Summer 2013 Rads

melody46

Congratulations Nancy and thanks Caitlin.  I guess I'll find out Tuesday what to do about the weird GI issues.  Have a happy and safe 4th

McKatherine

Congrats IamNancy. Got my prelim pathology from my surgery yesterday - 3 nodes (we knew about one prior to chemo) so it's on to rads for me. Just have to heal from surgery first.

Happy fourth everyone!

GoWithTheFlow

Soteria, I don't know of anyone who was told not to use anything or that they didn't need to use anything.  Seems strange to think nothing is better.  My skin is holding up good (tomorrow is halfway point), been using combinations of pure aloe, radigel, biafine, emu oil, and aquafor at least 3 times a day.

Maybe someone else has some link to info about not using anything?  I think even that link posted earlier from an RO suggested using stuff.

GoWithTheFlow

/sigh/  Threw up while trying to take my tylenol pm tonight.  I'm going to mention my nausea to my doctor tomorrow.  I gag/heave when I brush my teeth, and it's getting harder and harder to get my meds in me before bed.  

sciencegal

Poor gowiththeflow, I am so sorry that is happening to you. Can you take some of the post-chemo anti-nausea drugs maybe?



Heart how is your skin doing?



I understand why we all have to go through this but I do so hate it when anyone is suffering.



Big hugs and happy "independence from cancer"day.

GoWithTheFlow

I've been taking the ativan to help me sleep.  I gave up on the tylenol tonight and just took a 2nd ativan.  Hopefully that will get me to sleep.  Very tired.  We had about 25 people over for a bbq today.  It was really good to spend time with friends, but I didn't get a nap and my legs are achy from doing things (although my husband and son did the bulk of the work for set up, I did make 3 dishes last night and another today).

It was good to have a day off today.  Last night I felt a bit more tender along the inner part of my scar.  Not as sore as the blobs under my arms, but something new.  

Tomorrow is my halfway point 14 of 28!!!!  Halfway there, I can do this.

sciencegal

Halfway there- yay for you! My gosh, you are a brave woman to host a big party right now. superwoman! Kudos.



Just a quiet day for us but it was wonderful.



sweet dreams

IamNancy

Soteria - I find it unusal for the doctor to say use nothing.. you don't want that skin to dry out.. the aquaphor or emu oil or other products we all have used is to keep the skin from drying out and to soothe the skin.. its like spending the day in the sun and then not moisturizing your skin.. I know you can use nothing prior to the treatment that day but after the treatment you should use something.

GWTF - I hope you get the nausea under control - I wonder why you are having such a time with that..hopefully the RO will be able to help.

To all the rest of you - hope your skin and pain issues are resolved quickly.

regbeach

Mom's RO said there was no need to use any lotion at the start.  Not sure if he said to wait to see if issues or just if it was OK to wait because, like others said, why not be proactive.  It's just lotion.  As I wrote before, she uses Miaderm (no need to wash it off before rads as long as used a few hrs. before).   3 times a day and no issues- little bumpiness in the crease but thats it.  She is getting accelerated Canadian regimen so higher daily dose, of 17 treatments.  4 left.

AnnieLane

Soteria, the closest advice I've seen to using nothing is on the topic on these boards, "A Rads Onc Discusses Radiation Burns." I may not have that title exactly right, but it would be easy for you to find. That RO questions the benefit of most creams and oils for healing, but does say they probably have value for soothing and relieving the pain and discomfort. And that RO does recommend alcohol free aloe vera gel.

To me the wildly differing advice we get from our doctors illustrates how to some extent we are at the mercy of their opinions and need to be proactive about doing some of our own research. My treatment center gives everyone "Medline Remedy Skin Repair Cream with Olivamine" and advises using it three times a day. They say it helps prevent problems.

As long as you don't use anything within about four hours before your treatments, you have nothing to lose and may very well benefit from some the products you've seen recommended on this board.

sciencegal

Thank you Annie, wise advice as always. I have that thread saved as a favorite, will bump it up for you Soteria.



We definitely have to be our best advocate and I am sorry but sometimes the nurses have much more practical advice than the docs, since they see the patients more often.......

caitlin61

My RO was very non-specific re: skin care, but not to the point of saying that I didn't need anything. I've learned along the way that he does seem to prefer aloe vera and didn't think Aquaphor would be useful for the early treatments. Nurse talked to me about green tea treatment that one of the other ROs at the center where I go recommends. I've been alternating between Aquafor and aloe, but usually only apply one or the other twice per day.

Anonymous

AnnieLane, I was going to post but you basically said everything I was going to. :-)  The advice I was given is pretty much along the line of that article.  My RO  said I don't need to use anything, but I could if it made me feel better, as long as its off before treatments, with aloe being the best.  So, I use that plus the sweet almond oil.  If my skin starts to get bad, though, I'll add emu or calendula anyway.  

19/34

encyclias

I got the same advice from my RO, don't put on anything if you are not having a problem, and then he will give me some aloe to use (I already have several plants of my own).  He warned about suddenly using some cream/oil/moisturizer for the first time, especially on broken skin, without any type of patch testing -- like a couple days on my healthy breast or on a minor scratch elsewhere.  It seems that he sees some rad patients who superimpose a contact dermatitis as a reaction to a new skin product, an allergy or sensitivity to a component of it, that is unrelated but will look like rad damage.  Sounds sensible to me.

Heart2930

Soteria- I actually got the exact opposite advice from my RO. I was told to use the Aloevesta 3 times a day from the start. When I started having problems they moved me over to aquafor and then had me start using Mepilex.



GWTF- so sorry about the stomach issues. Hopefully they can do something next week.



This Biafine stuff is amazing. According to the packaging it helps promote new skin growth. It's really working. In just 2 days I no longer have any really raw areas. Just some tender spots. I have been using aloevesta over it in the crease to prevent any sticking.



But now that my skin doesn't hurt as much I am notice my breast hurts internally. Might be just left over from the lumpy. I have a lot of very sore hard lumps. I am thinking probably scar tissue. Not sure how I am supposed to ever do a self exam for new lumps though since there are lumps everywhere.



GWTF and Linda- you are in my thoughts. Hope your problems start getting much better.



Glad everyone else seems to be doing ok!



Kind of feels weird posting here now that I am done. Kind of like I am no longer part of the club.

Anonymous

Thanks everyone for replying. I'm going to start using something today. I have Aquaphor and will get aloe today. I believing in being pro-active. They may be experts, but we know our bodies.



Blessings

Paula

melody46

Heart my RO said when I come in for my 4 week follow up on the 17th he's going to show me some massage that breaks down the scar tissue.  I hear you on self exams I'm already lumpy and now have scar tissue too. I'll keep you posted on what he says.

GWTF I hope you feel better soon.  I'd also use some of those anti nausea pills we probably all have left over

GoWithTheFlow

She said she definitely thought it was from my radiation and to try the two anti-nausea pills I have left over from chemo (try one and if that doesn't work, try the other).  And just let them know on monday what I'm taking.  

Time to celebrate my half-way point.  I'm heading out to Richmond to shop!

Lenn13ka

Congrats Idesim on finishing rads.I can't wait for the day I am finished.



One more regular session and then onto the boost. Everything going pretty good so far, skin wise.

Heart2930

Melody- yes please. I would be very interested in the massage to break up scar tissue.

LakeGirl2

Paula- Ask the rad techs when you are done to talk to the nurse-can't remember her name- maybe Jenny? Anyway, she gave me two different types of lotion to use and told me to use one or the other twice a day. One was that same type that AnnieLane mentioned. I like that one best. She doesn't like aloe -said it can dry out your skin - I am guessing that is aloe with alcohol - and said wait to use aquafor until further down the road when you have issues. Also, she commented on how messy the aquafor is. When are your appts? I go in around 9.

melody46

For you ladies taking Tamoxifen what is your dosage? 

AnnieLane

Ladies, today for the first time I saw a female RO, who was covering for my RO, and she gave me the best tip so far. I have a raw red rash in the crease under my breast and prespiration makes it worse, a common problem during rads for those of us who had lumpectomy.

She recommended rolling up a piece of soft cotton fabric cut from an old T-shirt and tucking it under the breast inside my soft oversized stretchy bra. I came home and tried it and it gave me immediate relief. It absorbs prespiration, prevents skin-on-skin chafing and chafing from the band of the bra.

She also advised me to continue treating my skin with the Medline Remedy Skin Repair cream at least twice a day for two weeks after my last rad treatment, which will be Monday. I wish I had seen her a couple weeks ago, but glad I did today!

slv58

I had my first rad today! One down 32 to go. For me the drive was the most tiring, 2 hours down and 21/2 home during rush hour- uggggh. To make things worse, I drive

an old standard and yesterday chemo gave me another gift, my big toe nail fell off which made driving sore.

A much as I have tried to convince myself that rads will help me beat C, I still felt sick thinking of all the innocent by standard organs that would be suffering as well as those errant ugly cells. I really tried to look at that machine with a positive feeling-but failed. I don't like it. When I was done, I slathered my offended girl with "not allowed" emu oil, somehow I don't think lubriderm is good enough, so emu it is!

Has anybody felt internal warm spots? I'm not sure if its in my mind but I feel an area internally that is warm. Hope everyone enjoys the 2 day break and that boobies stay cool and comfy!

Anonymous

LakeGirl~~I go in at 3:00. I did get 100% Aloe gel today. No alcohol.

The nurse gave me the Hollister Lotion in a spray bottle. The hardest part for me is lying on that table. It kills my back, because I have DDD. (Degenerative disc disease).



Because they are radiating such a large area, I have imaging everyday, so I'm on that stinking table for about 30 minutes.



Paula

sciencegal

Heart I am so glad to hear that your skin is doing better and of COURSE you are still "part of the club"- the most useful thing on these posts is hearing from those who have been through it, and what they did to handle it- and you have been through h#ll and high water!!

Your wisdom will be priceless to all rads recipients for as long as you can manage to post for us.



Thanks for all the info everyone, and happy free- boobing weekend!

GoWithTheFlow

I agree sciencegal.  I know everyone is different, but hearing what has happened to others and what they used, and did, and their discriptions of skin is VERY helpful in preparing me for what to expect.  When you started talking about biafine cream about a week ago, and people saying how good it was, I nearly jumped for joy when my doctor told me she was changing my lotion to that.  I hadn't brought it up, but that, to me, shows that she's on the ball and trying to keep me ahead of the SEs.

Hope everyone survived their day.  Soteria, I spent another hour on the table today myself.  I amused myself by singing "ring of fire" to the oncologist when she came in to check my markings and position.  

Heart2930

Thanks so much Sciencegal and GWTF! I feel better about posting now.



Melody- I take 20mg once a day. From what I have read I think that is pretty standard.



Slv58- the warm spots did happen to me. I was really worried about them initially since I had gotten a really bad post op infection. I thought the warm spots was the infection returning, but my nurse said it was normal. I know a lot of people use the frogg togs chilly towel for it. I just turned the bedroom ac up to make the room a refrigerator. Poor DH has been freezing :-( Normally I am cold, so he is just not used to where I have the ac now.



Wishing everyone a peaceful and healing weekend!

IamNancy

lv58 - omg! you drive 2 hours there and 2 hours home..thats too far! I only had to drive 10 minutes and then 10 minutes to work.. I don't know how you will do it having to drive that distance... blessings to you.

slv58

Thanks Ladies, it's reassuring to hear my warm spot is normal, I guess it's just rads doing their thing!

2 hours is long, it's going to be my summer job! Lol. If I didn't feel so strongly about getting all my treatment at this hospital and thus doing everything in my power to conquer, I wouldn't be doing this. We have a local hospital which I'm sure is very good, but I just have such confidence in my "team" that it's worth the drive.