RADIATION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS # 2

cindycflynn said:

Kari - try Just My Size
I found a bra style on their website (www.jms.com) that is almost like a sports bra, except that it has hook & eye closures in the front, which makes it a lot easier to put on and take off. It's made from all cotton with a bit of spandex. I would suggest ordering a size up in width from what you usually wear to give you extra comfort around your sides, especially if you're going to wear a t-shirt underneath.

Good luck!

Cindy

1 down and 29 to go
That was easy! Got my lotion and my soap and my attitude! Let's do this ladies!

Mama G said:

1 down and 29 to go
That was easy! Got my lotion and my soap and my attitude! Let's do this ladies!

only 12 more to go
Only 12 more to go for me! My rad dr. drew around my scar today. They are making a new plan for my "boosters" that will start after 7 more treatments. For those of you that have done this . . . is this when the burn really begins?? I am plenty toasty already . . . just hoping I can hang on!!

pinkkari09 said:

Yah, Mama G, you got one
Yah, Mama G, you got one down. Today was 5 down and 30 to go for me. We should be done the same time. What's this cavity stuff? HELP, my teeth are so important to me plus I don't have dental ins. Thanks for the bra advice too, I'll look into that.

Teeth & boosters
I saw my dentist during rads, and asked my radiation oncologist very specifically about it beforehand, just to make sure. He told me since I was receiving no radiation to the head or neck area, it would have no affect on my teeth or mouth at all.

My dentist, though, did mention that he has some experience with *chemo* making patients more cavity-prone up to 6 months after finishing chemo (though he isn't knowledgeable about different chemo drugs, so couldn't tell me specifically which cocktails -- his other patients might have received completely different drugs than we get).

Sharon, boosters are radiation only to the tumor site(s), instead of to the entire breast, so you may actually start to see some healing to the rest of your breast(s). I had burned really badly under my arms by the time I got to the boosters, but, since my tumors were nowhere near there, the boosters didn't touch there, and that allowed my skin to start healing.

Traci

Flakey_Flake said:

Lymphedema and Rads?
Wow! All the helpful tips I am finding on rads today. I had thought I wasn't going to require rads, but last week my onc said I should have them because they reduce the chance of reoccurrence by 30%. So the whole radiation thing came as a bit of a surprise. He said my surgeon should have discussed this with me, but I sure don't remember. I am just so glad this thread got pushed up.

I've got my tattoos and am marked with the markers too. Tuesday I am to have my first treatment. I'm not really nervous about it. I have a really good rad doc. He told me the worst, and then told me that it was the worst, and I could probably expect it not to be as bad as he described. He also said that women are the least likely to complain about any pains, as we have lived most of our lives experiencing menstrual pain every month. He said it is women who are the most likely to be rather stoic, and that is not what he wants. He wants to hear about any little ache or pain I might experience, because it could be the start of something important and he wants to be able to catch any complications as early as possible.

One thing he warned about that I haven't found in this discussion, was lymphedema, and that I should pay special attention to my arm on the side where lymph nodes were removed. They actually measure the arm before starting, so they have a base line to track any swelling that might occur. He said lymphedema usually starts out with the arm feeling "heavy" and maybe a slight ache to it. Has anyone else had this brought up by any of your health care givers in relation to radiation?

I also have an appointment with a physical therapist. I'm not quite sure why anymore, but I think they go over ways to cope with the effects of radiation therapy and what to expect when I go for treatment. I guess I'll find out when I get there. Did anyone else have this before treatment? Or is the clinic I go to especially thorough? Before I started chemo, one of the chemo RNs gave me a tour of the chemo area, and was shown the suite of private rooms where they administer chemo, and answer any questions I might have. It sure helped to know how things were set up before getting a treatment.

So far the only thing I don't like about it is not being able to apply deodorant before treatment. Phew! Nothing like a stinky pit. I feel sorry for the techs.

lymphedema and rads
too funny the deodorant thing really bothered me too! I found that I didn't have a problem with sweat or anything, it's amazing that the affected armpit just doesn't require it during rads. I also said, I feel bad for the techs and they assured me that they are used to everything. I was also afraid of Lymphedema but thank God, I didn't have any problems. Finished Dec 22, 2009.
Best of luck and you will get through it just like everything else we do in this journey. I actually felt sad when I was finished.

TraciInLA said:

Teeth & boosters
I saw my dentist during rads, and asked my radiation oncologist very specifically about it beforehand, just to make sure. He told me since I was receiving no radiation to the head or neck area, it would have no affect on my teeth or mouth at all.

My dentist, though, did mention that he has some experience with *chemo* making patients more cavity-prone up to 6 months after finishing chemo (though he isn't knowledgeable about different chemo drugs, so couldn't tell me specifically which cocktails -- his other patients might have received completely different drugs than we get).

Sharon, boosters are radiation only to the tumor site(s), instead of to the entire breast, so you may actually start to see some healing to the rest of your breast(s). I had burned really badly under my arms by the time I got to the boosters, but, since my tumors were nowhere near there, the boosters didn't touch there, and that allowed my skin to start healing.

Traci

I am not prone to cavities
I am not prone to cavities and my mouth felt dry. I thought it was the radiation making me hot, but it changed my saliva. I wonder if it was because I had My chest radiated. up to my clavicle? anyway my mouth was dry and I got cavities, and it was a year after chemo. (I had a local recurence long story) I am having chest radiation again, so I will be on the lookout and next week I will ask. things change alot in 15 years.

carkris said:

I am not prone to cavities
I am not prone to cavities and my mouth felt dry. I thought it was the radiation making me hot, but it changed my saliva. I wonder if it was because I had My chest radiated. up to my clavicle? anyway my mouth was dry and I got cavities, and it was a year after chemo. (I had a local recurence long story) I am having chest radiation again, so I will be on the lookout and next week I will ask. things change alot in 15 years.

had radiation sim today start
had radiation sim today start for real tomorrow, wonder how you all are doing? She said the cavities were from chemo not rads. delayed reaction.

cindycflynn said:

So far, so good!
9 down, and 21 to go - I'm almost 1/3 of the way through and so far just a very slight tenderness to my irradiated side as a whole (not just the skin). I've been religious about putting on the lotion, which I'm sure is helping, and it was nice to have the weekend break to give my flesh a chance to cool off a bit. I can definitely feel a temperature difference on the two sides.

Every time I put the lotion on, I can't get the image of that scene from Silence of the Lambs out of my head, where he says "It puts the lotion on it's skin!!! I wish I could think of something else while I'm doing that!

Good luck tomorrow Carkris - I'm sure you'll be just fine!

Take care,
Cindy

oh my gosh I forgot about
oh my gosh I forgot about that line!!!!! glad things are well. cindy
Penny

I have a couple of questions.
I have a couple of questions.
How many days was your treatment?
What type of radiation equipement was used? IMRT, Rapid Arc etc.
Was it your left breast and what precations were taken to protect your heart and lungs?

Thanks

Donna

Mama G said:

I can answer a couple of those questions.
For me I have to do 33 treatments. It started out 30, but found out today the doctor decided to cut the doses to prevent burning of the skin and divide it out 3 more day.
I hate when they make a decision without discussing it with the patient.
It's my left breast and they took x rays of the location of my heart and lungs and marked
my area for radiation accordingly. They told me this was to keep the radiation away from those 2 areas for my own protection. Sounds good to me! The good part is they also checked the area for any cancer growth and there was none! whew...

glad you are clear mama G .
glad you are clear mama G . they do all the planning to miss your heart and lungs. I had rads 15 years a go and worried about this (left side) I spoke to a fellow at the hospital and he said My onc was one of the first to advocate doing it certain way and wrote the articles on avoiding the heart. so I worried for nothing. but it was a relief to know, so i think they all follow this way now. I am having 33 rads too. I thought the last 3 were the boost i will ask whne I see him on friday. Are they doing your axillary nodes? they arent doing mine, as they feel the surgery got rid of it all. they are doing the mammmary nodes and supraclavicular. I am going to ask about that too. Iwant it gone!!!!