before I have to consider aromatase inhibitors as the next part of my Tx.

Well ladies enjoy the rest of your day . I work the weekends so back to being on my feet all day for three days . 💗❤

I always feel like acfainting goat after my shifts!

Never heard of APBI.

AnnoyingB- you go every other day for how many weeks?

Happy to have 2 days off.

KB870, By the way, I've yet to experience any bad side effects...I was tired during radiation but the twice a day and I also had lots of other doctors appt's etc that week so not surprisingly had to fit some naps into that schedule. My breast is covered with red dots that kind of scabbed over from the catheters (I had 14 catheters) My breast is also mildly red...not sure if from all the catheters they pulled out a week ago or if that is possibly from the radiation. It doesn't hurt at all. I did get an infection which they found on my first radiation treatment...I picked up antibiotics that day and as of yesterday at follow-up no signs of infection anymore. That would be the thing to watch for...it's an awesome way to go but does come with high risk of infection. Other than that, I actually have felt more energy than I've had in months.

Hi Ladies,

I will not bectaking the AI's . Just cannot justify the benefitvin my case. The tamoxifen was initially discussed , but evidentlybitvis for younger premenopausal women . I was glad it was out for me . Those horrible sides scared the cr#% out of me . But these AI's also come with serious sides and again, taken over a long period of time. I am on the fence. The MO has ordered a bone density test , but I don't know !! Just not feeling it at all! Good luck dear ladies . Have a marveloys weekend 😎

Hello, fellow Feb/Mar Rad ladies. Luckily, no Chemo. 1st of 20 Rads started 2/22, so 3 down, 17 to go. Last 4 will be Boosts. Like others, happy to have 2 days "off". Skin effects a big concern as very fair & sensitive skin. Rad Nurse gave Miaderm & Aquaphor samples & Rad Dr prescribed Mometasone Furoate 1mg (corticosteroid) cream. Using Miaderm - info readily available on internet indicates developed by Rad Oncologists - seems like it has some good ingredients Not using - Aquaphor or prescrip cream as they contain petrolatum, which I cannot use. Rad Dr has now suggested Castor Oil massaged onto Rad Field, use warm washcloth to help absorb & wear soft cotton tee over as it will stain clothes, sheets, etc. Anyone heard of this? Also using a special recipe of essential oils (german chamomile, roman chamomile, mellaleuca a/k/a tea tree oil & lavender) in sweet almond oil base that my Aromatherapist prepared. Will be trying to work each day, leave late afternoon for treatments & then home. After Rads done, they are talking about Aromatase Inhibitor for 5 years & definitely not in favor of this. Definitely feel for those who have been told Tamoxifen is next - neither of these meds seem to be without its challenges. Anyway, good night and good wishes to all.

Good morning all!

AnnoyingB - Just three more days, happy for you. I see you already have a date to start Tamoxifen. When I met with my MO we briefly spoke about Hormone Therapy but put it out of my head. I was worried about the side effects of radiation therapy I didn't want to start researching all the negatives of Tamoxifen.

Elem - It sounds like you made up your mind. I didn't even want to do radiation therapy. I read an article and seriously thought about refusing rads until I researched recurrence statistics. That scared me. I know I will come out of this okay, but recurrence will be in the back of my head forever. This is the article, with paragraph 3 very telling.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/11/well/live/the-d...

If I never had a mammogram would the tumor be harmless? Who knows, but why take the chance?

Mamasha - I feel the same way.

After 8 days of radiation my entire breast and a part of my underarm is light pink. Although there is some discomfort, it is not bad. And it looks like my breast is slighter larger (yay...maybe the other one will grow too). I've been using cetaphil and Aquaphor several times a day. Never heard of using clay but will do research.

i Know Mamasha , its such a tough call . Your dx sounds very similar to mine and the benefit % wise isn't great . Ugh , but what to do !! So hard!

Yeah it was my RO who said that to me , but I had already signed up for his offerings! I am in Radiation tx .. 8 down out of 20 I think it is. But I pointed out to him , that my girls on here are going through the same thing and we share our information and what other Dr.s share with their patients . So for me ,knowledge is power and after all , I just met these Dr.s of mine in the past few weeks . There is not a huge bond or even a high level of trust as some of the things they tell me sound like a sales pitch . But ultimately , I have to decide. Even asking my cardio Dr. the risk for producing more cholestorol which I am controlling with a statin and howcthatcwill effect me , was answered by a NP saying you are stable so take the advice of the stranger Dr. who I just met, but specializes in my new health problem . Talk about a head spin!! Oh well .. still on the fence ! But leaning towards no thanks .

Yes , I am not really done contemplating , but I have pretty much resigned myself to saying no to the AI's .I am not teally finding enough evidence of it making a huge difference in recurrence %'s . But that depends largely in who you talk to or what studies you go by etc. I have looked at sites that long term survivors have come on , sime 20-30 yr people on them , but those sites are not active where you can speak with them women directly as we can here. On this site where you have thecten year members , you are also not able to tell when theyvlast posted or whether they are still active. As far as tads, I still hope there is no aftershock in store! Lol But I figured , I need to quit worrying overcthings that have not happened . I lived in LA in smog for over 40 yrs and smoked cigs for over 20 back in the day .. among other vices . I never drank but we partied like it was 1999.. alot in my youth. So why Am I freaking out now!! Other rhan I finally grew up!! But tomorrow day 9 ! Have an awesome day.