December 2017 Radiation Group

Welcome Redhead and Jellybean. I completed 5 of 20 RAD treatments and it felt so good to have the weekend off and not have to think about stupid BC. My only SE has been I was a bit tired, but I must say I'm sleeping better at night now. Started taking a nice walk during the day and I think that helps. One of you asked about bras. I'm large on top (DD) and bought an Amoena Frances Front-Closure Post-Surgical Bra. It doesn't have as much support as I'd like, but I hate going braless. Tomorrow I meet with my RO, not sure what for but they said every Monday we meet. 

Stay positive ladies and try not to think about it. I know that's VERY hard to do, seems that's all we think about, right? See if your hospital has a survivorship program. Mine does and they have wonderful classes and sessions I plan to take advantage of. Things like yoga, nutrition. It's so great to be here and share our feelings. I don't want to worry my family and since we're all going thru this, it's an amazing sisterhood. Hugs to all. I joke with my family that I have to give those fake Kardashian side hugs so they don't squeeze my boobs!!!

hi ramade,

Sorry you find yourself on here after completing your rads. I don't have any answers but speaking from experience with my own neck and spinal problems (Cervical spondylosis and disc bulges in C3/4 and C5/6) I do know that my pins and needles down my arms and hands are when the disc is rubbing against the nerve. I go to regular Acupuncture which definitely helps my pins and needles. The way my acupuncturist described it is that the muscle is tight against the discs and pushes it further into the nerve, the Acupuncture needles allow the muscle to relax allowing the disc to relax back too and stops irritating the nerve that's causes the pain and numbness. I'm very lucky to have found such a miracle worker, maybe worth asking about Acupuncture, don't give up, hang in there, something will work

Sending hugs

Day 6 of 20 completed today. They took xrays before RADS. They said they need to make sure nothing has changed. I guess things can change within the breast during all this and they'll be taking xrays every Monday. I met with the RO after and she said all looked great. She said this week I may start to notice some redness and possibly swelling. I asked if all the treatments get the same dosage of radiation and she said yes, except for the 4 boosts at the end. I thought I was only getting 2 boosts, but today she said 4. My blood pressure was 120/72 which for me is really good. I am eating better and trying to stress less and I think that's helping. Have a great day everyone

I'm day 6/15 since I'm not getting boosts so we are on the same schedule! I see a couple of pink spots but so far so good. (And fyi, no boosts because my margins were so large...that's a long story...but a decent tradeoff I guess.)

And Ellyn you made me LOL with the Kardashian reference! I am definitely doing weird side hugs these days!

Went for 7/20 today. Got worried because the woman that goes before me came back saying the machine was down. We both waited about 5 minutes and then they came for me. I asked about the machine and they said one thing is not working and it's only on certain mapping and it doesn't apply to me. Whew!!! I'll ask the woman if I see her tomorrow. I haven't noticed any skin changes yet, I keep gooping on the Aquaphor though.

Have any of you noticed any change to your appetite? I've been trying to eat healthier but I'm surprised I haven't had any urges for sweets (my downfall). In fact, I think I'm eating less. Just wondering.

Ellyn27 I completed rad 5 today; 11 more to go and then 4 boost. Linwentz I've been eating better as well. Got home yesterday baked chicken breast and had corn and green beans. Over the,weekend I had salmon and veggies... and I'm getting in plenty of water. I try to intake what I can by 8pm if not I'm up during the night and I don t wanna break my rest. No SEs so far; and the journey continues. Stay lifted ladies and keep smiling:)

I went for my third boost today--3 more and then I am done!Today was also "doctor day. I go over everything first with the nurse, then the RO comes in, asks questions and takes a peek. Today she came in, said she would see me in January and that was that! Very weird! I guess since I have little SE or few questions...there was not anything for her to do...still it felt weird!

Ladies, I got my radiation start date which is his coming Thursday ..... I’m a little scared. My mini vacation is over now I will become the burn boob .... 😥😥😥

So what do I expect on my first appointment? I done my mapping, and they told me not to put any cream in that morning. Should I take Ativan? Would I cry like some of you did?

PauletteK--Everyone reacts so differently. Sometimes you can predict how you will react & sometimes you surprise yourself. For me, Rads was just another thing I had to get through. I thought of it like an MRI ( I hate an MRI) or going to the dentist (I hate the dentist) Just do it and get it over with...soon it will be just a memory was my mantra. No tears for me; but if you do...it's OK. What we are going through is a big deal and we all feel overwhelmed, emotional, scared and alone from time to time. And what I love about this forum is that we all feel safe to share our fears and feelings. I will be thinking of you on Thursday!

Just-a-blip--Welcome &I love your name! Sorry you found yourself here but it is a comforting and congenial place to "hang out!" I also had DCIS, a lumpectomy & was scheduled for 34 Rad treatments. I first whined that my treatment plan seemed so long, but it goes quickly. The techs are lovely--they begin to feel like friends--and you have to trust your RO(that is the most important rule!) It sounds like you've got a great attitude..."it's just a boob!" 😍 Walking, biking and yoga are all good. For protein, try tuna salad, add beans to your tacos, almond butter is a good spread on apple slices, sprinkle seeds and nuts on your cereal or yogurt, try an omelette or frittata. Beans & lentils are an excellent source of protein--make chili or 3 bean salad or hummus. just some off the top of my head suggestions!

Hi Gigibee and welcome. I'm 59, but my tumor characteristics are similar. I think the literature supports the shorter course for someone like you who has a small tumor, no lymph node involvement and HR +. There is even a Johns Hopkins clinical trial where you wouldn't do radiation at all as long as you planned to take tamoxifen or an AI drug for five years. The piece of the puzzle that also matters is if you had clean margins, so I'd discuss that with your doctors. But the shorter course has a lot of good science behind it.

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3 hours ago gigibee wrote:

New here have been active on the lumpectomy board, had my 2nd opinion today with RO as the hospital I had surgery at is too far to travel daily for radiation. 1st opinion RO 4 weeks hypo fractionated . 2nd opinion 6 weeks standard radiation or 4 weeks hypo fractionated up to me with the disclaimer about the hypo study being based on age 50plus. I am 43...so now I am unsure what to do. Shorter duration is nice but 2 more weeks is doable. Did anyone face this dilemma. I have CT scan tomorrow.

Dx 8/31/2017, DCIS/IDC, Right, 1cm, Stage IA, Grade 2, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- (FISH)Surgery 10/29/2017 Lumpectomy: Right; Lymph node removal: Underarm/Axillary"

I am also newly lumpectomized and have been agonizing over whether or not to get the recommended radiation for my lowest grade tumor with negative sentinel nodes and luckily clear margins, Grade 1 and not 2 like you have. Have been reading more than is probably healthy about BC and radiation side effect potentials.

However I am 63 and if I were over 70 they would not recommend radiation at all. MOC and radiation oncologist both said not doing radiation is reasonable for me though standard of care at my age is still to do it, a shorter course could be done, e.g., twice a day for five days, but same side effect profile. They showed me articles that recurrence is only 2% instead of 1 % at five years and "survival" is no different. What are your statistical risks at five, 10 or more years for the two options, I would ask.

For me radiation is higher risk, though RO andMOC still say low risk overall, because of my autoimmune disease, borderline heart, and pain, and I would also have great difficulty keeping my arms overhead that long. I worry about worsening chronic pain and quality of life compromiseshort term for minimal longterm risk reduction,

If I were your age of 43 and Grade 2 and not Grade 1, I would do that which has the most experience with doctors, in anticipation of a long life and hope to minimize recurrence, i.e., the six weeks standard, if you do not have any other health problems, can keep your arms up, and can manage the geography and time for that much longer. But read a lot about radiation side effects.

Good luck!

PauletteK you will be fine. You don’t feel a thing and for the first time today I had to contain a little smirk as I was laying there with my rather large breasts on display being marked up by a very young Justin Bieber look alike radiographer! I laughed to myself thinking how on earth did I end up here?!

I’m day 8 of 20 now and the only thing that is a little sore is my rib, my skin is a little red but just keep the skin moisturised constantly during the day when ever you can. Xxx

Hugs to all us brave wonder women!! Xxx