Thanks ladies!! I had my dry run and it was so easy...and I don't have to hold my breath!! Yay,so glad of that. Starting Monday June sisters

Traildweller and Mac - good luck with your new journey. It is a pain to stop by the rad everyday out of your busy schedule. But it will be fine. I have 3 more next week and I am done. Everyone thinks it's silly but I have been listening to an audiobook on my iphone with a small speaker attached. The whole process takes only 10-15 minutes, but I turn it on as soon as I walk in and look forward to listening to the book everyday. Small pleasures! Good luck and have a wonderful weekend!

I'm one of the lucky ones in that my insurance has a low deductible so most of mine has been covered and we will pay no more than $3000 out of pocket for everything. They did have me meet with a social worker just to say hello and she let me know that there is help out there for middle incomes! She said unfortunately we are usually hit the hardest and most do not know to ask

Hi everyone,

I am new here. I was diagnosed as BC recently (Stage1, 1 <cm, IDC, ER-/PR-, HER2-), and will have lumpectomy next week. I am looking for a radiation oncologist. Can anyone recommend me a good radiation oncologist in NYC ? Thanks !

Traildweller- thanks for the tip about the Q-Tip and oil to get rid of the surgical glue. I am five weeks out from surgery and nothing seemed to be coming off until last Wednesday, and I credit the cream that I was putting on after rads for making it flake. I went ahead and bought some avocado oil and started massaging it on both scars and the glue started to come off. Where I have feeling I scratched it a little to get it to come off and where I have no sensation I used the Q-Tip and that worked great. Once I started I couldn't stop until it all came off and boy does it look sooooo much better. It also forced me to get to know my scars a little more intimately and feel what is really going on. I had to miss one appointment last week because the machine broke! So far I've had five treatments and no redness anywhere, I still do feel pretty tight on my right side after treatment. My Radiology tech told me the 5-6 hours after treatment is when my body will try to start repairing itself, and I that really resonated with me as that falls right around 2pm and I realized that is when I start to feel pretty tired and also start craving snacks!

Hi Puzzlewoman ,

Thank you very much for your response. I didn't get a referral from any of my doctors. I may get from my surgeon, but would like do research in advance. Also, I may have second opinion on different institution. Anyone have radiation oncologist at NYU or MSK recommended ? Thanks !

Xcao - I think this is the link.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/47/topics...

I am also curious about 21 treatments, which is what I have... 16 whole breast treatments and 5 boosts. I never ended up having any stickers. I have 3 tattoos. The rad techs measure and draw three new sharpie marks each time. Getting set up on the table only takes a couple of minutes, and the treatment time itself is probably about 5 minutes.

I have gone through the first 16 treatments. I just have the boosts left next week. I am getting pretty red/burnt, but have been told that since they will no longer be radiating the whole breast that the other areas will start to heal. I am concerned about how much worse the burn will get during the boosts. When I started, my RO only wanted me to use Aloe vera. She said that she wanted to see my skin getting red, as that would tell her that the radiation was working. She finally told me to start using aquaphor, but if doesn't seem to do anything for me. My armpit area is painful. Yesterday I had my pharmacist to recommend something that I could buy over the counter that would help. He asked if I had been prescribed Silvadene. I said, no. He was shocked and surprised by that, and said that it is the best thing for HEALING burns, that the other lotions, etc. are just for soothing things. He said that in his opinion that Silvadene should be sold over the counter. He told me to call the clinic's after hours # to get them to phone in a prescription for it. I immediately went home and called. I was told that they do not do prescriptions unless it is an emergency. I said that it wasn't an emergency, but my pharmacy is closed on Sunday, and I would like to have some relief over the weekend. The person on the phone said that they would leave a message for the person in the morning - but of course I never got a call back. So, I am just trying to hold my arm away from the side of my body to reduce any further irritation.

Last week (the third week) was hard for me. The burns were getting worse, and I started to feel tightness between my two breast, which hurt when I took deep breaths. I mentioned this to one of the nurses. She said that it was too early in my treatment to be having such symptoms!?! I told her that I only had 1 week left. She asked if I was getting enough sleep. I said no. She claimed that that was most likely the cause of my problems. My right shoulder, and into my neck has gotten stiff. I mentioned this to one of the rad tech, and they said that was likely from having to put my arms over my head. Umm, thanks... I figured that one out myself. I wasn't given a way to hold my arm differently or anything.

Even with just one week to go my employer is fighting me about scheduling.

I have been doing most of my treatments on my lunch break, which takes a whole hour, what with driving there, getting the treatment and returning to work.

Does anyone else feel like heat is bothering them more? Or is it just excessively hot weather

Kelligirl5 - I've had to get stickers replaced about once a week. The only place I can exercise during the day (it's hot here in GA) is the pool, and while I'm careful and pat dry, they still fall off. My radiation techs don't seem to find it a problem to replace a missing one or a grungy one. I hope you can get yours to help you.

Paula

I asked about swimming when they did my dry run and they said not a problem, just keep the sun away from the radiated area. Also, rinse off the chlorine asap since it drys skin. I was supposed to start today but the ac broke in the center and they couldn't use the machine today. So I get to wait another day

HI everyone,

I'm done with #2 today and I'll need a total of 15. The session was breezy, register, get changed, lie down, 3minutes and it's done. The parking card was showing a total of 35minutes.

We can do this!

9 of 20 done. Team sees a little pink, I can barely see it. Got to stay longer today for another scan for my boost—my RO decided to test whether lying on my back would work better for that and she seems to be quite pleased with it. I'm not as fond of it, the arm rest isn't too comfortable and it's a lot easier to zone out lying on my stomach than lying on my back with my boob hanging out, but it's 5 sessions, I think I can handle it! And I got two new stickers to go with. RO seems surprised the stickers have held up so well (she *really* prefers tattoos), she seems to think I've been especially careful but honestly, it's summer in NYC, it's steamy, and I've been running every day—these suckers are well stuck.

I'm interested in the swimming—I was thinking I'd love to get to the pool in this heat but thought it would be a no go with the chlorine. I'm going to ask tomorrow, it's not listed on my yes/no page.

Well I asked about swimming this afternoon, they said it was fine BUT I have sensitive skin so they said they would prefer I limit it just in case. If I really want to yes, I can since its my own pool and not a public pool where there could be more germs I guess? but with the chlorine they said it could irritate my skin more. I'm just getting in waist deep and not worrying about it! I love lounging in the pool on the weekends! It's one of those small joys I hate to miss! They did say no lakes, streams, oceans etc.

I've been lurking til now. Thanks for all the good information.

Simulation yesterday, very easy and smooth. Start next Monday, June 25th, with 30 sessions, which feels daunting, especially since the RO office is 1.25 hrs from my house. But I put the dates/ times on my Meal Train yesterday, and it's already almost filled up. My office gives all the lotions I will need: aloe is #1 with Aquaphor #2; Silvadene if it comes to that.

Perjeta/ herceptin infusion yesterday as well, but no pre-meds (steroids) since there was NO CHEMO. Woo-hoo.

And I was barely a 36-B before all this. Now I have one measly little 36-A who feels a bit lonely, but it's impossible to tell there's only one of her in there. I mostly wear little cotton tank tops (like "wife-beaters," but I hate that term), and a soft wool jog bra for athletic endeavors. Can't help you with advice for radiation bras, but the cotton is very comfy.