Fall Rads 2014

CoyoteNV

Puffin - So sorry that your day fell apart. As our little grand daughter says... that hurt my heart. Tomorrow will be a really good day. I so wish I were walking out the door with you.

PontiacPeggy

I love that expression, CoyoteNV.  It is perfectly descriptive!

HomeMom

I haven't been on in a while - today it was I guess my 10th treatment since I started two weeks ago.  My skin feels a little warm to the touch so I use the Aquafor on it, it looks normal otherwise.  I'm starting to drag a little in the afternoon. Today was the first day I felt that way.  When did any of you who are farther along start to feel that way? 

PontiacPeggy

HomeMom, I think that I felt that way after a week.  However, there was a lot going on in my life besides my BC and rads.  DH requires fulltime caregiving.  Then he had surgery, pneumonia that he almost didn't make it through and finally rehab in a facility.  I was exhausted starting the rads.  I'm two weeks past my last rad and still very tired.  Hopefully this will go away before he comes home. If your life is less complicated (and even if it isn't), you'll do just fine.

AnasNana

Hi everyone, had my TE exchange surgery yesterday. My CT Sim appt. Is Nov. 12th. And should be starting rads 2 weeks after that. Hoping I don't get too tired from rads. 

PontiacPeggy

Way to go, AnasNana!  You'll do fine with the rads.  I think the fatigue is mostly annoying for most of us.  

willowreed84

Hi all,

Finished 14 of 33 today. I'm tired and have to nap for 30 minutes or so every afternoon.  I've got a little cough now too.  Skin is ok, tan and tight.

Puffin, sounds like you are just worn out from all this cancer crap.  One more day...you can do it.  Ring that bell and go home and start healing up.

PontiacPeggy

Puffin, we're in your pocket!  Remember why you're having the rads - to KILL CANCER!  That's what's important.  You're entitled to your meltdown.  You'll be just fine!

Jaimieh

number #33 was this morning meaning I am DONE. No more rads for me. . I was a oe to take the tape off and my poor skin is more red from the tape than the rads area. I hope it heals quickly because it itches and burns all at the same time.  

So now I start the full healing . I still have herceptin until next June but I am confident that I am on he upswing. 

PontiacPeggy

Jaimieh, CONGRATULATIONS!!  Nice that you have so few SEs!  You will heal quickly and I'm sure the time taking the herceptin will pass in a blink.  HUGS!!!

MusicLady

I just finished an course of accelerated rads yesterday (16 treatments) and my skin is in pretty bad shape...bright red and peeling in the lower part of the breast through the area under the breast.  Am on pain meds so I can sleep. They gave me some non-stick pads to use as well as Silvadene (silver sulfadiazine) cream. I'm wearing a stretchy "sleep" bra to give support to the breast and keep the pad in place.  I've pretty much cleared my calendar of work and other things...just concentrating on resting and healing.  My RO says that after a week, I will slowly start healing.  I hope so!  I'd like to hear from anyone else who has had this happen.

lilyrose53

Coyote,  I'm TN also.  My RO didn't recommend accelerated rads because of that.  Whatever they decide, just remember it is in your best interest.  Rads aren't as bad as I expected.

Puffin,  I'm sorry you had a meltdown, but with all you have gone through, it's totally understandable.  I think most of us have been there.  Congratulations on nearing the finish line!

Jaimieh,  Yay!  Congratulations on finishing rads!

HomeMom,  I didn't start feeling the fatigue until week three.  I find that can't make it through my days without a nap...some days I take two!

I had rad #26 today.  My skin is really pink to red now.  Armpit area and nipple are the most tender.  Putting cornstarch on my underarm area really helps with the pain from rubbing.  Tomorrow I start my 8 boosts.  RO tells me that will give the rest of my breast a little rest, so my skin should start to heal.  No dryness or peeling. So I guess the emu oil is working.

Wishing you all well,  lilyrose

Puffin2014

Jaimieh: congrats on finishing rads, I'm right behind you, finish today.

jeanelle

HomeMom, I started feeling tired around 10 or so.  It seems to get a bit worse as time goes on.  My scar under my arm is red and after the radiation it is a bit warm and a little bit pink but overall not bad at all.

Jaimieh, Congrats on finishing!

I'll be 1/2 way through after Monday.  It really is going fast.

Blownaway

Puffin - no wonder my techy guy was sounding kind of frustrated with me yesterday.  I know I did better today because I didn't feel an attitude coming through the speaker. We just had an off day - we are allowed every now and then.

willowreed84

yooray!! for jamie and puffin crossing the finish line today.

willowreed84

My Brain is fried today... I can't type or spell.

Congrats jamie and puffin for crossing the finish line today!

Puffin2014

Breathing went fine today, didn't have to repeat any of the breaths. Such a relief to be done. Did you hear me ring the bell?

PontiacPeggy

Knew you could do it, Puffin!!!!  I did hear it ringing.  Enjoy being done with your rads!  BTW, you look darling!

Imheretoo

Yay Puffin!   Done with that!   Go Party!

Susug

Hey everyone , had # 25 today all most finished. I am pink in 2 areas but it's doesn't feel like a burn it feels like a rash it itches  some fatigue  congrats Puffin I'm so happy for you..go have yourself a big fat drink  if you don't drink I'll have one for you Lol!!!! I want to put a picture on here but I can't figure out hoe to do it  I love seeing who I'm talking to  y'all are all great  big hugs Susu

PontiacPeggy

Susug, In the REPLY box, see the little box with "mountains" in it?  Click that to insert a photo.  Just follow the directions from there.  You can do it!!  It IS nice to see who you're talking to!  Glad you're almost done.

CoyoteNV

Puffin - Let me leave congrats here too.  I'm really happy for you.

Gilesmt

What a week. 25/33 down, started to get a little red, the only part that hurts is under the breast where it rubs, it feels like when you wear a bra on a hot humid day that is to tight, you don't feel it all day but boy does it hurt when you take the bra off, the pain is uncomfortable but bearable, and comes and goes all day. No fatigue for me, yesterday at 9 pm I went to be, but hay I have been up to 11 or later most of week and have to be up by 6:30 to leave for rads by 8, no nap ever. This week I added weights and machines to my work outs, finally started to lose some weight, 3 lbs, yes.

Now for the best news, a new job that starts Monday. How good is that, still half bald, have to be an hour late for two weeks for rads, legally blind and still landed the job and with the pay I wanted. I sometimes wonder why I spent so much money on a private college for a master's degree, but I must be one of the highest paying nanny's in the state, I make twice as much as a nanny than I did as the only DD/MH specialist in the state, that is developmental disabled/mental health specialist. 

Congrads puffin. Susug, we are still together, finishing on the same day. ( is above your collar bone getting burned, that is redder than my breast and I can't figure out why.

PontiacPeggy

Giles, you are doing fantastic!  Congratulations on the new job!  A nanny?  How many kids?  Live-in?  I know nothing about nannies.  Things were different back when I was raising our kids.  But it all sounds great!  Like that you don't have fatigue.  Very good.  If they work for you, try a bra cami.  I find them very comfortable and they don't seem to rub anything.  I found some with removable pads at Walmart for under $6.  They are junior sizes and run very snug, almost like a lightweight shaper.

MarieNJ

Musiclady -

I can't believe I found someone who is experiencing the same as me.  Monday will be 3 weeks since I had my last accelerated (16) treatments.  During the course of radiation, I was told to put on Eucrin after treatment and at bedtime.  No problems.  Just pinkness and tan. No peeling or itching. Then after 2 weeks past radiation, only put it on at bedtime.  I had a Dermatologist appt on Oct 20th and he prescribed Silvadene (same as you).  I now have under my breast (by the crease where I had my surgery) a raw patch!   I stopped the Silvadene.  I have a feeling it's from that.  Tonight I just put on the Eucrin.  I'm happy that I see my MO on Monday.  It is so raw and pink.  I didn't have this problem during radiation.  I can't understand why I'm experiencing this almost 3 weeks post radiation.  How frustrating.

Marie

mortmain

For all of us, starting, in the middle, finishing, finished, Congratulations! We need all the cheerleading we can get for enduring all our treatments and stress. 

Pontiac Peggy, I can hesitantly say that the brainfog/fatigue/headache I've been attributing to cumulative post radiation has eased off a bit these last two days. So hard to figure out if it's radiation or medication, but a little clarity of brain will be an improvement.

I'm interested to hear how you are experiencing Arimidex, our 'drug of choice'. Drug diary, anyone?

Happy Hallowe'en!

PontiacPeggy

Mortmain, doing fine on our drug.  No issues.  I'd think 2 weeks would be really fast for side effects, wouldn't you?  Just glad it's available.

And with the fatigue, mine has other complications (hubby and his problems) so can't lay it all to radiation's door.

Mortmain, I AM keeping a diary of my BC journey.  I certainly won't remember details down the road (like tomorrow ) and I'd like to know how I felt, etc at the various stages and also what else was going on in my life that complicated things. Also will help track side effects of everything or nothing.

Puffin2014

Giles, so happy for you that you have a job. I have the same questions as Peggy, how many children, what ages? 

Jaimieh

puffin congratulations on finishing . 

So I had my oncologist appt and he is thrilled with how well I handles radiation. I was hoping he knew a secret cream for the tape rash but no such luck. I put 100% aloe on it this am and I had to quickly remove it because of the burning. Tonight I pit aquaphor on it without any issues so far. 

Giles congratulations on the job!