Starting Radiation August 2017

hello sisters.

I have three a lot older sisters but none of them had issue like I did. So I feel a lot close to my sisters here at times.

I am still hot and more tired than ever. It must be my body expressing relief from zapping or it could be Irma stress related. Going to enjoy this weekend. Only 3 drs appointment and support group meeting next week!!!

Mimi

Update-todays treatment was uneventful! Yay

Thinking of you MamaOz:)

Congrats to everyone finishing!!

Twills good grief! My hats off to you machine stopped once on me and I finally did yell what was going on!

And the room didnt black out!! Im a weeny

And illimae what pray tell is on your head? Thats bolted down???

illimae - That looks like a form of medieval torture! I wouldn't like that at all! I'm very claustrophobic

Lol Goofycat, I was cussing in my head for sure. I felt bad for the techs, I stayed calm so they could do there job and get me out of there faster. That's what I was telling myself anyway. Fun times.

Landri, I'm on tamoxifen. I started it a couple weeks before rads and my RO said to continue but some do want you to wait until rads are complete. For now I'm only having stiff finger joints in the morning from tamoxifen and some redness & skin tenderness from rads. I keep a bottle of fruit of the earth 100% aloe gel in the fridge for my warm neck, it really helps.

illimae, I agree with your face cage comment. What a contraption.

illimae, hope you feel better soon

Mamaoz, yes get the radiations over with. be careful driving. Will you be taking brand name AI? I decided on brand name, brand name or generic arrrrgggh AI👹

I am counting down days for both of you, You will feel like you just unloaded ton of bricks you carried for about 100 miles.

Mimi

think I had some hot flashes, my RO gave me light dose of Effexor to decrease them. Think it helped. Hydrocortisone for itchiness

congratulations to those of you who finished and to those continuing forw

Lego, I sent that pic to DH after my 1st session and he did call me Hannibal, lol

Today sucked, it was the 1st day of the 5 boost sessions, I was confined to that contraption for about an hour while the techs, marked me, moved me, took images, got RO approval, etc. I got very claustrophobic and the plastic headrest began to hurt but I brought myself back from the verge of nausea and tears. Hopefully tomorrow is better.

I finished radiation in May (shorter course Canadian style treatment my RO called it.) My skin did well using Calendula cream for a topical treatment and I still use it twice daily. I say well because it has been several months, but I am sure I thought my skin was on fire then. I was super tired 2-weeks into treatment, and exercise was grueling but I continued as I was able (30-45 minutes daily.) I lost a good 10 pounds during radiation but I was super vigilant about self-care and my diet. Now my skin is tan and a bit thicker. My right breast is also larger than it was originally which was unexpected given the lumpectomy.

I was not aware until now that stiffness increases 3-6 months after radiation and now my pectoral muscle is super tight. I can deal with this for now doing stretches, but also I have a vein like thread that runs along my middle-lower ribs in a vertical direction that is causing pain. I have been doing cross friction massage and stretching which is not yet working. Anyone heard about a similar situation? I found only a single comment on the web with no subsequent responses about it.

My cording resolved with home stretching, massage and swimming (side stroke.) The repetitive lengthening in the water with side stroke really helped to relieve my symptoms.

My biggest frustration about all the treatment is the lack of information my medical team has provided about side effects. I knew nothing about cording, sentinel node removal pain, pectoral stiffness and hormone medication side effects: all which seem to be very common. I was given great information about skin care following surgery and radiation though. FYI: I have elected not to take Tamoxifen after trying it twice over the last 6 months and hope my self-care will be sufficient to prevent another diagnosis.

I am super thankful for all who have gone before and share their experiences. We all have a very different and personal yet common journey.

Best all.

Rebamacfan1- I experienced my worst day after my first boost too, but after that have been better, might be the cocktail of Motrin and Tylenol RO put me on, but not complaining. I usually don't like taking meds with frequency as worry about the effects, but this time I blew caution to the wind. On another note a woman waiting for rad's yesterday told me I should be doing wheat grass and pomegranate as radiation is bad for the liver, and they will help to rid the toxins, anyone hear this too? And I finish tomorrow, and am traveling in 2 weeks, will I still be using aloe and emu oil, should I pack them??