Anyone start rads in October?

Good Morning Ladies

I'm ready for another glow week. My skin feels like it is covered in sand. Tiny dried blisters. Not terrably itchy, unless I use the Aquafor. That softens my skin, but makes the itchiness worse. Brenda, I'm with you, it holds in the heat. I think it also keeps air from the skin, maybe not such a good thing.

Spent several days feeling dizzy. Not sure why, doubt it is a side effect of rads.

Felt OK otherwise, just discomboobalated.....

See the rad onc on Tues. Will mention it, but I doubt she will say it's somehow connected.

Have a great Rad October week everyone, we are getting closer to the end...

Ferretmom,

I don't know where you live, but here in Ky. our weather changed rapidly and you are describing exactly how I felt when I came down with sinus infection 2 weeks ago.  Dizzy and discomboobulated.  Are you prone to sinus problems?

And after a weekend of aquafor my skin is so healed----compared to the condition it was in Friday.  I just won't put it on til evening anymore.  Itchies---go pick up Cort Aid.  I've been itching for 2 weeks and the Cort-Aid has handled it nicely so far, and then aquafor over the top of the Cort-Aid.  Itchies solved and bad boob looks like it got no treatments atall last week.  Maybe I just had a lucky weekend?

Brenda

Hi all, I've just been plugging away on life - rads, job, social, exercise, etc.  Among other things we celebrated friends' 50th bday, 60th bday, tree planting ceremony for a friend's passing and then there are those Red Sox.  It was all very positive.

FerretMom, be sure to drink lots of fluid.  Depending on your body's caloric needs, be sure some of those fluids have calories, at least that's how my med. onc. put it.  Drink gatorade, V-8 juice, whatever your pleasure along with water.  Goes a long way to manage the dizziness.

I'm done with 15/33 treatments.  So far, so good with me.  Using the Jean's Cream, mostly.  My skin is a bit pink but otherwise fine.

I'm doing T-day.  This time will be different than most.  I'll finish my rads on Wednesday.  Then we'll get into a hopefully already packed car to drive 6 hours to my dad's north of Syracuse in NY.  I'm bringing the entire T-day dinner makings including the pots, pans, ingredients for dinner.  He's 79 and looking forward to it.  I'll then prepare T-day dinner on Thursday while my dad stands over my shoulder to make sure I'm doing it right.  I'm only 52 so I'm still learning.  :-)

Layne, I hope the cortaid is working.  

Debbie 

Hi everyone,

I was just chopping off the ends of some brussel sprouts and hit myself in what used to be a boob! Ouch - now I know they must be doing something there ! LOL!

Layne and Debbie - you sure have high energy. I think I will prob. end up doing t-day since my kids (19 and 16) want to stay home. My mom, who is 82, offered, but I feel guilty making her do it.  I think too she thinks so long as I can do "normal" things - I can't be too sick.  She went thru this bc  17 yrs ago and fortunately is doing well.  

Joanne 

Just wanted to take a moment to check to see how you ladies are doing...I know some of you are almost done and other have a few more to go....

I mostly wanted to give you all a huge (gentle) hug and a pat on the back for supporting each other they way you have and for being such troopers throughout all you have had to go through...

Im proud of you and you all should be proud of yourselves!!!!!!!

Great job ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs

Jule

Mornin' GloFriends,

Helen, glow on!  Now you've got to lead us thru boosts.  Tell us what happens and how you feel, day by day!  Maintaining your energy level gives us strength to keep on!  And ashaby is right behind you!

Debbie, my energy level is fine with 16 down and 17 to go---half way thru after today.  Yippee!  The early tired's were definitely caused by the sinus infection.  But I still have a bit of the dizziness and will ask the rad doc about it today, but rad doc, unlike technicians doesn't speak english so good--waste of both our time in my opinion.  What about you ferretmom?

I've noticed that energy lessens as the week goes by and I'm just hoping to get past Thurs. nite this week, as I have a meeting with the Mayor and I really hope the headlights don't pop on at some inopportune moment--- 

Brenda 

Thanks, Bomber. By the way, that's my cat's name!! I have 7 more zaps to go and have a tender breast. Some prescription creme helps.Feeling a bit tired, but not too tired to row on the river.



Ashaby

Evenin' GloFriends

I got a surprise when I went to treatment today.  With 16 of 28 regulars down, and 12 plus 5 boosts to go, they drew all around my scar, and did the set-up for boosts.  It seems they make some sort of mold in the shape of the scar to use for targeting the boost area.

Then I did the weekly meeting with the Dr. and glory be, had one I could understand this time.  And since I'd developed a new separate area of itchy rash overnight, the Dr. decreed that, since the boost area has no itching nor rash, they are going to begin my boosts on Thursday, assuming they are able to build my mold by then, in order to give my skin time to heal.  Dr. was quite emphatic in reassuring me that doing this out of sequence would not lessen the overall effectiveness of my therapy.

Boy was I surprised.  The first question I will have tomorrow for them is whether or not boosts are going to bring on the fatigue sooner?  So as it turns out Helen, you and I will be doing boosts together!

Brenda

Debbie  - I missed a few post after your birthday!! Looks like everyone is going strong...

Linda

I started my rads October 17th - and my plan includes 33 sessions.....so 10 down and 23 to go.  I have a bit of a dilemma...I really want to travel for Thanksgiving...my family was planning a trip and I rarely get to spend holidays with them since I'm in LA and they're in Arkansas.  Initially my doctor said a couple of days off would be ok...well today I was discouraged about taking the time. They say play it by ear..I may need the break due to skin problems...but if not I should only take a day or so.   I'm really bummed....because I need the family time...but realize the importance of the treatment...any suggestions?

Sandra

Hi everyone,

# 11 down so I think I am officially 1/3 done.  Hoorah!  The rad onc stood us up today - away at some mtg. so I don't get to see one til Thurs or Fri.

Hope all you glowing women are doing well.

Joanne 

Hello ladies,

Sounds like progress all around.  I am now half way like Brenda.  Tx# 18 today. Yesterday, I was handed my appointment card for the boost 'fitting' next Tuesday.  So far I feel pretty good.  Skin redness but no breaks in the skin.  A bit of rib soreness but I have to poke to feel it.  Doesn't really jump out.  I do have a bit of lymphedema from the chemo.  I'm supposed to start lymphedema therapy the Monday following my last rad as long as my skin behaves.  Otherwise, they'll want me to wait for it to heal before I start.  Anyone else lined up to address their lymphedema? 

Sandra, I'd pursue the time off for family with your oncs. I don't have first hand experience to say but maybe you can pose the question as a separate thread on this rad board.

Helen, so is this mold device created specially for you?  Do you get to keep it after?  I collected all the molds for when I got caps/crowns.  I could include my boob mold in the line up.  That'll be a conversation piece.  You could use it as a serving dish at your party.  :-)

Oh, and another thing Helen, how lucky are you to be living in CA where you can go to Marie Callendars to fill your pie shells and get fresh strawberries?  If Costco doesn't have it, I can't get it.   I love the sound of your party plans.

Debbie 

Hi Joanne,  I didn't realize some don't get boosts.  I guess I've read reference to them on the rad boards often enough to assume they are a given.  It'll be interesting to see what others have to say.

Lymphedema is swelling, usually in the arms or legs, that occurs as a result of  an impaired lymphatic system.  For those of us with BC it is from the removal of lymph nodes with the sentinel node biopsy but more so with the axillary node dissection.  If the lymphatic system has been impaired, the lymph fluid can back up and swelling occurs.  It is an accumulation of tissue proteins, edema and chronic inflammation within an extremity.

I was doing okay until the last month of chemo.  I think the edema from the taxotere that the steroids were to help abate may have contributed.  Radiation can also contribute to it.

Some folks get truncal swelling as well as in the hands and arms.   The Lymphedema board here on bc.org has been a real help. Let me know if you want more information.

Debbie 

Mornin' GloFriends,

Debbie, although I have not seen the boost mold, my visualization from the set-up routine, tells me that it will be some sort of plate that will go over the machine, made of a material which is impervious to rad rays, with a cut-out in the shape of the boost area, to only allow the rays to come thru the cut-out. 

My set-up was done after a tx and only took maybe 10 minutes extra time.  Basically, the doc drew abt a 3/4 in. circle around my scar and this defined the mold outline.  They decided the setting for the machine and back to work I went, just with new markings.  When I went to tx yesterday, they weren't sure they'd have the mold ready in time for today.  Curiously enough my scar area remains pale, while the rest of bad boob is blazing with redness and itchy rash. so I really looking forward to boosts to give me time to heal.  Just hoping, I'm not looking forward to something that will be worse and I just don't know it yet!

Helen has me thinking about what nice thing I might be able to do for my co-workers--to celebrate.  They are the ones coping with my abrupt comings and goings during the day and my "air fleas"---kinda like playing air guitar itching.......

Brenda