January 2018 RADS group

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited January 2018

    Wish I was in California right now. I can't keep warm it is ridiculously cold! Beautiful flowers Paulette.

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  • JenRuns
    JenRuns Member Posts: 350
    edited January 2018

    OK, it could be hormones (or lack of these days), but since starting radiation (Monday), I am irrationally cranky following my appointment at 2:30 p.m. I seriously get back to the office (I work at the health system) and am just cranky for a few hours. I'm hydrating a ton (96 oz. so far) and sleeping OK. Anyone else have a similar experience??

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2018

    Paulette, Beautiful flowers and a great walk. WTG!

    Finished 3/33 today. I am going with 33, as that's what my certification letter shows. Anyone have this happen? Today, they wanted me to keep my head moved to left (like looking over my shoulder) during Rads. RO said she wanted to adjust me after imaging -- to protect my windpipe. I had noticed a sore throat the last couple of days, but it is super cold here. One day at a time with this, right? I just pray and keep my eyes closed during the procedure. I don't want to look for some strange reason. I tell you, I am more anxious than chemo. I always had someone with me during chemo, and besides Monday with DH coming along, I have been on my own. There's no reason I cannot do this by myself. I will be ready to get the first week behind me. That will feel like another accomplishment of sorts.

    We've got this!!

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  • HersheyKiss
    HersheyKiss Member Posts: 550
    edited January 2018

    Kim, my technicians have me look to the right (my left breast receives treatment). They told me that this position opens up the area around the collarbone and prevents any skin creases. If it also protects my windpipe, then that is a bonus!


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  • JenRuns
    JenRuns Member Posts: 350
    edited January 2018

    Kim,I wear a chin strap to keep my head turned .... now I know why :)

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited January 2018

    Smwusaf, I don’t know the name of he flowers I need to look it up. I usually take pictures while I walked, I am trying to enjoy my surroundings. I need to build up my energy so I can go back to weekend hiking. We have a lot of trails around I haven’t been hiking about a year now. Radiation gives me fatigue, just wonder how long would I get my energy back?


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  • CindyNY
    CindyNY Member Posts: 1,022
    edited January 2018

    I too have to look to the right, as left breast gets rads. I thought it was to keep jaw out of rads, but never asked. I stare at a smoke detector.

    Today was 15/16. Tomorrow is IT!

    For those of you doing 30+ rads, my hat is off to you. For those driving miles & miles, I tip my hat to you all too. When people say I've dealt with bc well, I tell them - there isn't really a choice. We all deal with it, drive those miles, commit to multiple treatments, anything to get cancer out of us. WARRIORS ALL!

    PS- Yeah, I'll probably cry tomorrow. ❤

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited January 2018

    Thank you ladies, I enjoy taking pictures and planned to do more.

    Jen, do you take enough protein a day? I honk DodgersGirl and other suggested 60-70 g a day will help our body to rebuild. She said she ate 3 eggs in the morning, beside breakfast I usually eat one and have my protein drink if I have appetite or else I drink my protein in the afternoon. I got fatigue around #15, I was good for the first 2-3 weeks.

    I actually open my eyes and count my zap. The regular whole breast machine zapped 10 times, during boost only 4 zaps. Then I tried to time how long the zap last. We shared in December thread 😂😂😂 also we named the song they play. Since I am doing boost it was quick, not enough time to listen.

    If you load up your lotion put some on your neck Kim, the red on my neck shown up on week 4 and my collarbone turned really red also. I don't have sore throat but I do notice when I swallow it is not as comfortable as before. I think it's from the radiation. I do 30 sessions, I don’t know about 33, how many boosts are you doing?

    Cindy .... Yay!!! That’s really fast for you.




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  • Rav2017
    Rav2017 Member Posts: 17
    edited January 2018

    i started rads on monday, have 21 treatments, which includes the boost, noticed tonight under my left breast which is where I am being treated, it has already started to turn a bit pink....is this normal already? I have been using aquaphor which they gave me when I started....any advice or help is welcome, a little worried that this has happened on day 3

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited January 2018

    Rav it is normal to see your skin turned pink, Aquaphor is a pretty rich cream I usually put lotion on about 4 times a day. You can read December thread some of us used different type of lotion during the day time.


    Also I followed the previous people I use green tea before lotion. I found this helps my skin.


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  • PVM
    PVM Member Posts: 136
    edited January 2018

    Paulette what beautiful flowers & uuggg so jelly that you have beautiful weather please send some of that up North as its very cold here lol. Woot Woot you are almost at the finish line so exciting.

    Yay CindyNY one more to go & your done woot woot super exciting. You ring that bell tomorrow with pride & wave bye bye to the techs & cry those happy tears as you made it!!!!!

    Jen not sure if you are taking Tamoxifen or any other pills but that may be why you are cranky but heck you are allowed to be as cranky as you want especially dealing with what your dealing with.

    Ladies you are all doing amazing so proud of you all, wising you all minimal SE & continued strength as you continue kicking the big C in the butt!!!!

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  • VL22
    VL22 Member Posts: 851
    edited January 2018

    I just had #3 today and my breast already feels weird and looks swollen. Great. I’m going to go through the December thread an take notes!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2018

    CindyNY, Celebrate - one more!! Woohoo! I don't know what I am staring at, except the inside of my eyelids. I take that short time to pray (although Margaritaville was on the radio pretty loudly today...ha) that God will protect my good cells and annihilate my bad ones.

    Rav, I thought my nipple was quite pink post treatment yesterday. To be honest, I didn't look today. I guess I will check it out when I change into my jammies tonight.

    Good to know that y'all are turning your heads as well. Why not until day 3 for me? I won't stress it, I guess. :) Interesting that it may not cause creases.


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  • JenRuns
    JenRuns Member Posts: 350
    edited January 2018

    PVM, thanks ;) fortunately the irritation doesn’t last long

    Paulette: I’ve been trying to lose some weight by eating healthy, so I’m taking in around 100 grams of protein a day. Eggs, cheese, chicken, etc. Today I ended ay 101 ;)

    VL22, I’m on day 3 too, and don’t see any pink, but my skin is feeling really prickly. I got some men’s cotton v-neck t shirts to put on instead of my bra, but it’s still bothersome. I’ll let the gals know tomorrow to see what they want to do. (My center doesn’t want me lotioning without them... they’ll give me stuff.)

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited January 2018

    Kim I don’t have to turn my head, they made up a mold for my head rest plus how to position my head. So I guess each machine is difference.



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  • PVM
    PVM Member Posts: 136
    edited January 2018

    Jen & other lovely ladies i ditched my bra's & wore comfortable cotton bralettes & found these to be very comfortable & help with the tender feeling on my skin while dealing with rads so thought i would share. I got racer-back ones that were perfect as the straps were thicker & did not hurt so much.

    Kim/Nav my nipple got super sensitive & pink/red as the rads progressed. It did not peel or has not peeled as of yet which im hoping it wont as my skin starts to heel from no more rads lol Nav everyone's skin is different & its normal to start getting a bit pink just keep applying the cream & keeping your skin moisturized & you shall be okay.

    VL22 hang in there hope the swelling goes down for you, maybe when you go in tomorrow ask the techs or RO to look at your breast. Mine did not get swollen so im no help but some of the other lovely ladies on this thread may be able to chime in & give you advise.

    Keep staying strong ladies :)

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  • JenRuns
    JenRuns Member Posts: 350
    edited January 2018

    good idea on the bralettes... I’m not used to being able to wear something simple like that! Pre-bmx I was a DD+ and the idea of going without a bra was insane! Now that I’m post-exchange, I have more options!!

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  • gigibee
    gigibee Member Posts: 192
    edited January 2018

    JenRuns I second bralettes and also have been living in Genie bras, I have three and they have been a mainstay for me during radiation. At night after I lube up with aquaphor I lose the bra and wear an old t shirt I am going to toss when this is behind me.

    here's a link, I am wearing in a size much larger than I would normally wear just because I don't want to feel constricted

    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Women-s-Genie-Bra-TM-3-Pack-of-Neutral-Colors/198386000?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=288&adid=22222222227040949065&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=100523243194&wl4=pla-241681921474&wl5=9021580&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=111840139&wl11=online&wl12=198386000&wl13=&veh=sem

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited January 2018

    I put away my bra for months, I have small breast so I wear tee shirt and a fannel shirt. Yes Teese and I compared our radiation outfit, not very stylish but doable. 😉😉

    VL22, I missed your post, my breast swollen also and I asked my RO and he told me is normal. Beside nipple will become very sensitive, actually that’s one of my problem area. Most people complained about nipple soared.



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  • JenRuns
    JenRuns Member Posts: 350
    edited January 2018

    thanks! Will check out Walmart tomorrow!

    And sorry to laugh, but finally something the bmx is doing good for me... no worry about nipple pain when you don’t have nipples!!

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited January 2018

    Jen, I said same thing, no nipple pain! Was you PS concerned about radiation to the implant? Mine said she wanted to wait for implant surgery until after rads

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  • JenRuns
    JenRuns Member Posts: 350
    edited January 2018

    Amy: he's curious to see what will happen. I was originally going to have surgery after rads, but I am doing proton therapy, which doesn't work with the expanders because of the metal port thing. So, three weeks after finishing chemo, I had the exchange surgery. Recovered 3 1/2 weeks and started rads.

    My PS is kinda hoping that protons result in less damage to implants. Theoretically, the beam stops at exactly the targeted spot, with no damage to surrounding tissue. We'll see!

    In truth, he was like, ehhh... if it doesn't work, we can try to fix it, or you can do the DIEP flap. Either way, not much different than the plan would have been post-radiation. It was worth it to be able to do protons.

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  • OCDAmy
    OCDAmy Member Posts: 873
    edited January 2018

    Jen, I wish I could have done that! I'm going to have to wait at least 3-4 months before I can have my implant surgery. I was worried about damage to the expander but it held up

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  • CindyNY
    CindyNY Member Posts: 1,022
    edited January 2018

    VL22- I'm very small breasted, 34A, and my breast swelled...it appeared "perky" in comparison to my right breast. One night breast pain woke me up, had me thinking what hurts, but once I realized it was my breast, I went back to sleep. It only happened once, but guessing it was around the time it "filled out." My RO & MO have stated its normal.

    I wasn't a bra wearer to begin with. I stated a while back that I did buy 4 front zip sports bras for use after lx. I use them now at the gym. Otherwise a light cotten spandex tank top under a fleece (its cold here!).

    I work out hard about 4-5 days a week. This week I've been tired. Took a nap yesterday for over an hour. Tonight I turned off everything an closed my eyes for about an hour. I don't feel fatigued, but if I'm tired I'm closing my eyes.

    We got this!

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  • smwusaf
    smwusaf Member Posts: 129
    edited January 2018

    I turn my head to the right as well. I want to watch but the lights are too bright, I put on a sleep mask.

    I was surprised that I was seeing pink early on too but was told that's normal, it's the tenderness that comes later. Today will be 10/20, feels good to be on the downhill slide. I get the tight swollen feeling every time but it usually goes down after a few hours.

    I like to work out 4-5 days a week too Cindy but I've decided to wait until I'm done now. The movement of my breast is becoming very irritating and I don't want to rub the skin more than I have to. I can't wait to get be to class next month. This whole BC thing has really thrown me off track and I've gained some weight and feel a bit weak. I know it's just temporary so I look forward to getting back into taking care of myself in a different way.

    I love reading all your posts at night on my phone but I just don't have the energy to get back on my computer till the morning. :)

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  • PauletteK
    PauletteK Member Posts: 2,205
    edited January 2018

    Good morning ladies, I took melatonin last night I slept well. Will take it easy the next few days save up my energy. My nurse friend called and reminded me this will be my last few days of radiation my body might be more tired.

    Ready for 28/30 today.


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  • CindyNY
    CindyNY Member Posts: 1,022
    edited January 2018

    Today was 16/16, the end! I posted all my adventure on the Dec 2017 site. The song that was playing was "Hallelujah" - so appropriate.

    Smwusaf- you'll get back to working out. You have muscle memory and will be back on track soon.

    PauletteK- I'm glad you got some good sleep. Nothing worse than lack of sleep to make us crazy. We have enough going on without adding to it.

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  • smwusaf
    smwusaf Member Posts: 129
    edited January 2018

    Yay! Congratulations Cindy. Will you be moving on to any drug therapy?

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  • VL22
    VL22 Member Posts: 851
    edited January 2018

    I need to vent. I was lined up to have 6 weeks of radiation. After chemo I spoke with the RO and she offered me 4 weeks with boosts during those weeks - a common way to do it in Canada. We had this long talk, I was thrilled. I looked at my online schedule today and saw six weeks. Today was day #4. I mentioned this to the tech and she got me in to see the PA. After evaluating mapping, X-rays blah, blah the RO said 6 weeks would be better so - 6 weeks. No phone call, no heads up - informing me was overlooked. What did I do ? Burst out in tears! I felt stupid, enraged, sad and silly all at once .

    Now I feel better - sharing does that for me

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  • smwusaf
    smwusaf Member Posts: 129
    edited January 2018

    I'm so sorry VL22. It definitely helps to vent here!

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