May 2010 Rads Group

mom3band1g

I was started on Xclair today too.  My incision is red and a little swollen.  I really hope it doesn't turn into anything else.  After all this I would hate to have something happen to my TE's. 

dazd = kids are doing OK.  Next week will be the test as my dh is going out of town...ahhhh. 

I am really starting to resent having to go every day.  Feeling a little angry these day.  I guess it's all just a part of it.  I want my old body back.  Ugh.

nancy2721

Woohoo! 16 done 14 to go- more than halfway done! This whole travel and traffic  is getting old everyday  and it is getting tougher to stay up about all of it , but I'm trying. My ribs arent sore but my breast bone is- right down the middle between the two girls. And I'm getting really pink- hopefully it will fade a bit over the weekend and back at it Monday morning. I, too, asked about swimming- hubby is taking me to the Bellagio in Vegas the beginning of July and there is no way I'm not enjoying all of it- RadOnc said it would be no problem whatsoever, just to be sure to rinse off real well when I get out of the water. Well.....wishing all of you a great weekend- enjoy your two days off. Nancy

staceyt

Morning Ladies,

I have a question for those of you who have a few rads under your bra - did you notice any swelling?  I feel, what is left of my boob, is swollen to the point that it's the same size as my good boob and my pit hurts.

Hope everyone has a terrific weekend!!! - Stacey

Leslie1962

No swelling here, just red after being zapped.

SueHan

Hi Stacy,

 I am on nr 17 now, and yes also experienced a bit of swelling the first week, and stinging sharp pains from pit and down arm a bit. Nurse explained pains stemming from surgery incision. Gone after that first week. Also swelling (also was week before my period which could explain it), also gone. I remember feeling lots of misc pains the first week, but now have tuned them out and they are basically gone except the hot skin and a bit of rash on chest over breast. 

KittyDog

14 down 20 more to go.

My scar is very red.  I too feel swollen especially around the extra tissue area that was left from surgery.  It looks like a small boob in the middle of my chest.  The same thing on the end of my pit too.  My shest feels very tight today and I was told that was normal.  Thankfully two days to go braless and hope it all calms back down before Monday.

retrievermom

Me, too, KittyDog.  I'm in a big t-shirt, ceiling fan on, hoping the weekend will help.  I'm not swollen, but very red and raw looking.

KayNYC

Yes,  Staceyt, I also have swelling and some minor armpit discomfort. I have completed 16 of 21 radiation treatments so far. They gave me a tube of hydrocortisone cream this morning for the itching in the skin fold.So far, the skin is intact and they say in good condition. I have five boosts next week and I complete my radiation treatments.

K

DianeKS

Hello everyone,

   Haven't posted in awhile but have been lurking.  As of Friday finished three out of five weeks.  So far not bad but last week started getting tired.  Pink skin and just began with the itchiness...what does everyone do for that?  Just add more cream?  Has been cloudy and cold her lately so I am thankful for that.  Also having a sore neck from placement on the table.  I know it is only 10-15min max, but wondering if anyone else has that and if you use a towel or some other device behind your head?

 Itizwutetiz , I agree it will be over before we know it.  I had to read your name reeaally slowly to get it but it made me laugh that it took that much concentration to figure it out!  It is so true though.  Hope everyone enjoys the weekend off.

Diane.

lorieg

Hey ladies.  I haven't posted in a while, but tomorrow will be treatments #43 and 44 and then I am DONE.  My skin from my left all the way across to my right axilla is FRIED!!  I had radiation on both sides due to a cross axillary metastatic node (other armpit).  It is very uncomfortable, itchy, peeling, and gross but if it prolongs my life I don't care!  My family and I leave Houston for home on Tuesday and although we have enjoyed our stay we are more than ready to go home!  I have not had any fatigue, btw, so that is not a given side effect.

Good luck to everyone finishing up rads!

lorieg

no swelling, btw.

retrievermom

Lorieg:  Congratulations on finishing up.  Have a great trip home.

Ezscriiibe

My radiologist told me that the swelling under/around the incision is fluid build up (similar to what happens right after surgery) as a result of the rads. It will decrease adn/or go away.

staceyt

Hello Ladies

Thank you all for your comments it really helps. 

Anyone else tired of the everyday rads?  For me it's drive an hour 1 way if they are on time I'm out in 10 minutes and drive an hour home.  It's getting old and I still have 4 more weeks. Ugh!

Stacey

Mchan

Yes, Stacey, I'm tired of rads too but I believe in radiation therapy for Triple Negative breast cancer, which I have. Rads do remind me every day that I have/had cancer, though, and I hate that part of it. I drive a couple of hours to Houston every Monday morning, then drive home after rads Friday afternoon. I miss hubby and our little doggies inbetween but then I'm luckier than most since we put our travel trailer on a lake in a nice park just 10 minutes from MDAnderson. My sister from Denver rented an apartment in Houston for six weeks while she had rads. She couldn't go home weekends like I can. I have 4 more weeks to go too, Stacey. Ugh is right!

Cher

KittyDog

YES  Fatigue hit this weekend for me.  I have gone back to taking naps and sometimes unwillingly find myself knodding off.  15 down 19 more to go.

Everett78

5 zaps to go!  I'm very pink and really hoping to get through this week without problems.  I get 3 bolus's this week and they make me pink.  I'm using Miaderm and have been really happy with it.

I'm tired of my daily trip, but the ladies at the rad center are super nice and that helps!

mom3band1g

10 down and 23 to go.  Ugh.  Hate the drive.  The xclaire is helping my incision...it looks a lot better than it did last Thursday.  I love the weekends!

retrievermom

I lost my post.  I'll try again.  I was hurting and itching all day at work, and felt worse when I came home from rads.  My nurse gave me a big square thing to put on.  It says "Mepilex Transfer" on the wrapper.  It's spongy and cushiony and covers my whole breast.  First I put on cream, then this square, then wrapped myself in an ace bandage.  I can't believe the relief this is giving me.  The nurse said these things are so expensive, they only give out one per patient, but I can take it off in the morning, clean it off, put it back in the wrapper and store it in the fridge.  I had found myself pressing my hand against my nipple to relieve pain today; this does the trick. 

I start boosts tomorrow.  The gals replaced stickers today in preparation.  I'm very pink and expect it will only get worse.  

I nod off easily, too.  Trying to think of this as the homestretch.  It's a long race, tho.

joyner1963

I'm chiming in now too !  When I got on the table yesterday, I had a shooting pain and it took a minute for it to stop before my guy could re-position me.  That had never happened before. I had 30 minutes worth of new X-rays to set up for boosts. Then, more sharpie marker X's applied on different spots on the boob. I see my rad/onc today and I'm going to ask about some of the creams that you guys have mentioned.   Today will be # 25 !!! Only 10 more to go. 

It has been so wonderful to correspond with all of you and hear how everyone does each week.There are mainly very elderly people at my radiation center, so I've met noone to talk to about treatment. Everyone on this thread is so nice and I am just so grateful to have "met" you all.  Hope everyone has a good day today !  I may change my photo to one with my dog. It seems there are lots of dog lovers out there !!!!

chrishat

hi everyone! i am starting radiation on june 23rd...i have my simulation scheduled for june 17, two days after my oopherectomy. i had a consultation with a plastic surgeon who told me that the radiation will increase my chances of developing lymphedema, and also will decrease the range of motion in my arm. ( had a bilateral mastectomy in feb and have had problems with a 'cord' that has developed in my armpit....has anyone else experienced that?) everyone keeps telling me that since i have finished chemo and already had my mastectomies, the worst is behind me and radiation is so easy, comparatively speaking, but i wonder.....

so, so glad i found this forum...thanks everyone!

Leslie1962

chrishat - I had double mast in Nov '09 and had lots of issues with cording and lymphedema. I am still dealing with those and doing daily stretching, sometimes up to three times a day, to help relieve that stiffness and pain. The radiation has made the armpit area very tight and I spend a lot of time working on releasing that. I see an Occupational Therapist for the lymphedema and have seen great improvement there. Just have to keep working on it daily. Today is rad #13/27.

chrishat

thanks leslie...i guess i have lots of stretching in my future, which is okay, especially if it works. looks like you're halfway done with radiation! are you feeling fatigued?

Leslie1962

chrishat - so far no fatigue and I am only red during the day after the radiation. By night time it calms down. My doc is only letting me use 100% Aloe Vera Gel. So far the skin looks good.

Dazdnfused

I'm halfway through...15 was today, 15 left to go.  I don't really feel fatigued, but I have noticed I am pretty "laid back" as compared to my normal hyper self.  I am "tanning" with red flushes on and off again and sometimes it feels sore, but other than that, it's pretty good.

Leslie, good to see you here and I'm glad you are working on your lympedema with results.  That is so important!  We are just continuing on the path, aren't we?

Joyner, I am a dog lover as well...my 8 year old lab, Moby, goes everywhere with me...except to radiation that is!  

Later ladies! 

retrievermom

Started boosts today.  The gals said it would take ten days after last dose before the skin settles down.  Take extra, old clothes along to rads if you are going to be drawn on with Sharpie every day.

mom3band1g

Ok, what is going on.  I am sick again.  Last night my throat started to get sore I and feel awful.  I NEVER get sick and since I've started rads this is the 2nd time.  My dh is out of town and my dd broke her foot yesterday (she's 4).  I am living Murphy's Law!

Leslie1962

Okay - tired of this already, my throat is starting to bother me and I think it is from the radiation. The radiation doc is sending a beam to the area just above the clavicle. Anybody else have this? Seems all I do at night is cough. No cold or anything, just cough. I am off to have #16/27 today. Skin is starting to show slight signs of having the radiation.

joyner1963

 Hi Dazednfused,

What would we do without dogs ??  My dog is a 5 year old Boxer and he has been such a comfort through all this cancer crap.  I have not been able to take Duke out as often as we would like since surgery, etc. But, soon we will get back outside for walks more frequently.  

Today is treatment # 27 !!!  I only have one "area" that is a bit bothersome with redness and itchiness.  It's right on my collarbone.  Other than that one area, the boob is holding up well. I  just keep crossing my fingers and trying not to focus too much on it {which is hard to do }.  

I sure hope everyone here can keep hanging on with a good outcome and very little problemsand NO delays in treatment.   From my experience, it's been less scary and problematic than I had imagined.

Take care all,

Georgia in Alabama

SueHan

Hi, 

I also can feel a soreness in my throat and up in a line up to my ear after treatment. I respond by taking really deep breaths and holding and exhaling in the car on way home and also at the gym. I feel this really helps. 

Lately find it hard - the fact of being a treatment statistic or percentage, no exact or specific answers related to me, but hope, as this (radiation) is the best bet medically at this time.  23 of 30 treatments.