JUNE 2018 starting RADIATION

Chelsea - that does sound like fatigue, sorry you’re going through it! I am walking every day (at least 6 days a week), but I am trying to not overdo it

Kelli, the only skin change I've seen so far is a bit of redness, like a mild sunburn, no pain—and I confess, I have not followed instructions very well. I wore tight sportsbras all weekend and am inconsistent with Aquaphor. Anyway, I saw that change around number 7, I think, and it hasn't gotten obviously redder since then (I just did 13 this morning). See how this week goes...

And yesterday I stayed awake all day, no problem, so I think my crazy sleeping on Saturday may have cleared the decks! I'm lucky to have been able to do that. I'm going to try a little harder to get to bed on time this week!

I hate aquaphor to but my RO recommended CeraVe so I'm using that along with Aloe. It's not so greasy but still really heavy/sticky feeling. No my favorite when its hot out! Right now I'm just a light pink and maybe not even all over just in spots. I'll hit 13 at the end of this week so maybe it will just hold steady for a while or just not be noticeably worse. I was kind of hoping it would heal a little over the weekend but its still here :-/ I did move my work from home days to Thursday and Friday this week just in case the fatigue really set in or the skin was really irritated. Fingers crossed!

I swear I can feel a warm feeling sometimes as well, I thought I was crazy🙄 I also have pain under the arm, my left arm is stiff, trying to do lots of stretching exercises, I think I can feel cording but you know how everything seems worse at home.

Today I am 25% done and that makes it seem like so much less than 15 more! I also wear a soft stretchy sports bra, to me it feels good to wear it, so far anyway.

Hugs to all

I have 19 down and 14 to go. Had to talk the doctor into letting me double up one day so I can get done a day early. Getting pretty pink....getting a little worried knowing i still have 3 more weeks.

I don't know that I feel heat during but maybe feel the blood rushing to the area? I equate it with an injury so the blood would rush in just like if you had bumped it? At least that's how my brain is wrapping around it :-). I did pay attention yesterday and the "emotional/hormonal" feeling right after was pretty mild. I'll be curious if it gets stronger each day through the week. I'm craving sugar though so who knows maybe it really was just PMS

GreenEyes - I wanted to double up to! They are willing to do it but really wanted to see how my skin was reacting first.

nonomimi5 - Check in again next week! I am hoping you are starting to heal quickly by that point! I finish my boosts a week before we head out on a cruise and I've been so worried about how I'm going to feel! Hiking a glacier when you don't even want to wear a bra is going to be tough!

MAC58 - tomorrow I will be past the halfway mark! I agree it sounds so much better! I've been marking mine each day a 1/7, 1/3 etc. as it just feels like I'm making more progress that way... today will make it 47% complete :-)

All, I am so downtoday. In pain and fatigued and sad and stressed. The fatigue isn't making me tired enough today to make the stress go away today. Sorry I just needed to vent

Puzzlewoman, vent away! Agree with Kelli to take something for the pain, and do whatever need be to get through the next little bit. Ice packs, ice cream, watch puppy videos, punch a pillow, rant at us (or the full on Rant thread). Whatever it takes, one minute at a time.

Thank you all for letting me vent! I needed it. I saw the dr today (saw him every Tuesday), and he recommended also taking some aleve every day for the next few weeks as it should help. I never did get another nurse. I think the lady last week was actually the rad tech manager, and the one today was a temp from another location. She also recommended udderly smooth cream. I tried it and so far so good. Today they needed to do new scans for the boosts and when they were done I thought they were ready for the radiation but then I was left there so long with nothing happening I had an anxiety attack, not fun. Apparently they had to get the dr to sign off the scans before they could start but I didn't know and it seemed like forever. I felt so stupid!

I am going out for a walk now, hopefully no more rain today!

Patti - I hope all goes well for you and that your prep helps too!

I meant to mention, I had my weekly check-in with the RO today and had her show me my radiation plans. It's pretty interesting, and definitely made me feel a bit better about the whole thing. She'd balked a bit the first time I asked, but (maybe because I'm closer to the end now?) she was happy to explain them today and show the difference between the beam for the boost and the way the whole breast radiation is designed to miss my heart and lungs. She also explained why I was having color on my upper chest and the back of my armpit (respectively, because when you're prone [as I am], the upper bust falls away from the body more than you'd think and the other because that's how beam avoids the heart). I was glad I asked!

And just because I think it's funny—anyone else have, I don't know what to call them...appointment politics at their facility? Maybe it's because I'm in the early morning slot, and we've all been given the ok to just get changed and wait, but then there's the attempts to get in before the person scheduled before you! It's pretty weird when I actually write it down, but yep, there it is....

Chelsea - mine are in the afternoon as well so I haven't had to deal with that either but I could see it! People trying to get in and out as fast as possible! The poor woman ahead of me is struggling. I can see that she is moving slower each day and her daughter brings her. I am pretty sure she went through chemo and she is older(well everyone in there is older by at least 10+ years!) I overheard her daughter rearranging things one afternoon on the phone saying her mom wasn't feeling well. Anyway my appts are at 1:20 but they are usually a good 10 minutes late. Today we meet with RO and I know I'll have to wait an extra 20-30 minutes for her to finish there to. I have to assume she has trouble getting on and off the table and just getting setup plus just lots of issues going on with her skin. I've actually passed them up walking back to my car in the parking lot after my treatment. Poor thing! I'm happy to catch up on my emails and let her take her time!

Mwaucker - the fatigue hit me yesterday! I was tired before but I think it was the mental/emotional piece of it. Just all that stress of starting the treatment finally caught up to me as I've had energy lately. Yesterday though was like hitting a wall. I could barely stop yawning or focus on anything. Felt like my head was under water or maybe I took to much cold meds KWIM? I finally got up and walked for a mile at work and that cleared my head enough to get through the rest of the day. Kind of like the wall slowly raising up as I walked, so weird feeling! Since I'm using my lunch for treatments I technically shouldn't be doing that but if it keeps me from having to go home and sleep they can give me an extra 20 minutes!

Patty CBS oil, a friend and I were talking about it as a treatment for her husband who has pancreatic cancer. She's heard it works wonders! Good luck with the treatments! I hope that prep really helps!

Puzzlewoman - that would have bothered me to having been left there to wait like that! They should have explained what they were doing! You are already so vulnerable just laying there but to not know what's happening like that is inexcusable!

I'm more than halfway today! I've completed more than I have left! What a great feeling!!!

Puzzlewoman - 4 more! Woot! How is the skin holding up? Genetic counseling I did before surgery. I'm not sure it gave me much as I did an extra panel for other types of cancers since its all throughout my family history. I didn't have a single marker for anything. Seems crazy considering my mom was one of 10 and every single one of them had colon cancer!

Has anyone looked into green tea to help prevent/heal the skin burns? I saw a couple of things on this site and then did a little research as well and it sounds fairly promising! Wondering if its worth giving a try!

Pattimills2017 - I have read so many differing views on the antioxidants! I see here that some doctors say not to even drink the green tea but mine says I can eat and drink anything I want just don't take a blast of the supplements AC&E. He even said a daily multivitamin was fine. The article I read today was actually a study for breast cancer radiation treatment so it sounds like they are starting to really look at it.

MAC - yes we leave a week after I finish up for Alaska! Can't wait to just get away and enjoy my family! We've taken two other cruises but both when our kids were really small. That was tough with little ones but we think it will be so much more fun now that they are older! Can't wait to go hiking and see some glaciers!

Puzzlewoman - hope the green tea helps!

I met with the RO today and he said based on where I am at right now he doesn't think it will get much worse for me. Maybe just a little bit brighter red but no real issues. I'm really hoping he's not just saying that to ease my fears! They actually took new scans today to get me ready for my boosts starting late next week. Seems like its still a long way away but felt good to know we are getting there!