Spring 2015 Radiation Sisters

Janiner

Toby.. sounds good. So glad you have the option to change course. Pain meds really help. 5 go for then. Yay.

3 more boost for me.

zjrosenthal

For me scratching my head worked. Teehee. Some find scratching a pillow worked better. Personally I prefer to lay my bald old head on the pillow and nap. Love, Jean

KimmerB

Well I'm half way through. My first treatment was pretty emotional, which I wasn't expecting. But so far all others have been fairly easy. I'm red and itchy, but mostly tired. Using Calendula cream as well as Emu Oil and cortisone cream. Thanks for the info about bras at WalMart - I loaded up on the fruit of the loom really stretchy ones. They give a little support (which I need for work), and are comfortable to sleep in. I've got 8 more treatments and 5 boosts left. Looking forward to the finish line for this phase!

I hope everyone has a good day! We can all get through this!!

Kim

shelleym1

I finished four weeks of radiation on 4/13. I had some redness but no peeling or blisters! The redness is almost gone. I had some fatigue issues around week three but I've been okay since. I'm so glad that's over.

JJOntario

Started my boosts yesterday...a new custom bolus was made. The worst spot by far is my nipple with lots of peeling and my scar is wrapped around it. (My BS actually did a good job of trying to hide it) My sister loving referred to my boob as a hunk of roast beef. I'm taking Advil but the pain still has me up at night. My newest instructions now include letting the air get at it so DH is getting some interesting views while watching tv at night.

So glad it's Friday!!!

popssee1

Well, will have my 25th treatment today, boosts to the cancer cavity for the last 8 treatments. Up to this point, the skin has held out though fairly red, and life has been fairly normal. The fatigue is getting to me as I'm so tired at the end of the workday, there is little contributing at home. Coffee is my friend but I'm not sure that's so good for me. Today is the first day I don't feel well physically; a small area in the fold where the breast meets the chest is breaking down (but not significantly painful or bothersome yet) and have nausea and upset tummy. Can't decide if the nausea and tummy upset is something else - really haven't had anything like that with radiation so far. Anybody else out there hit a similar stumbling point? What did you do?

CassieCat

It's great to read about people moving through and finishing rads! I'm about 5 weeks out from finishing rads and working fulltime, and I find I'm still more tired than I expected. The area has healed up well, but the skin is still somewhat sensitive. It's still healing from surgery too, so it's hard to know what's causing what!

cbaird99

I am now officially done, just had my last rads! What a relief. Upward and onward!

amylsp

Cbaird99, congrats on being done! I'm a week and two days PFR and I'm already forgetting all about the daily drive. Enjoy your freedom!

kathy7

Cbaird

Congrats ! what a great gift on this fine spring day  - continue your upward rise!

Tobycc

Congrats CBaird!

Janiner

Cbaird. Yay good for you. so relieved for you. I get yo join you Monday for my last boost. Yay. Now my skin can start healing. Apparently it's pretty bad!

Tobycc

I messaged Janiner- will also ask you all: does anyone have, or had shooting pains in the breast? Mine are for only probably 10 seconds, but man are painful. Area moves around the breast. Doc mentioned nerves being affected. Any one know of this?

K

zjrosenthal

• Toby, yes I've had shooting pains also. Glad they only lasted a few seconds. Now two weeks after finishing they have mostly stopped.
• Popsie, I also had some diarrhea during rads. Not sure it was a direct result of radiation. I suspect it was just my body reacting to all trauma from treatments combined ...... surgery, chemo and rads. Love, Jean

popssee1

i was feeling not so good but then went to watch my daughter's clogging group. After clapping, listening to music, and laughing so hard, i feel so much better. Its the little things...

And thank you zjrosenthal for advice and encouragement! Final stretch here i come!

CurlyG23

Hi ladies,

Goldren Paws/Kim-good to see you!

YAY, finished my last 29th RAD yesterday...never really felt tired through these last 6 weeks while teaching in the classroom again (with Kindergarteners!) and an little one also teething & occasionally waking at night....My skin had a little pink coloring lately......however, on day 24 I really stared getting red in the armpit...never knew I needed to use the calendula/aquafor in that spot. Quite uncomfortable, peeled felt a little raw since it rubs my arm & I sleep on that side more than the other (trying not to now....) It has slowly improved in the last few days.

I agree w/ someone awhile back who mentioned the vaseline/petroleum yellow strips, think they are made by curaid. A nurse gave me some....they feel SO good & relieving. Good luck to everyone else enduring this...

Curly/Lori

Janiner

Toby... I pm you

BC2015

Hi Toby and Popsie - yes, I have shooting pain and sharp pains around the incision area and general pain in my entire Breast. My RO yesterday said this is "not unusual". I have feel sick after a number of the treatments - some nausea, faint and flushed. Not every time though. Then yesterday afternoon I truly hit the wall. (Yesterday was 21 of 30.) I felt so ill and bone tired I left work to jump in bed. Today I am not doing much and canceled dinner plans. The itching is making me nuts

Janiner

BC2015, I hope you feel better soon. I am 29/30 right now. I have not reacted well to rads. The tiredness hit me about the same time as you. I get up for rads come home and do a few little things, then poof right back to bed after already sleeping 10 hrs. (uncomfortable hours). My head hits the pillow and I'm out like a light. I am amazed at those who are working. I can't wait to get back to work, but at the same time, know I couldn't even handle it right now. I go back June 8th, which will still be a bear. Take care.

Janiner

Curly/Lori, so glad you found the vaseline/petroleum yellow strips. They are quite messy and greasy but poor do they last for hours and keep things at bay. Congrats on completing rads!

Janine

 

Iowawoman

Congrats to the finishers!

I had#19 on Friday. My chest is red, bumpy, and itchy. On Thursday, my doc have me Dome Boro. I'd put it on and feel better for a bit, but then it would seem to come back worse. Today I got a blister. Crap. And my neck skin feels funny when it didn't before. So I stopped and will ask the doc Monday. I just need to finish 7 regular rads, then it can start healing during the boosts.

I did decide to go halftime (teaching 4th grade) starting this Thursday. I'll have the same sub I had during surgery recovery so that helps with writing sub plans. I'm not super tired, but I decided if I got super tired, it would make getting ready for a sub really hard. Thank goodness she is good, because there are only 16 days of school left, and the kids are getting antsy.

NurseShark

curly! My little one is teething too. I feel like a zombie heading into week 5!

Janiner

Iowawoman , you'll be able to finish. It just may get a bit harder. You can do it. 

Janine

Aeon

Tomorrow's my last boost. Yay!

My skin is still completely intact, although my nipple has turned all kinds of weird colors. RO said it will turn white before it turns back to normal Right now it's pink like fresh skin, although there was never any peeling. The pink literally showed up overnight after a week of it being a weird old-meat-brown color.

The itching sucks, but RO said to go ahead and use cortisone cream, and that helps. I can't wear a bra for too long because I get prickly feelings when it's compressed, and then shooting pains. Hopefully that will go away soon after finishing.

I will continue drowning it in Radiaplex for another week or two, per RO recommendations.

JJOntario

The last week for me. The incision under my arm is peeling and a bit raw...what an awful place as its so hard to let the air get at it. I can't believe I'm looking forward to shaving my arm pits

florida2015

Hi, glad to hear your comment about your team. There is only one woman I really like on my rad team, but was dismayed to have men. I am one that is used to all female Dr.s etc. So I haven't warmed up to the men, it's hard being exposed etc.

I have 4 this week and 3 next week. one of the 4 this week will be a boost and all 3 next week. Can't wait to get this over with. I was not having any issues and able to just use Euricin this time, mixing that up with cocoa butter and aquafor at times, but now over this warm weekend and being out walking about in Ogunquit Maine by the ocean, I now feel a little itchy. Did anyone get sun spots appearing? I am going to ask nurse about. All I need is to worry about skin cancer next.

I know all along the RO said week 3 is when people start feeling itchy etc. Anyway will be glad when its over!!!

Larkspur

All done with rads as of this morning! My upper right chest looks like chicken tandoori and I'm fairly itchy, but luckily I'm not peeling.

I brought my care team a thank-you tote bag full of healthy-ish snacks and teas. The entire crew displayed a great blend of cheer, efficiency, competence, and kindness.

Best of luck to all of us as we move forward with treatment and beyond--

MJS1266

Florida 2015,

The nurse told me I would get freckles and spots during rads. She said don't worry it's not skin cancer.

Best, MJ

zjrosenthal

florida, please limit sun exposure to the rads area. I use SPF 50 sunblock clothing even while driving, light jacket and long sleeved shirts gotten thru Amazon. Searched sunblock clothing. Love , Jean

MombieZombie

Oh dear--I lost track of who said what. LOL

A while back someone asked if anyone else was told NOT to wear sunscreen. I was told the opposite. I bought a UV protective swim top for my trip to Hawaii and my RO told me to wear sunscreen under it.

BUT--I wanted to know if the swim top would work by itself, so I decided to skip putting sunscreen under it and test it out. Worked like a charm. My skin stayed perfect and cool under that UV swim top. The places where I was only covered with high-powered sunscreen still got a slight tan, but where my UV top covered me, I have zero burn or tan. I spent a full eight days out in the sun and water snorkling.