Starting Radiation November 2017

I hit the halfway mark today...17/34. 17 more treatments still sounds like a lot but i can't get over how quickly it has gone. So far I am just beginning to get pink and the fatigue is minimal. Miaderm, Calendula Cream & Aquaphor are my go to lotions. I also use green tea and Aloe. My RO said that whatever I am doing is working... so I guess I will keep it up and hope for the best during these next 17 treatments.

First dose today - Anyone feel slightly nauseated after treatment? I also got an instant headache......Or was it just my nerves? 20 more to go.

I am like you, I have to control everything around me, even my job title is "controller"!! I guess this journey so far taught me to leave the control to God and let him manage my life. At first I was so devastated, crying non stop, waking up in the middle of the night freaking out. I was trying to wake up from this nightmare. I thought that I can change things but turned to be that I can't. I am not the super women I thought I am. After the initial shock, I started praying, going to church with a different attitude. I found my peace when I realized that I can't change what I have but I need to deal with it. I knew that God is with me holding my hands during this journey. I did my surgery and will start radiation next week but I am accepting what is happening now and cheerful. I do have my sad moments but it is more of normal. Hang in there and let God control what happens next. He knows best.

I’ve done 2 of 16 so far. I’m not red or sore yet, and I’m hoping I won’t have any problems. Chemo was a challenge for me even though I was on an easy dose. Apparently I’m not as tough as I thought I was. My ROs nurse gave me a cream with aloe in it, but told me not to start using it yet because if I have a reaction they want to know what it’s too, the rads ormthe cream, so I’ll start the cream in a few days. They said what they recommend works for their patients, but if I have problems we can discuss alternative ideas. I hope it works and is overwith soon.

I’ve been tired, but I don’t sleep well anymore so I can’t say it’s from the radiation for sure.

Linwentz, thanks much

Ellyn27: Hellloooooo... I will be doing the exact same! I have my mapping tomorrow as well and will start my sessions Nov 27th; face down (with the booby hanging) and will also be doing 20 sessions (ending Dec 22nd)! I too am rather busty (42DD). The doctor said this position was best for me and prayerfully it will lessen the SEs (in reference to it ONLY targeting the boob) and not the underarm; ribs; etc...

Ive already set up my lotion and creams station (Eucerin, Aquaphor and Miaderm)... will look for the spray Aquaphor that was mentioned in an earlier post.

I don't have alot of preparing to do for the holidays per say; but I will be putting up my tree Thanksgiving weekend; my tree at work (in my office) probably the week after Thanksgiving...and I usually put up my mom/dads mid-December. Im hoping that w/me being just 2 weeks in I'll still be feeling pretty good and will then just start counting down.

Once my rads are done; I'll be on tamoxifen...

Keep me posted on how your session goes tomorrow and I'll do the same. My appt is at 230...BEST OF LUCK with your session and on our 'last lap'!

Hi there AngelaJL,

Day two of treatment and doing pretty well. How about you? I think that I have been so preoccupied with the what if's that I have imagined all the worst case scenarios and played them like videos in my head. Comes from my acting/directing theater background. I can visualize a lot and that is great when writing a script or directing an actor in a scene but not so good when facing things like this. I have to active an imagination for my own good.

I hope that you have found it easy so far too.

AngelsGal57

So encouraged by your words. We always want to be in control of our destiny. The hardest thing is to let that go and trust God. You are right. Continue to share your light and be a witness to others about what you are going through. I know my faith has been strengthened and spirit encouraged by other faithful servants of God like you who are willing to be vulnerable and transparent about what we are all going through. We are traveling an unknown road with unknown outcomes in our breast cancer journeys.

Keep shining your light.

Dear Life Choices,

I have found it really liberating to share my story. Just today I encouraged someone when I walked out of the treatment room and into the patient waiting area. There was a women there that had this look of terror on her face. At first I walked by and went to change and the Lord stirred my heart to just go and ask if she was ok. Which I did. She was ok but I think comforted knowing that someone cared enough to ask her. My support groups are all over the country. So many touched by BC and my Facebook posts about how I am doing. So glad to hear you have mighty prayer warriors too. While going through chemo I made Paracord bracelets for all of the people who were praying for me with a charm on them that said Pray or Faith on them to thank them for praying. Even our entire youth group was praying. Gave them permission to share my story with whomever asked them about their bracelet.

I pray that God fills you with all that you are desiring from him.

Hi Paulette. At my first appointment I got a tour of the facility, a physical exam, and a good long talk with the RO. She told me her recommendation: 15 sessions that I will start after Thanksgiving. I asked a ton of questions about options (prone vs supine, partial breast vs full breast) and why she was recommending that number of sessions. I also got a take-home sheet on preparations and creams. It's a busy hospital so I haven't gotten my schedule yet; i'm supposed to get that Wednesday at the dry run.

Best of luck.

Hi everyone, I haven't had a chance to read everyone's post but I did want to give my report of my first week before I forget:

Interesting first week for me. I had two boluses (Tuesday and Thursday). Next week I'll get a bolus each day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday), then no treatments on Thursday & Friday because of the holiday.

I had some skin itchiness in one area after the second treatment (first bolus) which immediately had me worried because I wasn't expecting to have any reactions so early. I brought it up with my RO and he said that because there's a chance I had/have Inflammatory BC that they are deliberately treating my skin heavily (that's what the boluses are doing in my case) and that his "goal" is actually to have me blistering by the end of treatment… so there will be adjustments made week to week depending on my symptoms. Yesterday they "took films" to make sure that everything was still matching up and said they would do this extra step once a week. It took less than 5 minutes.

I'm finding being still for 30 minutes is easy but having these appointments every day, even though I live near the hospital, is making it much more challenging to get my PT exercises and lymph drainage massage done every day. I only remembered and had time to put my compression sleeve on two out of five days. I've put lotion on the ares 3 times only. But I have been eating lots of protein. Getting some water, but not enough.

Sending best healing vibes to everyone.

NikJ I'm glad to see this post. I'll be having the same. 16 and then 4 boost.. What lotions did you use? And what time were your sessions?

NikJ ok... my first 5 are around 11-1230...the rest are at 230; I leave work, go there and then home. My first boost will be 1130, then the last 3 @ 230...i requested the afternoon so that I could to work, go there...lotion up and go home braless. Lolololol... I'm praying for good results as well. It's like the fear of the unknown... but I've made it this far so I'm ready!!!!

Nikj--Yea for almost being done! What a sweet feeling that must be! And thanks for the Info on the boosts.

53 Nancy-- No reason to dread the first session. The treatments themselves are painless & go rather quickly. The longest part is the techs getting you in position. And as far as SE go-- no one can predict how your body will react; so slather on the creams, eat a lot of protein & Whole Foods, exercise, and when your skin eventually becomes sore & irritated... follow your RO's orders. You'll get through this. We all eventually do.

Hugs and blessings to all!