I had the simulation today. Took 30 minutes from in the parking lot to out.  I left the place with green magic marker all over my right side - they said it would come off in the shower.  All I hoped was that I wouldn't get in an accident on my way to/from work...never mind clean undies - try explaining green markers. Sheesh.

Rad Onc called this afternoon. He took my case back to the tumor board since I've had a 2nd opinion & decided on rads since my last presentation. The other rad onc recommended a mammo, so off I go on Friday. He also wants me to start on a Monday, so I get a slight reprieve. Bad side is that I'll be going through 12/28.

One of the tattoo spots hurts like the dickens.

They told me no hot tub above my waist. Bummer.

Hello all, just got back from # 8 of 28.....whoo hoo!!! 20 more to go!

Had a visit with the doc and nurse. They said not to put anything on my skin unless I'm having a problem (just a little pink right now) and then to let them know and they'll give me what they want me to put on it. He also said that it will probably be another week or so before any skin problems would happen.

Hope you're all well!

Bonnie

Kaye- my brain is full.  In the PNW we go in feet-first as well.  No full-body soaks for me

My sister said the green lines sounded like some freaky sorority initiation where they outline your fat with permanent marker. I can't say that I like this initiation any better!

This mold stuff - I didn't have any molding. Maybe because they use lasers to mark the field?  There is a holder for my arm to get it out of the way, the other hand goes under my hip, and they were taking measurements presumably so I would be lined up exactly the same way each time. Another question to ask them.  Dag nab it, don't they know they're supposed to do it like EVERYONE else??

I'm starting to count the days til I'll go on medical leave. Whether I have to or not, I'm going out on Dec 3 at the latest.  Anyone else working through this?

onwards and upwards.

Connie, I have heard of others using the mold. I have to hold both arms over my head. There is a place to put my elbows and another for my wrists. Every one in the chats has suggested using the aloe or cream BEFORE getting red. I am doing so since I was very red and irritated when I began rads. I am getting a little redder and the area affected is growing.

Ruth, I am still swimming. It is the only exercise I can do. My internist said it will help with so many things including rads. I don't have to worry about heat because our pool isn;t all that warm.

Eight down and 27 to go, but who is counting.

take care all

Steffi

Hi All,

Had my first rad yesterday, and I have the funny mold thing too.  The worse part of the experience was holding my arm over my head, it did get a little sore but they said todays treatment would not take as long.  I was told to use something called Biafine, anyone else use this?  Good luck to all and hope everyone enjoys their weekend.

Pat

Terry, I wonder if I will ever have PMS again...  I don't know and no one else knows either if I will go back to pre-chemo induced menopause or not. I was regular as the day is long before all this.

I don't call my boob bad boob either, I figure it was not it's fault and I don't want it to feel bad. I call it the broken boob. 

I have fuzz all over my head , and can feel hairs coming in on my legs too.   So I guess if you want one, you have to take all of it.  Funny though, the hair on my legs is a lot more prickly, not soft and fuzzy. 

I made a dentist appointment for Monday, I now have 2 teeth that are not looking or feeling well. They were fine pre-chemo but I don't know if there is a connection or not.

Dink - the spot where I got the lower tattoo hurt like the dickens for 2 days. After that, there is no way I'll ever get a real tattoo anywhere on my body!

Welcome, Brenda. Congrats on finishing taxol.

I was supposed to get a pre-rad mammogram today, but the machines went down. They rescheduled me for Tuesday, but the rad onc must carry some weight because it's now on Monday morning. That is going to be one heck of a long day.  Somehow I have to get my 2 girls to their physicals in the afternoon as well.  Not going into work is starting to look really good.

take care

Pam I too, would like to know how they figure out how many treatments since i am one with 35. MY med onc said 25 and that is what i was expecting. When I first met the rad onc he said 35. i protested and he repeated 35 and handed me a paper that said all the CT and measuring would determine my treatment. I just laugh now because I think he does is arbitrarily because he said 35 before any measurements.

Steffi

Hi All,

This last Wed I met with my Rad and they did the set up with the tattoos and everything.  I had a little bit of a reaction from those in that I was red and a little swollen around where the dye was.  I found that out because I had to go for a cat scan the next day since its my left breast.  The tech said to use some neosporin for a couple of days and that helped it.

I have something else scheduled for this next fri that is going to last an hour.  They did the pictures and alot of stuff with the set up so I dont understand what this 1 hr appt is for.  After that, on the 19th I go for the dry run, then I actually begin the 26th, cause they wanted to wait till after Thanksgiving since they too will be closed that day after.  That works out nice for me.  So, I will have to be part Dec Rads too.  I end up kind of mid Jan.  I have it set up to that I will go in at 7:30 a m  before work-ughhh.  Maybe that will work out for me though if I start getting fatigued mid span.  At least I wont have to go to work first then go back.  And, I will know early enough how I feel.  The Dr will see me every Tuesday to see how Im reacting and side effects.

Hi kkthom ~ I also go to Lafayette for treatment.  I went in for my final sim and tats this week and then will start on the 26th for 25 tx and 10 boosts.  My doctor is Scally and I really do like her!  Her staff and the techs are also wonderful!  I set my appointments for 4:00 every day and I'll see the dr. on Wednesdays.  4:00 appts. allow me to work all day and just take off the last hour.  If I take lunch in to work with me I will be allowed to eat at my desk and not even take an hour off.  I'm hoping that I can maintain my energy level throughout the txs and continue to work.  So far I've been lucky enough to only take off chemo tx days and this past week.  I was in the hospital all last week-end for neutropenia and a blood infection so they made me stay home this week.  Also, maybe this would be a good time for you to look for another job to start when you're ready if you're feeling like a change.  What better time than now to decide what you want to be when you grow up!

Labhusky ~ I'll be on the same schedule as you since we start the same day.

I've had two treatments and I'm very tired.  I'm not sure if it's because last month was so busy getting the MRI, the mammogram, the sonogram, the surgery (lumpectomy), the results then two days later meeting with the rad onc and setting up the mold then last week meeting with the techs for the final setup and then starting treatment last Friday.  I keep my 4 grandchildren (ages 11months to 5 years) on the weekends while my daughter works - my husband does help.  Maybe working at my full time job as a nurse manager five days a week and the working every other weekend in a trauma center.  Or is this the way the radiology treatments work?  I am a natural adrenaline junky.  I haven't worked in the Trauma Center for three weeks and I think I'm lacking.

Dink - I don't know how you do it all! I'll be so glad when I get some of my energy back. Give yourself a break - you have been through an awful lot in a short amount of time. Have you talked to your dr. about your work schedule? Mine told me that you will feel much more fatigue towards the end. You may have to slow down!

Ggma - I haven't heard of Scally. My drs. are Gordon and Dr Paul. They call him that because no one can remember how to pronounce let alone spell his last name. I had a really good feeling after meeting with them the first time. I think that's so important-being able to talk openly with the drs., how they respond and how they make you feel while you're there.

I probably will update my resume and begin a search for another job. I have guilt with that though as my current workplace has been pretty supportive. I know, I have to do what's right for me and for my own family.

Bought the Biotin today. Seeing my first signs of stubble up there! Hopefully Biotin will speed this up.

Kim

Hello ladies,  I finished my first week of Rads on Friday and wouldn't you know... I have developed some lymphedema below my armpit and on my chest area above where my mastectomy scar is!  I go visit a PT on Tuesday.  I am wearing my arm sleeve but don't have any kind of compression garment for my chest area.  I have been reviewing the Lymphedema thread to learn more about how to manage this.  I hope that this will be temporary during rads.  All in all throughout my surgeries and chemo I have done so well with side effects and recovery but was bummed by this latest development.  I know that we all want to have this chapter in our lives just to be over with and to go on as before.  I was really hoping to avoid the lymphedema because it can turn into a chronic condition, but am trying not to let it get me down...

  kkthom,  I can understand exactly what you are going through regarding work because I have been wrestling with that exact same thing since I have been dealing with bc.  My circumstances are a little different, as soon as I was diagnosed, I did not stop work but I got authorization from my office to work 100% from home during treatment and recovery.  I am a manager leading about 30 people and most of my management responsibilities were transfered to someone else while I have been undergoing treatment, my job has been to consult.  I have only been into the office a few times since I had my surgery/chemo starting in June.  I am on e-mail and phone with them everyday but can decide how much I want to work each day. I have an extremely stressful job that has not been rewarding to me in a long time.  After having faced bc, I have been constantly questioning if this is what I really want to do. I still don't know what I want to do, but some friends gave me some very good advice and told me not to make any drastic changes while I am still undergoing treatment, to wait until I am through and return to the job and see how I feel at that time.  My office has also been extremely supportive of me during this time, but I do know that I have to do what is the best for me. 

  I am hoping to return back to the office for a few hours a week and work my way back to full time while I am doing rads.  I went back to the office last week for a few hours for the first time in a while and discovered one thing you shouldn't say to a person who has recently gone through cancer treatment ... "Linda, I barely recognized you"! I had several people say that to me, made me VERY self-concious.  I thought my wig was pretty close in color and style to my original hair and thought I did a good job with penciling in my eyebrows.  Most people were great and made me feel like nothing was different.  Oh well, trying not to let a few people bother me. 

  Didn't mean to write so much... hope everyone has a good week! 

Well...I'm the lucky one as far as work goes.  I'm a self employed professional pet sitter.  I cannot think of better work to have during this most stressful time.  I'm able to be flexible in my time, thus allowing me to rest as necessary.  My clients are wonderful in that they know I may even take a nap at their house while visiting their pet.  But, there aren't too many pets that don't enjoy taking a nap.

I've been doing this work for 6 years now.  Financially, it isn't terrific, but working with animals is the absolute best.  What comfort and joy I'm given.  I am truly blessed.  Tomorrow (Monday 12th) I start my very first rad treatment.  I'm simply going to trust that all will go well, that I won't suffer with too much fatigue AND that the rads will eat up all those lingering, lurking, bad cells!  Well wishes and prayers for all.  Ruth