December 2017 Radiation Group

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  • lifechoices2017
    lifechoices2017 Member Posts: 242
    edited December 2017

    I'm NOT shaving the right armpit so I have a little fuzz. Lol

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited December 2017

    Thank you lifechoices!

    And gigibee, I was told not to shave during radiation treatments. It's kinda funny how different the advice we have gotten is! So I hope the instructions I posted at least give you something to chat with your doctor about. But calendula cream is the best.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited December 2017

    Good evening all my pink sisters ... 👋

    Lifechoices - I didn’t count my zap today, will try to do that tomorrow.

    When all of you talked about Calendula cream just want to double check is this the cream you meant?

    image

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  • Rhyfelwr
    Rhyfelwr Member Posts: 88
    edited December 2017

    Gigibee, one thing about rads is that it kinda zaps the hair follicles under your arm, so shaving really isn’t necessary. At first I had thought it would be gross and fuzzy skipping this, but now it is actually nice not to worry. I hear that sometimes it zaps those follicles for good —any intel on that from our other experienced warriors?

    LAST ONE tomorrow. They have a bell on the wall, and graduates get to ring out. I am not sure if I want to ring or want to cry. We’ll see, when the time comes. I am hoping my dh can come with me for moral support. Pray he can get some time away from work

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  • DodgersGirl
    DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
    edited December 2017

    lifechoices2017-- I talked with my RO this week and told him all the "tricks" I used to get thru rads. He told me I would be very good at speaking to groups of women prior to them starting rads as a motivational speaker and helper. How blessed would we all feel if we were able to comfort those brave ladies who haven't started rads yet, or chemo, or surgery!!

    I know a cancer dx is not a good thing, but I keep looking for goodness that can come out of our tribulations and think paying it forward is a good start!!!

    Love that we all support each other, help each other, cry/laugh with each other, and support each other. You guys all rock and are a blessing to me

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  • lifechoices2017
    lifechoices2017 Member Posts: 242
    edited December 2017

    DodgersGirl, you helped me tremendously!!!! So I thank you.

    And yeah it is awesome to have the one-ups prior to rads because you're already in a tizzy from appts, meds, emotions... and now this:(... being able to be honest and say, yes it's a scheduled routine for weeks, yes you have to eat right, yes you have to soap and lotion just right, yes you have to drink plenty of water, yes you're gonna get tired, yes you are going to cry and yes it's all worth it!

    I'm thankful that I came to this site before rads or I'd have been lost; who knew what prone position was, who knew what zaps were, who knew what mapping is... I have a great MO/RO team, but I learned the to do's and not to do's from this post.

    I really am going to see if they have any programs where I can speak and uplift, or even just come to comfort .. I think that's my calling...

    Lord knows I never saw this journey, but I thank Him for guiding and directing my every step.


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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited December 2017

    Rhyfelwr, RING THAT BELL! Woo Hoo!

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  • lifechoices2017
    lifechoices2017 Member Posts: 242
    edited December 2017

    I was thinking the same thing!!! They'd think i was Rudolph that bell would be ringing so loud!!!

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited December 2017

    when I finished chemo I rang the bell as hard as I could and my daughter took a video. I watch it often and cry every time.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited December 2017

    DodgersGirl- you are the perfect person to hold a group meeting, would be good to have support before rads. You help me a lot and many people need helps.

    Rhyfelwr - congratulations!! You are going to finish another milestone.


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  • CindyNY
    CindyNY Member Posts: 1,022
    edited December 2017

    I start rads on 12/26....IF my Oncotype score doesn't indicate chemo is needed. Should have score on 12/22. It was held up because my insurance didn't approve it until 9 days after I met with MO. If it indicates I need chemo, all of what they did today was for nothing.

    RO is trying for Accelerated Hypofractionated 16 treatments, but booked 33 appointments in case mapping shows I can't get away with higher doses. If I have to go 33 treatments, I believe it would be due to heart placement - rads to my left breast.

    I went back and read some earlier posts. I too have a card to scan when I arrive for appointments. Today was CT scan, Sharpe marker and tattoos.

    I have a list of things to do & not to do. I can shave the armpit with an electric shaver. I can use deodorant without aluminum, Tom's or Crystal. Bathing will be with unscented Dove or Ivory soap, hand only on rad area, and pat dry. I need aloe gel 98-100% and alcohol free; and Aquaphor at night. And I can continue to work out, which is good because it saves my sanity.

    I also have to stop taking supplements of vitamin C and fish oil. From what I was told, antioxidant is not what's wanted, they want oxygen in the cells.

    The waiting for results is overwheming. The staff at rad site are very nice. I just want to get this show on the road. I have to pray for a low Oncotype score so I can begin this part of the journey.

    On telling people I have cancer, I shout it from the roof tops. My mammo was clear. Only found the mass with an ultrasound due to dense breasts. Even bs couldn't feel it, not palpatable. So for anything good to come out of this, I tell everyone I know that I want them to make sure to get an ultrasound if they have dense breast tissue.

    Thank you ladies for letting me sound off, to a group of women who know what its like.


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  • tlfrank
    tlfrank Member Posts: 199
    edited December 2017

    Finished my RADs yesterday! Yay.....It was difficult for me, and my skin is bad, especially in the armpit. I have blisters, and tremendous pain. RO said the skin will take around 3 weeks to begin healing, fatigue will continue for a few months and that my skin will be sensitive to the sun and wind (? - really?) for a year. I keep telling myself it could have been worse....Really happy to be moving on. Hormone meds are my next step....seeing the Dr Jan 8th. Good luck to us all.

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  • lifechoices2017
    lifechoices2017 Member Posts: 242
    edited December 2017


    tlfrank; CONGRATS on finishing your RADS!!!!! YEAHHHH for you; but so sorry for the SEs. I'll be in prayer that your healing and recovery is sooner than later.

    TO EVERYONE ELSE...its THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY! Let's make it great...

    Scripture for today: Job 42:10 ...And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before....(so in Jobs weakness, he prayed for another...it was at that time that he was blessed).

    So as I pray for you all; I already know that Im blessed; but I receive a double portion because I KNOW WHAT PRAYER CAN DO! Be blessed my WARRIORS!

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited December 2017

    tlfrank, congrats on finishing rads! Hope you heal quickly.

    Cindy, I too have been telling people about my cancer (and when you have chemo, it becomes hard to hid it). My push is for women to learn if they have dense breasts. I was never told this and am so angry about it. I never had a 3D mammogram and ended up with a 4 cm tumor that apparently didn;t show up on a mammogram 6 months earlier. My MO says it is a moderately growing tumor and so it had to have been there at my last mammogram. Maybe the 3D wouldn't have picked it up but I should have known about the dense breasts.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited December 2017

    tlfrank, congrats ! Hope you healing will be quick and easy!

    Lifechoices - thank you for the scripture and I need prayers for my swelling. Hope it won’t get worse.

    Will be back later after my radiation at noon time.


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  • lifechoices2017
    lifechoices2017 Member Posts: 242
    edited December 2017

    OCDAmy, i understand what you are saying because as they say a high percentage of women have dense breast; but we aren't told to look for that. Also, I have done my mammo regular since age 40; now at 48 I go in and as Im doing my mammo the tech says 'have you ever done an MRI', im like no why. She does NOT say that she sees anything, but says that because i have dense tissue they may want me to come in this time. Well of course I go in and now im here. At first they said my lump was about 1.5cm; but after surgery i was told that it was 2/2.5. She said that it was slow growing so it could have been forming but a mammo would not have shown it. In any case, its now gone (praise the Lord), but I too wish that I knew of other scanning options.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited December 2017

    Talk about dense breast I have dense breast, mammogram didn’t pick up so did US didn’t pick up either. My lymph node lump shows up then I did biopsy and found out I have cancer. Now I tell anyone who has dense breast should watch closely and ask for US. Most of Asia women have dense breast.


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  • CindyNY
    CindyNY Member Posts: 1,022
    edited December 2017

    I don't know if its insurance issues not covering it, or just ignoring the fact that dense breasts hide cancer. At least 3 friends I've told about myself had never had the US for their dense breasts. Thankfully nothing was found, but I'm glad they pushed to get it. Its too easy to miss.

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  • lifechoices2017
    lifechoices2017 Member Posts: 242
    edited December 2017

    I honestly didn't feel anything at all until of course the Drs identified where the lump was; just above my nipple. Of course then I'd feel it but I had to press down to feel it. Either way; the mammo never picked it up and I think my reports have shown as dense for like 3years prior. I had my mammo 9/15; was called to schedule US 9/21 and the Dr said he 'speculated' that it was cancer. Biopsy 9/21 and yes 9/25 confirmed. When I told my sister about it, she was like well they said i had dense breast too. She works w/a lady that is a 'warrior' and she told my sister that if she knew then what she knows now she'd highly recommend anyone w/dense breast to get approved for an US or MRI and not a regular mammo.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited December 2017

    Lifechoices - for my case, my doctor didn't feel it, that's why I told my families and friends, God gave me second chance of life. I know how much we didn't want Cancer gets to node because lump shown up in my nodes or else I won't even know I have BC.

    Also I would like to check is this the Calendulacream some of you talked about?

    image

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  • tlfrank
    tlfrank Member Posts: 199
    edited December 2017

    Yes that's the cream I use.

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited December 2017

    thanks tlfrank, will go to get one from amazon

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  • PVM
    PVM Member Posts: 136
    edited December 2017

    Hi ladies had my 1st of 21 radiation today & was told prior to going in that all looks good there does not seem to be any presence of cancer in my body, that surgery took everything out. I was a bit nervous but have read what all you lovely ladies have said & felt the first time & it helped alot, so thank you ladies :) Only 20 more to go woohhoo :)

    Rhyfelwr - thats amazing congrats & i agree with OCDAmy you need to ring that bell!!!! Also i have heard from fellow warriors that they no longer have to shave the arm where they had rads so this is one good thing :)

    tilfrank - congrats on being done as well, hope now that your no longer being zapped you can heal faster. For hormone med's if its Tamoxifen, i have been on it for a few months. Have not had many SE the only main one is the hot flashes but they are not too bad. I was advised to take it at night & so far that has been working for me.

    Paulette - I was told to buy Glaxal Base & apply 2 to 3 times a day. I was also told that Aloe works well too or if our skin gets really irritated or develops sores that they can prescribe a cream for you to help out. With respects to the swelling oh boy i am sorry to hear that & hope its not too bad. That is one of my fears too of developing lymphedema from the radiation & of course having lymph nodes removed.

    OCDAmy - How are you faring with the rads? Hope not too bad & the SE are minimal.

    Lifechoices - Thanks for the positive scriptures they are always needed & appreciated :)

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited December 2017

    Hi all, I had #12 today and still no problems. Although I hate getting up earlier, being the second appointment of the day really does get me in and out quickly. I am slightly pink and a little itchy but I am using cortisone and feel good so far. I do notice a bit more fatigue but nothing terrible. I was talking to the techs today and they told me that with IMRT they see less skins problems however I have a bolus each time so my skin is likely to be affected more. I also apply cornstarch several times each day and they said that helps to avoid chafing which is what causes some of the skin problem. I will be half way through on Monday!

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  • Ellyn27
    Ellyn27 Member Posts: 147
    edited December 2017

    Just finished 13/20 and still no SEs ... woohoo!!! RO said my skin looked like I may start to get itchy, but so far nothing. Next Wednesday they will also do remapping and set up for my boosts. I'll get 4 boosts over a total of 3 days. Not sure of the schedule yet. I'll be finished next Friday and I can't wait!!!!! Next Monday I meet with my RO and want to ask how long I need to keep putting the Aquaphor on.

    To those finishing up .... CONGRATULATIONS!!!! What will your next step be? I have an appt with my MO the first week of January to figure out if/when/what meds I'll be taking. Those actually scare me more than the RADs.

    Oh and the woman I see in the waiting area that had the long blonde hair and then suddenly had one inch long dark hair with grey flecks. (I didn't realize she had on a blonde wig)  I told her yesterday that I admit I had to do a double take because I didn't recognize her. I told her she looked beautiful and that she wore it well. She looked a little shy about it, but I gushed about how amazing she looked. I know it made her feel good hearing that and it made me feel good telling her.

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  • gigibee
    gigibee Member Posts: 192
    edited December 2017

    Rhyfelwr thank you, I am doing prone so I am not sure if my underarm is getting radiation? I thought only the breast tissue, but when I asked today they told me not to shave as it may be more sensitive. Ring that bell girl!!!!

    CindyNY I hope you get a low onco score and can start rads.

    I still don't have tattoo's and my body looks like a map with marker and stickers. The mapped me for prone and for my supine boosts so I have double marks. They do films and treatments every time on me this first week and want everything perfect then I get tattoos. I am learning as I go. They recc. aquaphor which I have, I also ordered Calendula on Amazon.

    Re: mammos, I've only had a standard mammo, after they found this I had an ultrasound and ultimately a needle biopsy. My BS did not do an MRI, said he used to do them on 80% of patients and now does them on 20% as they led to many unnecessary and or more aggressive surgeries. I have also heard sizing of tumor can be overstated via MRI. I was never able to feel my tumor, the BS couldn't find and and said it felt just like the other side! which gave me some comfort and made me feel lucky it was found at all. Also everything says I have dense tissue and I asked BS about that too, he said 50% of people in my age range have dense tissue, so it is very common. I am hoping to have 3D and or ultrasound going forward on routine exams.

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  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited December 2017

    Hello everyone! I am 14/15 today so tomorrow is my last day. I can hardly believe it went by so fast. THANK YOU to all of you for the inspiration and support!

    So far I have had a little itchy/swollen nipple thing going on but the calendula cream fixes it right up. Apparently SEs can last 2-4 weeks after radiation is complete, so my RO said I should keep up some kind of moisturizer, although it doesn't have to be calendula once treatment is complete.

    Paulette, yes that is the cream I use, which they sell at the hospital drugstore. Good stuff.

    Gigibee, if you had no node involvement and are getting radiation in the prone position, there is essentially a square area getting irradiated that goes from the middle of your chest to your collarbone, to an inch or two around the side of your treated breast. You can ask the tech to show it to you so you know where to put the cream.

    CindyNY, I am sending good thoughts your way for a low Oncotype score. Mine came in at 18, so my whole medical team decided on no chemo for me. Your profile looks similar.

    Sending big HUGS to everyone, especially those just starting and those finishing up!!

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited December 2017

    Congratulations to the Wonder new who finished this radiation journey, ladies keep us posted how things work for you after radiation please.

    Just finished 6/30 today, skin looks good so fat, just the swelling gets me worry. Met with RO today, she ok me to use my pump on the weekend, meanwhile I do manual from Monday- Friday.

    PVM - my swelling isn’t that bad, I had mild lymphedema during chemo so I knew it will come back from radiation, I guess after radiation I have to work with Le PT for couple months again. I love the PT there so more money to spend on medical bills.

    Georgia - thanks for the confirmation will get the cream today.


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  • lifechoices2017
    lifechoices2017 Member Posts: 242
    edited December 2017

    HELLLLLOOOO EVERYONE and WELCOME TO FAITHFUL FRIDAY!

    Again, CONGRATS to those that have completed their rads; continued prayers for your healing AND for those of us still on our rads journey.

    For those not yet started, it really DOES seem like a lot to know before your day one; but once you get the routine down its pretty quick. I can't believe that I only have one full week left; seems like it just flew by. But of course my having a busy schedule probably helped.

    Today is my #13/20... after today; 3 more whole breast and then 4 boost... Scripture says that seven is the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). Funny thing; my when I started my journey my gfriend gave me the words 'my body is whole, I lack nothing and I am restored'. Lord fill me with all that I need and remove all that is not of me... So Im believing that after my "7"... I am restored...of course not at all perfect...but BACK to His restored perfection!

    I didn't sing yesterday so I was able to count my zaps; 6 total. Preparing for a rads free weekend; gonna do some Christmas shopping w/mom tomorrow for the grandbabies (my great nieces/nephews); have to sing at church Sunday and spend some time w/my fella ;-)

    For those of you with SEs, as always I'll remember you in my prayers but on Sunday I'll make it a personal note to remember you at the altar. Until the next time...be blessed and stay lifted!

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  • PVM
    PVM Member Posts: 136
    edited December 2017

    Georgia just sending a big hug your way & congrats on finishing today wooohhoooo!!!!!!

    Lifechoices - every time i read one of your posts its puts a smile on my face. You are so positive & wonderful & wooohhooo you shall be done next week too & shall start the new year right.

    Ladies i hope we all continue with minor SE or no side effects & continue to stay positive & kick butt. I find that these threads are so great as we can talk/share what we are going through to help others, so i thank you for your adivse & for your words of wisdowm on how to get through treatmetns. WE are almost there & for those of us that have reached the finish line hope you ladies keep on staying strong & positive. Have a great Friday everyone. I am off to my 2nd zap session & am counting down only 19 to go wooohhooo!!!

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