Radiation Question

jaavon2002
jaavon2002 Member Posts: 57
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Is radiation administered 5 or 7 days a week. I see my radiation oncologist on July 13th but wanted to know before I plan a weekend trip for the end of the month.

Comments

  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #2
    They usually do it M-F
    and not on weekends so that your skin cells can heal before you go back again on Monday.I wouldn't start figuring dates though yet if I were you because it usually takes a while for them to do what they call a "simulation" and that.
  • jaavon2002
    jaavon2002 Member Posts: 57
    #3
    outdoorgirl said:

    They usually do it M-F
    and not on weekends so that your skin cells can heal before you go back again on Monday.I wouldn't start figuring dates though yet if I were you because it usually takes a while for them to do what they call a "simulation" and that.

    Simulation
    That is what I'm scheduled for on the 13th...and she said something about tatooing.
  • outdoorgirl
    outdoorgirl Member Posts: 1,565
    #4
    jaavon2002 said:

    Simulation
    That is what I'm scheduled for on the 13th...and she said something about tatooing.

    Oh yeah,
    I forgot about that. That's just so they know where to direct the radiation each time. My "tatoos" were drawn on with a sharpie pen,but others have really gotten tatoos that are permanent(but they are very small in size).
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #5
    outdoorgirl said:

    Oh yeah,
    I forgot about that. That's just so they know where to direct the radiation each time. My "tatoos" were drawn on with a sharpie pen,but others have really gotten tatoos that are permanent(but they are very small in size).

    I take rads 5 days a week
    I take rads 5 days a week with the weekends off. I am taking 35 treatments, including boosters. I got the permanent tattoos which are so tiny you can barely see them. I am not too tired yet, and, not burnt yet. I think those are the two main side effects that I know of.
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #6
    Hi Jaavon!
    Noone seems to have the exact plan when it comes to radiation treatments. So, they all vary somewhat. I had 37 rads this time, 25 regular and then 12 boosters to the tumor site. I went Monday thru Friday, weekends off. I did get quite tired from the rads themselves and that is one of the side effects, and, I am still tired. :( I also got a couple of places that were burnt, but, my radiation oncologist gave me prescriptions that helped. And, it probably took 2 weeks after my last treatment for it to all heal up. Don't use anything on your radiated skin without consulting with your rads oncologist and getting his ok. You will do fine!
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #7
    Jeanne D said:

    Hi Jaavon!
    Noone seems to have the exact plan when it comes to radiation treatments. So, they all vary somewhat. I had 37 rads this time, 25 regular and then 12 boosters to the tumor site. I went Monday thru Friday, weekends off. I did get quite tired from the rads themselves and that is one of the side effects, and, I am still tired. :( I also got a couple of places that were burnt, but, my radiation oncologist gave me prescriptions that helped. And, it probably took 2 weeks after my last treatment for it to all heal up. Don't use anything on your radiated skin without consulting with your rads oncologist and getting his ok. You will do fine!

    radiation
    I go for #9 radiation treatment this afternoon. Monday through Friday ... 33 total. I didn't get tattooed .. instead my radiologist uses some sort of magic marker (bright blue!) and then put those little round clear tape things over the marks. It's the kind of tape that REALLY stays on. They have had to change the marks a couple of times ... so the marker and tape made it easy.

    So far no burns ...

    hugs.
    teena
  • sausageroll
    sausageroll Member Posts: 415
    #8
    tgf said:

    radiation
    I go for #9 radiation treatment this afternoon. Monday through Friday ... 33 total. I didn't get tattooed .. instead my radiologist uses some sort of magic marker (bright blue!) and then put those little round clear tape things over the marks. It's the kind of tape that REALLY stays on. They have had to change the marks a couple of times ... so the marker and tape made it easy.

    So far no burns ...

    hugs.
    teena

    No weekends here
    Monday through Friday for me too. UMMC only does tatoos for people where the markers wear off easily, because they find the "shifts" during your treatments are easier to manage that way. I am on 18 of 33. Not too bad at all so far..somewhat tired and just started to burn under the breast...but otherwise O.K. Good luck.

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