December 2017 Radiation Group

Hey there OCDAmy; fancy meeting you here! Started Rads Nov 29th; will be getting 20 sessions (ending Dec 27th) and then on to Tamoxifen. The Dr has informed I can start the following day (Dec 28th) or I can just wait until Jan 1 which is what I'll probably do. End the year w/rads and start a new year w/a new journey...WE GOT THIS!

Hello ladies, I also started in November, but will continue on into the middle of December so I thought I'd join you here.

Lifechoices2017 - I like your profile name - I also will be on some sort of hormone blocking meds....not sure which one yet as I seem to have entered menopause this year too.

OCDAmy, I can't wait for 2017 to be over, it's been quite a busy year!

Hello all, I started radiation at the end of October with 33 treatments scheduled. I am on week 4 and only 2 weeks left to go! Had a lumpectomy in September on left breast. I am also a 13 year Leukemia Survivor, so thankful I did not have to do chemo this time with a cancer diagnosis, just radiation. How is everyone handling radiation???

Amy im a bit scared as well, something about going into those rooms all by yourself is very overwhelming to say the least. I am glad you have found your rhythm & its getting easier, hope you get through this with flying colors & no side effects or minimal side affects. How is your skin holding up?

Rspolari how is radiation going for you? Im glad you did not have to go through chemo again mind you not glad that you had to go through cancer again but how are you holding up with radiation?

RADS week one is done!!!! Today was day 5 of 20 for me. Monday I meet with the RO and nurse and I'll be asking them what I can expect next week regarding SEs. The only thing I've noticed is I'm a bit tired, but I'm not sure it's the RADs or just the stress of it all. It seems if I don't keep busy with something else, that radiation is all I think about. How is everyone sleeping? Good I hope. I've been going to bed earlier and I sleep fine until about 3 a.m. and then I can't go back to sleep. Have a great and relaxing weekend everyone.

I am 2 weeks postop lumpectomy/SNB, and the next step is rads x5 weeks according to my surgeon. Still searching for a RO and rads site. I have narrowed down the search. My surgeon said my rads should start 4weeks after my surgery after I have healed. Since you all are a bit ahead of me in this journey, can I ask you two questions?

1. I am trying to tour the facilities where I would get rads, and they are treating me like I'm crazy. The manager won't return my phone calls, and when I showed up to try to talk to someone, the employees out front just kept telling me why this could not happen. Did any of you go check out the facilities before you chose where to have your radiation? Any suggestions for me? I really just want to go in and have a look around since I am trusting my body to these people & I want to make sure it is clean and the staff looks competent

2. How long did it take to get things set up? Once I choose my RO, I will make an appointment but I don't see anyway this is going to happen within the next few weeks like I originally thought.

Thanks for any comments/suggestions!

Paga - Sounds like you are on the same schedule as many of us. Week one ... done!!! They play Christmas music in my room. They ask if I want a blanket but I said yes once and got kinda nauseous. I must be a bit nervous and then with the heat I get all clammy. So now I just say no to the blanket. Glad you have no SEs. I hope I'm as lucky.

DownNotOut - I went to a breast surgeon in the city for my lumpectomy and having radiation closer to home. When I was picking my RO, I googled "2017 top cancer doctors Illinois" and found a list from Chicago Magazine. I went to the RO section and luckily there were several in my area. I know these lists are not 100% but fortunately by me there are several good hospitals. The RO is not the person giving it to you. They do the planning and track your progress, but the radiation therapists are the ones seeing you daily. I'm not surprised they don't allow you in. They don't let anyone other than the patients in. If my husband or a friend drove me, they'd wait in the waiting area, they are not allowed back to the radiation area. At least by me. When I get there, I scan the card I was given (this alerts them you are there), I go change and wait in a seperate waiting area until they come for me. They walk me back to the rad area and scan my card again. In this area I can see all their computer set-ups. Then I go into the next room where 4 rad therapists set me up, they turn down the lights, and they leave and watch from the next room. They can see and hear me. A few minutes later they come back in, I put my robe back on and leave. It sounds scary but once you go and know the routine and how it all works, then it's not as stressful. I have a hospital closer to home I could have picked for RADs, but I go to a different hospital that's 10 minutes further because they have a wonderful cancer survivorship program with lots of free classes that I plan to take advantage of, plus I wanted the one RO. I had to wait about 5 weeks after my lumpectomy to see my RO. Then you get scheduled for a mapping session. After that they said it takes 5-10 business days for them to do their planning. Then you will get a call and get scheduled. It all takes time and we all want it over with. Try to relax and think positive thoughts. You'll get thru this

Thank you OCDAmy for starting this topic. I've completed 4/30. So far so good.

I've found that getting at least a brisk 2 mile walk in each day helps me sleep through the night. Once in a while I can't squeeze it in and that's when I find myself awake at 2 am. I also try to get it in as early in the day as possible, else it's not quite so brisk.

This week flew by, Mon was a test run then the next 4days were my sessions. Praying for all of us to have an easy time with SE.

Hi Amy, I should start my radiation mid December. Did my mapping last Monday, waiting for my start date.

Amy， I’m three weeks PFC now, I got some of my energy back, got my appetite and 80% of my taste buds back. But I still can’t enjoy my cup of coffee as I used to.

My question for the experience ladies, how do you take shower? Do you towel dry, would we have problem using towel to touch the area being radiated? Using any soup?

thanks Georgia .... so happy to hear you are doing so good, do you use this green tea method?

Paga--your facility sounds a lot like mine. The techs couldn't be nicer... they really help make the treatments less stressful. And once you're into the routine it is much easier.

OCDAmy--glad to hear you are you have adjusted to Rads and are into the rhythm. Each day gets you closer to the end!

2017 has been quite a year, for sure! I retired, celebrated our 40th anniversary, and was diagnosed. I am looking forward to enjoying retirement and my DH, and having NED ( no evidence of disease.) I wish that for all of us in 2018!

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and this is my first post to any type of bulletin board in my life. I start rads tomorrow, Monday, 12/4, and will go through 20 treatments with my final 2 being on my bday, 12/29. I've always disliked this time of year and either I have another thing to add to this list or I'm trying to think of this being cause for a celebration. I am emotional (angry, sad, bitter, lonely) and am also awake at the 3am witching hour asking 'why me?' My husband is walking on eggshells around me. I've kept my situation private except from family and close friends. Other friends are reaching out if they have heard about my situation and I'm not sure how to respond to them. My initial reaction is to tell them to go screw themselves as if they have not been in contact with me for a period of time, why are they now(?) except for me to make them feel better about my diagnosis and I'm not into that. Also I do have a hard time in allowing others to care for me as I've always been the strong one to care for others. We had plans to be in sunny Mexico right now and it sucks to be stuck in a cold climate (though I really am trying to see the positive in being here). I'm still doing a ton of research. So the above is my pity party.

My prognosis is great, I'm super strong and can get through anything, I have a lot of people who care about me, I have a great life and am sad only because it is somewhat on hold right now, many positive things have happened during this journey that I'm trying to focus on, I have a new job that I absolutely LOVE and plan to do for many, many years to come, I have found reading posts here very enlightening and encouraging, and now I'm reaching out of my comfort zone to post here.

So if anyone has any other thoughts about keeping the monsters at bay that reside in my own head, I'd love to hear them.

You are all in my thoughts, (a group I NEVER thought I'd be a part of), but here we all are and I hope to provide you all strength that you are also giving me.

Welcome Redhead and I'm so glad you posted. My situation is pretty similar although this is my second bout with cancer (I had a malignant melanoma in my 20s) so I am a bit more pragmatic about some annoying lump of cells bring removed from my body (smile). I received my BC diagnosis while I was on VACATION for goodness sakes, and went through the seven stages of grief rapidly - with the longest spell definitely being spent in ANGER. What the heck did we do to deserve this, right?

But now I am in a much better place, thanks in large part to the amazing women on these boards. My friends and family I told, but I kept the news to a small group, and since I am "the oldest sister" at home and "the boss" at work, I've had very few offers of help. I think that's because no one is used to me needing any! I have completed a lumpectomy plus 5/15 radiation treatments, and while I also hate Winter I see Spring just around the corner for both you and me.

What helps? I guess for me it has been accepting assistance when it is offered, especially from my husband. Focusing on activities I love. Getting more exercise, including walking the dog even when it is cold outside. Keeping my routine as much the same as it was before. And giving myself permission to indulge in things I love and skip some of the things I simply don't feel like doing right now. I know that all sounds so boring! But if you feel like talking to people, do it, and if you don't, then don't. Have a pity party every once in awhile, but also go buy new shoes, get take-out instead of cooking, take a bubble bath. You are a strong person and we are glad you connected with us.

Welcome Jellybean 68 & Redheadhere! You have landed at the perfect spot for reassurance and wisdom as well as a place to throw your own once in a while pity party! Although our journeys are personal and unique we all have had to deal with BC and "get it." And if one of us can't help with a certain question or concern, there is always somebody else that can.

I am not big breasted so I ditched my bra early on, bringing it out only for public appearances where I really needed one. I felt a lot of tightness and a binding sensation where my bra would have been... wearing even the soft, hardly any support kind drove me crazy!

I was never one for chat groups or public forums but I have found great comfort here. Even if no one really answers my questions or responds to my comments, it is therapeutic for me just to write...it is sort of like journaling to an audience!

Georgia, your take on things was spot on. I especially loved the part about buying shoes or indulging in a oh woe is me moment. It is okay to feel sorry for ourself. We have been through Hell! But it is also okay to treat ourselves to the things we love...we deserve it

The week-end is winding down and we soon will begin another week of Rads. For some of us, the end is in sight while others are just beginning ...but wherever you are on this crazy trip I hope things are as easy and uneventful as possible. Hugs to all