Radiation Therapy in AA Women

joykeeperorg

Radiation Therapy in AA Women

joykeeperorg

Hi my name is Chantal I am a 23 yr old Stage IIIA AA young women with BC. I know there is a radiation topic out there but I wanted to know how AA women on here went through radiation and what was it like? I have a appt on the 13 Feb to get my tattos.

Anonymous

Hi, Chantal and welcome. Sorry you needed to find us in the first place, but glad you did just the same...



I had rads after a bilateral mx in November 04. My treatment began in January 05. I had a total of 36 in all, the last six of which were what is called a "boost" (I think, if I remember correctly, that the boost concentrates mainly on the scar). I finished in early March 05.



You'll only go five days a week (hallelujah for weekends!) and the entire radiation session takes about two minutes or so. It always took me longer to get out of my camisole and into the paper gown than it did to actually have the radiation...



You won't be able to wear regular deodorant during your rads, but some of the rads oncs allow you to wear the natural deodorant crystal that you just wet and apply. (I got mine at the health food store). The radiated skin will be pretty dry and it will get darker over the weeks - sort of like a reverse tan to just your boob, but I didn't experience any pain at all. I was allowed to use vitamin E oil during the day and aquafore at night to help with the skin dryness, but you'll have to check with your rads tech/rads onc to see what they'll let you use.



Rads also tend to make you tired, so don't be alarmed if you find yourself wanting to crash a lot earlier during and right after rads than you normally would.



Really, it wasn't that bad. Wouldn't want to do it again, lol, but you should be able to get through it just fine!



All the best with your tattoos Wednesday ) - and Happy Valentine's Day!

pnut2

hi chantal, welcome. dont wear any kind of lotion or oil when you go to radiaton , just afterwards. aloe vera with lidocaine helps sooth it right after. also, ask your doctor for silvadene ointment. it helps with the burning. i started to burn and peel two weeks before the end of my treatment. i did not like raditation, but i preferred it to chemo. like felicia said, it justs makes you really tired. get plenty of rest. and eat healthy. listen to your body. vitamin taking is discourged while in treatment. a mulitvitamin is ok. you will get darker and your skin might peel. for me, raditation killed some of my white blood cells and my count droped. so as soon as your body doesnt feel "right",  call your rads onc. i joked that i spent more time driving to radiation than the actual treatment. good luck!!!

KarenX

hi chantal,

i've had 13 of 20 radiation treatements. my skin has changed in color and texture, but that's about it. you will feel some fatigue, but even that isn't too bad.

i chose the Canadian beam method of 20 doses because it is less harsh on the skin than the regular method. 

use cornstarch to lessen the skin irritation. put it all over the affected breast, and under your arm...anywhere skin touches skin and clothing. i apply the cornstarch several times a day, and i use pure aloe vera gel after each treatment. my radiologist recommends using only dove soap until the ski completely heals.

you will get through it just fine...it's amazing what we can adapt to.

karen 

KarenX

hi chantal,

i've had 13 of 20 radiation treatements. my skin has changed in color and texture, but that's about it. you will feel some fatigue, but even that isn't too bad.

i chose the Canadian beam method of 20 doses because it is less harsh on the skin than the regular method. 

use cornstarch to lessen the skin irritation. put it all over the affected breast, and under your arm...anywhere skin touches skin and clothing. i apply the cornstarch several times a day, and i use pure aloe vera gel after each treatment. my radiologist recommends using only dove soap until the skin completely heals.

you will get through it just fine...it's amazing what we can adapt to.

karen 

DWS43

I had IMRT(?) in 2004.  Twenty-eight regular treatments and 5 boosts for DCIS.   I had to take a week off due to burns.  It healed and I completed my treatment.  I had a recurrence of DCIS in 2007.

D

Lcharmie

HI CHANTEL,

EVERYONE HAS SAID ALL I WAS GOING TO SAY--DOCTORS TOLD ME THE FAIRER YOUR SKIN COLOR WAS, THE EASIER IT IS TO BURN, AND I DID, THEN IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO HAVE  "A BREAK" DAYS TO REST, AND I DID.

THIS IS NOT BAD TO GO THROUGH, JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO DO WITHOUT LIKE "ALL OF THIS".

GOOD LUCK AND KEEP US POSTED.

LINDA C

joykeeperorg

Thank you so much for all your responses im on week 3 of 6 an im so tired!!!!! My skin is red um a little tender but thats about it.

Deborahann

Hello CRC:

I have read the previous comments and simply wanted to add my input regarding my personal experience.

I also got a little red (initially) and then as the treatment progressed, my breast became darker and darker.  At the suggestion of my ONC-RAD, I used Dove soap to bathe with, and aloe vera gel to lubricate my breast.

Regarding being tired...listen to your body.  If you need to nap, nap.

I would come from RADs in the am and sleep for a couple of hrs after wards.  That seemed to work for me...Remember to hydrate well

Trustthelord2

I just finish my last tx of taxol July 2 08  I have appointment with the radiation doctor July the 15 and to get my port remove because i have blood clot in my arm with  the port in. What do i need expect the first day at radiation office.

Anonymous

Trust, the first day you will meet the rads onc and talk about your treatment (i.e. number of total treatments, etc). You'll also pick a time for your appointments (mine were 1pm everyday). They'll also discuss payment and insurance stuff (i.e. co-pays and how you want to handle it: once a week, after every visit, etc).

If you haven't gotten your markings yet, you will at this visit. The markings are sometimes permanent tattoo dots that tell the rads technician how to line up the machine so the field of radiation is the same each time. They'll also tell you what you can and cannot wear on your skin (i.e. most deodorants are out as they contain aluminum; but there are kinds you can use and they are available at most heath food or nutrition stores). They'l also tell you the kinds of things you can use on your skin to help soothe and protect it. You probably will not have radiation the first day.

The actual time you are being radiated is something like 2 minutes. Honestly, it took me longer to get undressed than it did to be zapped, lol. The sessions took about 15 minutes total, not counting travel time.

You probably will not see the rads onc at each visit, but the rad techs. These are the folks who make sure you are lined up in the linear accelarator (rads machine; I called her "Lynn," lol) correctly. I only saw my rads onc after every 8-10 rads sessions, if I remember correctly). 

Hope that helps! Welcome to our humble little group, btw ...

poolas

Hello All!

Just wanted to say hello as I have been reading your threads! Dx with idc 05/08 on my 8th visit for rads.  Not doing too bad, just a little tired.  Thx to all of you and my prayers are with you!

Paula G

towens88

I am currently getting chemo, but I will get rads in October.  I am planning to take short-term disability next month (I teach).  I am having a difficult time during the 1st week of chemo, but does anyone think that I should continue to stay home during rads? 

Anonymous

Towens,

Everyone is different - and I didn't have chemo (just rads), but rads tend to be a whole heck of a lot easier than chemo, I understand. The most common side effect other than skin issues with rads is fatigue. Mine was kind of minor (I was in grad school traveling to/from class three hours total three times a week, so I'm not sure if the fatigue was from that or rads), but for some, it can be kinda rough.

 Taking time away during the rads part of your treatment might not be a bad idea in that it will provide you with not only a physical break but an emotional prep time before you go back, too. Make sense?

AnnNYC

Bumping ths thread to the front page.

Chantal, are you around?

Thatgirl

Bump...bump...bu p

ttay

Good morning.

I'd like to know how long before your skin came back to it's normal color after finishing RADS.I finished in December. 

Please share what you used on your skin after RADS was over. 

Right now, I'm using Shea Butter, but I can't tell if it's helping other than to keep the area moisturized. 

Thanks, 

TTay

imara56

Hello Everyone,

 I have two days left of my boost after 5 weeks of radiation.  I burned and my neck, breast and underarm were totally black.  As soon as I started peeling (like wound weeping) under my breast (I have big boobs) I was prescribed Biafine and Silvadene, neither worked for me.  I finally went online and found out about emu oil.  What a miracle!  It's expensive but totally worth the price. My neck is totally healed and new skin is generating.  My breast and underarm are healing and feel so much better.  The emu oil seems to take the heat and sting out.  My prayers are to all of us on our journey.

ttay

Hi Imara.

I'm so sorry you burned so bad. I did as well. 

I love Emu Oil as well....once I was done with RADS. I still use it.Now, I just want something to lighten up the darkness. Guess that's just gonna take time.

Best Wishes!

Blessed58

Got my tattoos and starting my treatment next Tuesday. 

Anonymous

Imara56 - OUCH.  Blessed58, will keep you in prayer.  As you can see each can have different experiences.  I did rads (no chemo) a little under 3 years ago.  I did not burn just got darker.  Used aquaphor on it to keep it moisturized.  I remember it took months for the skin to get back to regular tone.  I worked full time during rads, going in after work then home and crashed but it was fairly easy.  Actually sometimes wish I would now get to bed by 7:30!

Blessed58

Patoo, thank you for your prayers.  Today is Day 9, 16 more to go.  Have a wonderful weekend.  God Bless

Blessed58

Day 18 of radiation treatment -- 7 more to go. Skin is getting darker, skin is starting to itch, no blisters so far.  Keeping  moisturized and praying that I can get through this. 

Blessed58

Finished my rad treatment on Monday, 4/16/12.  Looking forward to healing.  God is so Good.

sharont68

Congrats Blessed58!!  God is so Good indeed!!!

msmatanzas

I am also her2+ and newly so, i have had a lumpectomy with several of my lymph nodes removed in March and decided that i wanted to educate myself before going under the knife agin or allowing chemo  .So althouh i am refusing chemo i will do the 6 wk radiation and go from there. If my cancer spreads then my plans have been made. I trust the creator to stop this diease right here right now right after radiation. 

Be blessed my sister U can win and u will have victory

MalaikaGV 

Fighter_34

MsMatanzas- do you have any positive nodes?

msmatanzas

Had 10

Detection is the cure 

DX March DCIS 1/10 nodes stage 3 her2+ 

LifeAndQualityOfLife

I too had horrible burns after radiation. My doctor also told me that fair skin folks were most likely to burn. My burns pealed and the whole area was painful. My PS said she had never seen someone burn so badly.  Jump forward about a year at which point I started getting pains in my arm, neck, and cheat area.  I think I might have radiation induced fibrosis. I just have come to this hypothesis this evening.

I am wondering whether women with a sickle cell trait might be more susceptible to radiation burns and  radiation induced fibrosis? I would be interested in hearing whether you have the trait and a) burned during radiation and b) have symptoms of radiation induced fibrosis?