Winter RADS 2012 Club...Please come join the fun!

5LuvBugs

FGM - yay, for port removal but now I want mine out - have to wait until April I guess..Also glad your doing ok on the Arimidex, keep us posted and let me know if you gain weight (hope not)

Is it normal to have pain in your ribcage after getting radiated,,,

fgm

Thanks everyone.

PatinMN- I was in the operating room for an hour but the procedure took about 30 minutes and it seemed like only 5 minutes.  I was on the table and they covered my head so I couldn't see.  The doctor gave me several shots of Lanicane and they gave me something to sleep but I didn't.  I remember having a conversation about the doctors kids for a long time and asking if I was supposed to sleep.  The doctor told them to give me more and maybe I slept for a few minutes.  But when it was over they showed me the port and I moved back onto the gurney and into recovery.  I picked out a breakfast and ate every bit. Today I'm sore where they took out the port but Advil helps. Really nothing to worry about.  Much easier than putting it in.  Hope this helps.

PatinMN

Fgm, thanks for the info. If it only seemed like 5 minutes you must have slept more than you thought! Did they make a new incision or go in through the old one? My scar above my port is pretty ugly and I don't want another one. :-(

daisymom46

Fmg ~ congrats on port removal! 

Mother4Life ~ Can friends come and help with the kiddos while you are recovering? Wish we all lived closer.  we could have a babysitting rally!  prayers and thoughts coming your way for a speedy healing and pain relief

Has anyone had severe nausea?  Rad.onc.dr. said he has only seen one case from bc radiation in 25 years. Because I am experiencing mine all day and not just for 1-3 hours after treatment he says it is not from radiation. It started after rad. tx #4 (10 days ago) and I completed treatment #12 today.  I am miserable and have lost 3 lbs this week because I can't eat because it is so bad.  I have some lower abdominal pain (severe ovulation pain?) but no other symptoms.  

Staff not wanting to give me cream, etc. ahead of time or as prevention.  Said I don't need it yet.  Am only using Aveeno, lotion (their suggestion) but have aloe on hand that I will use tonight.  Heard mixing aloe with vit. e works well.  Has anyone used that?  My breast is pink and 'itchy' but not bad at all.  Heard here from you ladies that aquaphor works well.  Is that a prescription?  Or just a drugstore find?

I received 'films' (xrays I assume) today and also last Friday to 'check placement'.  Does anyone else receive this weekly also?

5LuvBugs

daisymom  I was told to use hydrocortisone cream with aloe gel 3x a day and I also use Fruit of the Earth Pure clear aloe gel (Walmart around $5 - also put it on in the dressing room as soon as finished a treatment.  Aquaphor is sold there also, its in a jar. ...had 7 tx so far and starting to get a tendernow...  No nausea, no weekly placement check...Hope you feel better soon.

PatinMN

Daisy mom, I have been having weekly xrays too, which they said was to check placement. No xray this past week though for some reason. Just over the past week or two I have had a teensy bit of nausea, occasionally. Nothing like what you're going through. For creams, they gave me Miaderm and told me to start using it right away, 2 - 3 times per day. I developed a little itching and they told me to use hydrocortisone cream as well, applying it a few minutes after the Miaderm. (The itching has since gone away.).

MandalaB

Yay! I got done 2/5/13!!! 28....

They were right- it does get worse before it gets better-
The underarm burn is slowly healing after a nasty bubble up and peel---- I just noticed that there's a new spot under my breast that started and now it's really painful-
A constant burn.
I couldn't feel the other ones as there are no nerve endings- is it normal for a new burn to flare up 2 weeks later in a new spot?
I hope it's not infected. ??? eek.

but yay for being done. It felt great to ring that bell!!

SwgeeWi

i just finished 19/31.  Daisymom I've had occasional nausea as well, but not enough to affect my weight.  I know they don't want you to lose more than 10 pounds or it will throw off the measurements.

I have had some serious breast pain yesterday and today.  Not outside skin pain, but all throughout my breast.  Anyone else have that?

As for the itching, my nurse said to use the hydrocortisone cream and then put the Aquaphor over that.

The fatigue I'm experiencing kind of comes and goes.  I have 12 tx left and am really looking forward to getting past this.  I got my RX for Tamoxifen which I'm to start two weeks after the end of Rads and I'll have a three month check with my MO at that point.  I guess Spring will be that much sweeter when it arrives this year!!! Can't Wait!!! Have a great weekend ladies! ((Gentle Hugs)) and prayers to all!

5LuvBugs

Swgee  I have some pain in the breast and the area that's getting radiated is so tender in the bones front to back..had to take Aleve last night...I also use the hydrocortizone cream with aloe ...Hope you feel better soon.

fgm

MandalaB-Congratulations on being done!!!! Ask your doc about the new pain. Hope you feel better soon.

PatiM-the post removal was done through the same incision.

Daisymom-Nausea is a listed side effect of radiation.  You may want to google it and show your doctor.  Yes, I was x-rayed weekly to make sure they were doing it right.

Spookiesmom

I've finished 16 out of 28+5 boosts. Doc had me start hydrocortisone w/aloe immediately. Then it started getting itchey, asked if I could use Lanacane, he said yes. It has lidocaine in it, sort of numbs the itch. Great for bug bites too.



They do weekly "pictures" on me too. I hate that it takes so long. This creaky old body really protests being on that table sooooo long.

Mother4Life

Port removel...... Great new... One more step to getting full control of you life again. 

susancats

SwgeeWI- I asked the rads MD about the pains. I described mine as stabbing- and sometimes jolting- not necessarily where the radiation is hitting me. She assured me it was normal and caused from nerves regenerating from the surgery. I guess the radiation must somehow stimulate this? I'd still ask your MD if in doubt.



I got a 400gm tub of silvadene. I'm not sure if it only comes in one size, but it's HUGE!

So far, I don't see much relief from it- 3rd dose.



It's raw and open, and a little infected. Of course it's right where my breast hits my body (moist spot) and very sensitive.



Anyone else have pain remedies besides Advil out there? It's not cutting it!! I can't imagine how people feel when they are in a fire and have 2nd and 3rd degree burns all over. This is one spot!! And it hurts!!

dkgs

Update - the heavy handed resident has been reported and I've been in touch with the hospital who has aknowledged the situation and spoken to the surgeon.

I haven't been able to get in and see my RO to make sure this didn't cause any damage - that will be next week.

No one seems to be able to answer why a patient 3 weeks out from rads needs a breast exam at all, much less one that brusies and causes more pain that either breast has EVER been in.

I appreciate all of the support from this group - thank you.

5LuvBugs

Yay dkgs, so glad you spoke up - good for you...keep us posted and I hope that dog didn't hurt you too much!

MandalaB

black tea bags--- boil up about 5 or 6 and and then put in the fridge to cool. When they cool down, lay the teabags on the burns and it really helps with the pain.

5LuvBugs

QUESTION Does anyone here have any body parts covered with those heavy aprons or head mask, etc. when you get radiated?  I haven't asked yet but I will tomorrow.  When you go to the dentist they cover your throat and chest and this is so much stronger - why aren't we covered also, the techs leave the room and the heavy door closes.?

PatinMN

5LuvBugs, I asked about the lead apron etc. I was told that the radiation is so accurately aimed at the area being radiated that there is no "scatter" effect. I hope it's true...

5LuvBugs

Pat thanks for the info, you made me feel better - I hope it's true also...

stride

I wonder about the scatter effect. Every time I get the first blast of radiation, my arm hairs stand straight up on end.

Annette47

Finished 20/30 treatments today and absolutely ZERO skin problems so far (fingers crossed as I don't want to jinx it).   Not even a little pink.

Definitely experiencing fatigue and lack of appetite though.   Anyone else losing weight?  It hasn't been that much so far, but since I usually have a hard time losing, it's definitely unusual for me.

stride

I have heard weight loss is fairly common for radiation, but not a lot, just a couple of pounds or so. I lost a little at the beginning, but have put some back on again.

5LuvBugs

1/3 finished 11/33; haven't lost an ounce - no surprise, I didn't even lose on chemo...Getting tired but it may just be the daily routine of going back and forth...HOPE EVERYONE IS WELL TONIGHT.

CarolynVM

5LuvBugs, we're on exactly the same schedule.  Today was my 11th tx too!  I've gained 6 pounds since starting.

Loafer

Hi ladies - I am going thru 3 weeks accelerated rads (10 of 15). I have no problem with the breast, and i'm not allowed to use any cream or ointment on it. Slight discomfort and pulling from lifting arm overhead during treatment, which seems common.



Instead, i have a dry cough and extreme dry mouth. The very first treatment, I had a slight sore throat. Is this normal for breast cancer? Since they are not aiming at head/neck, this seems like an unusual SE. Anyone else?

schoolmom

I developed a cough almost 2 weeks ago and I am at 17/33 now.  Dr said it is the flu/cold.  Lots of congestion also.  Hoping it is coincidental.

susancats

I had a cold on the 5th day of treatment and I have 2 left of 33. I still get congested. I think it's coincidental because everyone around has this lingering cough/congestion.



I have never heard of "airing out" my breast, until today when the techs looked at me and weren't sure if they should treat me or not. My location of the boosts is right under my breast where the skin rubs by the body. Pretty red-raw there. I took a cool fan off & on to the area last night & again now.



Two MORE to go! Yay!! Unless they say otherwise.

Silvadene is providing very little relief.



I hope I make it!!

allurbaddayswillend

Today is my first follow up with my RO since I stopped rads. And what do you know? I had an anxiety dream about it last night. It was yucky at the time but isn't lingering with me on waking. I feel more observant of it, like, "oh, I didn't think I was worried yesterday but obviously I have some anxiety."  I'm a bit more than a month out from last radiation. I have some discomfort in the breast by nightfall on my active days and need to take something. The skin has been looking good for a couple weeks, barely even a color difference. My nipple slowly but surely has become less sensitive though I still have to be careful when putting lotion on. I truly don't expect much excitement at this follow-up at all but obviously it's going to be a long time before any of us get done processing this sh1t emotionally. 

Congratulations MandalaB!!! woohoo!
Who else is done that I missed?

dkgs, good job on speaking up. It's not fun to be that person but it has to be done.

Re: scatter - my rad techs said they get a little scatter off the bed.

Annette, I lost weight for the first couple months post chemo and thru radiation, I had to struggle to not lose too much during rads so that they wouldn't have to readjust the settings and redo xrays all the time. However, I think that honeymoon is over for me. It was unusual for me too. The rads combined with Tamo made for a lot of nausea and appetite suppression for me. My appetite isn't completely back to its old self now post-rads because of the tamo but I am maintaining easily and/or putting on a couple pounds. I am hoping it's muscle since my clothes are still fitting but I get more active and able to resume "normal activities" daily.

Loafer, are you on a hormonal treatment? tamoxifen or an AI? I have a crazy dry mouth on tamoxifen. I wake up in the might and can't even swallow, my mouth will be completely dry. Apparently it's a menopause symptom and chemo side effect too. I battle this with xylitol based gums and lozenges. My preferred brand is "Spry" but I think there are others. If I'm out of Spry (I buy it online to keep the cost down to normal gum) I pick up Trident. I need to find a xylitol lozenge sub.

Spookiesmom

Re scatter. I asked at the dentist, said it covers and protects reproductive organs. I don't have them any more, so don't care.

Loafer

Thanks Allurbadday! I am not on anything now. I just finished chemo which thru me into chemopause, so it may be from that! I went back to using biotene products which has helped!



Having new lumps, bumps, scar tissue being felt on the breast being radiated. The underarm is also hurting from being raised during treatment since it pulls on the incision.



Anyone else experience this?