need RADIATION? how it STARTS... Cancer SURVIVOR Tips

I'm sharing my experience with my initial consultation and intake appointment for chest radiation. Hope this helps if you find yourself being told you need radiation as a starting point in what to expect...
Here are the websites they recommended:
1. National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov
2. National Comprehensive Cancer Network: www.nccn.org
3. American Society of Radiation Oncology: www.astro.org
4. American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org
5. American Society of Clinical Oncology: www.asco.org
Tomorrow will be a better day. Be well. -Jen

[@MoreThanAPatient]

Please feel free to ask about anything I didn't mention. Further, if you have any experience you'd like to share to help us learn please do so. Thanks, Jen

[@reginajeter9595]

Thank you yes it was very helpful and enlightening especially if you don’t know what you’re going into. God bless you.🎀🎀🙏🙏🙏

[@MoreThanAPatient]

I'm glad it helped. Tomorrow will be a better day. Be well, Jen

[@harleyriderstitcher3951]

Feel my arms around you for a big hug. You've got this. Asking questions is extremely important!

[@MoreThanAPatient]

Thanks for the hug. Right back at you! I do have this. Agree, always ask. Be well, Jen

[@deborahlanyi5535]

Thank you for referring to best sites for information. Appreciate ALL the help.

[@MoreThanAPatient]

I'm glad I can help. It brings me joy that my sharing is helping others. Thank you for letting me know. Be well, Jen

[@shawnscancerjourney]

Hi Jen, I’m starting radiation tomorrow and no one mentioned the possible effects on the lung and the doctor also asked…”is this something you’re interested in”. I was confused and you’re right totally different from the consultation at the surgeon and oncologist

[@MoreThanAPatient]

Yes, it was an unusual experience. It's your choice but make the choice I'm telling you to...

[@shawnscancerjourney]

Thank you Jen, informative. Also, I have a radiation “tattoo” on top of my port and my medical oncologist and the radiation doctor seem to think it’s okay 🤦🏾‍♀️ I pray so. I was hoping I could get it removed 😊. I have a total of 10 tattoos which 3 on the left side is for alignment.

[@MoreThanAPatient]

The port was not in the way of the tattoo. My port was blocking radiation beam from the lymph nodes in my collar bone of the sick breast. So the decision was made to remove it. Now I have to do my remaining infusions by IV. yuck. Doc says it is not toxic like chemo... All that to say, I think you will be fine. My port was placed very high. My last port was 2 to 3" lower on my chest. Be well. Jen

[@shawnscancerjourney]

@@MoreThanAPatient my concern is the radiation not reaching the lymph nodes behind the port. There has to be lymph nodes behind the port because the doctor marked /place “tattoo” on top. I just pray the radiation reaches what’s behind my port.

[@MoreThanAPatient]

Shawn, I believe in your doctors; I'm sure that they are confident that they are zapping everything. I hope your first day went well. Be well, Jen

[@truptidhumal9855]

Jen How are the Herceptin Perjeta infusions going through IV? I met my radiation oncologist and he suggested to move the port from right to left but I really don’t want to do that.Instead I am thinking of getting rid of the port and taking infusions through IV

[@MoreThanAPatient]

@truptidhumal9855 It's been fine. I've had 2 treatments so far and will have another next week. No issues. The infusion nurse puts an IV in and then I get my infusions. I drink lots of water for at least 2 days prior to infusion to make sure my veins are plump. As long as you don't need chemo, I'd remove assuming your medical team agrees. For me, radiation oncologist wanted to move port; medical oncologist said just remove. Be well, Jen