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

5LuvBugs

Loafer have the same issues as you with radiation plus some pain in the chest bones and now my radiated one is changing colors

kglee

Just had my 3 week follow-up after completing radiation. Skin getting back to normal.  Still have some fluid around the lumpetomy site and the doctor told me to give it about a year.  My breast could keep changing.   I started the tamoxifin.  Has anyone started this?  I have been feeling so lighted headed that at one point it gets scary.  It seems to get better toward the end of the day.  Dr. says it's not the drug it is probably the lack of hormones.  Anyone experience this and what can be done to help?

SwgeeWi

Can't sleep. Of course now I wish I had taken my trazedone! Today will be my 23/31, the 2nd to last of whole breast rads, then 6 boosts! If the weather allows, that is. I can't believe I can see the light light at the end of the tunnel! My breast is really red and angry looking. I've got an itchy area on my chest and am starting to get a burning sensation under my boob. I hope it all stays in tact for one more week! The breast pain I had is finally not as bad as it was. My RO had me take Aleve plus Tylenol. I used to do that for my girls when they had high fevers but didn't think of it for myself.

I brought my crabby 18 year old daughter who isn't feeling well home from college for the weekend last night. I get that she isn't feeling well, but she didn't listen to me and go to the student health center to try to get some Tamiflu, and now it's past the 48 hour window. CALGON, where are you? Oh yeah, I can't take a bath anyway.

I'm so sick of winter! I wish I was on a beach somewhere laying in the warm sun, listening to the ocean waves...

Thanks for letting me vent! Stay warm ladies! Have a good weekend!:)

PatinMN

I finished up my 33 rads today - hooray!  Thankfully I had no problems other than redness and a little itching which was resolved with hydrocortisone cream.  I will keep lubing for a while, until the redness goes away.  I was also told to stay off antioxidants for a couple more weeks.  Loafer, my radiated boob does feel quite different than the other one - I hope that's normal.  Are you still unable to use any lotions?  The lotions really helped me with the tightness.

Annette47

Finished my "regular" treatments today - start boosts next week.    Skin is still fine - barely pink at all - my RO was joking with me about whether the machine was actually on during my treatments.   He said it's partially just me being "resistant" to it all, but also mentioned that he thinks it's a benefit of doing the rads prone - he says that avoids the bad problems many people get in the crease between the underside of the boob and the rest of you.    Just thought that was kind of interesting ....

For boosts I'll be laying on my side as my incision is on the upper/outer quadrant and that seemed to give the best positioning.    Not sure that will be any more comfortable than laying on my belly, but it will at least be a change!

Waitingforthenextstep

That is good news about the prone position rads.  I will be starting in a few weeks.  Congrats to all who are finishing up....

SwgeeWi

Congrats PatinMN!! I hope you're celebrating the end of Rads! Woot woot!

Annette, way to be finished with regular rads! I'm one behind you and can't wait! So nice your skin held up, too! My nurse gave me some Elasto-Gel to use, said it should be very soothing. Have you started your Tamoxifen yet?

Have a great weekend sistas ! I think we're going to go see Identity Thief tomorrow . Time for a comedy!

melmcbee

Hi ladies. Im so excited I only have 3 more boosts left. My burns are healing with the silvadine. Im also using radioplex on the boost area aand so far its not burnt. I hope everyone is doing well. Hugs

susancats

I finished up on Thursday 33 rounds- with the last 7 being boosts. I seem to have worsened the last few days after- red raw and oozing- i try drying it out with a hair dryer on cool- and using silvadene- but it is wicked sore the past day or two. Anyone else feel like they  got worse before they got better?? Ugh- so painful!!

melmcbee

Susan, Im so sorry you are hurting and yes I thought I was going to die it hurt so bad.  They gave me vigilon patches to put on the open burns and it felt good. I kept them in the fridge and it would cool them down. The silvadene also healed the sores really fast. And if I was hurting bad enough I took a pain pill. I wore huge t-shirts so nothing would touch my sore areas and I literally stayed in bed from Thursday to Sunday the weekend I hurt so bad. Oh I also put aloe on. I hope you start feeling better. Healing Hugs.

stride

Sorry susancats, I hope you can get some relief soon. Are you taking pain relievers? I have finished my regular treatments and will start boosts tomorrow. My RO said she will give me silvadine when those are done, but not before because it can interfere with the radiation. So far I have not needed pain relievers, but I am using an aloe gel that contains lidocaine.

cowpower

Just stopping by to check in. It sounds like you ladies are coming right along towards the finish line.



Susancats, hang in there- you will feel better remarkably soon. The pain of the open skin really is like torture, but it will heal very quickly. In the meantime, you could try a saline soak (Tazzy had a recipe on this thread) which is very soothing. If you have pain meds, now might be a time to use them. It really will feel better soon.

Natlie38

Susancats, I finished radiation on Thursday as well. My skin is in real bad shape. I have blisters. some have popped, some still there. There is some yellow oozing, its really painful. Some skin is peeling. And I have bad pain too. I am switching between Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Vicodin. 

I hope we feel better soon. I am fed up of keeping my arm raised to avoid underarm friction!

Loafer

I'm feeling a new lump next to my lumpectomy site which is making me nervous. I feel other irregularities with breast tissue, but this is different. Will bring up with RO when I see him this week. Anyone else? Should I be concerned?

5LuvBugs

Loafer I think we all feel lumps - its' probably scar tissue...

Now my Question  is anyone's armpit turning black? My armpit and nipple are getting very dark and it's only day 15 of 33.  Tomorrow is my doc day so I will ask him but I want to hear what's going on with you girls....  I am using my aloe and cream 4 times a day and I'm not burning but why my armpit????

stride

Yes, my armpit is black. Some of the skin on my chest also turned blackish before peeling, so I expect the armpit will do the same. Really not painful for me so far. Just a bit itchy.



Loafer, yes def bring up with your RO, but I have also had some lumps. My axillary nodes have gotten quite lumpy, but I guess it's normal for rads.

5LuvBugs

Stride = whew, that's a relief, thought I was the only one....

SwgeeWi

I finished 25 regular boosts today and start my 6 boosts tomorrow. If I wasn't feeling so queasy today I'd be jumping for joy!

5 luv, my armpit has just darkened up over the weekend. It's sore, also. My breast is swollen. My boob looks like someone took a dark brown/red marker and put dots where all of my hair follicles are. Because of the swelling, my underside looks like it has holes where my hair should be.

Susan-I'm getting some small blisters on my chest. I have a feeling it will get worse before it gets better. How often do they check your skin when treatments are over? Once a week? Only if there are issues?

I know this too, shall pass!! However, not soon enough! Thank God Friday is the beginning of March! When does daylight savings start?!! I'm sending out healing vibes to everyone. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming......

Spookiesmom

Time changes March 11. Can't be soon enough!!

CarolynVM

Loafer, my breast if full of lumps and "ropes" that feel creepy but are harmless I guess.

melmcbee

Hi ladies.  Im so excited only 2 more to go but like Swgeewi I am nauseous again and have had bad diarrhea today. It was like dejavu of chemo ugh. I had ulcerative coitis about a year before my diagnosis so I was wondering if my immunity is low or could this be a side effect of radiation? Maybe a stomach bug? Man I am suppose to be getting better and really feel ill.

On a lighter note my armpit was blacker than my breast but the skin has pealed off now. I hope all of you are well. Healing hugs

schoolmom

Finished 20/33 and still using the Aloe Force 3 times a day now.  Have pink under arm and some tiny pimples on breastbone and under the boob where the lumpectomy was.  Saw the doctor yesterday and she said everything looked great but was a little concern about under the boob where I will have the 8 boosts.  Fortunately I will have 2 boosts then going out of town for 4 days so will have a rest.  Hope everyone is well. 

melmcbee

Schoolmom I just have to tell you that I love your hair... Hope you are feeling better soon

fgm

Swgee-It's been almost 4 weeks since my last rads treatment and I still have those brown dots near my nipple.  At my 3 weeks appt. my RO said it was because my breast was still swollen.  It  doesn't hurt.  I see my MO for my 3 months appt. on the 4th so I'll see what she says about it.

My breast is still a little pink.  The underneath has healed.  I can wear a regular bra now.  I don't need a t-shirt under my bra anymore..so it does get better.  It still hurts to stretch my arm over my head but my RO said that radiation can tighten the muscles.  So I do my lymphedema exercises twice a day.  I had 31 nodes removed.  I don't have lymphedema but I was sent to a specialist who was wonderful and taught me a lot to try to prevent it.

Congrats to all of you who have finished your RADS!!!!!!!!

Spookiesmom

I've got 5 regular, then 5 boosts to go, then DONE!!!! I just started to peel today. I guess I need to see the nurse tomorrow ?



Then May 1 Spookie and I are going to Orlando for a national Maltese convention. I'm hoping to be done peeling, chemo brain gone, and feeling close to normal by then. She has a new dress and bow for the day. Me? Uh, retail therapy!!!!!

melmcbee

Congrats Spookiesmom. Hope you have a blast in Orlando.

Yeah for me I have 1 more boost tomorrow and I am returning to work next Friday. Hope everyone is doing well. Hugs

Loafer

I have my final rads treatment tomorrow!!! Finishing the 3 week accelerated Rads Trial I have to say, this was easy!!! I have experienced no pain or discoloration of breast ( a tad pink) and no fatigue! I haven't been allowed to use any lotions or creams, and I haven't needed any.



I did have a doctor check out my lumps and bumps. He said its very common when going thru rads. Attributed to swelling and tissue scaring. His quote, I have never heard of a woman having a recurrence during treatment.... You shouldn't even think about doing breast self exams during this time.



Phew - now I can enjoy the finish line!



Best of luck to ladies finishing up and those at the midway point!

PatinMN

Loafer - congrats on finishing up! I'm amazed you haven't felt the need for lotions. Thanks for the reassuring words from the doc on lumps and bumps, of which I have plenty too.

daisymom46

Congrats Loafer - party, party, party!  You are at the finish line!  Congrats to the others finishing up.  Been so great to hear all the tips and tricks here.  You ladies inspire me!  I am officially halfway done. 18 of 36 treatments completed.  I am still fatigued and have nausea, but was given an Rx for Compazine and it is working.  RO even with online info. does not believe nausea is from rads.....humph.  Took a day off to have D&C surgery, but back on schedule tomorrow.   Slightly red with 2 small blisters, but hydrocortisone cream working well and aquaphor as well.  Has anyone used aloe plant on their breast for comfort/healing?

Waitingforthenextstep

That is great news Loafer!  So encouraging that you finished with little or no SE's.  Good for you!