Winter rads 2014-2015

Nomatterwhat

You go LARock!!!!!  Have a safe trip, enjoy your family and CONGRATS to you!!!! 

CassieCat

Congrats LARock!

I'm one who's carrying over into spring. 5 more regular treatments to go and 3 more boosts. The skin at the edge of my arm pit started peeling, but it isn't hurting any more than it was and may be a tiny bit better. I think I'll be back to my regular treatments next week. It's been good to have these past four days off, to let that skin heal just a little bit.

ladyb1234

Congrats LARock! Have a safe trip and I know you and your family will enjoy!

zjrosenthal

Jean from spring rads with a question..... Just finished my 1st week. Already my breast feels hot. Is this normal?

farmerma

Finished #20 today, 8 regular and 5 boosts left! My underarm is probably the worst spot right now. Toward the bottom of the armpit, I have no hair left, what hair that's left toward the top seems to have gotten really short--even without shaving! Not sure if it'll all be gone by the end, but I certainly won't miss my "European" look. Between the no-hair area and my ALND scar it's really dark, almost looking bruised. My RO was not in today, which is my usual day to see her, but I checked in with the nurse (sometimes I think they are more tuned in to how we feel anyway) and she seemed a little concerned. She just wants me to slather on the Auquaphor all weekend and see how it looks on Monday. Hopefully the greasy stuff will do the trick.

zjrosenthal - I was actually pretty red at the end of the first week, and it seemed pretty warm to the touch. I had been using some "all-natural" wipes before I went for my treatments because I didn't want any deodarant or aloe residue on me. Turns out, they were probably making me more red than I should have been. Once I stopped using them, I actually got better. Hopefully you will feel better after the weekend break.

Congrats to all those who finished this week! For the rest of us in the winter group, we're almost there! I see the light!!!

quiggy

zjrosenthal, I think it is normal... Or at least according to bc sisters on this board.

My breast n underarm went pink and HOT in week one.

Keep using the creams etc.. that work for you.

I also used radiation gel pads, they really cooled my radiated areas. I'm still using (11days done) because I still have bouts of tremendous heat. My RO gave them to me.

ladyb1234

Quiggy, the gel pads work great. My RO gave them to me to "draw" the heat out and cool down the radiated areas. I went in for follow-up today and she told me to continue using them. I had stopped after my last treatment

CassieCat

How do you keep something like those gel sheets on in an underarm area? I bought some smaller pads like that but i can't figure out any way to use them where I really need them/want to use them. Maybe they're better for flatter, wider spaces?

quiggy

CassieCat, they are a challenge! I use them at home, after work. I tried using with sports bra but they "move.". Tried a gauze stretchy thing, like a tube top, that I got from RO, no luck.

Can't do at work but I stick one in on my hour commute!

DON'T put in freezer! LOL. You can put in fridge for a few minutes to get better affect.

quiggy

Same here ladybugs1234. I quit when RADs started but started again.

BC sisters... I urge you to get these. They draw heat like a BOSS!!!

ladyb1234

CassieCat, I only use mine at home and have a pretty snug Cami and before skin started to peel I used my sports bra. I too tried the guaze stretchy tubes that I got from RO but they are not supportive enough to keep the gel pack in place.

WndrWoman

kayfry I bet your grandson will be delighted to celebrate his birthday a second time when they visit you. I know it is disappointing for you to miss the real day.

Zjrosenthal. I don't know if I consider myself normal :-), but I turned pink and warm after the first treatment. It didn't seem to be a sign that I would have terrible skin SEs. I ended up with peeling in 3 areas but not too sore or horrible.

CassieCat. Glad the alternating schedule and break is helping.

zjrosenthal

Thanks for the encouragement Windrwoman. Love, Jean

WndrWoman

Farmerma. Hope the weekend break is helping. When possible try keeping your arm away from your body to let air in. My place said to try to stick with white t-shirts or camis as strong color dyes can irritate open areas if you are peeling.

It is snowing and even though I am more than ready for spring flowers, I have to admit it is quite pretty. Like living in a snow globe. It will be winter until all our group has smiley faces.

CassieCat

Thanks for the tips and suggestions. I'll do some more experimenting this weekend. The arm pit is an awkward area to work with! I've started peeling a bit, and I'm glad my RO gave that area a break this week and did boosts instead.

scubawoman

Congrats Quiggy and LARocks!  Wednesday will be the day for my thumbs up -- had first boost on Friday and three more next week, then done.  Skin is pretty good shape but will be glad to lose the Aquaphor and be able to get into some other clothes I'm not scared of staining.  KayFry -- hang in three, we're almost done!  And really want to read your book when you've written it. 

kayfry

Scubawoman, I will be right behind you! First boost is on Wednesday, last one on Monday of next week, and DONE! My skin is hanging in there, too. I have some swelling, breast feels warm, but the worst is the itchy rash. The overall pinkness/brownness is minimal, really, though it's more visible than it was a few days ago. Nothing in the armpit at all—mostly the rash is over my breastbone/cleavage area and underneath my breast. I'm using Miaderm, which isn't greasy but feels very soothing, and small amounts of 1% hydrocortisone on the worst rashy areas. Ditching the bra for as many hours a day as possible, all of which seems to be helping. Fatigue isn't too bad, but of course, I've just had the weekend off. I will be glad to be able to wear normal bras again . . .and still searching for the perfect wireless model! Wait for me at the finish line And it's good to know there might be interest in the book that's only a big idea in my head right now. That should help keep me motivated to write it!

WndrWoman

Another variable for fatigue is whether the person came to radiation right after chemo. Some of us did not have to deal with chemo and that may lessen instead of compounding the fatigue effect. Hang in there. The end is in sight.

CassieCat

That's true. I did chemo, then MX and now rads, and I think it's all catching up to me. But soon I'll be done. 8 more treatment days.

zjrosenthal

I did a lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy in August. Then 5 months of chrmo. Got shingles and a finger infection on the surgery side. Cleared that up then had level 1,2 and some level 3 nodes removed in a second surgery. Then started rads. I'm wiped and only finished the first week. Now have 5 days of diarrhea. Yikes. At age 71, how much can this old carcass take? Love, Jean

quiggy

Hey Jean,

Sorry it's been so hard on you. Cancer is so difficult. All the billions of dollars raised AND spent yet treatment options haven't changed. Cut/poison/radiation... Come on, find a darn cure!!!

Sometimes I'm amazed that each of us march off to treatments, knowing what will come! Doing it because it's THE option to live.

Stay strong sister, you're not alone.

CoyoteNV

Jean ~ I can relate.  When I run down the list of how this soon to be 70 year old body has been assaulted in the last almost three years.  I'm 5 months out of chemo and 3 full months out of rads! When does the umph come back?   I've too much to do to sit around on my tush.

Quiggy ~ you are right. A solution is long overdue.

WndrWoman

Just a reminder that Ken Burns' 6 - hour TV show based on the book Emperor of All Maladies is on public television stations in a week. Here in the greater Boston area it is on March 30, 31 and April 1. It is on cancer in general and has some historical segments, but I think the last night features a woman with breast cancer. Hopefully it presents new treatments in development.

kayfry

Hang in there, CassieCat! You've been through a lot, and I'm certain it's much more exhausting when you have to do the chemo first. I've so far gotten away without a whole lot of fatigue, just a little bit tired. But 8 more days! I have just 6 more treatment days, so we'll be finishing almost the same time. May they fly by.

kayfry

WndrWoman, thanks for the update. I've been waiting for this one.

kayfry

Jean, I'm so sorry you've had such a rough time. That really stinks, and I hope it gets a bit easier from here on out. Coyote, my RO told me when I asked about how long the fatigue usually lasts that it can be anywhere from a month to 3-4 months, or even longer. Sounds as if you're about due to start getting your energy back now! I hope so. Quiggy, we do have some cures, but they're not easy or pleasant, and not always cures. I hope for our daughters and granddaughters, there will be some major breakthroughs coming soon! I look forward to learning more from that upcoming Burns special. I'm pretty sure it's not that researchers aren't trying to find something better. When my late mother-in-law was diagnosed with a small, early breast cancer sometime in the 1960s, the only option for her was a radical mastectomy. I'm pretty sure today she would have had more, and less disfiguring options, but we're still not there yet.

zjrosenthal

Well got up this morning with no diarrhea hallelulia! Getting ready to start week 2! Love, Jean

BookLady1

Jean - so glad you are feeling better today! We are close in treatment. Today is day 9 of radiation for me, and I had tummy issues and muscle aches all weekend, napped a lot, and I am ready to go. Wishing you a good, strong, diarrhea-free week. Lind

mqt64

Wow! I missed a couple days and so much has happened.

Cassiecat, glad the new schedule is a little better for you. Hang in there, you're almost there!

Congrats LaRock! Hopefully you're not reading this and enjoying your vacation.

Kayfry, enjoy your grandson when he visits. The more celebrations they have, the better they like it. My youngest turned 7 last Friday and had celebrations at school and at home that day. Yesterday was his friends party and he celebrated all over again! When asked what he wanted for his birthday beforehand he said $100.00. When asked what he would buy with it he said "hangers for my closet "!? Hopefully the remainder of rads will be uneventful.

Jean, sorry you had so many troubles. I can't imagine diarrhea on top of the rest of it. May this week be less eventful. I turned pink early but in the end was not too bad, had some breakdown underneath in the crease but otherwise just red and brown. I'm 2 weeks out and just have soreness in the boost area and the nipple. Aquafor with xylocaine along with Eucerin help and for the most part I'm comfortable. Hang in there!

Allmodestyisgone

CoyoteNV - can you give me a smiley - finished last treatment today!!!!