Starting Radiation Sept. 2019
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UpstaterNYer: Congratulations on 2 done! I'm sorry about not mentioning all of you in my daily posts ... I'm not ignoring you, I think I have "radsbrain" LOL Language doesn't help either. Sometimes I find it difficult to follow the thread of each of your treatments. But I hope the best for everyone. I think that my way of contributing to the thread is telling my experience as my treatment develops. Big hugs to you all!❤❤❤🌹🌹🌹
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Thank you for the post PinkArmor, it is true that we can choose JOY daily! Thank you for your mindset and helping me.
I had my first rads treatment yesterday, went well. My tech's are great. The breathing was better than I expected, those of you having to hold your breath, it is not that bad and they really help you. I had a monitor to show where I had to be in holding, it helped me know I was doing it correctly.
I put a countdown on my calendar and have decided to cross out each day, it helps to see it will not be long! 1 of 20 down, #2 later today.
I am trying to exercise daily too, to try to avoid the se's if possible, not sure it will work but why not try!
Hope you all have a blessed day and all appointments go well today and everyone has a restful weekend.
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I love the uplifting posts as well, something to think about every day.
I am glad everyone is doing pretty well so far- it is encouraging to hear. I start next Friday so soon I will be joining in! My incisions are finally starting to show improvement so I don't think I will be delayed anymore. Plus I am in a clinical trial for the IORT I had during surgery and my paperwork says I have to start radiation within 8 weeks of that dose. It said I had 8 grays during surgery - which eliminated the 4 boost doses at the end. Does anyone know how much we get during each treatment? I assume 2 gray based on my IORT but I was just wondering.
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Smackan: I'm glad your wounds are healing! I hope your tx is light based on your previous radiation...
Rlws: Congrats on your first rads day! I cross out each rads day on my calendar too. Whith a big and fatty cross LOL. Today I made 10 of 33. The skin is still pretty good, it surprises me a little, but I have a secret ... I mix a lot of dmso, colloidal silver and some incense oil in my cream ... I think it's working
I have 15 full to do + 8 only for the scar ... 🐌🐌🐌
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yndorian1-you are now just about 1/3 of the way finished. Glad your cream mixture is helping you.
I got #3 under my belt this morning. Also saw the doctor. I am doing great. No pink,discomfort, or fatigue. Only 13 more to go for me. 👍
Smackan- forgive me if I asked you this before. If you had IORT why do you need additional rads? Is it because you chose to participate in the study? I also had IORT, but margins were not clear, so I was told that would indicate additional rads. Not sure how much we get, but for me I am only on the table for less than 5 minutes. I will ask next week about the amount I am getting.
rlws- Glad you got through #1, hoping # 2 goes well for you today. Glad breathing is not a big issue for you. I don't need to hold my breath, but do when I see the radiation is activated. It is a bit hard to lay still for me, but am doing ok.
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
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#9 down - 7 regular and 4 boosts left. So far so good. Skin still just slightly pink no worse. The scars seem to be an angry red but that's the anchor scar on the underneath of my breast that's the worse. So far it has not slowed down the healing on the open wound on the underneath either. It's down to just about the size of a papercut. Yeah! Don't feel too bad today either as far as tired goes. Hoping I can hold out where I am till this is done.
Ladies- enjoy your weekend and free time from doctors and rads! Do something nice for yourself this weekend - you all deserve it!
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upstateNYer- my IORT was only to replace the boosts as it was at directly on the tumor bed but they said I would still need 16 rads for whole breast radiation. It’s weird because the first doctor I started with said 30 rads. Then I switched to Ohio State and they said 20 rads - 16 whole breast and 4 boosts or just the 16 and IORT. I chose the IORT since I was having a reduction and everything would be moved around. I had DCIS and IDC, maybe that has something to do with it, I’m not sure.
Have a great weekend everyone
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I am leaving for my first Radiation session in 10 mins. I am a little anxious. The hospital is over an hour from my home - so the driving is almost more frustrating than the treatment! Rush hour is awful here!
I am so grateful for you all. This forum helps me feel much less alone in this madness. Thank you for all your info and support of each other!
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Acucindy- Good luck this morning. First one usually isn't too bad. My drive is long as well and then I drive to work in the opposite direction. I am beginning to hate driving now.- lol.
Happy Monday everyone! Hope our week goes well and we get to Friday with no side effects and feeling well!
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Acucindy - Sending warm hugs your way for your first treatment. For me, it was definitely the most anxious time (and I am not an anxious person). I agree that adding a drive time/commute sure makes it harder. But you will get this one done and be well on your way to the finish line!!
Hope everyone has a good upcoming week. I am actually feeling a bit fatigued since yesterday. Didn't get near the things done over the weekend that I had planned but I obviously needed the rest.
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11/33 done. It's official, I have finished the first third of the treatment! So far so good.
Acucindy: The beginning is scary! Then it becomes routine. I also have more than an hour trip to rads center, try to take it easy. "You don't have to be brave, you just have to show up" is my magic mantra. It works! How many treatments do you have to do?
To all of my rads partners: Have a nice week without SEs. ❤❤❤
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It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn't heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore's stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore.
"Hello Eeyore," said Pooh.
"Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet," said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice.
"We just thought we'd check in on you," said Piglet, "because we hadn't heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay."
Eeyore was silent for a moment. "Am I okay?" he asked, eventually. "Well, I don't know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That's what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. Which is why I haven't bothered you. Because you wouldn't want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now."
Pooh looked and Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house.
Eeyore looked at them in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"We're sitting here with you," said Pooh, "because we are your friends. And true friends don't care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are."
"Oh," said Eeyore. "Oh." And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better.
Because Pooh and Piglet were There. No more; no less.
A.A.Milne
E.H.ShepardLadies thanks for being my Pooh and Piglet!
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PinkArmour - no words are enough.....I love this!
AccuCindy - Welcome and thinking positive thoughts for you
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Pink Armor:
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💞Love to you, PinkArmor- Thinking we all feel the same here. Having friends really does help.
Acucindy- Hope all goes smoothly with treatment #1. The drive will be far longer than the actual treatment.
Polkadot- hope your fatigue lessens this week.
Yndorian-Wow, you are moving right along. Nice to be 1/3 the way completed.
Smackan- I had #4 of 16 today. I am getting doses of 267 centiGrays each time. If I were going for a longer period, doses would have been 168 centiGrays.
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PinkArmor - love it!
Acucindy - hope #1 went well. I was very nervous for #1 as well. It gets easier as you to know the staff that help you too!
Polkadot - sorry you are having some fatigue! Listen to your body.
I finished #3 of 20 today! This is my first full week. Skin is a tad pink but okay, using ointment prescribed by doc and lotion.
Praying for all to have manageable SE's!
Stay strong!
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"There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which kindles up, and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity. "– Washington Irving
Good Morning Ladies!
Number 11 is in the books Yay! Love this quote - Let's show Cancer the fire in us! Hope everyone has a good treatment day!
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Pink Armor, beautiful quote! And so appropriate. If the accounts do not fail me you have already passed half of the treatment ... you can already see the light on the other side of the tunnel, congratulations!
12/33 today for me. Skin is ok. My RO forbade me to massage the wound or stretch my arm a lot, so just gentle massage to prevent LE. I'm finding out for a sleeve to avoid lymphedema. I don't have a LE specialist so I will ask my SO for the appropriate measure.
Have a nice day, ladies❤
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I finished mine on march 11. I had 28 plus 7 boost. I used lotion several times daily and got a prescription for Silver Sulfadiazine cream1% when the skin got too red and tender. That cream is amazing. The time passes quicker than I imagined it would. Good luck to you in your treatment.
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Yndorian1 - Yes I am half way thru my treatments! I am starting to itch on the incisions and they are very red and angry looking. Also my nipple has turned a really dark almost black color- not sure what that means. I had reconstruction surgery and they had to do a nipple graft so I don't know if that makes a difference or not. I will ask the nurses in the morning. Not feeling too bad overall.
How is everyone else doing? rlws, UpstateNYer, smackan, polkadot1, acucindy- sound off. We want to make sure you are doing ok
. Tomorrow we will have 3 down 2 left for the week.
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Hi everyone! I have my dry run this Friday and start radiation on Monday. I'm not happy that my appointment time will jump around a bit. That means more time off from work. But hopefully I can get it set for a 7am slot next week and won't have to miss much the next three weeks.
Ha PinkArmor! I am Eeyore! Really that's what my family and friends say. Although I say I'm just more of a realist. ;
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Hi, I just started radiation today. I swear I am already extremely fatigued. I think this whole journey so far has taken a toll on me. I live on a farm, and also a Dog Groomer. I am worried about how radiation is going to affect my health. It was an very hard decision to make. Both my husband and I were not in favor of doing it, but here i am 1st treatment done. I have a wonderful Radiologist who answered all my questions. I read, and researched, and then we listened to what he had to say. I still worry about if this was the right decision. As far as your question about things to do. I use cream or vitamin e oil on my breast 2x a day. I am drinking a lot of water. I am going to try and get more rest, but it is hard when you worry. I also got bras that hook in the front, instead of slip on ones. I have 20 treatments, with 4 of those being boosts at the end. Good luck!
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Anamaeted- thanks for the recommendation. Always nice to get advice from those who’ve been there.
PinkArmor- Yay for being half way through!! Tomorrow will be my eighth treatment and then I will be half way too!
Skin is holding up great so far. Was only slightly pink those first two days then went away. I’m sure there will be more but taking it one day at a time.
Hope everyone’s rest of the week goes well :
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Tricksndtreats: welcome to the thread. Fatigue hit me immediately after first treatment. I was very scared, but after 12 sessions it has not increased. I completely understand you, my body is screaming "I don't want more this" The last stretch seems to be endless, right?Hopefully you will get well and your 20 applications will be finished before you know it. Hugs ❤
Anamaeted: I will look for that cream. I know that silver is a great healer and regenerative. Thanks for the advice!
Polkadot1: I hope your skin behaves like a good girl for the rest of your treatments. I am so jealous of those who are already in the middle of their applications! (Sigh here) However I am happy for you 😘
DogMomRunner: I wish you a good start with rads on Monday. Try to relax, enjoy this days of freedom, take lots of foam baths now since you won't be able to do it again for a while! ❤
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DogMomRunner- I love Eyeore he's my 2nd favorite - Tigger is 1st. I think Eyeore is just honest about how he feels- love that. Hope they can get you a set appt. Mine isn't till 8 so I miss about 3 hours of work. Treatment is in the opposite direction of work so it's a 30 min drive to tx then back and then 30 to work. I wanted to go after but my clinic doesn't do tx after 12 pm. Work has been fine with it but I hate having to keep missing time. Do you know how many txs yet?
tricksandtreats - Welcome you've come to a good place. The first day is always tough. Once you get use to the routine it kind of helps. Adding the extra trip to the clinic in your day does add more to your day -so you will be a bit more tired. I hear as txs go on the fatigue gets a bit worse. Our bodies have already been thru so much and it's just adding more. Take advantage of the weekends- just rest. It really helps alot. I find by Friday I am alot more tired than before all this began. I think all of us worry about if we have made the right decisions; you just have to trust in the MO and other Drs that this will be the best course of action. For me it came down to better safe than sorry. All I could see in my minds eye was these little tiny monsters running loose in my breast just going crazy waiting to turn into invasive cancer and run loose to other parts of my body. I know the Dr said she felt she got it all but in the end I couldn't take the chance. Good luck with your treatments.
I was lucky a local woman makes a gel that has all the ingredients that the RO's suggest you use in one easy application and not costly either. So far it's working great.
Polkadot - yay on the same schedule it seems. Hope it goes quickly for you.
Had #12 today. 8 more to go. Nurses said that the darkening nipple is very common and may get darker.
Oh well, no one is going to see it anyway. She said it could go back to normal but it would take months. Thought for today: Remember how far you have come, not just how far you have to go. You may not be where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be.
We've come along way ladies - let's celebrate that!
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Hello all!
I did #4 yesterday and have #5 later today, out of 20. So far skin is pink but okay. I am tired, I find in the afternoons is worse, get a foggy head and just am super tired. Not normal for me at all as I am very high energy. I agree that our bodies have been through a ton, I had two surgeries within two weeks. I am trying to get some exercise daily to help.
PinkArmor- congrats on halfway through! Your quotes are very inspiring - Thank you!
Trickspdtreats - welcome to the group! And good luck
DogMomRunner - good luck in your dry run! I know it really helped me to have that dry run with the breathing for the left side! I was so much better after I did it!
You all inspire me as you work and have your treatment. I am only working part time during this process teaching some online courses as I am a Professor so I am not doing courses on campus as my surgeries were also during the start of the semester.
May everyone have a great day. Listen to your bodies and take care of you! Prayers coming from me to all!
rlws
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13/33 done. I'll cheat and I'll just count the 25 regular treatments ... then I'm halfway there too! 😜 My skin is still fine. HUGS LADIES ❤
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Yndorian1 - YAY! I will go with you and count that you are halfway there too!
rlws - I agree I was high energy all the time - hubby couldn't keep up. And now I am barely making it thru work to get home and crash. I use to do a days work at home after a full day. Not these days. I am learning to either let my hubby do it or just not stress about it not getting done. So ok I have dust bunnies and everything isn't spotless, that's ok. In a year, who will remember. Pick your battles. I am more important than dust bunnies.
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Thanks for the warm welcome:) I have been reading this forum ever since I started this journey. A lot of the questions for the Radiologist I gleaned from here. I am not as tired today as I was yesterday. Slept better last night. Does anyone here have to do the breath holds? My cancer is in my right breast, but apparently I have a high liver. I have to do the deep breath to move it down. I went on line and researched and watched videos on how to do it. It really is not hard, which I am thankful for. I hope that I will be able to keep working, and not get too sore or fatigued. My wonderful customers have been really supportive and understanding through the surgery and now this. I have my radiation in the morning, it takes about an hour to drive there. I am just grooming a few dogs in the afternoon now.
Again thank you for making me feel welcome:)
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tricksandtreats - I do the breath holds, mine is on the left and therefore it is for my heart and lung. They really help you. At my clinic, I have a monitor that I view while I hold my breath and have a line that I watch and make sure that I am at while holding. The monitor helps me and rads people are viewing the same image to watch and make sure I am where I need to be, which is comforting! I was still nervous the first two sessions, but now it is okay, today was #5. Hope this helps!
PinkArmor - Thanks for sharing! Yes, things are not done to perfection. My hubby has been great as well! I look forward to that day I am back to my high energy self, but not in my time of course. Also need to be grateful for the journey!
25% done for me! I like to look at the positive. I have a doc appointment tomorrow after treatment, that will be my first visit since I started last week.
Have a great evening!
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