January 2010 Rads Start

sanaisa

Oh bird, ouchie.  Cookie, glad to hear you are starting to heal up.  Onty, you are 38% done! Wow!!!! Anita, glad to hear you are on the move with us. Sophie, when did you finish and how long has it been? Karen, I am envious of you...I had my 9th one today, with 24 to go...the tech noticed today that I am turning pink and asked if it was itching...I told her "yes!!!"...she said to not itch, but rub Cortizone cream on the area.  I have been slathering the area with the Eucerin cream...not sure what else to do.  Will use the Cortizone tonight. 

I don't feel anything during the treatments at all? But, I am starting to feel some itchiness in the skin, and under the chest area certainly does ache a little.  I keep hoping it is all in my head. 

Ellen, what was the name of the Rx that they gave you after the Cortizone was not working?

Thx all for your posts...it is good to see that everyone is hanging in there...

sanaisa

Oh, and one funny note.  I asked my Radiologist if using Sunblock is helpful at all in reducing the redness?  She smiled at me and told me that it won't hurt, but it won't help.  She said that using sunblock during radiation treatment is similar to holding up a piece of paper to a loaded gun...the bullet pierces the paper like it was not even there...she said that sunblock would be like the paper.  Somehow, visualizing rads as a bullet is not so comforting...but I know this is not what she meant.  So, for anyone that wondered this like I, there's the answer.  Sunblock won't help the pink/redness in the least.

AsiaYM

Sanaisa- Thanks, I wondered about sunblock before. and, you are not far behind me.  Good luck to us all.

catwrangler

Whoo-hoo!  Yesterday was my last day of rads, and I took banana chocolate chip muffins to the appointment in celebration.  Over the past week that I had the boosts done, most of my red skin turned tan, and the peeling calmed down a lot.  I can stop the silverdine cream once it stops peeling completely, and after that, it's just moisturize the area; all the other lotions and potions can be done. Since I was a triple negative, there's no follow-on hormonal therapy for me.  I spent today basking in the glorious knowledge that I am finallydone. Sure, there's still the regular follow-up appointments, but the big stuff is over for me, and I am very happy about that.

cookiegal

yea cat

unklezwifeonty

Cat congrats!

chinablue

I am starting rads next week.  Did you wear a bra throughout treatments? I don't want to go to work without a bra.  I will feel so naked.

RedheadPam

Cat - congrats! It is so exciting that you're all done!



Dawn - My rads onc had me steep a few green tea bags in hot water until strong, then put it in a small spray bottle. I spray it on 3 - 4 times per day and then let it air dry. Apparently, the green tea has been shown in some studies to reduce the effects of radiation skin toxicity. If you keep it in the fridge, it certainly feels good when you spray it on!



After the tea spray dries, I put on a prescription cream called Triamcinolone, a steroid cream.



So far the treatment seems to be working -- I have had 24 of 33 treatments, and am pink but have no swelling, no soreness, no peeling.I've been able to wear regular (non-underwire) bras throughout. The onc nurse came me something yesterday called Miracle II Lotion that is just more of a moisturizer, and I can use that twice a day if I want, in addition to the other stuff.

DebbieSawyer

Yippee catwrangler! Doin' the happy dance for ya

DebbieSawyer

Hi all!  Three weeks post rads. Gosh, I'm sorry to hear some of you are having some pretty nasty side effects. I feel guilty even saying this, but my skin is doing wonderful. I never peeled, never turned more than a medium red color. It's now a fading tan, zero pain, no blisters, no zingers. Wearing a bra full time again. The fatigue still comes and goes, but it is less often and much less debilitating. I can see light at the end of the fatigue tunnel....it's just a few more steps (ie days)!

SoCalDawn

Redhead Pam. and others..Thank you. I am definitely going to try the green tea spray. I had my 3rd tx today and I am already pink on the bottom of my breast, inside near the sternum. I am so fair skinned and large breasted, I am scared of significant skin reactions. I want to be proactive. I am applying aloe and then calendula cream on top of the aloe 4 x/day. Did they give you the rx steroid cream immediately or did you begin to have reactions and then it was prescribed?  I bought some oversized camisoles with a shelf bra in them and I just cannot go braless and the weight pulls down the skin and I need some stability. I had been wearing the athletic bras 24/7 following surgery. I am thinking the camisole allows me to "air out" conveniently too. The tech told me air flow is very important, even if it means using the blow dryer, personal fan, whatever. It seems Aquafor  (41% petrolatum) might minimize friction but keep heat in...Any thoughts on that?

sanaisa

Hi SoCalDawn...I personally stopped using the Aquaphor as my skin felt too oily, and it was darn near impossible to get clean every morning before the treatment (I was told that the skin should be clean and free of any lotion at least 4 hours prior to treatment).  Even washing with gentle soap and water did not seem to get all the oily Aquaphor off...  I swtched to Eucerin cream in a tube, which seems to moisturize nicely and does not leave that oily petroleum residue like the Aquaphor in the tub leaves. I think it is ironic they tell us to use Aquaphor because of the petroleum - which is not usually indicated for burns, right?  Today I used the hydrocortizone cream...seems to keep the "itchies" at bay. I will keep my ears open about the Silvadene...

unklezwifeonty

9 down 12 to go. Getting noticeably tanned now.

one-L

Yea for cat.  Now on to a full recovery.

Debbie, glad  you are doing so well after rads. I can only hope I will do as well.

chinablue, I have not been wearing a bra, but bought mens t-shirts and they fit snug and I don't bounce, but I am not real large either.  I have had no skin issues, yet.

Onty, only 12 to go.  This is going much faster than chemo and we are not sick every 21 days.

Hope everyone else  is doing well, with mild  SEs.

20 down and 13 to go.  6 regular and 7 boost.

Juannelle

AsiaYM

13 down, 20 to go!

DaylilyFan

Chinablue:  You will have to experiment to learn what's comfortable for you.  For example, after surgery I slept in shapewear camis after I was able to ditch that awful surgical "bra."  Most of my athletic-type tops with shelf bras were too revealing, and I couldn't wear them to work anyway.  I tried on every sports bra imaginable before settling on a stretchy cotton front-close thing by Fruit of the Loom (I had to size up, but they do stretch a little after a couple of washings).  I didn't look too bad in a blouse and jacket--maybe a little flat-chested in a knit top, but who cares?  Without a bra, I have more sensation and am not comfortable at all!   One of the rad oncs said he thinks genetics plays a part in determining skin reaction to rads.  Certainly skin color has nothing to do with it.  I think good communication with your team is key to having the best possible rads experience.  Good luck!

unklezwifeonty

Oh yeah much faster and easier than chemo.

Scoobydoo

China I am not wearing a bra.  I am large chested and my rad onc suggested I go braless.  I took 1Ls advice and purchased men's cotton t-shirts and so far so good.

weety

I am small breasted so I'm not much help to you--I can go without a bra quite easily!  But there are aabout 6 other women on my shuttle bus who are larger up top, several of them quite large, and they go without bras as well.  Most of them wear sweatshirt type jackets that tend to hide it.  Most of us on the shuttle bus are about 1/2 done and starting to get pink and a bit sore to the touch, so I think braless is probably better on that, but if you're not feeling any pain or discomfort, try the bras (no underwire) and see how they feel.  Also, if you buy a larger size (chest width) maybe it would still give you some support without being too tight.

precioustime

This evening 14 down and  19 to go.  The tech told me yesterday that the reason for the bollus is that they are trying to get my skin to react to the radiation.  I am starting to notice a slight redness and feel a little sensitive underneat the arm.  Does anyone have suggestions besides going shirtless to help the sensitivity.

Thank, Loretta

SoCalDawn

Hi everyone...4 down. I asked to meet with the nurse today as I am definitely already pink and have obvious edema so it's a catch 22 on fabric/support/braless/airing out etc. It's like the full feeling when breast feeding or super PMS fullness. The weight of the breast dictates some support not to mention "lefty" needing a lift up!  but fabric irriates the nipple too. I think I may "modify" a tank with shelf bra/athletic bra or two. I also bought a few inexpensive ones in larger sizes to see if that helps.  I am meeting with the rad onc tomorrow to discuss and continuing to use both 99% aloe and calendula. I expect her to have the revelation. 'You must have sensitive skin'. LOL. Similar to the surgeon when taking off the surgical tape. I am going to brew a batch of green tea spray today and am also drinking liquid aloe as well, just in case it helps with healing from within.  Also, the nurse suggested Emu Oil as something many other patients have raved about so I will be looking into that as well. Cheers, all!

weety

Off for Number 17 out of 27.  Getting closer to the finish line!

valeriekd

Hi I just got my full plan o' action eventho I started all the prep work in January sooooooo....

Yes yes supine 33 w/ 2 boosters! 

sanaisa

Hi Loretta...really!!!??? The tech told you that they are using the bollus on you in an effort to get your skin to react to the radiation? That does not make sense to me, but I am not a rads tech.  My techs tell me that what they are concerned with is the tissue under the skin...all of the tissue inside the cavity.  They told me that some people only get tan, others get red or even blister.  But, they never suggested it was a goal to have the skin react to the rads?  I am going to ask them about this tomorrow.  11 down, 22 to go...1/3 of the way done. The hydrocortizone cream has really helped me...

Hang in there Weety and Karen...and I dragging right behind ya!  Onty, you have reached the 1/2 mark today, right!!?

1rarebird

I think the purpose of the bolus is more to limit the depth of penetration or treatment the radiation is able to achieve, rather than cause the surface of the skin to react.  At least that's the way my team explained it to me.  In my case, two of the fields received bolus filtering so that the tissue just below the skin surface and not deeper chest wall muscle, bone, etc. got exposed to the rays.  My doctor believes that my risk of recurrence is greatest in that zone and along the scar line.  BTW, I received a simple mastectomy, so lumpectomy patients may get the bolus for other reasons.

bird

AsiaYM

14 down, 19 to go! still a little tanned.

Sanaisa- hang in there!

Love and hugs,

Karen

one-L

21 down 12 to go.  I am a little sore, but that is about all.  I am still not having any skin reaction.  But like the Rad Onc said "We still have time".

valerie, glad you have a plan.  Trust me, this is not as hard as chemo, this is a piece of cake.

Sending hugs to everyone.

Juannelle

precioustime

Sanaisa-- Yes, I couldn't believe it either when the Tech told me that they are trying to get a skin reaction.  I will definitely ask the Oncologist when I meet with her again on Monday....

I don't know about anyone else but I am also doing ALOT of belching! LOL  But seriously -- since I am getting radiation to the middle of my chest -- they believe it is possible effecting the esophagus and they suggested that I take Pepcid? 

I should be done with RADS 3/17/10 and so looking forward to it:)

Loretta

unklezwifeonty

10 down, 11 to go. Tomorrow I will be more than half done!!!

Yooohooo!

Sido

30 down...3 to go!  I got the skin-removing stickers too.  I told them I was sensitive to medical tape, but I feel like the techs aren't listening to me right now and it took skin off my aureola.  they are usually really sweet, but the last few days they seem distracted. 

I've been wearing a bra (underwire) the whole way through.  I just don't feel comfortable going without in public, but I try to get it off as soon as I get home and I no longer sleep in soft sports bras.  Being DD I'm just too self-conscious.  There is a bra from Blue Canoe I'm going to try because the wire is pretty uncomfortable.