Starting Radiation August 2017

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  • LeesaD
    LeesaD Member Posts: 383
    edited September 2017
    Congrats vixxyn!
  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2017

    Congrats to those finished.

    We got a hotel last night for two nights. ETA for power restoration is Sunday. Fortunately my zapping #29 got rerouted to hospital near our hotel. Last zapping tomorrow is the same place after hotel checkout.

    Mimi


  • Goofycat
    Goofycat Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2017

    Congratulations to all those who have completed their radiation. Celebrate!!!

    Glad everyone is safe from the hurricanes.


  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited September 2017

    mimie,

    Thanks I wont come back till we have power.. is cancer center operating ok?

    My dr is trying to contact someone up here at memorial sloan kettering but I would prefer coming home..

    My RO is dr maria rodriguez and MO dr grace Wang..both are awesome

    Ive heard good things about dr garrido

    And reba(mimi) , did they give you your body form etc to take with you? Im just wondering how I would get treatment up here , i know dr R would Email them my info but if i had to get simulated again etc. Id rather wait and go home but not sure how long of an interuption one can have...

    Congrats to those who have finished!!

  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2017

    Mamaoz,

    Luckily I went to hospital within the same system. They had all the record. I was a bit disappointed that the zapping machine at the hodpital was less sophiscated than the one at the facility I go to.

    Dang it my body is hot again and we go back to no AC

    Mimi

  • Mandycat
    Mandycat Member Posts: 52
    edited September 2017

    congratulations vixxyn

  • elootz
    elootz Member Posts: 12
    edited September 2017

    I'm halfway done (15/30) and due to my rash, they switched my bolus from the plastic mat they were using to a wet towel. The towel was warm for about 30 seconds before it cooled and was freezing. I began to shiver uncontrollably for the rest of the session. Also stopped using Aquafor and switching over to aloe vera gel per the doc. We'll see if these steps make things better. No fatigue yet, but I'm trying to stay active cause I read that helps.

    Congrats to all that have finished! Can't wait to get there too.

  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2017

    elootz,

    ouch rash. Let us know aloe makes it better..

    Mimi

  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2017

    Done and done!

    I think my BP and stress level dropped a bit.

    March to colonoscopy endoscopy elbow lump removal and total hysterectomy

    Dang it I have to start taking AI

    Mimi

  • Mimie
    Mimie Member Posts: 42
    edited September 2017

    MamaOz- I've heard good things about your doctors too. MCI is totally up and running. Either way complete the treatment. Nothing wrong with Sloan-Kettering, they are top hospital. I would contact Dr. R at MCI and ask her opinion of what you should do. I am hearing that hotels are becoming more widely available, including the Dadeland Marriott, which is very close to the Hospital. Do what is best for you, and your health. I had a bad day yesterday, totally exhausted from packing up the hotel, moving home, and getting rad treatment. I hit that wall for sure. Didn't even care that we don't have internet, cable or cell service. Just wanted to sleep... I start "boosts" tomorrow. Hopefully I won't feel much more fatigue...

  • DodgersGirl
    DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
    edited September 2017

    rebamacfan123- does your post mean you finished rads??

  • bareclaws
    bareclaws Member Posts: 345
    edited September 2017

    I finished today, too. After reading all the "hair on fire" posts in some other places here, I was quite anxious at thestart , but it turned out to be a nothing burger. 25 sessions, no bolus, no boosts. I had a BMX with no reconstruction in March, so I'm sure that simplified matters. My skin is red in the area of the electron radiation (I had three different fields) but no pain or skin break down. The only thing I used with some regularity was the prescription steroid cream, triamcinolone 1%.

  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2017

    I am done w all 30 sessions of zapping.!!!

    mimi
  • VLH
    VLH Member Posts: 1,258
    edited September 2017

    WAHOOOO, MIMI!

    Lyn

  • DodgersGirl
    DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
    edited September 2017

    rebamacfan123- congrats on finishing!!!!!

  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited September 2017

    Congrats all! Next Friday is it for me, can't wait! :)

    image

  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2017

    I accepted and decided brand name hormonal blocker or blockers. I believe Femara or Arimidex are choices. I found a copay card for Femara issued by Novartis. For Arimidex, I found Astrazeneca prescription assistance. I am not on Medicare or any other govt assisted program yet. I will be in their database for two yrs in exchage for the programs. I will deal with the prices$$$$ after the two yrs. The first script late Sep is 0 copay. The second script is late Dec so I am covered again w 0 copay till March 2018 or Jan 2018. After the second script I am subject to pay $500 or $600 per month until I meet the ded and then 20% of the $500 or $600 for the rest of the yr. I was looking at least $4000 per yr for the medicine alone. I am curious to know how these two drug maker sponsored could reduce the burden.

    In case anyone interested in this craziness, I will detail my madness w websites and pictures of my co pay card soon. We just got power back after 90 plus hrs without it.


    Mimi

  • ShockedAt48
    ShockedAt48 Member Posts: 138
    edited September 2017

    Rebamacfan123: Congratulations on finishing

  • Annbee
    Annbee Member Posts: 208
    edited September 2017

    Mimi,

    Congratulations on finishing rads and getting power back!!! I had no idea that the hormone blockers are so expensive. I will be coming up on that in October. 10 more rads to go. Radiation is not my friend and I can't wait to be done. I am going in on Saturday as they try to get make up some days. I am so happy for you. Enjoy the cold air.

  • Goofycat
    Goofycat Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2017

    Congratulations, Mimi!!!

    Arimidex.com has a program for the pill for $1.00 per day. I am going to look into this if this is what they prescribe for me. Maybe it will work for you.

  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2017

    ty sisters.

    Goofycat ty for the info.

    Arrrrrrgh AI😠

  • Mimie
    Mimie Member Posts: 42
    edited September 2017

    after 17 of 20 VERY swollen and in significant pain. RO came in and said need to rake Motrin and Tylenol around the clock. I feel like my tata is a 50 lb. melon. He also said I can use cool packs on it. On the plus side first boost was easier as on my back now. Brought eye shades to keep the light out. It helped a lot. Feeling miserable though.

  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2017

    oh no Mimie, Sad

  • inccmd
    inccmd Member Posts: 69
    edited September 2017

    I'm so sorry Mimie. That last one can't come fast enough.

    Congratulations to all of you who have finished! It does take one burden off.

    I met with my ONC and plastic surgeon today. Healing is going well, and I got my prescription for Tamoxifen (generic).

    The Maryland Wine Festival is tomorrow, and I think I'm just going to go and enjoy myself and listen to the bands. A lot of MD wines are not that good, but the atmosphere is wonderful.

  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited September 2017

    oh Mimie , sorry it wiped you out! It sneaks up on you doesnt it?!

    Im here with my 16 mo granddaughter and by end of day Im beyond tired and achy

    Ill be coming back to start rads for Wed the 20th 8 more to go

    Dr R had emailed the head of rads at sloan in nyc but they never called, but I would rather finish at mci

    We finallyhave power at our house in upper keys , sporatic cell service, no internet. My husband had several guys come in today to massively remove our downed trees 11 hr job

    thankfully our home was spared, so many others were not as fortunate, especially the keys below us


  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited September 2017

    Mamaoz,

    I bet you feel better that you are at home. Please take care of yourself.


    Mimie,

    Hope you get some relief.



  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited September 2017

    thanks mimi ill be home on Wed, everyone says our little paradise is currently very depressing with all the devastation but we have a strong community ..

  • TWills
    TWills Member Posts: 679
    edited September 2017

    Having a bit of a problem starting up rads again after 3 week break with TE infection, surgery to remove it, and a hurricane. Rads office got power day before yesterday and got me in that night for simulation and treatment, machine went down before they could do treatment. Came in yesterday and about halfway through treatment, very loud noise and everything went pitch black. I was stuck in the black room in the machine until power came back on, maybe 10 mins. They thanked me for not panicking. They got it started again and was able to finish treatment but sheesh. Back this morning and hopefully everything goes smoother.

  • Legomaster225
    Legomaster225 Member Posts: 672
    edited September 2017

    MamaOz and Twillis you two have had quite an adventure getting through these rads. I hope the rest of your rads goes smoothly. Congrats on finishing rebamscfan! What a good feeling. Sorry to hear of the hurricane damage. Good news on the house although I imagine the rest of the cleanup will still be difficult.

    You're down to counting on one hand Illimae! I'm glad to have a couple days off. I still have 12 more but the itching lately has been diving me crazy. Hydrocortisone helps for a bit but can't wait for it to just be done.


  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited September 2017

    Thanks Lego!

    Twills, did they at least announce or come to tell you that they were working on a fix? Hopefully, it wasn't 10 minutes of not knowing what was happening. I'd have lost it, especially immobilized with my mask bolted down, I hate that thing.

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