Starting Radiation November 2017

I had my 2nd rads tx yesterday after the bolus mapping so I was on the table for about 20 minutes. The treatment part went better, and I realized you're not holding your breath for that long. It was only a couple of seconds, maybe 5 at the most. But I swear the 1st day it felt like forever. LOL After 2 days, I'm feeling some tightness around the edges of the tissue expander.

I'll ask my RO on Monday about what the bolus is for and if there's any side effects to my skin and/or tissue expander.

sunnyjay--- I am getting bolus, too. My RO explained that typically rads pass thru the skin and treat the stuff under the skin. But in my case, they want to make sure to treat my skin to kill any cancer cells that could be lurking in my skin so the bolus is placed on top my skin, the rads pass thru the bolus like it was my skin and then impacts my skin directly.. increasing skin dosage

AngelaJL, someone explained to me that holding breath is usually for the left breast, to help protect the heart. The suggestion was not to hold your breath unless they tell you to. Good luck with your RADS. I don't start until Nov. 20th.

I’m lurking again, not sure I can able to join you gals or I might have to join the December thread.

Happy Sunday, All! Enjoy your day of rest (from rads treatments!)

Angela, holding your breath is to protect the heart so that technique is used when treating the left breast. As Shellsatthebeach said, it all depends on the rads machine that is used. My cancer was in the left breast and I don't hold my breath because the machine that is used on me makes other accommodations.

Shellsatthebeach, thanks for the carbs tip. I slept awesome last night (10 hours.) DH brought bagels home for breakfast--hadn't had one for eons--so I indulged. Oh my goodness! I am sooooo tired--(it is only 10:50 AM!) Definitely not doing that again!

Intgragirl--I re-read your earlier post about feeling like a cancer patient again and not liking it....I hope a week or so has put you in a better place. I know what we are going through is the same yet different...and it all is for crap...but I hope a weeks' closer to the finish line has made you rally a bit and know that soon this will all be just a memory. I mean, think about all you have all ready endured--it is over, done with...and so will rads!

Brightness 4 (and anyone that is having the shortened treatment)... I am so jealous!

I was prescribed 28 whole breast treatments and 6 boosts. I have completed 15..so I would almost be done if I were on the abbreviated plan. Alas...I have to trust my RO...But the good news is I have had very mild SE--just the hint of pink and some tingling here and there...and this ridiculous exhausted feeling (that I blame on the bagel so that is easy to fix!) So, chin up! 15 down--19 (good Lord!) more to go!

I just put on my afternoon smear of Miaderm & my oh my, do I have a silky smooth boob! And I am pleased to announce looks very much like its rad-less sister! This might not keep up ( I still have 19-gulp- more treatments to go) but so far so good!

53Nancy, Aquaphor is a bit of a greasy mess. I use it liberally at bedtime only. Make sure to wear an old t-shirt or cami - and then your pj top. Hard to say for sure, but I think it really helps. I found Calendula cream (not oil) on Amazon. I think that helps, too. I alternate between the Calendula and Miaderm creams. I haven't even used the Emu oil yet ( and might not!) Feeling positive

Linwentz... glad to hear your boob is on a good rad jpurney:) My order of Miaderm should be here this week. My simulation is this Thurs; rads to start the 27th. I plan on smoothing my boob in advance so that it helps. My RO said could lotion the day of rads, just do it 2hrs before. I have 20 sessions so I too hope that mine go well! Question, how often do you lotion and do you keep any of yours in the fridge?

PauletteK, yes that's what I ordered.

PauletteK you are welcome. Funny thing, I ordered the 4tube pk because I wanted to start lotioning before my sessions. When I had my consult last week, the Dr says ...dont buy anything we'll supply Miaderm... oh well, at least I have mine anyway. Looks like we'll be rad buddies...so praying our boobs will have a smooth journey.

PauletteK yeah, I'll be starting Nov 27th. But same here wanted to be prepared. We Got This... before you know it, we'll be all done!

When my rads are done Dec 22nd) I start Tamoxifen...

I was told not to apply lotion until after treatment--which is at 10:40. I then apply a liberal dose of either Miaderm or Calendula cream right after treatment , then again sometime mid after noon and lastly at bedtime (a big slathering of Aquaphor. I also do the green tea thing before each application of the cream. So mostly I apply cream 3x a day. I am not sure whether what I am doing is working or this is just how my body reacts to rads. Either way, so far so good!

53nancy... I paid $128 for the 4 tubes... they came in a 4pk

Georgia1 and Linwentz, so you dont lotion at all prior to your rads? Did you lotion the week before?

I started 25 treatments on November 6th, had number six today. So far so good. Lots of fatigue, but that might be leftover from chemo.

Good morning All! Happy 😊 Monday and the start of a fresh rads week. Hope all goes smoothly for everyone.

Brightness 456-- like everything in this journey, SE are individual. For me, I have not confronted fatigue yet (except for the morning I had a big ole' bagel for breakfast!) I am 15/34 and far so good. Hopefully you will be fine during your long drive...safe travels!

Lifechoices-- My RO said nothing about applying creams prior to starting rads so I didn't. I hadn't done a lot of radsresearch so I didn't even know others were doing it. My treatment is at 10:40 so it makes sense not to apply cream before treatment (plus my RO said not to) I am pretty much of a rule follower... so whatever my docs recommend, that is what I do. I do, however ask tons of questions and feel them out if there is something I want to do.

Integragirl-- don't feel guilty about how you are feeling. I think it is very normal to have a jumble of emotions as we navigate this difficult and very personal journey. I find it easier to rant here--on this site-- or in my journal then talk to dear and caring friends. I can't tell you how many phone calls or texts have gone unanswered. I do need to be careful no to push them too far away, though. Rads is my last hurdle--( not counting the every 6 months check) and soon I can return to some semblance of normalcy. Hopefully, that is where you are, too

Lineentz, I was interested in your comment about you’re a breakfast bagel and had read somewhere else that eating curves at breakfast

Good morning, everyone. I hope that your day is going well. I had a question re: having carbs at breakfast time adding to fatigue. What suggestions would there be for avoiding carbs at breakfast? I don't think I could eat eggs every day. I love to do smoothies with fruits and veggies, and protein powder added in with ground flax, chia and wheat germ. Would this count as carbs? What do YOU eat for breakfast. My first appointment, next Monday, is 10:15, but I've been told my course will be a mix of morning and afternoon appointments, so it kind of leaves us up in the air for planning, but hopefully I will get a schedule my first time in.