Topic: Anyone starting Rads in January?

Hi girls! I go for my planning session tomorrow as well.. (you'll be in my thoughts Barbie). And I'll be starting right after the New Year too...whoopie! lol  I think I'm more nervous about the mapping than the first zap, just for the sheer length of time it will take.

Angie, I hope you're right and it does seem like a breeze. Just one more step. My chemo ended the end of Nov. so I'm really starting to get my energy back and want to hang onto it. Did you learn anything that you hadn't seen on the boards at your planning session?

Well...let's keep in touch girls and hold each other's hands through this next part. If I stumble you can help me up. lol

Happy Holidays!

I may be joining you.  I have my last AC tx on 1/7 and don't know how long I will have to wait before starting rads.  Hopefully not long - I really want to get this done and over with.  Though then it'll be reconstruction, but that seems like a long way off... 

I'll be joining your group in January too.  I've completed AC, Taxol and had a bi-lat mast. two weeks ago.  I'm due to meet with the radiologist later this week for planning. I'll be taking Xeloda concurrently since all lymph nodes taken during surgery were pos. for cancer. (@^$*^!) Let's do it. Ladies!

Hey Jackie, I am such a follower!!! 

Hi gals,

I have had 8 radiation treatments, and will be receiving radiation throughout January as well, so I would like to visit you all on this thread too.

I am starting to feel a little fatigued, but I'm always tired at the end of the day anyway.  I am a stay at home mom of 5 kids, but my second occupation is a cancer patient.  I spend about 14 hours a week driving to and from the hospital, and at various dr. appointments.

I wish you all the best and look forward to getting to know all of my rad sisters. 

Hi Breeze, Yes. I had the impression and it's so easy to just hop on the table and get situated. Literally, I am on the table for 5 minutes. Good luck. Lots of hugs, Jackie

P.S.--Hi Sunnee, glad to have the company.

Well, had my mapping yesterday...can't believe I was nervous about that for days. lol  It really only took about half an hour when all was said and done....then again I have a "dry run" before I really start, so maybe they split what some people do in one visit into two appointments for me?

Anyway, I was glad the CT scan wasn't a claustrophobic thing at all and was fairly quick. I got four tattoos, which felt like mosquito bites...then again, I didn't have one on my sternum, that doesn't sound very comfy. This was my first tattoo ever, and now with this association, I can guess most likely my last. lol

So, I have "practice" on the 2nd and start for real on the 3rd. Does anyone else have to go for longer than six weeks? I guess since my tumor was close to the chest wall, and close margins, I get seven.  I guess I'm willing to give that extra week if they think it will be beneficial. I hope my skin is willing as well. lol

I hope those of you that have already started are still feeling well.

Hugs

I had my "simulation" session today.  Since my surgery was just over 2 weeks ago and since the drains just came out on Tuesday, I hadn't been able to do the range of motion excercises except for yesterday.  Keeping my arms over my head was a little bit of a strain but everything else went OK.  I didn't want the tech or the radiologist to see my scars but I guess that's another thing I'll just have to get over.  I'm scheduled for 6 weeks of rads beginning Jan 3. There was no body mold but 4 tatoos.  The sternum tatoo hurt but the rest were no big deal.

I may be joining you.  I am getting mixed recommendations from all my doctors due to the fact that I only had one positive node and I also had neo-adjuvant chemo so they really don't know how many nodes I may have had.

And to complicate things, I just had my implant exchange surgery a week ago and am afraid that the radiation will ruin it. 

Does anyone else here have implants?

Hi DeAnn, Thanks for the info.  I will look forward to hearing your progress.  Any special way of doing the massaging?  I got smooth unfortunately and I know that I have a higher risk of capsular contracture because of that but I didn't know that before he put them in.

Hi, all! Add me to the list with a Jan 2 start date. Followed some of my August chemo sisters over here.

I'm due for 38 tx (7 1/2 weeks) with a chest boost. Had my simulation and tattoos this week. Was delighted when the rad onc told me that my ribs will be permanently weakened on the rad side and that I will develop a dry cough from the lung damage. Whee! This could be as much fun as chemo!

Just finished my last chemo yesterday and have my mapping session on 12/27.... so I'm jumping on too.  Jane and I are buddies from the chemo in July thread, but I'll be nice to get to know the rest of you as well.

I'm in for 6 weeks plus a couple "boosters"..... I forget how many.  That was way back in June and I've been chemo-brained since!

Got myself some Sween Cream as I noticed a lot of girls recommending it. 

At any rate, let's cheer each other on through this next adventure!

Abbi

Aw Nash...I feel for ya. I was told the same thing about my ribs, and I'm sure mine are already weakened, as I cracked them playing sports years ago.

They did say they would have to "nick" the lungs but sure failed to mention anything about a cough. Did they say that was a maybe or a temporary thing, or something you will always have? That would just stink!

I will be joining the january group.  I met with my onc today for what was suppose to be my last taxol tx.  She said I shouldn't do the last tx because of the neuropathy.  I'm from the sept chemo group. 

I already have the chemo cough so I don't know what will happen with rads. I'm still a little in shock to be done with chemo. 

Oh and I'm from mn, too.  We're taking over I guess.  I only watched the beginning of the vikes game and when I heard the next day that they'd won, I was pretty surprised. 

Well...Happy Holidays to Paxton! Done with chemo woohoo! I was shocked about the football game too, started out a bit rough. As you can see by my avatar, I sit on the couch watching sports all winter, cuz I hate being cold! I try to make up for it during the nice weather, but I guess I'm asking Santa for a rebounder this year. I noticed when learning about chemo and snooping through all the threads, that you stay active outdoors even in the winter. I really admire that, good for you!

Nash...two male techs? ugh! I think I've bared my breast to more people in the last few months than the forty-some years before that. I may be out of modesty at this point.

Kaye, thanks for the info on the cough. Hope yours totally disappears soon.

My rad office gave me a script for a cream called radiaplexRx. Apparently you can put it on even right before rads. Anyone heard of, or used this one?

Have a lovely weekend all...

I know vikes lost last night.  It was 4th quarter when I went to bed.  I don't really watch sports usually.

Merry Christmas!