Fall 2015 Rads
Comments
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I put on aluminum-based GEL deodorant as soon as I got back to the locker room.
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Well it begins. I am a bit prepared having gone through it 20 years ago......if you can actually prepare. All the postings here have helped.
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Hey, Cupcake: me too. Good luck today! My session isn't 'til the evening.
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Hello All,
We are interested in hearing your experiences on issues related to your diagnosis and/or treatment,such as sexual matters, weight gain/loss, chemo brain/chemo fog, bone and heart health, exercise and nutrition issues, menopausal concerns, lymphedema, infertility, neuropathy, joint pain, skin/hair changes, relationship changes, work and career hurdles, and emotional issues including fear of recurrence. Please don't feel that you need to address each of these issues. We are listing these as suggestions. Your stories will complement a new, upcoming section on the main Breastcancer.org site on Survivorship issues.
Some things to think about for your story: Have you gained a new perspective on this other side of treatment? What life lessons have you learned? What advice would you give your newly-diagnosed self or other person just starting the journey? How does your "old" self compare to your "new" self? Is there a difference? What impact has your breast cancer diagnosis made on your life? If you've become a Breast Cancer Advocate, what is your mission and how are you fulfilling it?
If you're willing to share your perspective of your life after diagnosis and treatment, or your life on active, maintenance or on-going treatment we'd love to hear from you! Please send your story via PM to the Mods along with a picture of yourself or something that represents you, and a note about how long since you've been diagnosed. Seeing these stories will surely inspire our new members, along with members just going through treatment now, to see that you CAN get through active treatment and get to a new normal on the other side, even if that includes maintenance or ongoing, lifelong treatment.
Your story will be included with the other Members Stories photos on the main site (http://www.breastcancer.org/community/acknowledgin...), in our December Newsletter and may also be used in part throughout the website and/or in fundraising or event materials.
Thank you for considering!
--The Mods
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I saw the RO today for my first past Rads follow-up. We discussed follow up testing. Apparently this hospitals protocol is no testing until the one year from surgery unless I develop a lump somewhere or pain etc. I also have some red bumps that thinks that the red bumps are inflamed follicle damaged by radiation that are trying to grow hair but can't. He thinks that it will resolve in a couple of weeks if it does not become infected. He also believes the tenderness under the arm is nerve and muscle damage from Rads and should improve over time. There is some slight swelling but he didn't feel any lumps and does not think it is lymphedema. I guess that is all good news.
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That's good, Brutersmom.
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Cupcakes, I'm sorry you find yourself with a new breast cancer diagnosis. Good luck with your rads.
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Just returned home from my simulation. I was under the impression from my previous visit with RO, that I would begin rads this coming Friday. Today, I found out that I will begin the day after tomorrow...Wednesday. They made my 'shoulder mold', did the CT scan, took photos, RO looked at the site, got my tattoos and then had my ID face-photo taken. I was then presented with a fleece cape the design (color) of my choice which I will wear each day, take it home and bring it back each time, and then I got a 'tour' of the rads room and met all four of the techs....three women, one man. All very pleasant. I was all set to freak out during this appointment, but they explained what they were doing with each step, when they would be touching me, what they would do next. They did ask what kind of music I would like......but I couldn't hear it over the din of the machine. ~ I will get my 'instructions' (care, creams, answers, etc) on Wednesday. All in all, it took less than 45 minutes. ~ I am glad I can begin two days sooner than anticipated (sooner done!) and the first two weeks my appointment is at 9AM, and then I get to move to 10:45. So far, so good.
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So excited to be finished with radiation today! 6 weeks went by fast.
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Congratulations Ltam16!
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(rings bell for Ltam) Or the celebratory gesture of your choice.
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Congrats, Ltam!!
Only 6 more for me! I can't wait.
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Congrats to you, Ltam!
I went for simulation today, everything went fine and was out in about 45 minutes. I asked the tech about moisturizing, and she said they don't recommend anything unless the skin starts to react. I thought I was supposed to be moisturizing after each treatment? I would be interested to know what you all have been told.
Thanks!
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Had my last rads today, too. Feels so strange to be done with treatment. Ok, here's your life back. Now, get on with it.0
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Bluedog: yes, definitely something anticlimactic about ending radiation treatment--for a great many of us, it's the last active/involved stage of treatment after what seems/ed to be an endless process. "You're all treated now. Run along," say the oncologists.
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Congratulations on finishing Bluedog and Ltam16!
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Pennys: I am surprised they are not telling you to put anything on unless you have a reaction. Many doctors recommend Aquaphor. I personally hate it, but use it on my back. I use Calendula on my breast and I have a prescription steroid for my left chest where my itchy rash is. I would at least use something. A lot of people use Aloe.
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Has anyone been given painkillers for RT?
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Congrats Bluedog and Ltam16!
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Those chiming bells you hear are for Bluedog and Ltam16--mazel tov!
Had #11 of 16 today. My experience may be a tad different: they didn't make a mold for me; instead, I lie supine with the top of my head fitting in a sort of arch, and there are cradles behind that to rest my upper arms and two handles behind them for me to hold. I didn't get tattoos, but instead three Sharpie Xes covered with clear plastic tape. They occasionally start the session by taking x-rays to make sure I'm positioned exactly as I was during the sim-session CT scan; and they sometimes have to move the table remotely to fine-tune my position.The linear accelerator they're using isn't very loud at all--sort of a cross between a hum and a buzz--and I get three beams of about 10-15 sec. each (with the machine head positioned laterally “below the horizon" aiming up, laterally above aiming down, and finally straight down from above. For a couple of treatments I had a fourth beam with the machine head positioned at the same level as the table and the beam aimed straight at the side of my breast). No irritation at all, but the seroma in my breast is getting larger, turning my right breast (which had been the smaller one) into a sort of Teenage Mutant Ninja Tit-tle. (My cleavage is now skewed to the left, but I can still wear my ordinary bras). The seroma at my SNLB site seems to be shrinking, replaced by scar tissue.
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pennsygal- I was told the same thing. I asked them specifically and they said that I could put aquifer on at night or weekends if I wanted to but it wasn't necessary until about the 3rd week when I would start to see some redness.
Congratulations Rads Grads!!! Whooohooo!!!!! Done, done, done!
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Congratulations Bluedog! I saw the RO today. She said if my skin gets bad they can give me a break. Have any of you been offered a break?
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Pennsygal--I put pure aloe (from the plant, but the100% gel in bottle works too) on breast immediately after treatment and before bed, but never 6 hours prior to treatment. My RO thought this was a good idea when I told him and my aunt did this when she was diagnosed 4 years ago and she never had any skin irritation after 33 treatments. I also take an aloe supplement once a day (again, my aunt did this). I had #14 of 33 today, and so far, no skin pinkness or irritation although I think today I detected the treated breast looking more tanned than the other. RO seems to think I will get some redness around Thanksgiving week (hoping to prove him wrong!). I figure it can't hurt to attempt prevention anyway! Good luck.
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Is there any special brand for the bottle Aloe?
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So what I thought was my first treatment was actually my simulation. They added two more tattoos to go along with the ones added during staging. I have three techs and believe it or not one of them told me her initials are on my prior records so she treated me 20 years ago. Crazy world.
So I actually start tomorrow. It is a bit surreal going through it all over again and remembering what I had fogged over in the past 20 years.
Thank you for the kind words Molly50!
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That's really amazing, cupcake!
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congratulations blue dog! It is strange to all of a sudden be done and just sent on your way! I start my tamoxifen today
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I was told I could start taking Fridays off at week 3. I did for the first time last Friday. I am on the fence about THIS Friday. I just want to be done. I have 6 more to go. They told me they are also open this Sunday because of the holiday so theoretically, if I went straight through, I could be done Monday. But if I don't do Sunday and Friday, I can be done Wed. I was supposed to meet with the doctor yesterday but she was running so late, I had to leave. I will see her today. I wanted to see if she thought this was a bad idea. I seemed to have gotten the itching under some control, but now my armpit is starting to really get reddish/brown and hurt a lot.
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Thanks, all, for the good wishes. Congratulations to you, too, Ltam 16!
I had 20 treatments and am sort of pinkish/reddish. So far no skin breakage. I moisturized from the beginning but am not sure if doing so the first few weeks did anything. I used calendula cream the first two weeks then switched to Biafine after I developed a rash. I don't think I actually was allergic to the calendula, as the rash persisted after I switched, but I stayed with the Biafine as it smelled better. Plus it was expensive, so I was going to use it! Both of the creams I used are far less goopy than Aquaphor. I was relieved my facility did not recommend Aquaphor, as I would have dutifully used it if they had. I actually had two rashy patches. My RO said the one above my breast is folliculitis, inflamed hair follicles, which others here have mentioned. She didn't have any idea what the one below my breast is -- suggested just my body protesting the assault on it. Made sense to me. The lower patch is almost gone and doesn't itch anymore. The upper patch is uglier looking but only itches intermittently. Phew!
ChiSandy, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Tit-tle" -- hahaha! I have a large seroma, as well. Mine is at the Lx site. My RO told me I could gently massage it, which I've been doing for the past 5 days. It feels like it's a little softer, but that could just be my imagination.0 -
Just finished my last rads today! Thanks Ladies for all your support, advice etc on here
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