Summer 2013 Rads

melody46

Cindy what are you getting radiation in the abdominal area? I haven't heard that before

RosieRose

I posted last that my treatment plan was going to be four weeks, but the plans have changed and it will now be the normal seven weeks.  One thing I've learned--plans change often!

I'm now a few days into this and already my breast is swelling and is tender.  It is noticeably (to me, at least) larger than the other.  I've not heard anyone mention swelling or tenderness this early in the process, but I'm going to mention it to the techs tomorrow.  Did this happen to anyone else?

The techs told me not to use anything on the skin, except maybe pure aloe, and the RO told me that nothing can make the skin hold up or heal any faster, though I can use aloe to make it feel better once it start to hurt. 

Sigh.

Anonymous

dragomirova~~You can ask anything you want to. That's what we're here for.



I actually finished rads last Tuesday, 8/13/13, and my skin looked pretty good still, but over the next couple of days it really went south. It got really red, started peeling, and got so still, & sore.



This doesn't happen to everyone, but I had a total of 30 zaps, 5 were boosts, and I had a very large area radiated. Others come out of this virtually unscathed. I did find that Tylenol surprisingly helps a lot. I didn't expect that. I'm taking it more frequently than I should, but its only temporary, and I told my RO I was doing that.



Paula

shipsgirl

I am starting rads on Monday.  Should I be using emu oil immediately?  Or does that happen a little later?

I must admit I'm nervous, but I'm sure it will be fine.  One step at a time.

Netter

I am going for CT scan, etc tomorrow and assuming that I will also start rads Monday. I will start using EMU cream as soon as I get it tomorrow.  Hope all goes well with you Ships.  I feel like we have made it this far and on the down side now.  Be over before long......... (I am a little nervous also, it is the unknown, I guess)

2tails

My treatment went fine but it felt a bit impersonal as they were running 35 minutes late at 9:45 in the morning. I am sure it makes for a long day for them but it was the first time that I felt as though I was being rushed through like cattle going to auction.

Dragomirova, I am in for 33 treatments with last 5 being boosts. How many for you?

Patricia, congrats on last treatment (I think today now ). I am looking forward to the massages, I am eligible for up to 8 and I am sure they will be relaxing (tip or no tip LOL).

Cindy, I unfortunately have no experience with any creams for prevention. My RO said that they basically treat symptoms as they come and the standard they use is pure aloe & aquaphor. But my RO also said that if there was something I wanted to try to just let her know so she could approve it first and or prescribe it.

Paula, Sorry to hear about your skin trouble. It sounds painful and miserable. For what it's worth being braless is on of my favorite things . I hope you heal quickly!!

On to treatment 2 yeeeeeehaaaaaw!

Best wishes to all!!

slv58

Hi everyone, have to make this fast because I am off to my last rads!! Just want to welcome the newbies and reassure you that rads is very doable! I used emu oil (against my RO advice-oops such a rebel!) and my skin did very well. I have some peeling of my underarm and nipple- no pain at all, seems like one layer. I did have a red sore nipple through most of tx but was bearable. A bit of hydrocortisone cream helped the odd itchiness as well. Good luck ladies- you will do fine

melody46

Congratulations SLV!

Anonymous

Slv~~congratulations on finishing rads!!!!!!! RING THAT BELL!!!!



Have you ever been to the zoo and seen a baboon from the back? Their rear ends are bright red & raw looking. That's what my skin looks like, and its very weepy, but when I went in to see the RO on Monday, she assured me there's no infection.



For me, this has been much harder than Adria/cytoxan.



Paula

dragomirova

Hi Rosie,

It is day 2 for me and I think I am swollen too.  Thought I was imagining things until I noticed that I can't see the ribs as much on the side from where the (lumpectomy) tissue was removed. It's a very small strip but it shows. No colour change or anything else though.  Is this a sign of lymphedema with 31 treatments to go?   Yikes!

I see the RO and nurse on Monday (will be day 4).  Good luck, and best to all

dragomirova

33 for me too 2tails (but I think they told me 25 with 8 boosts).  It already feels better to take off the bra when I get home from work!

Oh well, 31 to go...it'll be great!

dragomirova

Thanks Paula for the tylenol tip- will try that if soreness gets bad.  Now that you are done with rads, do you have any plans?

dragomirova

Congratulations SLV on your last rads!

Anonymous

dragomirova~~For right now, I'm just focused on healing. Then I'm going to hunt down and kill all the Dust Bunnies who killed my housekeeper! I think they must have hid her body here somewhere, because I'm pretty sure I can smell her. Lol.



I don't work outside my home and my 2 sons are grown and out of the house. There's just DH, Jimmy, & me. I'm active in my church, and am blessed with great friends, and very thankful I don't have go to work anymore. I worked 6 days a week starting at 4:00 am for 20 years. I don't miss it at all.

Worrywart9390

Hi everyone, happy to hear about those bells ringing I am having my rads face down (prone) and everyday once the machine starts I smell like a burning smell - anyone else????????? they tell me they never heard of this but i am paying close attention, no smell before the machine starts.

beachbound009

Hi All.  I had my 3rd boost today...only 2 left!  I have olive toned skin and the redness has now turned to a dark tan.  Most of the breast is covered in dark frekle like spots, including the nipple.  I don't see much of a change in the boost area.  I thought for sure it would be angry red by now.  I'm just exhausted.  I can't shake this fatigue!  I saw my RO this morning and he said my skin looked good and looked like it was starting to heal but it would be 2-4 weeks before I get my energy back.     I'm just tired of being tired. 

31/33

MsPharoah

Hello, new here and starting rads in about 1 week.  Does anyone have suggestions?  I've heard that it's best to exercise every day, drink plenty of water and slather the goo on the boob as often as possible.  I have very fair skin and am really fearful that my skin will break down toward the end.  Is this a real fear or is it possible to be fair and get through this heinous treatment without serious, painful reactions?

And a question(s) for anyone who cares to comment and had chemo.  I am 4 weeks PFC and I feel pretty achy and I also feel "wobbly"...not steady on my feet.  Also, my onc does tumor markers and my CA27-29 was 18 before chemo and 29 3 weeks after chemo..still within normal range but should I be concerned?  Anyone else have higher tumor markers after chemo?

Thanks in advance for your advice.  

Jen987

Hi MsPharoah.  I'm from the April chemo group.  I have my last treatment tomorrow, 35 total, and my skin held up pretty good.  It did get very tan and peeled in a few areas.  And I had a few days where my nipple was very red and itchy but compared to chemo it was a breeze.  Like you said stay hydrated and lube up as much as possible.  My RO suggested Eucerin during the day and Aquaphor at night.  I also was able to work out more since I was feeling better after chemo ended and that helped with the fatigue as strange as that may sound.

34/35

GrammyR

Finishing up my 1st week of Rads to supraclavicular chest. Have 3 tattoos. Mid breasts ,under arm and below collar bone. RO told me maybe swallowing issue soon. How soon- non so far. Chest heaviness for a while today and Nausea today. Could be pain effects I think. How do I get thru another 5 weeks. So tired already.

MsPharoah

Wow, Jen987 you are rocking! You must have had 4 cycles of TC. Thanks for the input. I am hoping to work thru rads as I did with chemo, but I have to wear a bra to work. LOL. I know this sounds sick, but I feel better when I am working. I think the mental stimulation keeps my mind off my troubles.



GrammyR, so sorry you are having such a hard time. I hope your doctor will be able to assist.

Jen987

MsPharoah - I agree about working. My mom couldn't understand why I wanted to continue working being my job is all physical. I have a residential cleaning business. But I felt better keeping my life as normal as possible. Don't get me wrong there were days during chemo that I dragged myself to work but I got through it. And going back to the gym a few days a week like I said kept my fatigue at bay. I wore a bra everyday. An underwire no less. From what I hear that's frowned upon. But my RO never said I couldn't. Best of luck to you.

patriciahurtado

my ladiesssssssssss im done!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 28/28..........so i always had issues with doctors nurses and timing and crazy stuff through my journey!!!!!!!!! so for my last treatment the machine turned off after my first rad!!!! lol...........so i had to lay there for 20 minutes !!! lol........i guess had to finish like that lol..........but i did its time to heal....i have a small peeling maybe this big (___) under my armpit place alot of salvidine.... and hope that will heal soon....all the theraphiest were suprise how my skin held up.........but i was very strick with the gel i applied every day and 4 times a day!!!.......  Cindyr2u......i dont know if that really worked but i know i used it throught all my radiation and my skin just turn tan.......it got red like a sunburn but it didnt hurt like a sunburn .....and now its brownish gray and never had pain ....just yesterday had a small crack on my skin and it pill just really tiny for having 28 rounds.........i purchase 3 bottles through amazon and it lasted till today........i did miaderm, alove vera 100% and rosewater spray.......so i hope this helps ......i know few ladies that used same as i did and they did fine too........... i hope this helps good luck and hang in there ..........

dragomirova i strech everyday slowly since our skin tents to get tigh  just slowly lift my arm up and twist side to side but slowly ou will feel the tighness but dont over due it .....my ladies from 2012 had to see the phisycal therapist because thier musclse were tight ...so i try to do my streches so avoid them ....but after everything is heal i will see her to see if i need any more streches.........

good luck my ladies

patriciahurtado

oh yeah i used morocan argn oil body wash......no soap...CVS has them...

MsPharoah

Jen, it's amazing how close our diagnosis and treatment is. I had 6 cycles of TC. Still don't understand why but I did it and survived. It bothers me when people tell me I shouldn't be working. Breast cancer treatment is going to take about a year...just couldn't imagine putting my life on hold for that long. I have put my doctors on notice, so to speak...and I think they are doing a good job helping me manage ses. I havent had one dr tell me not to work...they are very supportive. So glad that you have done so well...you're my inspiration!

Sandra

Netter

My consultation was yesterday.  Found out I have 3 different cancers, ductal, lobular and insitu, very unusual.  Also EP+ and TN.  How can this be????  Therefore, I have to have a PET scan Sept. 3 to see if cancer is anywhere else...............hopefully not and can start rads Sept. 5.  Going to have entire breast radiated for 38 rounds.  Think I am going to get a full meal deal.

Anonymous

GrammyR~~I had the swallowing problem. It started about a week in to rads. It didn't hurt to drink fluids, or any other time except when I swallowed food. It wasn't really painful, but kind of like swallowing around a lump in my throat. It reminded me to chew my food better. It went away as soon as rads stopped.



Paula

Jen987

I'm done.  Today was my last day.  I loved my rad techs so it was sad to say good bye.  I brought them a basket of treats and a nice card to let them know how much I appreciated their kindness and compassion.  They really liked it.  The girls were so much nicer than the crabby chemo nurses I had.  In fact I disliked my whole MO office that I have an appointment with a new MO in a couple weeks.  I have to say rads were not as bad as I thought they'd be.  My skin didn't start peeling until week 4 or so.  My advice is hydrate and lube as much as possible.  I am glad to put this phase of treatment behind me.  Now onto Tamoxifen. 

35/35

dragomirova

You are remarkable Paula- still laughing over this post.  I have to say even with a 1 hour commute 3 days a week, I am happy to have my job- been there 10 years and appreciate (most) of my co-workers alot- its like a family to me.  Plus having insurance is good, which I appreciate now seeing the bills starting to pile up...unbelievable.

dragomirova

Wonderful Patricia!  30 more and I'll be like you, I just hope I get through it as well as you did.  aking everyone's tips, I am slathering on the creams, doing stretches, excercising everyday.  Day 3/33 is tender, a bit swollen, and starting to get a little pink.  One of my rads techs tells me we have the same birthday (10/1), so I have taken that as a sign of good luck...

dragomirova

Congratulations Jen!  And I am adding hydrating to my list to get me through this- thanks