Radiation measurement & treatments

[Guest guest]

Dear Cealy & Co,

I am on my 24th radiation treatment, with 10 more to go, and am bright red all

over the entire field. My underarm started pealing a week ago. My dr. has me

on Aquaphore, but I am also using Aloe with lidocaine and Radia Guard. Radia

Guard is my favorite as it soaks in -the aquaphore is like vaseline (in fact I

think it is mainly vaseline, looking at the ingredients) and makes my clothes

stick to my skin. The clothes sticking is more bothersome than the redness.

I don't have skin pain other than a tiny bit in the creases in the underarm.

Really the peeling doesn't hurt at all - in fact my husband had to point it out

to me at first. However, my breast is swollen and very sore, so I am taking

Aleve and Vicodin (mostly at night).

If I wasn't allergic to sulfa my dr. would have put me on Silverdene (burn

cream). I think that would help the peeling a lot but don't want to risk a

reaction. As it is, I am using the Curagel burn dressings when I sleep - and

when I can get them to stay put. It's tricky under the arm.

I am going to ask about the domeboro soak, I hadn't heard of that before.

My question for all you ladies is this: has anyone had them use some sort of

dosimeter device (radiation measurement device) to see if the radiation from the

machine matches what is getting to your body? Friday they told me that on

Monday they would be using some sort of measuring device to see if I was getting

the correct dose. Eeek! It was a little freaky since I am 2/3 of the way

through treatments - why check now? I know my dr is concerned however about the

amount of burning and swelling I've had. My husband, the test engineer, is

really upset because he thinks that they may not have the machine calibrated

correctly and are trying to check it at this late date. (Lucky for the techs

and dr that he is out of the state next week or they'd be in for it, 'cause I've

seen him challenge drs about their calibration before! Has anyone else had

this happen?

Also, does anyone know how much total radiation they received? I see different

amounts of time - 3 weeks, 6 weeks, etc. - but no really hard data on how much

radiation total is received. I know, I should have checked this out in the

beginning but this cancer stuff is so overwhelming...and I did ask about how

much per session I was getting and I was assured that it was the minimum amount.

sigh. But it doesn't feel like it, especially when I hear about people who

don't even turn red until the last two weeks.

Thanks for any input!

who is secretly praying that she's had enough radiation - what a great Christmas

present that would be!!!

[Guest guest]

hiya teresa,

it seems to me that it depends how much rads we need due to our stage of

treatment, in australia the standard is 25 rads all the same, some pple talk

about boosts?? i asked i was told i have the same amount each day, that is why

we are not to miss a day, because if we did then having and extra long session

would be very hard for us to handle.

From my first rads treatment i shivered like when you are sunburnt, and has to

get home to sleep. i must add i used the cream the hosptial gave me along with a

cabbage leaf this helped cool the affect of the rads and it has a natural

healing ingrediant in the leaf to help with the swelling, long ago was used for

nursing mothers.I must say i did not peel but was very red all of a sudden.

the rads machine was also checked on a daily basis to make sure that is was

working ok, i mean it was on all day for 5 days a week unless of emergency on

the weekend.

good luck keep smiling sandy in oz

mitchellst@...> wrote:

Dear Cealy & Co,

I am on my 24th radiation treatment, with 10 more to go, and am bright red all

over the entire field. My underarm started pealing a week ago. My dr. has me on

Aquaphore, but I am also using Aloe with lidocaine and Radia Guard. Radia Guard

is my favorite as it soaks in -the aquaphore is like vaseline (in fact I think

it is mainly vaseline, looking at the ingredients) and makes my clothes stick to

my skin. The clothes sticking is more bothersome than the redness.

I don't have skin pain other than a tiny bit in the creases in the underarm.

Really the peeling doesn't hurt at all - in fact my husband had to point it out

to me at first. However, my breast is swollen and very sore, so I am taking

Aleve and Vicodin (mostly at night).

If I wasn't allergic to sulfa my dr. would have put me on Silverdene (burn

cream). I think that would help the peeling a lot but don't want to risk a

reaction. As it is, I am using the Curagel burn dressings when I sleep - and

when I can get them to stay put. It's tricky under the arm.

I am going to ask about the domeboro soak, I hadn't heard of that before.

My question for all you ladies is this: has anyone had them use some sort of

dosimeter device (radiation measurement device) to see if the radiation from the

machine matches what is getting to your body? Friday they told me that on Monday

they would be using some sort of measuring device to see if I was getting the

correct dose. Eeek! It was a little freaky since I am 2/3 of the way through

treatments - why check now? I know my dr is concerned however about the amount

of burning and swelling I've had. My husband, the test engineer, is really upset

because he thinks that they may not have the machine calibrated correctly and

are trying to check it at this late date. (Lucky for the techs and dr that he is

out of the state next week or they'd be in for it, 'cause I've seen him

challenge drs about their calibration before! Has anyone else had this

happen?

Also, does anyone know how much total radiation they received? I see different

amounts of time - 3 weeks, 6 weeks, etc. - but no really hard data on how much

radiation total is received. I know, I should have checked this out in the

beginning but this cancer stuff is so overwhelming...and I did ask about how

much per session I was getting and I was assured that it was the minimum amount.

sigh. But it doesn't feel like it, especially when I hear about people who don't

even turn red until the last two weeks.

Thanks for any input!

who is secretly praying that she's had enough radiation - what a great Christmas

present that would be!!!

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sandy, that was just the sort of information that I was looking for. Was

that 25 rads per day, and if so, for how many days? Or 25 rads total? I am

trying to get a feel if we treat the cancer with more aggressive radiotherapy

here in the US (as we do surgically). ly, I think I'm more scared of the

radiation than the cancer. And then there is the fact that as I am young,

there is a higher chance that the radiation will cause more cancer in the

future.

Anyone from the UK have any idea how much total radiation they received?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Sorry to hear you're having problems - it amazes me to hear women like you say

it's bright red but not that painful...I just don't get it. I hope it stays

that way for you. One thing I've noticed women saying is " it didn't get worse

very quickly " once something started going wrong with their skin during

radiation...so I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that it works that way for

you, too, and that you're feeling much better soon.

I'm sorry to say I don't have much info for you on radiation, just what I've

read from searching on the internet. A usual daily dose should be 180-200 rads

totaling 4500-5000 for the first phase, and during the 2nd phase (booster) we

receive another 1000-2000 rads. The total amt. depends on the size of the

breast, size of tumor and if you had chemo or not. I got this info from a

really great and informative site http://www.breastcancer.org. Travel around in

that site, there's lots of info.

I don't know what happened to me, when I first found out I had cancer I

started researching like a madwoman wanting to know everything, and be informed

to make the proper decisions, and was always a step ahead and asking lots of

questions. When I got to the radiation part of it all I just seemed to hand it

over and went into " hope they know what they're doing " mode. I guess partially

because it's only a half hour away and to go elsewhere would be a two hour

drive. I haven't even asked how much I'm receiving each time yet, and I just

finished #9... So far I haven't heard them say anything about a dosimeter

device.... Well, gotta run, take care and remember, this too shall pass.....

Cealy

mitchellst@...> wrote:

Dear Cealy & Co,

I am on my 24th radiation treatment, with 10 more to go, and am bright red all

over the entire field. My underarm started pealing a week ago. My dr. has me on

Aquaphore, but I am also using Aloe with lidocaine and Radia Guard. Radia Guard

is my favorite as it soaks in -the aquaphore is like vaseline (in fact I think

it is mainly vaseline, looking at the ingredients) and makes my clothes stick to

my skin. The clothes sticking is more bothersome than the redness.

I don't have skin pain other than a tiny bit in the creases in the underarm.

Really the peeling doesn't hurt at all - in fact my husband had to point it out

to me at first. However, my breast is swollen and very sore, so I am taking

Aleve and Vicodin (mostly at night).

If I wasn't allergic to sulfa my dr. would have put me on Silverdene (burn

cream). I think that would help the peeling a lot but don't want to risk a

reaction. As it is, I am using the Curagel burn dressings when I sleep - and

when I can get them to stay put. It's tricky under the arm.

I am going to ask about the domeboro soak, I hadn't heard of that before.

My question for all you ladies is this: has anyone had them use some sort of

dosimeter device (radiation measurement device) to see if the radiation from the

machine matches what is getting to your body? Friday they told me that on Monday

they would be using some sort of measuring device to see if I was getting the

correct dose. Eeek! It was a little freaky since I am 2/3 of the way through

treatments - why check now? I know my dr is concerned however about the amount

of burning and swelling I've had. My husband, the test engineer, is really upset

because he thinks that they may not have the machine calibrated correctly and

are trying to check it at this late date. (Lucky for the techs and dr that he is

out of the state next week or they'd be in for it, 'cause I've seen him

challenge drs about their calibration before! Has anyone else had this

happen?

Also, does anyone know how much total radiation they received? I see different

amounts of time - 3 weeks, 6 weeks, etc. - but no really hard data on how much

radiation total is received. I know, I should have checked this out in the

beginning but this cancer stuff is so overwhelming...and I did ask about how

much per session I was getting and I was assured that it was the minimum amount.

sigh. But it doesn't feel like it, especially when I hear about people who don't

even turn red until the last two weeks.

Thanks for any input!

who is secretly praying that she's had enough radiation - what a great Christmas

present that would be!!!

[Guest guest]

hi teresa,

i had 25 sessions of rads in all, 1 session each day 5 times a week, seems to

me that is the norm in oz, i have chatted to many in the usa and they seem to

have a total of 33 treatments in all, i do not know why things seem to be done a

little bit diff, the way i look at it is each country seems to treat things a

tad different, so i use what info i get as a basic idea.i treated the radiation

as i did if i was to sunbathe , eg i would not sunbath in the sun without any

lotion so yeps made sure i put on heaps before and and after, and at night. plus

the old cabbage leaf, i did not peel.I dont think you should be afraid of the

radiation i mean we do have to have some trust that they give us a safe level,

olso i dont think you can go through radiation without some degree of blisters,

just my thoughts on this mater, tc sandy in oz.

mitchellst@...> wrote:

Thanks Sandy, that was just the sort of information that I was looking for.

Was that 25 rads per day, and if so, for how many days? Or 25 rads total? I am

trying to get a feel if we treat the cancer with more aggressive radiotherapy

here in the US (as we do surgically). ly, I think I'm more scared of the

radiation than the cancer. And then there is the fact that as I am young,

there is a higher chance that the radiation will cause more cancer in the

future.

Anyone from the UK have any idea how much total radiation they received?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

I am doing 35 treatments of Radiation. 28 of them all over or what

ever they call it, then the last 7 localized or higher dose? Tomorrow

I start my 16th treatment.

I have had slight redness starting last week around my 11th

treatment, maybe a day or so before. Sometimes it feels like a slight

sunburn, but so far nothing more. My very first treatment I told them

I felt something different, and they thought I was nuts LOL. But I

swear, my breast felt heavy and swollen. That feeling came and went

the first week.

The doctor put my on the Auqaphore as well. Can't see how this is

going to help with the burning if I get more of it. I mostly see the

redness after I take a shower or after I rub on the Auqaphore cream.

I bought me some wife-beater(mens)undershirts and I wear them under

my clothes and I love them.

hugs

char

>

> Dear Cealy & Co,

>

> I am on my 24th radiation treatment, with 10 more to go, and am

bright red all over the entire field. My underarm started pealing a

week ago. My dr. has me on Aquaphore, but I am also using Aloe with

lidocaine and Radia Guard. Radia Guard is my favorite as it soaks

in -the aquaphore is like vaseline (in fact I think it is mainly

vaseline, looking at the ingredients) and makes my clothes stick to

my skin. The clothes sticking is more bothersome than the redness.

>

> I don't have skin pain other than a tiny bit in the creases in the

underarm. Really the peeling doesn't hurt at all - in fact my

husband had to point it out to me at first. However, my breast is

swollen and very sore, so I am taking Aleve and Vicodin (mostly at

night).

>

> If I wasn't allergic to sulfa my dr. would have put me on

Silverdene (burn cream). I think that would help the peeling a lot

but don't want to risk a reaction. As it is, I am using the Curagel

burn dressings when I sleep - and when I can get them to stay put.

It's tricky under the arm.

>

> I am going to ask about the domeboro soak, I hadn't heard of that

before.

>

> My question for all you ladies is this: has anyone had them use

some sort of dosimeter device (radiation measurement device) to see

if the radiation from the machine matches what is getting to your

body? Friday they told me that on Monday they would be using some

sort of measuring device to see if I was getting the correct dose.

Eeek! It was a little freaky since I am 2/3 of the way through

treatments - why check now? I know my dr is concerned however about

the amount of burning and swelling I've had. My husband, the test

engineer, is really upset because he thinks that they may not have

the machine calibrated correctly and are trying to check it at this

late date. (Lucky for the techs and dr that he is out of the state

next week or they'd be in for it, 'cause I've seen him challenge drs

about their calibration before! Has anyone else had this happen?

>

> Also, does anyone know how much total radiation they received? I

see different amounts of time - 3 weeks, 6 weeks, etc. - but no

really hard data on how much radiation total is received. I know, I

should have checked this out in the beginning but this cancer stuff

is so overwhelming...and I did ask about how much per session I was

getting and I was assured that it was the minimum amount. sigh. But

it doesn't feel like it, especially when I hear about people who

don't even turn red until the last two weeks.

>

> Thanks for any input!

>

>

> who is secretly praying that she's had enough radiation - what a

great Christmas present that would be!!!

>

>

[Guest guest]

" A usual daily dose should be 180-200 rads totaling 4500-5000 for the first

phase, and during the 2nd phase (booster) we receive another 1000-2000 rads. The

total amt. depends on the size of the breast, size of tumor and if you had chemo

or not. "

Thanks! I have been to breastcancer.org but hadn't seen that info yet.

" I don't know what happened to me, when I first found out I had cancer I started

researching like a madwoman wanting to know everything, and be informed to make

the proper decisions, and was always a step ahead and asking lots of questions.

When I got to the radiation part of it all I just seemed to hand it over and

went into " hope they know what they're doing " mode. "

This is exactly what I did too - I think that I felt that I needed to be nuclear

physicist or something to understand it. Now I am wishing that I had researched

more when my mind was less exhausted.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

BAck in 1992 when I was having my rads there was a gentleman who was doing

it this way at the center I went to. He had to be an inpatient to have the

rads this way.

Pam

[Guest guest]

HI, THIS IS DEE

I WAS TOLD ABOUT A CLINICAL TRIAL THAT'S BEING DONE ON RADIATION.

YOU GO TWO TIMES A DAY FOR 5 DAYS AND THEN YOUR DONE. ITS A HIGH LEVEL AND IT

IS SO NEW THAT THEY CANNOT TELL YOU WHAT SIDE EFFECTS YOU MIGHT SUFFER FROM.

AFTER READING EVERYTHING TWICE AND GIVING IT CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT . I TURNED

IT DOWN. MU HUSBAND WAS HOPING I WOULD DO IT BUT THE UNKNOWN IS A BIT SCARY FOR

ME AT THIS TIME. HAVING CHEMO IS SCARY ENOUGH.

BUT ANYHOW HAS ANYONE HEARD OF THIS NEW STUDY?

doloresrose.scent-team.com

Once you try Mia Bella candles there will be no other!

CIAO! DEEBELLA

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I just finished my lucky 13th treatment. I am having 25 regular

treatments and 5 boost treatments by the lumpectomy site since the

doctors are not sure if they got clean margins in that area. My DCIS was

right by the skin surface. My center does a " filming " every week to make

sure that I am getting the right dose on the right spots. I get zapped

on two locations. I was sore since after the 4th day around the nipple

area and it is definitely darker. I am starting to get a little blotchy

red in some areas. I am fair skin and never did nude bathing (: -

reason for sensitivity. The doctor told me everyone is different. I am

just globbing on that Aquaphor-should have brought stock in Ecerin.

Good luck

Eileen

>

> Dear Cealy & Co,

>

> I am on my 24th radiation treatment, with 10 more to go, and am bright

red all over the entire field. My underarm started pealing a week ago.

My dr. has me on Aquaphore, but I am also using Aloe with lidocaine and

Radia Guard. Radia Guard is my favorite as it soaks in -the aquaphore is

like vaseline (in fact I think it is mainly vaseline, looking at the

ingredients) and makes my clothes stick to my skin. The clothes sticking

is more bothersome than the redness.

>

> I don't have skin pain other than a tiny bit in the creases in the

underarm. Really the peeling doesn't hurt at all - in fact my husband

had to point it out to me at first. However, my breast is swollen and

very sore, so I am taking Aleve and Vicodin (mostly at night).

>

> If I wasn't allergic to sulfa my dr. would have put me on Silverdene

(burn cream). I think that would help the peeling a lot but don't want

to risk a reaction. As it is, I am using the Curagel burn dressings when

I sleep - and when I can get them to stay put. It's tricky under the

arm.

>

> I am going to ask about the domeboro soak, I hadn't heard of that

before.

>

> My question for all you ladies is this: has anyone had them use some

sort of dosimeter device (radiation measurement device) to see if the

radiation from the machine matches what is getting to your body? Friday

they told me that on Monday they would be using some sort of measuring

device to see if I was getting the correct dose. Eeek! It was a little

freaky since I am 2/3 of the way through treatments - why check now? I

know my dr is concerned however about the amount of burning and swelling

I've had. My husband, the test engineer, is really upset because he

thinks that they may not have the machine calibrated correctly and are

trying to check it at this late date. (Lucky for the techs and dr that

he is out of the state next week or they'd be in for it, 'cause I've

seen him challenge drs about their calibration before! Has anyone

else had this happen?

>

> Also, does anyone know how much total radiation they received? I see

different amounts of time - 3 weeks, 6 weeks, etc. - but no really hard

data on how much radiation total is received. I know, I should have

checked this out in the beginning but this cancer stuff is so

overwhelming...and I did ask about how much per session I was getting

and I was assured that it was the minimum amount. sigh. But it doesn't

feel like it, especially when I hear about people who don't even turn

red until the last two weeks.

>

> Thanks for any input!

>

>

> who is secretly praying that she's had enough radiation - what a great

Christmas present that would be!!!

>

>