January 2011 Rads

lestwin

I go for my CT scan tomorrow before I start treatment.  Is this when they tattoo you?  Went for my 6 month cleaning (teeth) and had my first minor meltdown.  I had to give an update on my medical issues (been going there for over 30 years) and I shed a few tears.  Thanks for the info. on deo.  I've been exercising with my ball and hand, actually looked up the info. on why I need to do this so I'm determined that I am not going to lose use of the only arm that I have full use of.  I read everyone's posts and I'm pulling for each of you and remember, be positive and be kind to yourselves.

raincitygirl

The fluid is called a seroma, they just send the fluid out to  make sure it is not infected. I had two drains in two weeks and that resolved it.

Today is #20 of 35.  I am still in darn good shape, no blistering or itching.  I have some redness on the boob, some darkening under the arm and on the nipple.  They started taping my nipple down so that it doesn't protrude which is what causes the irritation/extra burn.  They explained that the nipple shields are just a gimmick because it is the protrusion that causes the extra nipple issues.  I feel lucky so far.

Yesterday, I did the scan and planning for the boost period, which will start after #24 (I think).  I got another tattoo, this time directly above the tumor cavity.  I am really looking forward to my graduation ceremony.  All the techs do a parade with you, clapping and creating a general party atmosphere for your last one and they give you a certificate, etc.  It is very warm and sweet.  I wish I knew how to thank them.  I think I will miss their various family stories, etc. The group of us who are all there at generally the same time have become quite connected, it will be quite a change not to see/talk with them every morning.

Okay, off to #20.  For those of you just starting, don't be afraid, just lube that boob...:)

lear

Hi Suepen. I have a question for you? Were you radiated on your left breast? Are you now going to be radiated on the right breast. I was radiated 12 years ago for cancer in left breast - lumpectomy followed be six weeks radiation. 2010 cancer in right breast same options. Worried about receiving more radiation and the length of time after first surgery. Start next week and this will be 18 weeks from 1st surgery in Sept 2010. Any thoughts on this. A friend of mine had mastectomy and did not need radiation. Another friend had mastectomy and went for radiation?

Also wondering if I should just get a mastectomy then I don't have to worry about the radiation I think? 

lear

Hi Suepen. I have a question for you? Have you been previously radiated on your left breast? Are you now going to be radiated on the right breast? Did you have lumpectomy or mastectomy? I was radiated 12 years ago for cancer in left breast - lumpectomy followed by six weeks radiation. In 2010 I was diagnosed with cancer in right breast - options the same - chose the same lumpectomy followed by radiation. Worried about receiving more radiation and the length of time after first surgery. Supposed to start next week and this will be 18 weeks from 1st surgery in Sept 2010. Any thoughts on this. A friend of mine had mastectomy and did not need radiation. Another friend had a mastectomy and was told she needed radiation?

Also wondering if I should just get a mastectomy then I don't have to worry about the radiation, I think? 

lrr4993

Does the redness tend to go away with the weekend breaks?  I am really pink and am hoping that the weekend gets me back to normal before I start up again next week. 

raincitygirl

lrr4993 - for me, the pink does calm down over the weekend, but doesn't completely go away.  So far, my color change hae been fairly consistent, as in not much redder than a week ago.

walker2222

#13 for me today too.  Thought I had a blister appear, small but nonetheless.  Tech said it was just at bit redder in that area, more Aloe Vera should do the trick.

My redness does diminish on the weekends but still looks like I was kissed by the sun.

Omaz

lear - Sometimes with mx they recommend rads to the armpit area if nodes were positive or if the margins were close to chest wall or if they couldn't get clean margins even with mx.  That is what I have read.

Adey

True that omaz.  I'm deciding on that right now after bmx, one node positive, close margin...  Meeting third rad onc tomorrow.

Hi rad gang.  I may join you soon.  (c:

walker2222

Lear - I was told by my RO that due to number of lympnodes and size of tumor is when you have radiation with MX.  Three or more lympnodes and radiation is recomended not for sure about the tumor size.  They thought mine was initially 2 cm, then 3cm and since it was over 3cm mx was recommended and the location, 11:00 position.  Mine was 5.5cm/4.3cm/3.6cm lumpectomy was not an option.

suzieq60

Lear: You are lucky you had 12 years in between. I just finished rads on the left breast in late May. Now having rads on the right breast. Both times I had a lumpectomy - I didn't want a mastectomy. I asked the rad onc about it being so soon and if there was a problem and she said there isn't. I'm having 2 less full breast zaps though and 2 more boosts - that was to do with any cross over from the last lot.

Sue

Eloise

Raincitygirl, thanks for the phrase -- I just used my labelmaker to make a reminder LUBE THAT BOOB for the bathroom mirror and the fridge!  

Omaz

Me too - I'm lubing like crazy!!

Sherryc

Have finished all 28 of full breast rads and 3 boost.  Have 3 boost left to go.  I am very very uncomfortable.  I am missing yoga tonight for the first time in I don't know when, but my boob(actually nipple and areola area) hurts so bad I am sitting around my house topless.  The new lidocaine cream does help alot and last night I took a Davocet left offer from my breast surgery and slept most of the night not in pain, so will do that again tonight.  The area I was really worried about last night only ended up producing two blisters they are small and have not popped yet expect they will tonight, but I think they will dry up like the others so that is good.  Sorry to sound like I am whinning but I am really ready to get this over with.  For those of you who are just starting not everyone has this so don't let me scare you. I am really trying to stay positive about all this. 

cmf

Toby and Victoria,

  I couldn't get an appt with a pulmonologist until next Wed.  My doc ordered blood tests and chest x-ray, all results good so far.  Tomorrow I am having a CAT scan.  My family doc wants to rule everything out until I see the pulmonlogist.  All I really wanted were steroids to help me breathe easier.  I had my family doc talked into it until he called my RADonc who insisted my breathing problems are NOT from the RADS.  I think they are.  Hope you both feel better soon.  It is not fun not being able to breathe regularly. I hope everyone is progressing though their RADS the best they can.  I have really found that applying the Aquafor really helps.  I lather it on every night after I shower.  My Radonc told me to se regular corn starch when I am itchy.  That works great.  I look forward to buyi a few new nightgowns when the RADS are over because they are all ruined from the aquaphor!

  Sherry, Maybe try the corn starch to keep the area dry.  Hope your blisters heal soon.  Seems like your onc is right on top of everything and there to give you what you need.

  Thanks for starting this thread Suepen, It's nice to connect with others going through the same things.  Good thoughts for everyone.

suzieq60

cmf: Hope the breathing issues get sorted out.

SherryC - it can only get better from now on - you're nearly there!!!

I'm all ready to go for No4 - boring. The worst thing is having to juggle clothes for each visit so they don't think I don't have many. I've got 2 outfits for this week and am wearing them on alternate days - I wonder if they actually notice

I'm thinking of going back to applying the Aloe when I get home and the MooGoo later. No redness yet of course as it hasn't been so long. But Aloe is for burns and applying that first seems like a good plan. The MooGoo has aloe in it but wouldn't be the same as the pure stuff.

((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))) to everyone

Sue

Omaz

Huggs back to you suepen!

jo1955

Sherry - You are not whining - you are hurting and this is the place to get it all out.  Here is the support you deserve and need.  I can't help but hurt along with you.  Your journey has been a nightmare and it is almost over and the healing process can begin.  So so sorry you have had such a bad time with rads and pray you never have to do it again.

Barbcard2

Blistery rash is so downright painful I can hardly do anything besides RADS. Only 3 more boosts to go so I'm certainly not giving up.  Neither techs nor rad nurses seem concerned.  Rad onc just smiles on rare occasions I see her.  Of course, they've seen this sort of thing a zillion times and, hey, it ain't THEIR rash!

Sherryc

Baarbcard I so fell your pain.  Am not having a good time myself right now. But I do think my RO is having more sympathy for me and giving me presp drug creams to help.  Sorry you are not getting that.  I am going topless with a glass of wine and watching TV, DH is on a business trip.  I so hope my mother does not decide to just drop in tonight.  She might be shocked.

walker2222

Sherry/Barbcard - so sorry you are going through difficult time.  Barbcard I to hope you get relef too.  Even if your RO/techs has seen this a bazillon times it they should do something to see to your relef and get through your treatments.  We'll celebrate with you somehow.

cincilady

For nipple pain I used Lanolin (like when you breast feed) but only at night and washed anything left in the shower the next morning.  It worked much better than Aquaphor for me.

I've got just 2 boost treatments left.  I feel like my experience has been so different since I had tomotherapy so I want to share it in case others to follow search these pages for information.  First, I didn't get tatoos.  I have marker lines all over me.  3 down each side - armpit, breast, waist and 3 down the middle.  Each is covered with a clear sticker.  The lotion causes them to fall off about every 4 days so they remark me and resticker.  2 of the stickers have a plastic ball on them like the end of the strait pin that is used by the CT scanner.  I had a total of 16 full breast treatments with the same total radiation as traditional, but just more in each treatment.  I have 4 boost treatments.  Each treatment starts with a 3 minute CT scan and that is used to align to the original and the table makes little adjustments after the comparison.  I hate waiting for the comparison which can take 3 minutes or one time 15 minutes.  Then the treatment is 15 minutes.  Now the boosts are only 6 minutes which is so much better.  Every morning I use Biafine and then at 10, 1 and 5 I use Miaderm.  At night I squeeze a two inch line of Aquaphor on my fingers and then add a tablespoon of castor oil and mix and rub in really well.  I wear a sports bra to bed that is now soaked in the stuff.  I haven't washed it since I started this 3 weeks ago and may burn it in 2 days when I'm done.  After the 10 treatment I started using hydrocortisone cream and then got a prescription cream a few days later but really could have survived without it.  The rash was in the area between the breasts and above the breast.  My breast skin rubbed of 3 times - always Monday's for some reason but never what I would call a peel since it just rubbed off when I was putting on lotion.  I was pink after the 4th treatment.  I have not had any trouble with fatigue.  I have also been taking a protein supplement 1x a day (26 g) due to a seroma that my surgeon said would help.  Maybe this helped fight off fatigue.  I 've also been mall walking at least 2 x a week.  I work full time, but right now about a 6 1/2 hour day due to the treatments.  So knowing that my skin was spared I'd have to say if there is a tomotherapy facility in your city, it would be worth seeing if it is an option for you and covered by insurance.

 I pray for you all each day during treatments and hope we can all return to "normal" one day very soon.

tobye

jo1955, thanks for the welcome, glad it sounds like you are doing a little better. cmf and Victoria - cmf, sorry you have to wait for that pulmonologist appointment. My rad onc also insisted my breathing problems couldn't be from RADS .... she did suggest motrin .... she thought maybe I was subconsciously trying to avoid sternum pain from RADS by not fully inflating my lungs. I am feeling a lot better so I didn't try it. The key for me seems to be not pushing myself .... I cannot do all the stuff I used to in one day. I also cannot rush - that brings on the breathing thing. Hang in there, I hope you both feel better soon.

suzieq60

Barbcard - you're nearly done!!! Hang in there. Have they given you anything at all? If not - that's terrible. Rad oncs sure don't do much to earn their money. Like I said once before - mine didn't even want me to undress to show her how the skin was going. She did smile a lot too.

Sue

FireKracker

#21 tx done today.feel good.my best advice is cream cream and cream some more.when ever you think about it do it.it does help and feels sooo good

im sorry to hear my sistas are having lots of problems.i pray every day for each and every one of you.WE DONT HAVE TO ENJOY IT.WE JUST HAVE TO SHOW UP.

GOD BLESS.HUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGS K

jo1955

Blossom45

I'm on my 7th treatment out of 28 and 6 boost.  Is swelling and tenderness around the nipple area normal? I constantly cream and my skin is just fine.  It's just with the swelling and nipple tenderness, it makes jogging not fun at all.  Any suggestions? I'm trying to put some of my routine back.

lrr4993

Blossom - I have had the nipple tenderness, although it is not constant.  I was told it is normal.  I was also told swelling is normal, although I have not had any problems with that.

Blossom45

Thank you so much.  It's good to know that it's normal. I did feel better over the weekend. There have been so many different sensations since the surgery.

raincitygirl

Blossom, it is normal.  My rad onc told me to use Cortaid on my nipple area when that happens and also has the techs tape my nipple down - he said the tenderness is because the nipple protrudes and so by taping it down, it isn't getting hit in the same way....