working during radiation

Violet123

NoTimeForCancer said:

Violet, can I ask what kind

Violet, can I ask what kind of office you work in where the flu shot is mandatory?  I understand requirements, I am just curious.  The N95 is a serious mask!  Technically people are supposed to complete the medical eval to wear a N95 and up - meaning a full fledged respirator.  I will say - that N95 is pretty strong.  Those little dust masks or hospital masks don't hold water when compared to them.

i work in a medical setting.

i work in a medical setting.  No way of getting out of the flu shot without a doctors note.

ckdgedmom

I worked through radiation

My first round of radiation (25 external/3 brachy) I did during the summer and was not working as I work at a high school. It did make me a bit tired but mostly I was fine other than a bit of diarhea and some nausea. I took generic Zofran for the nausea and it helped with the diarrhea as well because for me they go hand in hand...

My second round of radiation (30 rounds to lymph nodes in my neck) I worked through and did fine...not as tired (weirdly as I was working) and managed to work and exercise...maybe it was easier on me since it was not pelvic and abdominal and was less intense. I was having cisplatin infusions as well and that knocked out my platelets, white blood cells and red blood cells...THAT made me tired...

my skin did really well through the treatments...for the abdominal/pelvic I had no skin issues. The radiation to my neck did make my neck area red and the last week of treatment I did get some bleeding and scabbing (it was like a really bad sunburn) but I used Rodan + Fields Soothe cream on it and my neck healed quickly and with no scarring and no signs that I had radiation there. My radiology oncologist is blown away and he keeps touching and looking at my neck when he sees me because he says he has never had a patient have radiation there and come out of it with zero signs that anything was done--until me...so I give credit to the creams...

Oh and I took a probiotic the whole time (and still do)...I order mine through a friend who sells Plexus products but there are many excellent probiotics out there...

outdoor75

derMaus said:

Also, Depends

Also, consider a small package of Depends. I was mighty affronted that I had to purchase them, and only really used them once, but having 'em around was a big comfort. I always took a pair when traveling or in other places where I was uncertain of the bathroom facilities. The price of a package is worth it in peace of mind, IMO.

EWW Please

Hey why bring that up. Yes, pelvic radiation is a period where you have to be watchful..but by no means requires thinking about depends..how depressing!  Keep to the bland diet and keep the medication close by.. it can be managed well.  Me.. Pelvic radiation 1 year ago.. tough emotionally but had fantastic techs.

I am totally well now.. my bowels have change a bit.. but never ever not do radiation based on all the scare stories out there.  I did not not do chemo.. I beleive it with radiation is too much.. you will kill yourself.

The 6 weeks of radiation was 'different' but it never meant buying depends as other might have you believe..it can be managed quite well and after it is over it resolves.

 

 

 

 

 

derMaus

outdoor75 said:

EWW Please

Hey why bring that up. Yes, pelvic radiation is a period where you have to be watchful..but by no means requires thinking about depends..how depressing!  Keep to the bland diet and keep the medication close by.. it can be managed well.  Me.. Pelvic radiation 1 year ago.. tough emotionally but had fantastic techs.

I am totally well now.. my bowels have change a bit.. but never ever not do radiation based on all the scare stories out there.  I did not not do chemo.. I beleive it with radiation is too much.. you will kill yourself.

The 6 weeks of radiation was 'different' but it never meant buying depends as other might have you believe..it can be managed quite well and after it is over it resolves.

 

 

 

 

 

I Disagree

I'm the person who suggested Depends. It gave my psychological comfort. We're all different and what you find "depressing" another may find useful. 

outdoor75

derMaus said:

Also, Depends

Also, consider a small package of Depends. I was mighty affronted that I had to purchase them, and only really used them once, but having 'em around was a big comfort. I always took a pair when traveling or in other places where I was uncertain of the bathroom facilities. The price of a package is worth it in peace of mind, IMO.

Do not drink the koolaid

Use your own instinsts.. do not just say yes to all agressive treatments..  chemo.. with chemo brain.. 

MAbound

outdoor75 said:

EWW Please

Hey why bring that up. Yes, pelvic radiation is a period where you have to be watchful..but by no means requires thinking about depends..how depressing!  Keep to the bland diet and keep the medication close by.. it can be managed well.  Me.. Pelvic radiation 1 year ago.. tough emotionally but had fantastic techs.

I am totally well now.. my bowels have change a bit.. but never ever not do radiation based on all the scare stories out there.  I did not not do chemo.. I beleive it with radiation is too much.. you will kill yourself.

The 6 weeks of radiation was 'different' but it never meant buying depends as other might have you believe..it can be managed quite well and after it is over it resolves.

 

 

 

 

 

I agree with Der Maus

Your experience of radiation was different from what many others have endured, maybe because you didn't have chemo in addition to it, maybe because of the extent of the area that was exposed, or maybe because of how it was delivered. The point is that there are a lot of variables involved and being prepared for whatever may happen is not a bad thing. Diarrhea is a very unpleasant potential side effect especially for those who have any distance to travel for treatments and it would be kind of hard to run out to the store to deal with it in the midst of it. If the Depends aren't needed....hallelujah!....but if they are, having a few on hand would be a Godsend. Why bring it up? Because it happens and this is a place where we can discus and share our experiences and offer advice without having to worry about being judged about it....at least most of the time. You can accept what's offered or not, but let's not descend into critisizing or taking offense at what's offered in the spirit of trying to help.

jodil

MAbound said:

I agree with Der Maus

Your experience of radiation was different from what many others have endured, maybe because you didn't have chemo in addition to it, maybe because of the extent of the area that was exposed, or maybe because of how it was delivered. The point is that there are a lot of variables involved and being prepared for whatever may happen is not a bad thing. Diarrhea is a very unpleasant potential side effect especially for those who have any distance to travel for treatments and it would be kind of hard to run out to the store to deal with it in the midst of it. If the Depends aren't needed....hallelujah!....but if they are, having a few on hand would be a Godsend. Why bring it up? Because it happens and this is a place where we can discus and share our experiences and offer advice without having to worry about being judged about it....at least most of the time. You can accept what's offered or not, but let's not descend into critisizing or taking offense at what's offered in the spirit of trying to help.

happy to have ALLsuggestions

I have received such valuable information from this board, some I use,some doesn't fit for me but I hate to feel that if I submit a suggestion that someone disagrees with I might be shamed for what works for me. Who needs that?! As for Depends, totally a personal decision. No need for criticizing someone for what they choose to do. Simply don't take the suggestion if it doesn't apply to you. Personally, it makes me feel better if I am prepared for the unknown. 

 

 

 

 

lovemyhubby

outdoor75 said:

Do not drink the koolaid

Use your own instinsts.. do not just say yes to all agressive treatments..  chemo.. with chemo brain.. 

Thank you for responding to

Thank you for responding to my posts and I consider all advice given to me from this sight. I am not someone who blindly follows treatment recommendations. As is common with many of us, I do read volumes of research, usually when I can’t sleep at 3 am. The decisions I have made were based on what I believe will give me my best chance for survival, maybe even a cure. I believe we all want the same outcome. I visit this sight to gather information from those who have experienced similar issues, to mourn for those who have lost their battle to this disease and celebrate the victories of those who continue the battle. 

Soup52

I feel  I must comment on

I feel  I must comment on radiation. I had both kinds in addition to 6 rounds of chemo. Both along with surgery have left me Ned for my 3C clear cell endometrial cancer. I did not have diarea but constipation instead. I still battle with this but with the help of a gastroenterologist I am dealing pretty well. For me all of this has been worth it. I have been NED for a year and a half. I never had to have Neulasta or to miss any chemos planned. For me this agressive approach has been well worth it.

takingcontrol58

lovemyhubby said:

I have been taking the

I have been taking the extended release given one of your earlier posts.  I want to thank you for one of your earlier posts regarding how to approach doctors about Metformin.  My MO thought it was a good idea but said she could not prescribe it. I copied the research articles you mentioned, took them to my PCP and she prescribed it.  She is willing to prescribe it for 6 months but wants information regarding dosage for those of us not diabetic and how long after treatment we should take it.  Any information you could share with me?  Thanks!

Love my hubby

Sorry, I just saw this post.
I find it sad that your doctor is not looking into the dosage for those
people who are not diabetic.  I was not diabetic. I was prediabetic
and had insulin reisistance.  What are your glucose and insulin levels?

Typically, a person that is non-diabetic is started with 500mg/day. I was
started with 1000mg/day- though I was metastatic at the time. My dose
was upped to 1500mg/day after I finished chemo, since I still had 2cm of
tumors left. I remain on that dose today.

My glucose was alway between 110-120- pre-diabetic-  Today it averages
85-90, which is an ideal number.

This drug also is known to prevent cancer from forming.  I believe that is why I 
have remained cancer free.  So I plan to say on the drug.  I have been on it
now for 3 years and have been in remission for 3 years. Again, if you have some
of the health issues that metformin targets, or the mutations it targets (and it is
well known what it targets), this drug could be very effective for you. But you 
also have to target your other health issues. Metformin may not target anything.

You need to be sure to send your tumor for genomic testing.

Takingcontrol58