JUNE 2011 RADS

Huskerkkc

Shelf cami is a camisole that has a built -in bra, sometimes called a shelf bra. Some tanks tops

have the built in bra too. Softer and less binding usually than a regular bra.

mammalou

Shelf camis don't work very well when you have one DD boob and one A boob!  I can't wait to get that fixed!  I don't want to wear a bra right now and it is really hard to find shirts that camoflauge my size differences.  I have skin on skin under my arm and can't figure out how to stop that.  I am so red that it is almost purple.  The good news is that I just finished 20/33 and I'm not overly tired.  I drove 4 hours, had RADs and worked 5 hours today.  Wow, I need a vacation!  The only problem is that I have to go back to work on August 15th.

Maybe484

I hope everyone has a good day tomorrow.

I have a question:  Is it ok to have my hair colored sometime during my treatment period?  Will my hair turn a strange color or something if I do?  LOL and TIA.

GmaFoley

Stage 1: a shelf cami is like a tank top with a little bra inside - they are very comfy compared to a bra.. I suggest getting it a size larger than what you normally wear to give you room... I wore them until my last week when I have pretty bad blister in my armpit and it rubs in the wrong spot.

pejkug3

Shelf Cami = tank top with a built in shelf bra.  I'm a big chested girl and that's what I'm wearing.  When I want a little more support, I put a loose sports bra on over the top on the shelf tank.  Not ideal, but if it helps with skin breakdown, I'll put up with it.

EmilyInOntario

Hi all...I'm in Canada and I have 28 + 5 boosts.( Total 33) Today is treatment 21. I am quite pink but so far minimal discomfort. My radiologist has said from the start NOT to use any creams or lotions unless I needed to and so far I haven't. Seems to be different schools of thought for this.

Lee64

Does anyone know what determines the number of rad treatments recommended? The numbers seem to be all over the place.

I have #23 of 34 today. My RO checks my skin every day now before treatment and also prescribed a salve that helps with the itching. I still have the bolus and am quite red but no blistering or peeling yet. I have not worn a bra since I started rads; I just wear a loose shirt over another top.

Do any of you still have your chemo port in? If so, do you know when you can have it removed?

Elizabeth1889

Hi Lee64,

I still have my chemo port in.  It was placed in me in March 2011 and I completed chemo in June.  The MO suggested leaving it in for a year.  It needs to be flushed every six weeks. 

Melanie_Ann

I still have my port. I haven't discussed it's removal yet with anyone. It doesn't really bother me but I think I'd like to have it out afer rads.

I had 16/33 today. Halfway! I'm slightly pink but so far, so good. When I exercise, my breast hurts a little though. 

I had physical therapy afer rads today, then I came straight home and slept for 2 hours. I think I'm getting wiped out!

Huskerkkc

I have gotten 3 different opinions on the chemo port. I finished June3 and onc said he'd prefer 3 years since Iam triple negative. He also said that is probably overly cautious and if I had any trouble with it he'd remove it. PS who placed port said probably a year was sufficient unless I had trouble. RO said he'd like it in through rads and then he didn't care. I'm leaning toward a year or less. 3 seems extreme. It is annoying and sometimes uncomfortable.

stage1

Gma, Mammalou and Huskerkkc  thanks for the cami bra definition, I will look for one, I am having my last two trips to rads this week.    Emily, I have neverheard of not using creams or anything, maybe he meant not during the actual treatment.  Ask again, there may be a misunderstanding.  Lee, I wonder, too, how they come up with the treatment planMammalou, I am purple too, under the arm, I roll up a little fabric from an old T-shirt and put it under there to get some air going there.  I was much more comfortable last night.  Also, under the breast...

EmilyInOntario

Stage 1..I have asked the rad onco and the support care nurse several times just to make sure. They prefer patients not use creams or lotions here unless absolutely necessary. Another lady on the board that I talk to in New York state also was told this when she did rads. Not sure why the different protocols. The support care nurse gave me a sample of glaxal base to use over the weekend if I absolutely needed something. But so far..I haven't needed anything.

stage1

Emily, maybe new study has implemented this protocol.  Interesting.

coni111852

Wow emilyinontario they told me to use the base glaxal 2-3 times a day from day 1, it is weird how they all say different things I got 5 more to go skin is really really tan and burned... I'm getting 25 in total... That's another question I have why some if u r getting different amounts? Its Weird! saw dr today finally.. They told me no vit E cause they don't know side effects...

Maybe484

I'm in the States but am on what my RO called the Canadian protocol--fewer treatments but hypofractionated.  I will have 22 (17 WBI plus 5 boosts to my axilla).  Had #10 today.

Have any of you used Lindi Skin Roll?  My RO mentioned it to me today--she said it's good to take the heat out.

GmaFoley

Maybe my RO just told me to use cool washclothes and/or Domeboro and a fan... didn't hear of the Lindi Skin Roll until you mentioned it.

duckyb1

Ladies..........I am from the Phila. area, and I was told by my Rad techs not to use anything at all when I got my rads.......they said when it was necessary they would tell me, and honestly I hardly had to use anything at all....................Some Aloe, but bought 2 of each...........Aloe, and Aquaphor, and still have  2 bottles of Aloe left, and 1 1/2 jars of Aquaphor.................Maybe I was just one of the lucky ones..........but I got  LE, so how lucky can I be.....................

dragonfly1

I'm one of the people who was told not to use anything except Aloe 2-3x/daily. The RO and nurse said not to use any creams or anything else unless I begin to have a problem and then they will tell me what to use...I had #15 today and so far no problems, not even pink yet...it's hard to say why some of us react more than others.

Melanie_Ann

I noticed today that my armpit is getting darker. And my shoulder is getting really tender and sore. I'm not too bad yet. I saw someone today with a really bad reaction...yikes! She got a couple days off.

coni111852

Are u ladies getting something like rubber put on top of your skin? I was talking to a lady who was going after me and they didn't do that for her? They told me is to trick the machine and make it believe there is more skin so rads are stronger? But I'm wondering why I'm getting it and others are not?

dragonfly1

Coni That sounds like a bolus...it's used to trick the machine so that the radiation gets closer to the surface-it just helps to direct the Rads to the right place. They use if when they need the Rads very close to the surface of the skin. For example, my tumor was very deep, near the chest wall so they don't use the bolus but others had a tumor very close to the surface of the skin or they need the area of the scar treated, so they use a bolus... 

Lee64

I also have a bolus for rads. I wonder if it is only used for women who have had a mastectomy since the women I have talked to that had a lumpectomy don't have it.

Had an appt. with my surgeon today for a recheck. He is such a great guy; really made me feel good. Very reassuring and positive.

coni111852

Thanks dragonfly1 I see, I wonder if this makes the skin react more or not, all I know is my skin is really badly burned but just 4 more and all done!

Lee64 I had masectomy, but so did the other lady that was waiting for me she didn't have the bolus though...

coni111852

Thanks dragonfly1 that's a good question I need to ask how close to my skin or chest was the tumor no one told me and I didn't ask... All my surgeon said was that 99% of it was gone!

Maybe484

Do they ever use a bolus on the axilla?!?

My tumor was close to the skin and in my axilla--my RO didn't mention a bolus to me, just boosts.  I've just had rad #11 and my underarm area is already quite stressed.

pejkug3

MAYBE - did you have lumpectomy?

My RO says that he rarely uses a bolus on lumpectomy patients.  Only when the cancer is very close to the surface of the skin and they didn't get good margins on the skin side.  I asked specifically is a bolus would be involved in any of my treatments.

I had lumpectomy with good margins - no bolus.  Not even in boosts.

suebak

Tomorrow is my last regular rad treatment, Friday I start the boost. I think that is what it is called. They will rad only the area of the breast where cancer was found.  I am feeling exhausted and very emotional.  I am not a crier,and that is all I have been doing for the last 2 days. My breast is so burnt and sore, and the onco told me next week is going to be the worse.  I can't wait. Cancer sucks. Anyone else want to join in on my pity party

duckyb1

Sue...................I am finished...............I found the boost SE not as much as the regular whole breast.............the one thing you will notice...................fatigue, and I mean fatigue after the boosts, and for weeks after that...........I still feel exhausted at times............not always, but when it hits.....................it hits.......................the breast is still swollen, but much better......you will be ok...........your almost there...........hugs.

duckyb1

Sue...............I finished on June 15th............I was also warned that the fatigue would set in within a week of finishing..........

duckyb1

Sue not sure if we spoke before..........................your not far from me.............Ridley.......Maybe when this is all over, and my grandchildren go back to school (I take care of them 3 days a week), we can get together maybe for lunch;................I moved to Drexel Hill 6 months ago, from Springfield..................was born and raised in Philly..............

Downsized, to a ranch home................completely redone, but I like my big home better....people say I'm nuts, but I always lived in a big house..............but I'll adjust...........hope things go ok with your boosts.