anyone starting radiation in September

Hi Kim, It's me again. I am still trying to get used to the new boards. I missed your recent message here. Silly me! Your doing great. That is what I wanted to read. Take care.

God Bless,

Kaloni

Hi Oscar40, I did not see a thread up for you, so I will just say it here. I did lose my left breast as well. I do understand how difficult it is looking at yourself. It will pass. Radiation therapy, I do not know much about. I did not have rads. I only know that after surgery you have to be careful with your scar tissue. It is known that radiation can kill the skin tissue. I know sometimes it can make you feel tired.

Try not to cry. You need to stay positive minded about this. You will be fine.

God Bless,

Kaloni

Oscar40, hang in there these scars are not too attractive and every time I see cleavage on someone else I feel a pang (not that I ever had any anyway!) I did alot of crying in the beginning, sometimes you have to.  I have done some more in between.  I have ranted about the rads.  I figure we will get thru it one day, one week at a time. I am supposed to start in a couple weeks.

Joanne 

 This is looking up at the rads machine.

 This is the rads machine.

Oscar, if your rads is like mine, you'll first get a PET/CT. That machine looks like this: You'll have to drink some stuff, and sit for ~30 minutes, and then lie there on the blue thing that's been molded to your body. You'll have to lie still for ~30 minutes.

they'll do a simulation at one point, and give you a few binky little dots of tattoos so they can line up the radiation beams correctly.

You'll go in every day M-F at the same time. It'll take about 30 minutes on average. You'll have to strip to the waist and put on a hospital gown, and then lie down on the blue molded thingy, with yr chin turned away from the rads. you'll have to lie still about 15 minutes. i usually try to doze or pray, or think about what i need to do that day.

first week, i didn't see any changes in my skin.

2nd week, a little pink.

3rd week, red.

4th week, redder, with a little sore spot under my breast.

if you can imagine the beams as might cancer-fighting rays, it helps.

Playwriter, thanks for sharing the pics! My machine - learned now that it is called a Linear Accelorator looks just the same. Congrats on only 9 more to go. Woo hooo!!  I just finished Rx 4 so I have a ways to go. Whew.

My Rx only takes 1-3 minutes. Whew, it would be hard to have to be there for 30 min., Playwriter. I suppose it depends on the kind of cancer, etc.   

Playwriter, great pics and very helpful for newbies!! My txs don't take any more than 15 mins. total from changing to being done.. I never have to wait long which is great!!

Have been wearing a new sticker (fake tattoo) for rads each day and the techs are enjoying them. I don't want just to be another face... it helps as they remember my name. I am also bringing them a treat after each wk. not only to thank them but it marks a countdown for me...!!

Oscar, rads are totally nothing compared to chemo. You will stop crying.. you are a survivor like us all!! As for the scar, I am sorry that you are dealing with this...Big hugs coming your way!!

ok guys, do your techs change frequently?? I have diff. ones almost every day!! Wish that was more constant...

Started Tamoxifen today; we'll see what new experience or SE that brings. I have to listen to my tape that I made when I first met with the onc. about how much it reduces recurrence. What were you guys told?? I hate the idea of being a pill popper when I never took anything prior to this...except if I had a hangover...hee hee!!

 
Cath

i never thot about a fake tattoo! that's a great idea. my 7 YO got one the other day that said "hottie" and i wouldn't let her put it on. i may have to abscond with it...

my techs are the same every day.

i had my first boost today. 7 more tx to go!

Cath, it is still in the 90sF here. we're wearing shorts and short sleeves. the mornings are cooler, but it's still hot for most of the day.

5 more tx to go!

Hi Kim, I am just checking on you to see how your coming along. I am sure you are doing great. Let me know what your progress is. My prayers are with you. Have a great weekend!

God Bless,

Kaloni

Well, 4 down 24 to go.  I finally got started with my rads.  I have a question for you ladies.  I got my first tx on Tuesday and by Weds afternoon, I was starting to feel like crap.  I have had nausea and just kind of feel icky.  Not like the flu, more like a hangover.  My forearms also start to itch sometimes just like my head did right before my hair started falling out.  The rad onc's office said that it couldn't be the radiation.  They said maybe I got a virus or something or maybe I was just having anxiety over the treatment.  (I was just a little offended by that.  I have been through enough that I don't think anxiety over rads is an issue.)  Have any of you experienced nausea?  How about the itchiness?  It doesn't itch all the time and it isn't anywhere near where they are treating.  Am I going crazy?  Could it be a reaction to the rads.  I know it started after one treatment but I am not taking any other drugs and nothing else changed except for that.  Maybe I do need some antipsychotic meds!

Patti

Patti,

I think I just finished 14 of 33 (they changed it from 32 to 33, why? I forgot to ask why, because a different doctor talked to me after radiation, that threw me for a loop, they don't usually talk to me after radiation)....

I seem the same although I really like having naps when I can sneak them in...

I talked to myself all the way home about going to rototill when I got home but half way home the 30 minute drive yesterday I was ready for nap. Took 30 minute nap and THEN went out and rototilled as long as I could.

I played volleyball for the first time Monday and Wednesday nights and Thursday I woke up very sore. So I do not know, but I suppose playing (not since March when I had surgery). did that?

After getting hit really hard on my "bad" arm, I realized that might not be a good idea (before I thought the most worry was the port getting hit)...

I asked lymphedema clinic person and she suggested using compression sleeve I was going to get before I fly anywhere...for volleyball.

Sigh. I never could hit ball well with long sleeves so I do not think that will work but if it keeps me playing vball I will try it.

Also, my thighs are heavy from chemo I think...neuropathy (I didnt' always take my L-Glutamine like you are supposed to, 3 tsp. a day spread out)...

when I work at the computer for any length of time, I feel like 100 years old when I try to get out of the chair. This is new!

Kate

tx = treatment

dx = diagnosis

rx = prescription and rads treatment, i think. i still use "tx" for rads.

yay for thanksgiving! hope it was fun!

patti, my side effects consist of fatigue, which has gotten progressively worse the more tx i've had. also, my skin hurts and has started to peel.

my port scar itches a lot. i don't know if that's from the rads, or just cuz it's healing or whatever.

hey, helen, just realized i never introduced myself. i'm 45, with 2 DDs, one 6 YO and one 7 YO. married 10 years, a stay-at-home mom, but i may substitute teach in the future. my dream is to write mystery novels (that get published and sell), so i can work at home and still be here when my kids are home, and take the summers off, etc. 2ndary dream is to write and direct plays for a church, and it's looking like that one may come to fruition, as i am considering changing churches, and the one i visited 2 weeks ago is looking for a drama person....

ducky, i had a lumpectomy. my cancer was 2 cm. i was on TAC x 6. yes, the boost is a shallow one only to the incision, lasts ~ 5 minutes total. is Pilates hard to do? i have never tried it, but once i recover from my rads fatigue, i'm hitting the gym! i want there to be less of me to love.... 

Playwriter, thanks for the intro. It's nice to know more about with whom I am conversing. Great that you are an aspiring writer, I am one myself. I am feeling led to tell my story - about how God has redeemed and healed me over the years. I went to Mt Hermon Christian Writers Conference here in CA and learned a lot. I am taking a writing class right now, online. I will be working on a short novel and have to turn it in for my writing class in the next couple of months, hopefully.

Great that you want to use your skills in church and have found one with a drama team. Awesome!! I hope that works out for you.

Hey, when is your last day of Rads? We need to have a party here!

Cath are you done yet? If not when? We need to have a party for you as well.

Today was Tx 12 for me. Almost half way. Whew!! Today I bought some Chai Tea and 1/2 and 1/2 at Costco and I'm going to make my own Chai Lattes to sip on my drive to the Rads. I need a perk and don't want to leave early to stop at Starbucks.

Ahh Tim Hortons, eh? I think we stopped there when I was visiting a friend in Ontario. There are no Tim Hortons west of the Mississippi in the US. I love Starbucks but they are overpriced so I don't go there a lot.

Ahh so you are just a day ahead of me, I thought you were further along for some reason. Anyway it is nice to have you on the journey.

Looking forward to hearing from you, Playwriter.