November rad girls check in here!!

Ggma - I CAN NOT believe you had to go to the ER.  Were you in a traffic accident? Good Grief. And you with X's and O's all over you. Arrrrrgh!

Anybody having any trouble breathing? I asked the tech it the beams hit my lungs, and if there would be any damage. He said unless I was a marathon runner I wouldn't notice. (I do. I'm not. I do. Thinking maybe I should slap him.) Going to ask the rads onc Tuesday, 'cuz it's making me a little nervous. Don't want ANY collateral damage to my lungs if i can help it.

Anybody know WHY we can't wear bras? If it's because of irritation to the skin, that's fine, I just want to know. Because I want to wear it AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. 

Still no red, no visible signs of ANY thing going on. Hooray - so far! 

Hi all

8 rads down, 25 to go.  So far, no reactions of any kind and no fatigue. Knock on wood.  I put on aloe in the car after I am done and sween cream in the evenings.  I don't know if it is working or not, but I figure it is worth a shot.  I wear a sports bra, but take it off in the evenings and weekends. I have worked almost full time through all of this.  I still have plenty of PTO time and vacation but I get figure if I am feeling decent, I should come to work.  Where I work, they have been very supportive and said to take all the time off I want, if I run out of PTO time, I can have donated leave from other employees.  I have german language cds I am listening to on my long daily drives.  Figure I should be a little productive.

Well, I have completed 10 radiation treatments as of today. I met with the rad doc and was amazed at the incredibly poor treatment. I had my treatment, dressed and then the nurse weighed m,e took blood pressure and asked how I was doing. I said I had had a sinus headache for three days and was pretty tired. She gave me some sample ointment and said the doc would be in to see me. He opened the door.

"HI"

"HI"

"So how are you feeling today/"

"Not very well, I have a bad headache".

"Oh yeah, the nurse said you have that bug going around. Well I won't keep you"

Somehow I got the feeling he was just going through the motions. Really not comfortable with him, but there is no other choice in our town. He is it. Yuk.



I am trying to hang on to work as long as I can. I had hoped to make it until last Friday and I did. Now I am hoping to make it until Thanksgiving. I teach high school.. The sub scheduler came to me today and said she had scheduled me a sub beginning the Monday after Thanksgiving. I would say that was nice except my boss keeps trying to get me to quit. I have decided to just take care of myself. When I can no longer do it, I will ask for the sub.



I note a touch of grumpiness in me tonight. Sorry.

Steffi

Sedosa - I feel the same way about my rad dr. This one is the only one I haven't had confidence in...ick.

But what can you do? 

Had my 10th treatment today and last nite noticed I was peeling under the breast, they had the Dr. look at it before they did the rads, he said just make sure I aloe vera real good under the breast and wear a rag washcloth or whatever to soak up the moisture as I`m large breasted, it looks funky like a sunburn that peeling.

Glow n' Go! That's GREAT!

I got some good info today. I have a slight rash, slightly itchy, not even red, really, about 2" in diameter, and 4" above the nipple that i didn't think could be related to rads, but when he saw it, the dr said yes, it was the most common place for it. I asked "why so far up on my chest, when the tumor was down close behind the nipple?" He said they always irradiate the ENTIRE breast, even under the arm because of any stray cells that may be lurking locally. I said that would explain why my underarm (in less refined circles known as the arm PIT) seemed red. Affirmative again.

What I don't understand is why I chose this "state of the art" machine, which can pinpoint things so exactly, and avoid anything that needs to be avoided, when they're just going to roast my whole breast ANYway. sigh. i was hoping to avoid toasting my lymph.

oh well. whatever. 

He said to use 2.5 hydrocortisone cream on the rash at night, and Aquaphor in the day.

Aquaphor is a MESS. It's like putting duck fat on your chest. (Mind you, I've never actually put duck fat on any part of my body, but it seemed right somehow.) 

Two down, 31 to go.  Mine are at the end of the day and I stop off on my way home from work.  Yesterday they took a few more xrays, today was just zapping.

Pleasantness: the warm towel they put over me while lying on the bench/table whatever it is. Parking vouchers!  (the hospital charges $2 for 30 minutes) Newer magazines to read while I wait. Big hug from my 16yo daughter when she got home.

Unpleasantness: coming home to find a thick envelope from the IRS, and no, it wasn't filled with cash from long-forgotten refunds.

Aquaphor and duck fat. Ha. It's great on chapped lips, but smearing it on your body?  Ick.

I have to get out of the mode of saving sick leave for 'something serious' - kind of like never wearing the really nice undies or that perfume. This is what it's there for, why they give it to me, and if I don't use it now, when will I use it?  Will people think less of me because I'm going to admit that I'm sick?  Grouchy and cranky tonight. Time to turn in. 

Renee and katoMoto~

Thanks for the weight discussion.  I agree...the rest isn't so bad, but the weight is awful.  I had done Jenny Craig just last year to drop 15 pounds that I couldn't seem to lose, no matter how much I worked out or ate right.  It worked.  Then I just gained them back with treatment.  Ugh.  My attitude is kind of negative, I suppose...why live if I have to do it with the weight and agony of constantly watching it?  But your advice about sugar is SO helpful.  Not that I know how to cut that out!  I don't have any therapy support or meds, so mostly a good stiff drink (or two) has been my therapy.  I know it's naughty, but hell with it, right!?

So...cut out the cider and champagne.  I can do that!  At least to get rid of these 10 pounds!

Thanks all! 

Three's a charm.  I'm off to "glow 'n go" for 3rd rad treatment this morning.  I have my very warm sweatshirt on that was given to me by a good friend.  It has a embroidered kitty and says " a heart isn't whole without a cat".  I so agree.  My 4 kitties keep me comforted and provide me with smiles and chuckles throughout my day.  I only use aquaphor at night.  I find if I run the tube under hot water that the duck fat gets a little easier to apply.  Good day to you my sisters!  Ruth

I am 12 down, 23 to go.  The fatigue is starting so I rest 30 min so my body can concentrate on healing mid-day.  I am worried about scattered rads because the rt side of my face looks sunburned in the evening.  And I'm going to have a leather neck when this is done, as that is what is red and itchy, not the breast yet.  Does anyone else wonder why out faces aren't shielded?  or am I vain?  everything else is fine; the team at the cancer center are so prompt and encouraging.  I love the warm blanket I get draped with at 8 am every morning.  Best wishes and good sleeping to each of you. arby 

Today was treatment #11. Last night I noticed two red raised spots on my surgery site which was already radish red. I pointed them out to the techs and they said that is was the sign that radiation was affecting the skin, After they treated me with the bolus, i noticed one of them had split. I have been putting aoe get and aquaphor. I really don't know what to do, i have five more weeks to go.

steffi

I made my very own treatment gown.  I simply modified a soft, loose T-shirt by cutting it down the back and placing velcro fasteners on.  The shirt can be worn to open in the front (that's how the rad onc wants it worn) or it can be worn to open in the back (that's how the techs want it worn)  I'm a bit warmer and feel better wearing something less clinical.  I've only completed day 3.  I had a melt down this afternoon.  I've been so grateful that I didn't have to have chemo that I managed to diminish the magnitude of having radiation.  Some days I'm stronger than others.  I accept that this will be the case for a period of time.  I keep telling myself that I will have all of this behind me by the end of 2007.  Then I read a comment by someone who was diagnosed years ago - and they are still dealing with fears.  I guess it is all a matter of "one day at a time".  I meet with my rad onc tomorrow for the 1st time since beginning treatment on Nov 12.  (hope I remember to put my gown on the proper way!)   Please take a moment to look at my avatar.

This is a picture of my cat Frank.  He is my angel and gives me so much comfort.  He also provides me with great many chuckles every day.  It's been a tough day...I must rest...I will listen to soothing music...I will pet my cats and I will thank God for strength and healing.  Tight hugs to you wonderful women!  Oh yes, and thank you all for your willingness to share your experiences.  Ruth

I have 11 down and 22 to go so that makes me a 1/3 of the way done, I`m still not red other than some peeling yesterday just getting sore, they tell me the rads work from the inside out so may be slightly burned on inside just not showing outside yet, but I do use the gel 3 times a day so it is helping.

Took my handicap husband for his 3 Drs. appt today so every muscle in my body aches tonite, kinda overdid it but no choice there, hopfully tomorrow will be better.

15 sessions down, so I'm almost halfway there!  Thought I'd never get this far and almost quit three times!  I envy you girls being treated in the States!  I can't use any creams by strict orders of the techs and oncologist because my marker will come off. I think the craziest part has been the time of my appointment changing every day.  I went in at 10:30 am yesterday, and tonight is 8:00 pm.  By the way, I live 45 minutes away.  I work close to my tx hospital, though, so I thought it would be no sweat.  I have to travel for work next week, so I pray they will work around my schedule. 

Oh well...keep the nuggests of information coming!  My doctors don't tell me anything, whatsoever, so I learn everything here!

Take care, all!

Hi all

11 down, 22 to go.  1/3 done.  Just starting to turn a little pink today I noticed.  I think that I am going to forgo the bras now and wear undershirts for a while.  I keep a bottle of aloe in my car and one at home.  I got 100% aloe from super walmart.  A brand called Fruit of the Earth.