Starting Radiation November 2017

I feel bad for all those feeling sad and stressed. I had treatment #3 this morning and all went well. When they leave the room I close my eyes (I'm in prone position so my head is to the side) and think of a happy place. For some weird/strange reason, when I leave my eyes open, I get so creeped out by that machine going over and around me. Plus, I'm apparently very ticklish on my center lower back and when the machine goes over me I just want to lift my shoulders .... weird, I know!!!

Yesterday I was so exhausted, not sure if it was the RADS or stress, probably both. Last night I went to bed at 9:30 and today the sun is out and I feel great. For me, I need to stop reading about cancer so much and stop worrying. It gets to be all I want to think about. Even the food I'm eating. I know my God is watching over me. I'm looking at this as him telling me to get my life in order. I stopped at the grocery store on my way home after treatment and am planning to make a nice healthy dinner. I just had a smoothie with some kale in it and it wasn't bad haha. 

Congrats to those that are finishing up, what an accomplishment. I'm not sure what will happen when my treatments are over, where will you guys be on this site? I'm going to need someone to talk to   My plan is to start seeing the MO and start some sort of meds, not sure which one yet. There's probably a post for the meds I'll go to. 

Think happy thoughts ......... WE ARE ALL AWESOME!!!!!

Also, I hope I am not offending anyone by what I said above. If I did, I certainly apologize. I know we are all different and have different diagnosis and everyone needs to do what is right for them. I do not want to make light of anyone's stress, fears, anything. I have all that myself, I'm just stating what works for me. That may all change tomorrow, who knows. Have a great day.

Ellyn, I have my second rad at 4:00 today. Am going to try the happy thoughts! I am laying on my back and above me is a screen with a beautiful blue sky and a tree with leaves. Going to try to focus on that and not the machine this time.

I see some of you have stickers which I assume they use to line you up? I only have tattoos and they are pink! You can barely see them but they find them with a special light. For the mapping I had marker drawn on me but now they just line me up with these pink tattoos. Wondering if anyone else has that. And, I am supposed to put corn starch on my breast during the day to keep it dry. I have not seen another person mention that either.

I wish my center was closer. It is about 30 minutes from my house and another 30 minutes in the opposite direction from my office. I was trying for morning appointments but they couldn't accommodate that until December 12. So from now until then I have appointments all over the place in the afternoons.

Ellyn, I have tatoos. They are gray. My last few treatmentshave all been done in 10 minutes. I read about the cornstarch but was told not to use it because supposedly causes yeast infections, it doesn't make sense to me. I may try t anyway. I think aneasy way to apply it would just ge to use a large makeup brush

Ok, trying to respond to the recent post

1. I have black tattoo dots, but today my 1st session, they still circled them with a marker.

2. I love the positive attitudes of everyone. Yes, I know this is a new norm, but we are making it the best new norm EVER!

3. 2017 BC SisterSite would be great! Ive learned so much from each of you and just thinking that if the ROs saw how much we've learned they'd have us to do the new patient consults; free of charge! ROs see way more than we do, but having a room full of knowledge on one site is sooooo helpful.

4. I don't have blue skies in my rads room, just that dome roaming my body. But as I lay there today, the song playing was Beat It by Michael Jackson, I was like Yep...i am gonna beat it! So hopefully each day I'll have a new song to sing as I get beamed:))))

Lastly...5. Ellyn27, I too am ticklish. Every time they dot my spine with that marker I cringe. As for the machine looming over me. I also close my eyes, I'm like if I have to be here I don't wanna feel like I'm being roasted in a rotisserie...so I just sing with the radio and know that by the end of a song, or two I'll be back in my clothes in a few.

We're fighters. We're strong and we have a story that only we can tell. Cancer may be our connecting agent. But strength is what holds us together.

Today I crossed the hump. 11 down, 10 to go....5 more whole breast and 5 boosts. My skin is red, itchy and tender, I'm exhausted, have a rash under my boob and between my breasts and my armpit is raw. I'm trying a new soak that the RO gave me today called PEDiNOL along with Calendula Cream and silvadine...I'm sorry that my attitude is in the tank today. Reading all your positive comments is helping though - hope I don't bring anyone down.

I still have to purchase the calendula cream. Right now I miaderm morning, 2hrs before rads, right after rads...aloe gel when I get home and Aquaphor at bedtime. I did purchase the cortisone cooling gel for itching that may come... and I keep my aloe in the fridge. It feels good when I get home. I also have Eucerin and CeraVe, but I don't want to keep mixing. I want to see what works. But I've seen a few post on the calendula so i need to add that to my lotion arsenal:) For all that's on this journey; it'll go by quicker than we know. Just gotta keep it moving and stay lifted!

Georgia1 Thanks! I'm just on rad1 so I'm trying to stick to a pattern, if that's even possible. Lol.

I'll continue with what I've been doing and just let the countdown continue. Thanks again.

Holy Moly I love this thread! We all rock! We can tell our stories and worries, and get positive energy

Georgia - I have been wondering about the vitamins and turmeric since I usually take both and forgot to ask my RO last time, so thank you!

tlfrank - not to worry! You don't bring us down. We are here for each other, good days and bad.

Amy - I have stickers, which he said won't come off until we take them off, and I have some tiny black tattoos. I was worried because a client of mine has some big dots that are tattoos and are kind of grayish. She hates them. I too have to drive about a half hour each way. And today at 3:45 which is my usual time, I was so sleepy! I don't know what its going to be like in a couple of weeks when the fatigue sets in. I will have to get someone to drive maybe.

DodgersGirl - great idea about another thread!

Ellyn - Love your positivity! Go us!!

53Nancy-- ref fatigue, I think eating lots of complete protein has kept me from feeling fatigued... I did feel tired the first week but think that is because I also returned to work after surgery the very same week. The last 3 weeks, my energy level is about where it was prior to dx.

RO also said walking each day helps with fatigue. I admit I haven't been as good about daily walks as long have been about eating pro

Hope you find what works for you

something I haven't posted but someone else might find helpful--- I wear a knitted stocking cap to rads so as I recline on the table and turns n my head to the side, the knitted stocking cap provides a small cushion between the metal ridge where heads go and my head.

I wore a different type hat once and found the metal table uncomfortable so stuck with the knitted stocking cap.

Headed to 28 of 28 this morning .... let the healing begin!!!

Yay Dodgersgirl, another huge milestone accomplished! Woot

DodgersGirl - They have a pillow type thing for my head, maybe it's too high and that's why my neck hurts so much. Thanks, I'll check into it today. Congrats on finishing up your RADS!!!!  

Congratulations DodgersGirl!

Ellyn don't apologize for being yourself. You are free to share right where you are and your words are encouraging ones. I just finished RAD #10 and have 5 more total breast treatments and will have 5 boost treatments then I am done. It has gone by amazingly quickly.

I was dreading the every day treatment schedule as overwhelming and am pleasantly surprised that having my husband get up early with me to go to treatment has drawn us closer. It actually has helped it go by quicker.

Praying that you stay focused and at peace during your journey. Mine has built up my faith and my testimony without using words at my workplace. They see the strength and the grace on my face every day as I come to work without complaint (even through the chemo treatments).

Angelsgal57

DodgersGal.

Congradulations! So happy to celebrate you reaching the finish line!

I am looking forward to that day. Keep us in the loop on how the next few weeks go.

Angelsgal57