Starting Radiation October 2017

DodgersGirl - I hadn't thought of that possibility. I do the Deep Inspiration Breath Holds which inflate my lungs, to protect my heart. Maybe I should be more concerned with protecting my lungs! Will discuss that with the RO this coming week.

LoJo100 - No, I haven't had chemo. I'm sorry to hear that you have had such serious allergic reactions too. Well, at least we are raising the consciousness of our medical professionals about the various SE's, even the outlying ones that are rare. And we are digging into the deepest reserves of our grit and determination to get through all this "stuff."

The good news is that I have just one more week to go - my boost starts on Monday, and my breast looks like a crime scene, all marked up with surgical markers, "X" marks the spots and tagaderm transparent circular stickies all over. Can't wait until this is all over!

Ladies, wishing you all a restful, calm weekend.

i have been reading all the posts and don't know how to start my questions. I am in Manitoba, Canada. Since the end of April, needle biopsy came back benign for microcalcifications, excisional biopsy turned into lumpectomy, and I received triple negative status in September. Since then I had SN biopsy, body scan, chest-abdomen-pelvic scan and they are all clear. I refused chemo. I have an MRI tomorrow morning at 7:30. RADS start November 20, for 16 treatments. I was so tired when I saw RO this week that I know I missed a lot. I remembered during the night that he said full breast radiation. I don't know what to expect. I know I will be on my back but don't know how it works. Is my lung at risk? What are green tea pads? Can I use green tea bags? Has anyone used essential oils during treatmen? Antioxidants? I've been told not to. I would be so thankful for help and advice.

Dodgersgirl Thank You! I think after my appts this week I'll be purchasing some green tea, aquaphor, miaderm and radx...lol...seerms to be the going 'preferred' treatments...

THANKS! I found the Crystal yesterday with the cancer ribbon...but I'll look for the Toms!

Thanks much for sharing. It's greatly appreciated. I'm sure as my rads begin I'll gave more questions. I'm gonna be glued to these posts.

DodgersGirl- I'm here lurking and hopefully I get some good tips in advance. I don't think I would start my radiation until mid December by then most people in his thread will be done. Then I will ask you for good advice.

😀😀

Hi everyone, hope you had a good weekend!

I would love to hear from you - i completed 8/25 friday and even from #2 tx the area under my arm and on my side has been getting red and tender, and the skin feels tighter. I'm also reddish near my neck. I'm using cream 3x per day and very concerned that the redness has started so early. Your comments welcome!

53nancy - If you can, bring someone to your appts, or take notes or record it. It's really hard to remember anything they say! In terns of what to expect (like the coverage area), the impact on your lungs, etc, your doctor should have the best answers. You can ask them to show you the area that will receive the radiation. I have found the princess margaret mini videos info on radiation very helpful. Other hospitals will have different admin approaches, etc, but it should give you an idea of what to expect and you can inform your questions to your doctor: Scroll down for the videos:

http://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/PatientsFamilie...

All doctors could be different re: oils, etc so you would want to ask them. I was informed to not use any oils on the affected area - only water based moisturizers. Also advised to not use antioxidants as they do not want anything interfering in the radiation which is supposed to impact. Your local doctor/nurses, etc can answer further re: your concerns! :-)

wish it was second half ! (lol pink is your colour btw :-) ) - I think I made it unclear! I have 25 treatments and just completed #8. From the second treatment 2/25 it started becoming pink and tender - my understanding is that most people start having reactions a couple of weeks in, not so soon!

You're almost halfway there - that's amazing!

@LoJo: Glad I'm not alone in the "flashing" department. I've read that if you have really bad hot flashes then the chances of cancer returning are actually LESS...for whatever that is worth. Mine aren't horrible. I'm also so tempted to do the same with my hair, which seems a shame after the money I spent to try to keep so much of it! The new growth is very soft and fuzzy so I may wait until it is about an inch or so before I consider cutting the rest of my hair to match it.

@Mandeola: I feel like I'm getting a little bit of itching going on myself right now...we'll see what happens after I resume treatments this week though.

@sweetsmilefh: Wow that is a pretty crazy experience...and scary!

@DodgersGirl: Thanks for the green tea information...I was wondering about that also. I'm gonna hold off for now. You also pretty much gave a rundown of exactly how my treatments go every day, except I don't have a ladies only waiting room. Most of the time it's just me in there anyway, but occasionally there is a guy there who must be on the same schedule as me, either finishing up or waiting. Last week we were waiting at the same time to be taken back, but I went back first. It is pretty quick and easy though, which most people are surprised to hear and you really don't feel anything at all.

@pink_is_my_colour: Here's to reaching the halfway point soon! I'm just over that hump myself, so hope I can coast through the last 13 treatments!

@PauletteK: Good look to you next month!

@MCOlivia: Thanks for your kind words. Yeah I can't even begin to explain this year to anybody, though most people I know IRL are aware of it. I've been to 6 funerals since Feburary (mom, MIL, good friend's father, best friend's father, uncle, and grand uncle) and am navigation new territory not only with my diagnosis but also dealing with my father who started dating somebody about two months after my mother's death. Definitely has changed me in many ways.

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So I've been lotioning and oiling a lot this weekend since my skin is definitely becoming more tender. I'm sure once this week completes it will probably get more tender. I see my rad oncologist every Tuesday after treatment, so we'll see what she says this week. Last time I saw her was actually last Monday, and she was already mentioning the use of cold compresses for me even though I hadn't been complaining at all. I guess she knew it was coming.

Ready to get this week done!

I am now down to single digits with rads!!!! 9 to go! Still a little pink but overall it is good. I am tired but it is manageable. Best wishes to all!!!

I read these post and realize that I'm in the midst of some very strong people! It's like we need a table of contents for ailments, side effects, skin reaction, etc... but I must say each tidbit of info is very helpful. Met with my MO today; no chemo..but will take tamox once rads are done. I meet my RO Thurs so I'll know more on that at that time. One thing for sure I'll be well supplied with lotions and creams ... and tea for the journey. Thanks to all for sharing, it's greatly appreciated. Continued prayers....

Grrr. Feeling so frustrated. I've had two simulations that couldn't be finished because of my non-cancer side temporary expander. I got it completely deflated the day after last week's attempt (partial deflation as directed after 1st attempt) and made a new appointment. Someone double-booked that appointment slot and I got booted from it. There are only a few appointment times a week for simulations and I have a hectic schedule. I also live an hour from the radiation center. I can't just cancel everything else because of a screw-up. My body has other health issues that I refuse to ignore. And after so many delays, I don't want to keep delaying starting rads.

It also gives me zero confidence in the rads staff when something like scheduling can't be done correctly (not first time this has happened).

I also saw this on one of the reviews:

(MIADERM) I like this product, although I really needed only three tubes for my treatment period of 5 weeks. Treating the radiated area with chamomile teabags worked really well when the skin was burned (not just red). I used both, as well as silver oxide.

I bought Miaderm for my wife who just started her radiation treatment and she was able to continue though 5 weeks of therapy without a lapse of treatment. I was surprised when the Oncologist and the Technician was not aware of the product. Now they do! They were only recommending aloe vera before - no longer ! My wife gave another patient a tube of Miaderm and for her it made a world of difference in the recovery period after her therapy. A bit pricey - But in our opinion worth every drop!