Topic: Looking for a February Rad Team

Hi debbbyb,

I start rads on Monday, so I'll be right in there with you. I was originally supposed to start on the 21st, but my doc gave me a little extra time to recover from chemo. I think this was my first week in over three months that I didn't have a doctor appt. Nice!!

I hadn't heard about the no bra thing from my dr, but they did tell me to use aloe vera gel every day and to not use any deoderant other than the crystal rock stuff if I want. I've heard that taking curcumin supplements can help reduce the skin damage from rads. The studies aren't complete, but there's enough evidence for me to add it to my regimen. It can't hurt!

When do you start? I'll let you know how it goes on Monday!

DeAnn 

DeAnn:

Wow appointments every day for monthes. I will not complain anymore about the appointments I go to.  I now know why they say when you have bc it is your "job". 

I go for the set up appointment on Feb 11th.  Not sure if it starts right after that. I hope it does cause i want to be over with it.

I hope it radiation goes smoothly.  Let me know how it goes.

deb

Hi ladies, this is my first time in any kind of chat group.  I'd like to joing your Feb group and hope we can all draw strength from each other. 

I am still recovering from my surgery on Jan. 7th.  I'm definitely thankful for early detection.  Tumor detected by mammo removed with clean margins along with 8 lymph nodes -all clean.  I still have a lot of soreness especially where nodes were removed.  I start my radiation this coming week.  I'm really afraid of the radiation skin reactions since I am still healing.  I'm hoping to give and get support and ideas from others regarding creams and possible bras-since there is no way I can go braless at work.  I live in CT so I'm hoping big sweaters can cover. 

It keeps getting more difficult to remember that this is just a "bump" in the road of life.  LOL

Good luck with your consult I'm sorry to hear you have to travel so far.  I'm not sure I know what PBI is. 

Hi all,

I had a lumpectomy on Dec. 7. I'm suppose to start rad treatments 1/29. But I'm concerned about my breast being swollen and red around the nipple. The rad dr. put me on antibotics last week, concerned about mastitis, but it hasn't helped yet. I want to go through this with others too. We can all help each other. I'm all for the February Rad Team.!

I don't have a date yet, but I should be starting Rads in Feb, too.  Nice to have a group going to check in with and compare notes.  I'd not heard the recommendation to go braless, but I have heard that underwires are not advised during rads.  Guess I'll find out more soon.

Lisa

I just started my radiation treatments today, so could I be part of this group?? 

     When they put me on the table this morning, I got completely freaked out, because I felt like I was in the middle of a science fiction movie with all of the machines.  Everyone there was very kind, but I am having a hard time with it... going for 7 weeks makes it real that I have cancer.

     My oncologist didn't say anything about going braless.  She also said that I didn't need to worry about any cream or anything yet.  She will check my skin every Monday and check for side effects.

I start Rads tomorrow. Simulation and tatoos were scary enough. I am frightened. I want to work through it. I love my job. But I missed so many days through chemo, now this. The unknown as to how my body will react is driving me nuts. Will I sail through 33 days of having radiation like some or will I be so fatigued I can't work?

Going braless for me is not an option.

How much discomfort are we talking about? Can it be addressed by pain relievers or are the creams, lotions and soft cotton bras the only the only answers?

I already have breast lymphedema. Can  I give myself the massages with a breast that is burned?

How do you deal with an itchy breast during a staff meeting?

I have six tatoos. Why black dye for crying out loud? They look like blackheads!!! Brown would have at least looked like a freckle!!!

Sometimes I just want to sit up from an examining table, slap the doctor, the techie, the NP and just scream at the top of my lungs "Just leave my boob alone! Will ya?"

OK nuff said.

So many 'wait and see's.

Count me in. I need the support. This journey is full of unanswered questions. We are all so different. There is no crystal ball.

But one thing is certain, we can be there for each other.

Love,

Doe

I just finished rads, and thought you might like to hear about my experience. I too was freaked about the whole thing. I hated the idea of tatoos. How many more marks do I have to deal with?!!! But mine are really small, and my eyes are so bad I can't see them anyway! It seemed like the treatment would go on forever, especially because it was through Christmas and New Years, but  I finished and feel great, so I'd like to pass on what I did. First, bring some music to listen to. My techs were great about putting my music on the CD player and playing it loud. It was a great escape. After the treatments, I drank a lot of water, and ate an apple on my way to the river walk in our town, where I walked every day, even in the cold and snow. If it rained, I went home and did an exercise DVD. I never got fatiqued at all. My radiologist's are so impressed with my energy level, that they are using me to encourage others to exercise through it. I realize that I am very lucky because I did not have chemo, but I think I would have tried to walk through that too. It not only helped me feel great physically, it helped me deal with the emotional roller coaster, that I had a really hard time getting off of. ALso, my skin looks great. I had a little redness under my arm and a little itching but that was all. I took a multivitamin some omega 3. I know this is controvesial, but my radiologist said it would be okay. I also used a lot of cremes, from day one, both what they gave me and my own. I took a lot of baths with aloe, putting the wask cloth on my breast instead of immersing them. I also found a great cream at Sam's club with vitamin E the day I finished and I put that on liberally several times a day. My breast is looking and feeling great and it will be only a week tomorrow since I finished. I know that everyone is different, and a lot depends on your skin and the radiation plan they set up for you, but I went into this determined that I was not going to let it get to me. Attitude is everything. Good luck to all of you just starting! You can do it!

Hello everyone,

I started rad tx on Jan 9 and will be done on Feb 22.  No problems with skin so far but I am diligent about using the lotion I was given.  Unlike other posters, I was told I could only use the lotion from them.  Anyone having chest wall and above the collar bone treatment?  I have started to notice some fatigue but compared to chemo, this is tolerable.  I went back to work part time as well so that might add to the fatigue.  Good luck to all of the Feb rads.  It is just one step in the journey to health and we can all  do it. 

I have my simulation session this afternoon and will start rads on Feb. 11.  I would also like to join this thread.  I finished my chemo yesterday (yeah!) and wished I would've had other survivors to talk to and commiserate with, so going through rads with all of you will be good. 

One thing my rad onc told me was because I am small-chested and thin walled, I should not expect a lot of skin issues because they don't need to zap me with as much rads as someone who is larger chested and overweight.  So, for one of the first times in my life I am actually happy for these size As!

Good luck to all of us and here's to almost being done with seeing docs every single week!

Tracy

Doe

If the tatoos were brown, they'd never find mine: they be hidden amongst the freckles. I got them twice- during the first session where they made the form and took the scans/measurements they gave me small ones- no problem. Then after simulation ( the 2nd try at it) they gave me more- these were much bigger- definitely highly visible. I also have one sticker- dr thinks that is too high and would be  too visible afterwards. Hope the sticker stays on.

As to "small chested and thin walled" that's me but she promised I would be fried.

Hi everyone!

I finally will see a radiation oncologist on the 31st of Jan, and will have an 1 1/2 hour consult with the team.  My surgery was the 2oth of Dec (lumpectomy, 8mm IDC. Grade l, stage 1,or so I think, sentinel node biopsy neg).  I am very interested in hearing about everyone else's experiences as they move through radiation treatments.  It is so wonderful to feel like things are starting to move again.  I believe there will be another session to map and then another wait to get the actual treatments started.  Anyone have any ideas on how many treatments i can look forward to?  I've heard anywhere from 15 to 33.

By the way, I live in BC, Canada.

Hi ladies!

I guess I'll be joining the February rads club too!  I just finished my last dose of chemo this past Monday (yippee!) and go for my rads consultation on Feb. 6.  I'm eager to get the show on the road, though I'm nervous at the same time, mostly about not wearing deodorant or my bras, etc.  Yikes that sounds dreadful.  I keep telling myself if I can make it thru chemo, I can do rads.  I'm sure I'll be checking in or maybe just lurking to read your great advice and tips on getting thru this!

Thanks and everyone take care!

Mary Jo

ps- I'm in the mountains of western NC, where it's been really cold lately!

Ok, here goes, went for the tatoo's, very nice, all women, drew on me with black marker, which is I think a grease marker. Did lay there a long time, while the machine out of a movie went around me. She told me it would not touch me, and it didn't. Actually, while one piece went to the left another showed up on the right, which kinda startled me. She told me to tell her if I need to let me arms down and she would come and mark me, if I moved they would have to start all over.  ADVICE.. here. If your arms start to go numb (like mine did) ask for a break. I did not and I'm paying for it today. I was trying to get it over with. Went yesterday for 1st rad treatment, did not hurt, all women again. I think after the initial part of all this, things will get sorta normal.

2nd half of story. Breast is still red, and spot on side is not responding to antibotics, Dr. said to call surgeon, so I did yesterday, she had already left, so didn't hear back till just now. Which is fine except with me I go into mass hysteria if left to myself and the internet. I had myself thinking and diagnosed with IBC  (looks like little holes and looks like a orange skin underneath, although could be my stretch marks) and why call the surgeon if I don't need to be cut on again.?  It's like when the kids aren't home at 11:00, they are in a ditch and it is time to panic. Always prepare myself with a panic.  Dr. (surgeon) called just now, bless her, I

like her, she said it is either cellulitis or lyphedema and is calling in another antibiotic (pennicilin), she has never seen IBS develop from the 1st cancer, it is a very low risk, but wants to see me next tuesday, will work me in, just in case and possibly take a sample to rule it out. Told me to stay off the internet, oops. You know I've got to look up cellulitis.

My advice is to do that other p word, pray. God bless you all. Throw all those questions out there! Go Feb.Rad.Team.(FRT), well thats different! lol

I feel better for now.