Topic: March 2008 Rads Team

Hello all, 

I would like to join too. My radiation will be done to manage the bone pain I have due to metastasis in my lower back and pelvic area.

I had my mapping session on Friday and the first appointment is on Tuesday. I go on for 14 days of radiation Mon thru Fri.
I have been told that in addition to possible skin issues, I may be facing nausea and diarriah as side effects as my digestive system may be in the way of the radiation. I am most concerned about that. I wonder if anyone who has experience with this may give some tips. 

I am an almost 13 year survivor so did my initial lumpectumy and breast radiation 12 years ago.

Good luck all.

-luckywife 

Well count me in too......I keep getting invited to these parties that I really don't want to go to but I'll keep on coming and since I'm here I'll keep on dancing.

I finish my T/C tx's on March 7th - am scheduled to be tattooed on the 18th with rads (33 total)starting on the 25th so you gals may be ahead of me in start dates.

My rad nurse said they will give me any creams I will need.  One deoderant hint I got that sounded good was a drop of Purell rather than the natural deos. 

I'll have to give up swimming and that'll be tough but I guess I'll join the gym rats and work out on the machines for as many months as it takes for my skin to heal.  I'm hoping we have good experiences and don't suffer bad s/e's.

Abby - sure sorry to see you go thru this at such a young age - I'll be 60 on April 2nd and I think I'm TOO YOUNG to be dealing with this!

Luckywife - So sorry to hear that you're a repeater......I pray that your s/e's won't be too bad and that they'll be able to manage your back pain with rads. 

Buffy:  Lucky you able to skip chemo - how is the Tamox s/e's?

Trina

Hello to you all, I have one more rad treatment to go.  I have been doing very well, so I thought I would send my best advice to you who are yet to begin. 

Skin:  I used calendula cream (marigold-extract cream from Whole Foods) three times daily.  My radiation oncologist recommended this and, after five weeks, my skin is still supple and I only now have some redness under my arm. 

Fatigue:  If you already have an exercise program, stick with it.  I have been doing pilates for six years -- continued during radiation 4x weekly -- and it has been so, so good for me.  I had lumpectomy for DCIS -- no mastectomy or chemo -- but stretch as much as you can comfortably do it.  Some of us have underarm stiffness, so work on keeping your muscles flexible.  Rest when you can, and don't try to be too brave. 

Deodorant:  I have been using Tom's of Maine Calendula deodorant.  It's been working well, and I have also been using cornstarch powder for my underarm and under-breast area. 

Shaving:  I bought a battery-operated razor at CVS, and I use it every Sunday.  I hadn't used an "electric" razor since I was 14, but this has worked well, and it has not exacerbated underarm irritation.

Bra:  Many people on this site have recommended good bras.  I've been using a Title Nine sports bra, but I only wear it for exercise.  If you can possibly do without it, do not wear a bra.

Hope this is helpful.  I'll post again if I remember anything more.

Darah 

Thanks for all of the information.  I am planning on exercising during my radiation treatment as much as I can.  I am a swimmer so will have to change up my routine.  My gym actually has a cancer treatment work out program that I am joining. It is twice a week for the duration of your treatment and they waive your dues for that time period.  I hope to work, but if it gets to be too much I will go out on short term disability.

The corn starch sounds good and will check with my nurse about the cream. 

I am large busted so going without a bra if I am working is not an option.

I am hoping to have enough energy to play with the dogs even if I can't run with them. (one Great Dane and one Gordon Setter/Shelti cross)They are what is helping me through each day.  You can't feel too sorry for yourself when you have a great big dog try to crawl in lap with his big blue toy and giving you kisses to make you feel better.  He just knows if he lays down beside me that I will feel better, and he is right.  Boyfriend and family also wonderful.

Hello to you all,

First time I participate in an on-line conversation ever, but then again, first time cancer patient.  I've been diagnosed with BC à the end of September.  I have been operated twice since and started my rads on February 25^th.  I should have 20 tx.  So far, so good except for irritation around the nipple.  Thanks for all the info concerning aloe gel and cornstarch that I have been reading about.  I intend to talk to my rad onc tomorrow and see if he is OK with this.   For you ladies that will be starting rads soon, keep in mind the  ink  used in marking will permanently stain your closes so I have been wearing dark close and an old cotton sports bra.  I have been told that no bra is better but being 50 and a 34D, I am certainly non comfortable without a bra.     Good luck to you all, I sure will be reading you ladies every single day.  Thanks    

Hello Buffy2Az

I believe that a "dry run" is sort of a "make believe" tx so that you know what to expect at your first tx.  Personally I find that thinking of how I'm one step closer to the cure during the treatment helps to keep my nervousness under control. 

Good luck !

Hello all,

I had my mapping session last Friday and tatooed today. They also did my first treatment today. Since I am getting radiation on my lower back and pelvic are for pain managment for bone pain, it was quite painful today to lie down still but people were gentle and quick. That helped a lot and I also took some pain meds just before starting. As the treatment progresses I am hoping my pain will reduce and I won't need to take the pain meds. I was told to take anti nausea meds as the rads may target my digestive system. I didn't feel any nausea. I am going to take the meds again tomorrow but going to try without them on Fri. May be I won't get the nausea? I am also expected to have diarrea but so far everything seems okay. Hope stays that way.

I am told not to put any cream on the area of radiation before the treatment. Since my appt. is in the morning, I will shower after I get back and then cream it so by next morning, it should be okay. Did they say anything like that you all for the breast?

I took tamoxifin for 5 years and it worked like a charm for me. Side effects were not too bad and the body got used to them over time. I used to put the corn starch and a fresh t-shirt on the night stand and changed middle of the night without even opening my eyes so I as to not interrupt mine or DH's sleep. I was in my mid 30's then.

Good luck everyone. Let us get through this with minimal side effects.

-luckywife

Hi, my name is Fran and I should start my rad treatment next week.  I am nervous but ready to get started and over with.  I live in Baton Rouge, LA.  Good luch to everyone.

Had my mapping on tuesday and today got the tattoos and the first treatment. I was about to jump off the table, I do not recall how long I was in that stupid position but had a really hard time staying still I think it took at least 50 minutes in the same position. My neck and my shoulder killed me.

Buffy I will put pure aloe (it is liquid) after treatments and will put on aquafor at nights.

1 gone 32 to go !

Hi everyone!

Finished 3 rounds of FEC and then 3 rounds of Taxotere on January 31/08. Man oh man I am glad that is done.  Tattooed and started Rads on Tues. Mar 04/08.  In it for the long haul as scheduled to get 30 treatments.  Using 100% pure Aloe gel.  Also started Tamoxifen on Feb. 25/08 and am getting some dandy hot flashes. Started swimming on Feb 27/08 and am trying to build up my strength and lose some weight. Scale is reading the same number as the past month but jeans and other clothes are getting real tight.

Will be seeing a LE therapist soon as my passion is driving my motorcycle and I want to do everything to be able to continue doing so.

Haven't been able to get much sleep over the past 3-4 months and am very annoyed by it so seeing another therapist to learn relaxation techniques so that "maybe" I'll get at least 5-6 straight hours of sleep every now and then.

So as of today (Mar 006/08) I am 3 down and 27 to go.!!

Nicky

hello!

i'll join your group.

just started rads last tuesday......oh my!! i am so exhausted even after 4 treatments.  hard to believe how that 15 second treatment actually does something!!!

seriously, came home after tx yesterday and  just crawled into bed.

they did not advise chemo for me,,,my tumor was 4mm and grade 1, but i will be taking tamoxifin after.

i am having 16 treatments w/ 4-8 boosts after. I am in Canada and they are doing different rads now, shorter treatment/stronger doses.

anyway,,,hang in there ladies!!

kosh...   :)

Trigeek - I'm glad your second treatment went better. That's encouraging.  It does seem odd that a nurse couldn't answer your questions, especially since she works in that area. At least you got a couple of them answered.

Abbey, I'm with you on wanting to get started!  I have everything done now and am ready to start tx on Monday. I'm armed with my aloe vera gel and Aquaphor.

I went looking for cotton camisols today...no luck. Everything is nylon and I'm thinking that would not be as comfortable.  It was suggested to me by one of the therapists that I wear something like that rather than a bra to avoid irritation to the skin. I'll keep looking.

I wouldn't think I'd need it right away.

6 1/2 weeks will go by fast, right? :-)

Buffy

Sharona,

They are afraid of the irritating affects of chlorine on the skin and that in turn this might affect being able to complete the rads uninterrupted.

Intentions are good, we also need to use good judgment, so I will be limiting my chlorine exposure to 1-2 /week, and will put aquaphor before going in and will rinse immediately there(not waiting till I get home)

Hello everyone,

I found another conversation on "radiation side effects" where other women have posted about their skin irritation and fatigue getting worse as radiation progresses.  You may want to take that into consideration along with the "babying your skin" advise. Same goes for resting.

Nurses told me that it is really not good to have to take a break in radiation schedule and rad. onc. will not continue treatment if the skin is not reasonably healthy and your blood counts are not too low. Radiation treatment has cumulative effects so skin irritation and fatigue get worse with time.

My rad. onc. meets with patients every week to review progress.

Trigeek, you are right in asking questions and should get the answers for sure and correctly from the oncolgist him/herself.

Goodluck and take care.

-luckywife 

Thanks Trina, guess no swimming for me. ( can not run either cause not supposed to wear a bra and the implants are uncomfortable).. that leaves me on my bike I guess.

So lets say I slather aquafor at night, and then should I take  ashower to wash it off before I go to the treatment ?