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Fall 2015 Rads

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Comments

  • Outrunning
    Outrunning Member Posts: 157
    edited November 2015

    dizzy yes. Not a huge appetite but not exactly nauseous. Wish this issue of the magazine would finish itself so I could go home and sleep.

    I don't think I'd feel half so bad if I weren't so stressed at work.

  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,008
    edited November 2015

    Outrunning, I am finding that on top of keeping hydrated that I have to eat small, frequent meals. My lunch gets broken up into two parts now to help with the queasy stomach.

  • brutersmom
    brutersmom Member Posts: 969
    edited November 2015

    Outrunning. My RO had me take ibuprofen about 1/2 hour before my treatment and it took the dizziness away. Toward the end of treatment I had to take it about 6 hours later as well. It helped me get through the day.


  • princesstina
    princesstina Member Posts: 129
    edited November 2015

    so it's not nauseousness - but the RO is INSISTENT that it's not caused by rads. We'll see how today goes.

    Side note, I got distracted watching the machine today and lifted my head during treatment- let's just say that the techs ARE watching you! ;-)

  • trvler
    trvler Member Posts: 931
    edited November 2015

    It drives me nuts when they insist something isn't a SE and you know full well that it is.

  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,008
    edited November 2015

    Apparently "it's not rads" is the common theme

  • one_bad_boob
    one_bad_boob Member Posts: 31
    edited November 2015

    Just finished #5 today. Will go tomorrow for Veterans Day but will have Thursday/Friday of Thanksgiving off. Last day will be December 23.

    Lumpectomy scar is the only discomfort and itching. A little tired but that might be from working PT then racing to rads everyday.

    Am I wrong for using rads as my excuse for not wanting to host Thanksgiving at my house? Hee hee

  • trvler
    trvler Member Posts: 931
    edited November 2015

    Not wrong at all, One!

  • chisandy
    chisandy Member Posts: 11,408
    edited November 2015

    #7 of 16 today (tomorrow is halfway through)! The techs all said “see you tomorrow," so no, I don't get Veterans Day off (maybe they'll all be wearing poppies on camo scrubs or something). And by Thanksgiving I will have been done three days earlier. The nausea I had Saturday was definitely NOT a SE--it was a combination of dehydration and hypoglycemia. I most assuredly am not losing my appetite--the staff at Hoosier Mama Pies can attest to that. Today I had 4 beams: one each from outside below the midpoint, straight on from the side, from outside above the breast and then directly above the nipple. Skin is still more tan than pink (amazing, since I always sunburn and never tan) and is not irritated. The Aquaphor I apply afterward and at night (as well as the aloe or calendula I apply at night) are, at this point, still preventive. The only thing about some of my bras that bothers me is that lace can be kind of scratchy, as can seams on the inside of the cups. I might temporarily cover those with silk tape.

    And I don't have that “uh-oh, here comes a cold" feeling in the back of my throat I had yesterday. First time that happened without taking anything other than saline nasal spray to ward it off--no vit. C or echinacea as I'm trying to avoid anything that might interfere with radiation destroying the cancer cells (if any). But what I'm wondering is whether there's anything I can do right now to address the osteopenia with which I've been diagnosed. From what I've read, I've been throwing my money away on (and wasting my energy chewing) Tums--calcium carbonate needs stomach acid in order to be absorbed (a cup of black coffee doesn't cut it) and the PPI I take (Dexilant) definitely reduces production of stomach acid. I went out and bought some calcium citrate instead--is it safe to take during radiation? And how long after radiation ends --if ever--will it be safe to resume antioxidants like C, Co-Q10, Krill oil, or alpha-lipoic acid?

  • Tresjoli2
    Tresjoli2 Member Posts: 579
    edited November 2015

    i had terrible nausea and food aversions. RO said it wasn't rads, and MO said it might be herceptin. It was awful. I took compazine when I had too, and began taking prilosec to help with heartburn and muddled through. Last zap is tomorrow am!

  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 2,181
    edited November 2015

    Prunes for bone loss and bone building. Yes it makes sense that radiation would cause dehydration and therefore nausea.

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 461
    edited November 2015

    Calcium citrate should be fine during, and I was told I could resume my antioxidants the morning after I finished.

  • chisandy
    chisandy Member Posts: 11,408
    edited November 2015

    Great to hear, ksusan!

  • Sophrosyne
    Sophrosyne Member Posts: 10
    edited November 2015

    Hi everyone! I am 5 days in and really haven't had any adverse reactions. I do feel tired, but that's just part of life for me even without rads. I am just wondering when the itching and burning typically start. Should I be trying to get ahead of it with aloe and cream now or cross that boob when I come to it

  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 2,181
    edited November 2015
  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 985
    edited November 2015

    One Bad Boo.....I think if not having Tgiving makes you feel better....use whatever excuse you need! You can always do it another time.....:)


  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,008
    edited November 2015

    My RO called me because she didn't have time to see me again. I told her about itchiness and rash. She said yes it's rads and sent an RX for a steroid to the pharmacy. As for supplements, I was told yes to my cal mag zinc combo, vitamin d3 and my b6/12 folate.

  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 985
    edited November 2015

    Sophrosyne...."cross that boob when I come to it"....love your sense of humor!

  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 985
    edited November 2015

    Travler.....agree with you about not hosting Tgiving

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 461
    edited November 2015

    I'm hosting because I didn't know if I'd be physically and emotionally up for schlepping across the country and not being at home. Everyone know that this will be a low-key Thanksgiving (and Hanukkah, because we exchange gifts when we're together).

  • AusUSA
    AusUSA Member Posts: 18
    edited November 2015

    Thanks Queenmomcat. :) Would love the add to the list.

    I've only had my 3rd today, but I'm definitely feeling it. They say that I only need to put the sorbolene on 2x a day, but I think I will need something else or put it on more often. What do you all do? What products do you use and how often?

    On Monday, my first day of rads, I also had a job interview which I got. YAY! Well, at least I'm looking forward to the future, instead of dwelling on the fact that I have no idea if my treatment is working, and won't until Aug or Sept next year. I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew, with starting a new job and all. BUT, it is only 2 days a week teaching study skills and academic English to highly motivated international students before they start university here in Australia. Do many of you work too? Any teachers out there?

    I was also told to not take anything that could be an antioxidant and told not to lose any weight. That's a bummer! I was surprised as I have plenty to lose and will start hormone treatment immediately after.

    Grrr. Another completely new treatment to get used to. LOL

  • trvler
    trvler Member Posts: 931
    edited November 2015

    Yeah for last zap, Tresjolie! I am so jealous (but very happy for you). I am in single digits now. Rash isn't better. The sample ointment of 'something similar' seemed to work better than the prescription steroid. AND you can only use the steroid for 10 days and I am going to have a whole additional week after the 10 days ends.

  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,008
    edited November 2015

    Congratulations Tresjolie2 on your last day. Does your place have a bell? I have a feeling mine will be anticlimactic since our place is small but busy.

  • brutersmom
    brutersmom Member Posts: 969
    edited November 2015

    Tvler Congratulations.

  • Suzanne50
    Suzanne50 Member Posts: 221
    edited November 2015

    I have 4 down and 24 to go. They are using a bolus every other day. I think it because I have a tissue expander?? and they are trying to keep the radiation away from it. So far so good. No side effects yet. I am just looking for the finish line.

  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,008
    edited November 2015

    Suzanne50, I get a bolus every other day as well.

    As for creams etc. I am having the best results by using a generous amount of aquaphor every night at bedtime. I go to bed red and wake up pink. I use miaderm during the day but I think I liked my calendula better. I ran out and spent so much on miaderm I am using it. I use the CVS aloe Vera with lidocaine in between rads and my aquaphor if it hurts me.

  • Molly50
    Molly50 Member Posts: 3,008
    edited November 2015

    Welcome Aus! I work full time and haven't missed work yet. I think you will be fine.

  • princesstina
    princesstina Member Posts: 129
    edited November 2015

    Tesjolie! Congrats!! I would love to be done, so jealous!! Good luck everyone going today!

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 461
    edited November 2015

    Hi, Aus. I've worked all the way through, with some flexibility at work (I'm college faculty).

  • TinyDancer5
    TinyDancer5 Member Posts: 217
    edited November 2015

    Monday was my simulation and yesterday was my first day of rads.Today was my second and both days were very quick. They told me to use Calendula Cream and not Aquafor because it was too greasy. They also told me that I didn't need Tom's of Maine deodorent without aluminum either, any kind will do.