December 2010 Rads

saturn

Aloha singletona.!  ... which island?  I used to live on Maui and miss it so much!  I love the islands!

Latte

have a great trip singleton! I'm jealous!

had tx 23 today - i'm starting to get quite red all over (in addition to the extremely red sore parts under my breasts and armpit) - 2 regular and 8 boosts to go (I'm slightly behind schedule because i had to miss a day this week - had 39 degree fever and felt awful and couldn't imaginehow i could get out of bed and go to rads - so they gave me one day off).

jo1955

Latte - Hope you are feeling better soon but also sorry to hear about the skin issues.  Hope you are using creams.

FaithFollower

Aloha Singleton - Latte so sorry to hear you're getting so red.  I did too - really bad.  They switched to the boosts and then finished the regular treatments, but after the boosts I was still so raw that I had to take a Friday off to have a long weekend!  I was also taking percoset for the pain!  The aloe, hydrocortisone & zinc combo really worked well for me (w/a glass of wine on the side!).  Hang in there (pun intended)    (o) (,)

lizzyanne

Hey all - I am one week post rads and the skin in my right armpit is almost purple in color. It wasn't like that last week. Is it normal for the skin to get redder after rads is over? I am still using my aloe vera and aquaphor...also have a prescription for itch.

jo1955

lizzyanne - Yes that can be normal.  You will continue "cooking" for 2 -3 weeks after rads.  Keep using your creams for awhile longer and don't scrub the area until your skin is back to it's normal color.

raincitygirl

lizzyanne - yes, i finished regular rads yesterday and started boosts today.  My underarm area is also almost purple - as jo said, they told me it would keep cooking for a while.  They gave me this special gel sheet from Sweden that you cut out to fit the area that seems irritated.  I was having trouble wearing a bra - this stuff is magic. 

Sandeeonherown

Wish i had heard about that gel sheet over Xmas...the itch can be reallllllllyyyyyy irritating so keep that gel on

jo1955

                               

IowaSue45

Hi All,  made it home, had a great time ! Looks like I have a bunch of reading to do. I hope you all are doing good. I'm so glad I took that much need vacation, so glad my best friend and her man went with us. It was so good just to get outside all day and do things, something I miss so much in the winter time.

jo1955

IowaSue - So glad you had a great time - you deserved it.  I would rather be outside than in.

Lynn18

Lizzyanne and raincitygirl:  My armpit area has also turned purple and it kind of alarmed me.  I am finishing boosts now.  I am glad to hear that is normal--my doctor told me I looked normal, but I won't see him for a few more weeks.

IowaSue:  I am glad you had a fun trip, I can't wait to go somewhere soon.  Anywhere sounds good to me! 

Sandeeonherown

Lynn18 - that is normal. when radiation is all over, it will likely get dry, scaly and itchy, somewhat lik eczema. put cortisone on it ( you can get a script from the folks at the hospital...get one before you stop radiatino so you do not have to drive back there in the two weeks following like i did)...it was the last place I wanted to pop in n during my Xmas holiday!...Also get a huge tube of Eucerin..it is wha they are recommending for use at the NS Breast Cancer clinic..it did not stain any of my clothes, kep my skin hydrated so it was not itchy and has no scent etc. It did not irritate my skin in any way and afer 2weeks, it was alllllll better! Now my 'tanned breast' is almost normal colour again...it went from red and puffy from radiation to normal looking with just a tan....it'll feel better soon

The radiation also seemed to help my scars (breast and nodes) to heal. Did anyone else notice thatt? they went from red and puffy to flat , neat and generally unnoticable!

jo1955

Lynn - Another suggestion for the itchy skin is Topicort.  For me, it worked much better than the hydrocortisone.  Had to get a RX from my RO.

Sandeeonherown - The radiation also helped my scars to heal.  The node scar is barely noticeable. 

Sandeeonherown

Jo1955- Feels like a litle bonus, doesn't it? My node scar is also barely noticable...ah!l

jo1955

Sande - Yes it does.  I'll take it.

Sandeeonherown

Excellent! We need a bonus from this process other than our newly found sense of perscpective, hmm?

jo1955

You are absolutely right.  What a way to have to change the way we look at things.

toni30

December Sisters - a post-rad note.  I had the shorter (Canadian) protocol - 20 total zaps, at a higher dose.  I was worried that the higher dose might result in worse burning, but it never got really bad - and I'm fair-skinned. I ended on Jan 12 and am healing pretty well.  Congrats to everyone who is finishing this week - woo-hoo!

Sandeeonherown

I only had 16 sessions ....and managed to get through about 3-4 songs on my mp3 player...it is considered 'standard' here in Canada....16 as opposed to 30???? works for me! (hopefully!)

jo1955

Sandee - In the states, having 16 TX is called the "Canadian Protocol".  It is not everywhere here yet.  The majority of us get 30 or more TX.  Lucky you.

Latte

sandee - i also noticed that radiation helps scar tissue - not my breast or node scar (yet), but i had a really bad raised scar from my port, just outside the radiation field on the other side, with a huge lump of scar tissue under the skin (the nurse was sure the port was still in, and couldn't believe me when i told her that it's not the port, it's scar tissue...) - after 25 rads, the scar tissue has almost all gone away!

had my first boost today - 7 left to go!!

lizzyanne

Thanks for the info on the "after effects". My underarm is feeling a bit better already. I am using the aquafor but might switch to the  Eucerin as the other is rather sticky for use during the day. Looking forward to what happens to those scars. I had 25 treatments and hope it works.... Congrats to all of you who are finishing up. 

Sandeeonherown

Lizzyanne, I used eucering 'calming' lotion..worked like a dream, did not stain my clothes and kept my skin well hydrated.

jo1955, boy do I consider myself lucky...can't imagine going to the radiatino dept. 30x by myself and keeping it together

latte, the radiation healed both scars..on my breast and under my arm. Almost look like new now!...also hats off you my gal surgeon who did such a great job I guess, hmm? it was hte one plus of radiation.

Sherryc

SAndeeonherown-I am amazed at how my scars have faded.  There were really purple looking when I started rads.  The one I have at the 9 to 10 oclock I was really worried about in my bathing suit but I think I can live with it now.  I am just hopeing the tanned look goes away.  The red has faded (except my boost area) but I still look tanned and it looks odd.  I am one week post rads.

Iowas Sue so glad you had a good time.  DH and I are doing the Texas Wine trail in a few weeks and cann't wait.  That will be my post rads trip.

LIzzyanne glad you are finished.  My armpit was also purple looking but know is looking much better 

jo1955

Sandee - I did not always keep it together.  My rad experience was a total nightmare.  RO was a moron and the nurse was a total b#@ch.  There were days I wanted to quit and never go back.  The drive was long each day and traffic was horrific on Fridays.  I was so stressed the whole time - even worked a full time job.  Looking back, I do not how I did it but I did.  

 Sherry - The tanned look will fade - at least mine did and I am almost 2 months post rads.  The SNB is hard to find and you would not know I even did rads.  Keep using the creams for at least 2 weeks or until all the redness is gone.  Remember you will continue to cook 2 -3 weeks post rads.

Sherryc

Jo--I figured the tan look would fade but I am very impatient. So go figure why I did not like radiation. My RO actually gave me instructions to continue my Xclair cream for 2 wks post rads then he wants me to use a good vitamin E cream not oil (not sure why the difference) until I go back for my 3 month post rads check up. I ended up buying Burts Bees.

jo1955

Sherry - Why do you have to go back for a 3 month post rad visit?  Once I finished, I went back in one week for a skin check and I was done.  I was glad I did not have to go back, my RO was a moron and I did not want to see him again.

Sherryc

Jo on my last day they already had me an appt set up for my three month post rads mammo and one week later have to see my RO.  If everything is good then he will release me to my MO and I will not have to go back. Of course I do not like my MO and am in the process of finding a new one.  Just wish my RO would keep me then I would not have to go through this whole process of finding a new one.  He did not make me come in for a skin check, but they did tell me that if I needed to come in and see him to just call and they would work me in. Because of my pain at the end I just kept doing what he had told me and I was much better the next week so I did not see a need to go see him.  This seems to be normal for my area as it is what my BS had told me would be the process as well.  Good thing I like him.  My Dad is seeing him now.

Valgirl

Sherry and Jo:   My tan is fading some.  My surgeon said it would take a year and the RO said 2-3 months.  The surgeon also told me that my breast may shrink some.  If it does I am ok with that as my left breast is a little larger than the right.  When I told him he said, "Well we'll see how that works out."  

I saw my RO one time post rads - 1 month later.  He discharged me saying "nothing personal, but I hope to never see you again."   I don't want to go through that again either!   So now I will have my first mammogram post surgery in June.  That is 6 months post rads.  

My surgeon said he will be the one to follow up on my mammograms.  I see the oncologist (at least for now every 3 months).   My first oncologist retired (only saw him 3 times) and I have not met the new one yet.

Now I am trying to get my supplements straight.  It's all so much to take in!!