I Finished Radiation Treatments!!!!!

24

Comments

  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    Congratulations, Jeanne!
    I am so happy for you, Jeanne! 37 total rads must have been a challenge, but you made it through. I hope I can follow your excellent example. I hope, too, that your energy comes back quickly.
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    Alexis F said:

    Just joined but wanted to say congrats!
    Congratulations to you Jeanne D! I am starting radiation soon and will be reading the posts on here to see what to expect. The radiation oncologist has told me and given me literature, but, it always better to get first hand experience. So, wish me luck and congrats again to you!

    Welcome, Alexis
    Hi, Alexis, glad you found us. I start radiation this month also; like you, I have been reading the posts here. The first-hand experience of the wonderful women here helped me make it through chemo, and I know they will be great resources for our radiation treatments.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    Moopy23 said:

    Welcome, Alexis
    Hi, Alexis, glad you found us. I start radiation this month also; like you, I have been reading the posts here. The first-hand experience of the wonderful women here helped me make it through chemo, and I know they will be great resources for our radiation treatments.

    Thank you one and all!
    I am glad I found this site too. I am not looking forward to radiation, but, I know that it is necessary. I hope that all of us newbies to radiation will get along fine. And once again, Jeanne D, I am very happy for you and the end of your treatments. I hope that you heal up soon.
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    Moopy23 said:

    Congratulations, Jeanne!
    I am so happy for you, Jeanne! 37 total rads must have been a challenge, but you made it through. I hope I can follow your excellent example. I hope, too, that your energy comes back quickly.

    WTG Jeanne!
    Congrats on the completion of your rads! 37? That is a lot to go thru, but, you made it girl! I will be done soon too! ( screaming and cheering and yelling..YEAAAA! ) I wish you the best! WTG!
  • EveningStar2
    EveningStar2 Member Posts: 491 Member
    Jeanne D said:

    Thanks Noel and Maureen
    Thank you for the congrats! Noel, I will congratulate you early on finishing your rad treatments. I know they aren't easy. And Maureen, how are you doing? Are you all healed up now and have some energy? I look forward to that day!

    healing
    Yep, healed and getting back to "normal" whatever that is. I have finally gotten to the point that if I take an afternoon nap, I have problems sleeping at night. This is probably one of the few places in the world where people understand why I consider that a good thing. ;-)

    If your skin is open from the burn, get some silvadene. Its really good stuff!

    Maureen
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    Boosters?
    Congrats to you!!!!! It is wonderful to be done, isn't it???

    Quick question: What are the "boosters" you refer to? Granted, my radiation was back in 2003, and I have forgotten a lot about the treatment ( YAY) but I am not at all familiar with boosters. Seems to me, each of my rads was exactly like the one preceeding it...

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    Moopy23 said:

    Congratulations, Jeanne!
    I am so happy for you, Jeanne! 37 total rads must have been a challenge, but you made it through. I hope I can follow your excellent example. I hope, too, that your energy comes back quickly.

    Je Knee I know how to pronounce it!!
    My hero! and congratulations! I will be listening to your advise regularly.. I start rads soon.

    and it is so gooood to hear of one of my sisters done with it. all my best to you always!
    love jackie
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    I am doing my Happy Dance for you!
    Congrats!!!!!!!!

    image
  • djteach
    djteach Member Posts: 273
    Yeah, Jeanne!!!!!!!!!!!! I
    Yeah, Jeanne!!!!!!!!!!!! I am doing my happy chair dance--with my pink boa!Wo-o-o-o-o Wh-o-o-o-o. Here is to healing quickly and having fun!

    Love and Gentle Hugs,
    Donna
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    chenheart said:

    Boosters?
    Congrats to you!!!!! It is wonderful to be done, isn't it???

    Quick question: What are the "boosters" you refer to? Granted, my radiation was back in 2003, and I have forgotten a lot about the treatment ( YAY) but I am not at all familiar with boosters. Seems to me, each of my rads was exactly like the one preceeding it...

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    Note to Kindred Spirit, again...
    You missed a simple yet accurate explanation of rad "boosters" within this thread, above, kindly supplied by Lili & per your request. So, I won't repeat... Just scroll up from here and you'll find it.

    Just F.Y.I. - my own radiation treatments occurred in 2004. Prior to beginning, my rad onc told me "probably" 35 "standard" treatments; or, "possibly" 30 "standard" followed by 5 "boosters"... In the end, I had 35 "standard" rad treatments - no "boosters"... Just as chemotherapy differs, so do rads - depending on patient's circumstances, etc. ... "Boosters" MAY (I'm just guessing, really) be more common for the surgery/rads combo vs. surgery/chemo/rads. My guess is not based on any type of technical medical knowledge - it just seems that way based on what's been shared by other BC patients.

    Kind regards, 12/25
    (a/k/a Susan)
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    djteach said:

    Yeah, Jeanne!!!!!!!!!!!! I
    Yeah, Jeanne!!!!!!!!!!!! I am doing my happy chair dance--with my pink boa!Wo-o-o-o-o Wh-o-o-o-o. Here is to healing quickly and having fun!

    Love and Gentle Hugs,
    Donna

    Thank you all for the hugs
    Thank you all for the hugs and good wishes! This place is awesome, and, you all are truly awesome too ! And, thanks for they happy dances..lol I can always get a good laugh here! Hope you all had a great day and have a great night! love, jeanne
    image
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867

    Boosters
    Hey Claudia Boosters are targeted to the area where the tumor was located. They do a more concentrated and higher dose in that one spot and is usually done at the end after the whole breast area was radiated. Hugs, Lili

    Claudia
    Lili is right. The "boosters" are given at the end of the radiation treatment. They are a higher dose of radiation to the actual tumor site and some surrounding tissue. They are to get rid of any cancer cells that may still be around the tumor site. I didn't have them my first time with breast cancer either, but, that was a long time ago and I only had 25 treatments then. So, since they are a higher concentrated dose, that is why the "booster's burnt me, whereas the regular rads, just turned me pink in a couple of places. So, BOO to boosters! lol
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867

    healing
    Yep, healed and getting back to "normal" whatever that is. I have finally gotten to the point that if I take an afternoon nap, I have problems sleeping at night. This is probably one of the few places in the world where people understand why I consider that a good thing. ;-)

    If your skin is open from the burn, get some silvadene. Its really good stuff!

    Maureen

    I am so glad that your skin
    I am so glad that your skin is healed up Maureen. I can't wait until mine is. I already feel kind of lost, not going to my radiation treatment. It is like..what do I do now? I am exhausted though from it, maybe I will just rest. lol And, silvadene? Do I need a prescription for that Maureen? I have been using Biafine and Aquafor on it. It isn't open, it is just burnt and blistered. Thanks! Jeanne
    image
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    Exhale
    Congratulations Jeanne!! Now you can exhale and ponder the next segment on this journey. Healing and putting your life back together. Good luck to you.
    love
    jan
  • EveningStar2
    EveningStar2 Member Posts: 491 Member
    Jeanne D said:

    I am so glad that your skin
    I am so glad that your skin is healed up Maureen. I can't wait until mine is. I already feel kind of lost, not going to my radiation treatment. It is like..what do I do now? I am exhausted though from it, maybe I will just rest. lol And, silvadene? Do I need a prescription for that Maureen? I have been using Biafine and Aquafor on it. It isn't open, it is just burnt and blistered. Thanks! Jeanne
    image

    naps
    Naps are your friend. You don't need silvadene unless it opens up and if it does have your doctor call in a script--it's good stuff.

    Maureen
  • chili
    chili Member Posts: 32
    Congrats!!!
    I'm doing the happy chair dance for you also! My techs told me that the regular rad treatment uses photons and does the entire breast, the booster uses electrons and just the tumor site. My incision was off to the side and therefore not as heavily involved. Keep using the cream - I cooked for a few days after and the red area grew in size - the rad nurse told me this is normal. I'm now peeling with another layer of red underneath. I finished last Wednesday. Energy has been up and down since then. So glad you've finished and with such a great attitude - keep it up and hugs to you.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    chenheart said:

    Boosters?
    Congrats to you!!!!! It is wonderful to be done, isn't it???

    Quick question: What are the "boosters" you refer to? Granted, my radiation was back in 2003, and I have forgotten a lot about the treatment ( YAY) but I am not at all familiar with boosters. Seems to me, each of my rads was exactly like the one preceeding it...

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    I think others have answered
    I think others have answered your question Claudia about the boosters, but, they are a more concentrated higher dose of radiation given right to the tumor site. I will be done with mine this week also. The tech's say they are easier, but, I am burnt worse from them. :(
  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    rjjj said:

    Je Knee I know how to pronounce it!!
    My hero! and congratulations! I will be listening to your advise regularly.. I start rads soon.

    and it is so gooood to hear of one of my sisters done with it. all my best to you always!
    love jackie

    Yes, it is Je Knee lol
    I wanted to make sure that Claudia chanted it right over the weekend. lol I hope that I have helped some of you that will be starting rads soon. And, if you have questions..just ask me. And, thank you Jackie. I will be here for you if you need any help or any questions answered. I know we are all different and react differently, but, it is also nice to "kind of" know what to expect or how to help certain situations. The radiation techs try to help as the radiation oncologist, but, hands on experience helps a LOT! Thanks again!
    love, jeanne
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member

    naps
    Naps are your friend. You don't need silvadene unless it opens up and if it does have your doctor call in a script--it's good stuff.

    Maureen

    I love my naps too. haha I
    I love my naps too. haha I think everyone needs them during rads and after. I can't wait to be done with them.
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    Noel said:

    I love my naps too. haha I
    I love my naps too. haha I think everyone needs them during rads and after. I can't wait to be done with them.

    NAPS!
    Before BC, I was most certainly NOT a napper. Never, ever.

    Now - WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY! Naps are like a magic elixir. My sole "guilty pleasure" - although, quite honestly, I don't feel guilty about them, at all. Because, for me, they are - at times, not always - absolutely NECESSARY! Like water, food, shelter. My body just needs 'em.

    'Nuf said.

    Kind regards, Susan