I went in for my simulation 1 & 2, CT scan, and x-rays last week. I’m getting ready to start radiation treatments, which will be a piece of cake I’m sure. Anything is a piece of cake after chemotherapy 
Simulation 1 is where a mold is made while you are laying on your back. A mold has to be made to ensure that you are laying the same for each treatment.
Radiation has to be administered precisely - there isn’t room for error with the kind of power they are zapping you with. What a sexy picture eh? 
It is no problem or discomfort getting a mold done; you just strip from the waist up, then they pour this quick drying mold stuff into a bag, and you lay on it with your hands above your head, and lay there until it sets. After it sets, you go get a CT scan 
while laying on your mold.
Sim 2 is where you come back, lay on your mold, and x-rays are taken from different angles. Now they are either trying to make me glow in the dark or cook me from the inside out You’d think a CT scan would be good enough, but no, you have to have x-rays taken when you are laying in your mold, so that your “computer-generated” self could be lined up with you. It is very exacting this radiation treatment is…
On Tuesday I actually get to go in the radiation room to see if it all these x-ray pictures still line up with me laying on the radiation table. More then likely if it does, I’ll have my first zap on Tueday, and then I will be going 5 days per week for 6-7 weeks… Possible side effects, sunburning and exhaustion. Dr. C, the Radiation Oncologist, said since I’m big breasted, that the side that’s being treated will become very sunburned but they will give me cremes to deal with it. You can get the scientific info about radiation treatments on RT Answers.
As the fun continues…
Update, March 25th, 2008:
I’m one week into radiation now, and so far as I can tell there is no physical problems. Today I almost started crying while waiting to be zapped… Jiminy what a process this is. I also had to have x-rays again today, I will be having those every 5 treatments, it is for quality control, make sure we’re still zapping the same spot. *heavy sigh*
Update April 28, 2008:
Today I got “fitted” for my “boosters” in radiation This is good news because it means, I am finally down to the last 10 DAYS OF MY RADIATION TREATMENT! WOO-WOO! WOO-WOO! One less appointment to go to!! Dang, I won’t know what to with this extra time, HAHAHAHAHAHA
A booster is where they concentrate the radiation treatment to the scar area; did you know that sometimes cancer cells can get “stuck” in the scar area? I didn’t know that! So they will do focused treatments for the last 7 days, it further helps (hopefully!!!) destroy any lingering cancer cells! Who ever knew you’d have to learn so much about something you’d rather not know about? Not I, says I!
You can see Breast Cancer.org for more information about radiation and boosters; I don’t understand the whole business about protons and stuff, at least right now I don’t but as I continue this journey, I’m sure I’ll learn all about it!
Update May 8, 2008:
Today was the last day, I have survived Phase II of this madness, halleuiah! halleuiah! It is great to know that I am one step closer to being cancer-free!!
The folks at the Radiation Center are so kind, they give you this little pink diploma (I’ll scan it in and post it), and they gave me hugs so-long. The other part that I just thought was the cat’s pajamas, was they were blowing bubbles as they gave me my diploma, because they said I was “bubbly” (except for the one day I came in as Oscar the grouch LOL). Now how is that for a caring team who gets to know you? Care doesn’t get no better than that I’ll tell you what! Thank you Dane, Shaunna, Peggy Sue and Jenni, you made one part of my journey a little more tolerable 
As for my breast, it is in various stages of being sunburnt to peeling, which I find so amazing because when you are doing radiation, you don’t feel nothing, no nada. Then one day you wake up and it is like, what the hey? Where’d that burn come from? LOL Kind of creeped me out this weekend when the skin on my breast started to peel, it gave me the shivers…
Well folks, I survived “Phase II” of this journey, and the fun continues…
10 responses so far ↓
Chris // March 21, 2008 at 6:04 pm |
Laura,
Your website has been very informative to me, my friends and coworkers as well.
Thanks for the heads up on what I will be dealing with in the future!!
Keep your spirits up as I am trying as well!!
Chris
Jenni and Shanna // April 29, 2008 at 4:10 pm |
Laura,
ONE, Yes, Count…..ONE more x-ray radiation treatment before you start your electron boost and life becomes a little easier!
It’s been a pleasure treating you during this time in your life. You are a special special lady and friend and we hope all the best ALL the time.
Keep up the good spirit!!
Jenni and Shanna
Your Friendly Radiation Therapists
aklaura // April 29, 2008 at 5:13 pm |
Well thank you Jenni and Shanna for stoppin’ on by!
I shall miss you all, but not the radiation! Thank you for all the smiles, laughs, warmth, and care! 
Folks like you all just don’t get no better!
Debbie // May 16, 2008 at 3:31 pm |
Don’t you just love those Radiation Therapists. I finished my rads in July of 07 and I was kind of lost because I was all done. I didn’t know what to do with myself except go back to work full time. LOL I enjoy reading your site. Prays and hugs. ♥♥♥
Debbie from Massachusetts
aklaura // May 17, 2008 at 6:36 am |
Thank you Debbie! Yes those rad techs are a riot, no two ways about it! I should have taken time off, I continued to work full-time and now I am so tired, tired, tired
Did it take you long to get your energy back?
Debbie // May 17, 2008 at 10:14 am |
No, it did not take me long at all, Laura, to get my energy back , the reason is I was able to skip chemo. I am 56 now, started mams at 42, so 2007’s mam picked up the tumor early. I questioned them, but my breast surgeon, onc. and rads onc said no to chemo. So I did the surgery 2X to get clear margins, dx was IDC 6mm and DCIS 7mm. Did the rads and now I am on Arimidex. I did not get tired from the radiation but did get medium rare and flaked. I’m just tired worrying about it returning. I lost my mom 12 yrs ago from this beast, she was only 64. I did not stop working, but had to take off early for my rad appt’s every day. I frequent a website, http://www.breastcancer.org and joined a live chat line, that was my therapy, I don’t know what I would do without them, women from all over the world.
aklaura // May 18, 2008 at 11:02 am |
I am so sorry about your Mom Debbie
It must of been frightening when you were diagnosed. I know I would of tweaked, and my heart is with you.
Medium rare eh?
I wonder what that made me? Well-done? HAHAHAHA
I hated chemo and feel for anyone who has to it, but I would understand in your circumstance how you would want to do everything in your power to fight the cancer, and question why you weren’t doing it. Me, I was the first one in my family to have breast cancer, so I just flew by the seat of my pants as I went down this dark and sometimes scary road.
Right now, I’m so tired, I have to take at least 2 naps a day now, and am asking my job this week to work half days, cause ding dong! I can’t believe how tired I am!
I’ve been to breastcancer.org several times, mostly to get information, and I do most of my posting on the Komen Boards or the Her2Neu boards. Both have helped me with the emotional turmoil, and what has helped me was my women’s group, Women Listen – it is so nice to talk to other women who know exactly what you are going through without having to explain it. Our group has all kinds of cancer survivors and women in various stages of treatment, we laugh and try to see what we can do to help others. It has been so helpful for me.
As for worrying about it coming back with it, I reckon I’ll deal with it when that time comes, which will probably be everytime I get a mammogram! Jiminy Crickets! Cancer is an exercise in fortitude!
Debbie // May 19, 2008 at 6:17 am |
Thank you Laura, yes I was very upset when I got that call. When I went to see my breast surgeon she must of noticed the deer in the headlights look on me, so she gave me something to calm me down. It worked. Not on them anymore she said I don’t need them. May 31 is my mom’s 12th yr anniv. My mam on both of them since diag. is May 27th {:<O
I hope you start to get your strength back soon. I’ll be thinking of you.
Ruth // March 19, 2009 at 5:38 am |
I’m starting the boost next Tuesday and was wondering what to expect! Does it burn more that the regular treatments? What did you use for your skin? Did you have permenant scarring from the boost?
Thanks!
aklaura // March 19, 2009 at 6:39 am |
Well congratulations Ruth! You are on the downslide! I used Silvadene cream (prescription) because by time I was doing my boosts, I was already a tad sunburned, and the boost did not burn me anymore than I already was from so many radiation treatments. And no permanent scarring at all
May the forces be with you! 