Starting Radiation November 2017

is anyone else avoiding all the topics about what can go wrong with rads? When I was getting ready for chemo, I read everything I could so I’d be ready for any issues that came up, but now I’m just tired and I don’t want to prepare myself for things that could go wrong. I know that isn’t responsible etc, but I’m just so tired of this whole BC thing. I just want to be my normal self again. Still, I know I should educate myself. I just won’t..

Brightness-- before chemo, like Teese wrote, I read read and read more to prepare as all I knew about chemo was that it made you vomit and I wanted to know how to prevent that SE. Once chemo was nearly completed, I started reading about mastectomy surgery recovery. Was always careful to only read about next step and not all steps at the same time. One step at a time. So after surgery RELUCTANTLY started reading about rads. Really wanted to stick my head in the sand and just handle it in an ignorant manner but that isn't who I was before cancer and so I took a deep breath and started reading other rads threads.

I, too, am so tired of life being nothing like it was. I hate the phrase "new normal". This week ( on Thursday) I will be halfway done with rads. So far, just a few moments of fatigue but overall, not much of a problem. Skin is still looking normal. But the new norm with rads is having to apply calendula oil 2 times a day and green tea 3 times a day and trips to cancer center 5 days a week. Rads dominate my days. Light at the end of the tunnel--last rad us Nov 30th

But together we are moving forward and getting through this journey. And I am SO thankful to those who share their experiences. Cancer is a lonely venture but you guys make me not feel alone

THANK YOU

PauletteK---I know just how you feel! I read up on each step in this ordeal as I went through itt (DCIS, lumpectomy vs masectomy, re-excision surgeries, clean margins, ER-/PR-) My mind couldn't process more than one thing at a time. I had bookmarked rads articles early because I knew I would eventually have to sift through them, just "not now!" Well " the now" is upon me and I have read as much as I needed to read, I think it is important to be informed...to know possible SE, how to (maybe) head them off, and what to do if they rear their ugly head. And I think we are all in agreement that this site is extremely helpful for sharing tips, ( hello green tea!) articles, success stories and support for those that are having a rough go. I try to remain positive, but I have to admit that there are times that I am just plain weary of the whole thing! But rads is my last "big hurdle" to get through and on Friday I will be1/2 way through (not counting the boosts) So, there is light at the end of the tunnel!

tlfrank... im with you. You know my family says that im a controller, but for all the things that i can control this 'situation' lol is not one of them. I already have anxiety and now after reading some things its only heightened. I've probably googled more since Sept 19th than I have in a lifetime. Some things I wanted to know; some I didn't. I will say that nothing prepared me for the needle for the sentinel node biopsy...OMG...but GOD! I have my MO meeting today and my RO meeting on Thursday so I too will be starting rads soon. Ive spoken w/quite a few on here and Dodgersgirl has been very informative. I told her the other day I feel like I need to run out now to buy aquaphor, miaderm, green tea, and radx... not sure which one will work the best but from the post they all seem to help greatly in some way or the other.

My continued prayers for you and all that are on this journey; one step at a time...one day at a time.

Linwentz yeahhhhh for #11...how many treatments are you having again? Im sure you may have posted earlier but Ive roamed so many pages im sorry I cant remember. But nevertheless...CONGRATS on your progress thus far ;-)

Yeah, I think I'll also have a counter of 'fix-its' just to see what works. Again, Im hoping to know by the end of the week after my MO and RO on my next path for this journey for meds and rads...thank GOD im not walking it alone. I love this show of support and I know that God is with me every step of the way.

Welp, just finished the "mapping" session. Now I know what to expect - the machine is a lot bigger than I expected, and I didn't expect to be on my back, lying in a mold that was made today. First treatment is next Monday - 33 times

Tick tock......going to tick the days off one at a time. One thing, one day at a time. Guess it's time to add to my "stats below"

Linwentz, you're almost done? Are you experiencing any bad side effects?

Thanksgiving and Christmas will slow me down a bit.....bummer to be doing this over the holidays. Oh well, what will be will be.

It looks like most of you had a lumpectomy. I had BMX with tissue expanders and am most worried about how radiation will affect them. I have read about women whose expanders get infected or really hard during radiation and they have to get them removed or the have to "deflate" the expander on the non-cancer side to be able to reach the cancer side. I am a worrier so I am really looking forward to meeting with my RO to get all of my questions answered. I will likely be more in the December group as well as I don't think I will be starting until late November.

Linwentz, I can't find Miaderm on line here - is it an oil or cream? Is there one you like in particular, or are you switching them so that your body will adapt to everything you are using? Thanks much in advance.

53Nancy - I had the itchy rash too. I think it was an allergic reaction to one of the cleansers that was used on me. My Dr. put me on steriods for a few days and that cleared it right up.

Linwentz..

Yes, all about the attitude! But you got this!

Barbiew52, how did your first rads go today?

Is anyone doing their rads in the afternoon? Or just in the morning. Trying to see how you are during the day, tired, fatigued, treatment? Or does anyone do them after work...or the afternoon and then head home? Will meet RO Thurs and trying to think about what time would work best. My facility is about 15min from my job so seeing if it's best to go there then to work? Or to work and then there to home. And I see on the post that you can't treat your area before the session...how often are you treating your area during the day?

Georgia1, that's what I was thinking. Since my lumpectomy 10/19 I've been on fmla working reduced hours. I was out that Thurs, Fri, Mon, Tues but everyday since I've worked 6hr days. This has allowed me to schedule appts without feeling overwhelmed with my work day. I'm to resume reg hrs on the 13th, with reduced hrs and/or leave days..again when rads start... so I'm hoping I can work my 730 to 1/130... rads at 2/230 and then head home. My job has been good about my hours (although the staff is unaware of my journey)...i guess I'm trying to take care of them and me too. Lol. But again, I'll see how my rads schedule works. I've gotten this far...God won't forsake me now.

Hi all, I have my planning appointment scheduled for November 27th and will be starting radiation soon after. I finished chemo on October 12th, and happy to be done with that phase! I'm nervous about the long term effects of radiation, but my Breast Dr. and MO both recommend it, so I will do what they say is best. I'm reading through all the posts to see what I can learn from others who have gone before me... I'm really more anxious about radiation than I was about chemo, go figure.