Fall Rads 2014

Puffin2014

I don't think onco factored in, RO told me 3 weeks of rads before I even had the oncotype done

PontiacPeggy

Glad you're having so few, Puffin.  33 weren't bad (well 32 down, 1 to go) and the staff was great which helps a whole lot

HomeMom

We did the "dry run" today. Tomorrow I think I start the actual therapy. They drew all over me and said they would rewrite them each time. I guess tomorrow is #1? When did everyone start the Aquaphor? I have to stop by the pharmacy and get some

PontiacPeggy

HomeMom, I started after about 19 tx.  Good luck!

ncollett

Finished round 6 today. I am more pink today. Very tired and my under arm and breast are very tender. Of course my RO said the same thing as some of the others. Its too early for SE he didnt expect them for another week or two but Im telling you what I have them. Not everyone is textbook doc... right? 

lilyrose53

Had rad #15 today.  Skin is getting pretty pink now...but so far nothing hurts.  My scars are getting very red which RO said is normal.  Still using the emu oil.  BS told me to start at the beginning of rads-not to wait for symptoms to start.  So far so good.  Definitely feeling a bit more tired in the afternoons though.  

bride

Hi all,

I just finished 15/30 rads -- that doesn't count the boost sessions. I have triple positive IBC, stage IIB, and, luckily had a 100% response to chemo. Radiation has been easy compared to my almost 6 months of neo-adjuvant therapy. I've only got one hot spot  I credit Miaderm for heading off other skin issues.

I do have a bit of a sore throat from rad spillover and, between my surgery and rads, my back and shoulders are a mess. Otherwise, I have to say rads have been the most livable part of my experience.

bride

PontiacPeggy

Bride, way to go!  Sorry your back and shoulders are a mess - I'm sure they will improve once you are done with your rads and you can finally relax a bit.  Wonderful that you had such a great response to chemo!!!  You've done good!

I've been using Aquaphor, just at night.  I didn't start it until my skin punctated (redness in the hair follicles).  And it's never been bad - barely red.  Today is my last rad - 27 whole breast and 6 boosts.  Then onto Arimidex.  

jeanelle

Peggy, good luck on your last rad today!  I hope you stick around.  You really have been a wealth of information.

HomeMom, They told me to start using the lotion they recommended starting with first treatment.  I've only had 2 treatments now but have been lotioning up the girl morning and night.  I have extremely fair skin and want to do everything I can to protect my skin.  

Bride, you are half-way there.  Good luck on the remaining treatments!

Lolis197138

13/25 today. The skin is still looking good, starting to get a bit tanned. Feeling a. Bit more tired as the day progresses. I have this pain on my left shoulder blade (getting rads on my shoulder as well) and it's definitely a rad SE as the pain start as soon as I get out of bed. 

I had a bit of itchiness a couple of days ago but. It seems to have stopped. I have been wearing a bra up to now but it's starting to bother me (only wear it when out). Can't wait till this is over!!! 

Puffin2014

My RO told me to start using my cream twice a day even before I started rads, but to not use any cream within 2 hours before my rad treatment. He said Vanicream was also OK to use, or Aloe or Aquaphor - whatever made me comfortable. So I'm using the Vanicream to start with, not as greasy and soaks in good.

Blownaway

Homemom - I started the Aquaphor after the first treatment but I'm just being cautious ole' me.  The drew all over me with several colors of markers and placed clear tape over the marks.  I was told that they would be touched up periodically, but so far no one has reached for the markers. I did lose one piece of tape and the mark under it.  I told the techs but they did not seem to care.

Blownaway

Bride - I've come down with a sore throat but just assumed I had picked up a bug.  Sure hope it is not rad related....my cancer is on the right and my sore throat pain is also on the right (I've only had 8 so far).  At my first appt, I had asked for a lead apron (don't know what its called) to cover my thyroid gland but the doc acted like I was a nut case. I already have thyroid issues and I've read that some women develop low thyroid after rads.

PontiacPeggy

Jeanelle, thank!  Glad I've been helpful.  I was supposed to have this last one at 8:30 but they called and asked me to come at 2 since the machine needed fixing.  As long as I get done, I don't care what time!  

I figured I wouldn't really "burn" since I don't sunburn and usually wear a 2 or 4 SPF (a Coppertone girl ).  Just a bit of pink.  A non-issue.  I'll be glad to be done with the Aquaphor - not into greasy or lotions at any time.  And I'll be glad to get rid of the fatigue and back to normal exhaustion.

Blownaway, sure hope the sore throat is independent of everything!

I don't mind going braless at all!

jeanelle

Peggy, I look at the sun and I burn. I don't think I have ever really been tan in my life.  I created a countdown calendar to place on my fridge at home.  I cannot wait for this to be over.  I have been fatigued since surgery and usually hit a wall around 2 pm.  I am so not looking forward to having even more fatigue with the radiation.  So far I have only missed 6 days of work but I have warned my boss that he may get a call telling him I am too tired to come in.

BlownAway, I really hope the sore throat is just from a bug!

PontiacPeggy

Jeanelle, I do feel sorry for you.  One summer when the kids were young, I did nothing but sit in the sun.  I was so tan that the black mailman teased I was his long last sister  I tan easily.  Burned (sort of) twice.  Once way back when I was in my teens.  It was the "thing" to put iodine in your baby oil to help you tan.  Not.  The other was sitting on the beach beside the ocean a few years ago and not realizing what the glare off the water was doing.  Poor hubby suffered much worse than me.

I'm glad I'm not working.  Frankly, I don't have time with all I'm doing for hubby right now.  With him in rehab I do have more time to rest which I really need.  That's wonderful that you've missed so little work.  Just don't overdo.  Your body needs the extra rest, even if it just sitting and watching tv and not napping.

Jenwith4kids

Almost a week from my 25th of 25 treatments.  Exhausted this week - - having a little trouble sleeping, and a LOT of trouble getting up in the morning.  Luckily my husband has been getting up with the kids, I just can't seem to do it.  My 13 year old broke my heart last night...said her hair looked so good and she had wanted to show me before school.  Ah well, it's been the "year of me", and I do feel some form of normalcy coming back.   I'm just needing extra sleep.

I used aquaphor every day - right after each treatment and then right after my shower or right before bed if I happened to skip a shower on a particular day.  I don't think you can use too much aquaphor.  RO was right, skin continues to get worse after treatment ends.....  here's me:

(see the shine from the aquaphor?! LOL!!)  I have a small square on my back too.

PontiacPeggy

JenWith4Kids, hopefully the fatigue and redness will go away soon.  You've had a crappy year - now praying it is nothing but good!  HUGS!!!

willowreed84

Congrats Peggy on your last rad!

Thanks for the picture jen.

willowreed84

I was told sore throat and heartburn were se of rads.  They said se start sometime around 10th rad but not everyone got them.

PontiacPeggy

Thanks, WillowReed.  I was surprised when I got all choked up saying goodbye to the radiation therapists.  They were so supportive, especially when hubby was in dire condition, a very safe place to state my concerns.  They made the whole treatment quite nice.  It was only the grind of going everyday that was hard, not the treatments themselves.

ncollett

Finished round 7/33 getting pinker and had a weird thing happen right after I was done with my radiation today. I was getting dressed and all the sudden got really dizzy. My mom drove with me and I was ok after a few minutes of just sitting and relaxing for a bit. Then I felt ok for a bit and then got really dizzy and very tired about 3p. My husband had to finish dinner because I just couldn't do it. Not sure that's all radiation related but I think maybe somewhat. This is my first full week of it.

PontiacPeggy

Nancy, the only time I've been dizzy with radiation is when I get up off the table when I'm done.  Then it took me a minute to get past it.  Nothing like you've experienced.  Make sure you are resting and hydrating.  You're still extremely close to your lumpies and are recovering from them.  And remember:  BREATHE!!!

MommyQ

Hi there. I don't post much but have been reading the posts here almost daily. I had #24 of 28 full breast rads today, and will have 5 boosts after the full breast rads are done. My skin has turned a dark reddish brown with dark spots in the pores in the radiated area, and just started peeling about 2 days ago. I've been using Body Shop aloe body butter on my skin daily after my shower since day 1, and started putting on Aquaphor in the evenings around treatment #15. I also started applying aloe "juice" from my plants just this week. The doc said keep up the routine because my skin looks good. I just started feeling the fatigue after treatment #20. It's not too bad, although I needed a 2 hour nap last Saturday!

Bride & Blownaway: Regarding the sore throat, my RO had warned me early on that I might get one because my esophagus runs down my neck area closer to the left than in the center, and I'm getting rads on the left side. He prescribed me Mary's Magic mouthwash for it. You might want to ask your RO for a Rx for this if the sore throat continues and is bothersome.

Best wishes to all having treatments!

Susug

Peggy ,So happy for you. Did you get to ring the bell? 

I will have my 15 treatment today. Not red just a little tired. I think there are a couple of you on my same schedule. If so how are you doing after 15 treatments?

Blownaway

Thanks MommyQ - if the sore throat persists, I'll definitely get some.  I've also had the shoulder blade soreness on the left side but I've been thinking it's just the hard mold not fitting exactly right.

skbrown

I had my lumpectomy last week and my radiation consultation appointment is in November.  My HER2 test was equivocal so the surgeon is re-doing it so I do not know about chemo yet.  chemo scares the hell out of me.   I have poor pitiful me moments and just start crying.  It has been a rough 2014 and I also turned 60 this year.  My husband went to the Doctor back in March thinking he was getting a touch of bronchitis, and ended up having open heart surgery.  My son's house exploded in July and he spent 5 and a half weeks in the burn unit at Memorial Herman in the medical center. (you can google that story:  house explosion/willis Texas/July 22nd)  Of course, they lost everything, but we still have him and his wife.  Did I mention they are living with us?  Mean while, I found my lump, turned 60, had a mammogram, then an ultrasound, then the biopsy, and lumpectomy. How is the radiation, really?  And does it really  make you tired?  I am tired now, and I just had a lumpectomy.  The surgeon tells me she got it all, and my lymph nodes were negative.

ER+ PR+HER2 equivocal 2+  FISH study HER/CEP17 ratio 1.4, average HER2 spot count 4.3 (not sure what this all means)  I am told positive ER and PR is a good thing.

PontiacPeggy

Susug, they don't have a bell at my center.  But I got a certificated signed by all the radiation therapists.  I couldn't have asked for a more supportive group.  I even got all emotional saying goodbye.

PontiacPeggy

SKBrown, What a terrible year you've had.  Try to breathe for a bit.  You still have healing that needs to be done from your lumpy.  Wonderful that she got it all and the lymph nodes were clear.  I'm thankful hubby and son are doing well along with your daughter-in-law.  Let them help you as much as possible.  You really do need to rest.

My year wasn't as awful as yours but plenty stressful.  I'm 69 and the fatigue along with the exhaustion I had before the rads meant I hit a wall about 2-3 o'clock.  Hubby was in the hospital extremely sick with pneumonia.  I'd be there at 6:30, off to rads in the morning (which were right at the hospital), back to him.  By 3 at the latest, I was done.  I couldn't do another thing except go home.  Sleep helps but the fatigue just needs rest more and quiet.  So plan on getting extra rest.  I had few problems with other side effects.

Please update your profile to reflect your current information.  It helps us advise you.  Much hugs on belonging to a sisterhood none of us wanted to join.  We're here to help.

Lolis197138

Susug, I just finished my # 14 today. Felt very tired today (work was busy too and it has been a hell of a week). Skin is a bit red on the top part and getting a tan on the side. Saw the RO today and she mentioned that I might get blisters as my skin is sensitive apparently. My shoulder hurts, the side is numb and the chest is sore. I have 2 more weeks of this and sometime I get up thinking to call in sick for my treatment :-) 

We don't get a certificate here. At least I got to ring the bell after chemo.

Peggy congrats!!