Spring 2015 Radiation Sisters

zjrosenthal

Molly, some of us have serious fatigue and some have worked right through rads. Same with skin issues. Reaction to rads is very individual. Try not to anticipate and take one day at a time. Once you start the time goes by quickly. Remember, this is saving your life. Keep posting as the gals on this site have many good suggestions. Love, Jean

Tobycc

Nurse--- 4 more for me: and last week I went to rads, took off work, came home and slept. There were some dark days! Light at end of tunnel is here for both of us!!

goodcanary

Molly,

I have completed 22 of 31 treatments and am tired, but wouldn't call it "serious fatigue." Generally, I am working just a little less than full time to allow time to drive to treatments. Just the past few days as my skin gets worse, it has been getting harder to sleep comfortably, so I am more tired. Last Thursday I did nod off while on the treatment table (on a longer visit with x-rays) and even today was nodding off on a quick one. So maybe I am more tired than I realize! I believe the fatigue is largely from the running around to treatments every single day and the stress of it all. My radiation oncology nurse recommended trying melatonin if I had trouble with sleep.

It is funny how a nurse's comment can make an impression - and that it was the chemo nurse. My radiation nurse was saying she used to be a chemo nurse, and she is so much happier in radiation because it is so much better tolerated and doesn't wipe people out like chemo. Good luck to you (and all of us).

molly1976

Thank you all! I met with the rads people today and they were not nearly as doom and gloom about the fatigue part!

MamaBearMo

If anything, it's good you're going into it anticipating some fatigue. I think I wasn't expecting it and it really took me by surprise. It is by no means debilitating, just annoying when I want to move on and be done with all this. And I'm probably not getting enough sleep and being as kind to my body as I should be. I think in my head I thought that since chemo is done, I should be able to go right back to chasing after the kids and running on little sleep. Guess not.

Thanks for the hope on the sore throat getting better. I haven't found the prescribed medications helping much anyway, so I've just got to push through and try not to lose too much weight (which has already become a concern). My skin is starting to get pink and peel a tiny bit. Finished treatment #20 today, so hopefully I will get through the rest without too much more skin deterioration. My armpit is probably what tweaks me the most. My RO told me to start using Aquaphor on it. I was surprised by her directive from the beginning to not put anything on my skin until I had problems, but I guess so far it has proven to be right.

goldenpawsKim

Hey ladies - tomorrow is my last day of rads!! YAY for me. Only side effect has been red skin and itchy. No fatigue at all .... any one that is just starting, you can do it. It goes by very quickly and I think the only thing that is annoying is having to go every day. Not everyone has nasty side effects with rads ... I didn't have bad side effects to chemo either so maybe I'm just lucky .... did I just say I'm feeling lucky! ha

Hang in there, girls. We are almost done with this hell ride and can return to a normal, healthy life Kim

cubbieblue

Hey there GoldenpawsKim!  It looks you are a couple weeks ahead of me now. Congrats on being done. :-) I finished my TCx4 in mid-March and I'm now about half way through rads.  Seeing you finish has given me a burst of adrenalin as I approach that finish line.  I'm glad your side effects were minimal and tolerable all the way through. 

Hello to all the other ladies too.  Hope your treatment is going well.

Looking forward to beautiful spring days, as I feel like I completely missed out on autumn with the timing of my diagnosis, and it was a long slow trudge through winter with chemo. 

Good luck and good health to all of us!

NY2TXbaby

cubbieblue.....I can so relate about missing out on autumn....and winter and spring since starting this journey of treatments last year. I was doing okay getting thru rads until I hit about the 18th treatment. For about 2-3 days - I had the hardest time getting motivated to get out of bed in the morning to go in for my treatment. Had nothing to do with SE- I think I just "hit the wall". I just didn't want to go - but of course I did. I'm better now, but I think I was so tired of having to drive to the hospital everyday. I have 4 more treatment left and the. 5 boosts. I didn't know what the difference was between boosts and regular treatment - my RO told me the boosts are electrons that are focused only at the incision line and are more superficial and takes a lot less time on the table. She also said the reason they give the boosts is because recurrence happens more frequesntly along the incision line. I always thought and was more concerned about lymph nodes but she said incision line was more common. Go figure. Has anyone else heard that before? Skin is just now starting to flake and get itchy - but my chest wall is very read - and I can see the distinct square where the Bolus is laid. Cream, cream, cream.......I hope it doesn't get too much worse during the last 4 treatments. Thinking of evryone who has finished and those still in the middle and those gettinready to start. It certainly has been easier than chemo but still not what I would call easy. Fatigue as been minimal and I have been able to work - but I am definitely pooped by the end of the day. Hugs to all

UpstateBee

Just started RADS yesterday, 32 days to go. Was told not to expect to notice much for a few weeks in terms of redness or anything, but last night I got swollen again, almost like right after surgery. Definitely feel heavy and swollen after just one treatment, is that possible? I will ask today.

U4iachic

Panicking, yesterday I found a small knot beside my expanded near my arm pit. I called my surgeon, she said lots of lumps and bumps after a mastectomy are not uncommon. Also could be my expander.

Radiation Onco felt it yesterday and he said he wasn't worried. Especially since that is the area getting radiation.

I found it putting my lotion on for burn. I see surgeon on Tuesday to have her look at it. What do you all think would be the odds of me having a local recurrence after 1. After a masectomy, 2. just finishing chemo a month and a half ago and 3. currently in radiation? Any encouragement would be appreciated. Prayers anything please......

12 more rads to go and me I'm afraid of starting all over......

bw49

YES I got swollen after the 4th one and have stayed swollen- I have 5 more boost to go- something that helped me was a steroid creme once you start to get itchy and if your skin starts to rub off under your breast, ask for mepilex transfer they should have it in the office- it helps a lot-

It does go by fast after the 3rd week- I feel like it has gone by very very fast!

zjrosenthal

U4, no panic please. I recently found a lump in my other breast. Was starting to panic and decided to wait till I see my MO on Monday for an al ready scheduled followup. Refuse to think about it or drive myself nuts by feeling my breast over and over. Hands off. I'm not going to worry. Hope you don't either. Love, Jean

AKF05

Hey everyone! I had treatment 18 of 33 today. My skin is getting hot, red and stings. Do any of you use anything other than the Aquaphor? Anything to draw the heat out? Also I've seen some of you mention "boost" treatments. What is that? Thanks for being so helpful to a newbie.

MJS1266

AKF05

My RO has me using hydrocortisone, Calendula, and Gold Bond Powder. The gold bond is for under the arm and under the breast where moisture collects to keep it dry and prevent rubbing. I have had 7 of 28, so 1/4 of the way done which sounds like more progress than just 7. Best, MJ

Iowawoman

U4 and Jean, keepingo posy t boughs for you, KEEPING POSITIVE THOUGHTS--stupid auto correct. If you want a laugh/distraction,that reminds me, try damnyouautocorrect.com

I finished on the 27th. The upper chest is peeling but looking and feeling much better. The boost area is red, but not too horribly itchy most of the time. The nurse said to expect it to be better in 2 weeks. I still use Aquaphor at night, Miaderm sometimes, aloe sometimes, and the DH got me some Vitamin E cream.

Also, I've used Cool Magic hydrogel wound dressings that I kept in the fridge. They feel great.

I did take an afternoon nap every day for the last 2 1/2 weeks and went to bed early, too.

I see my MO next week and a PT for some arm issues.

Lisa

Iowawoman

On the length of radiation treatment: perspective is interesting. When I started, it felt like it would go on forever. But today I got my hair cut, and I realized that 8 weeks ago, my last haircut, I hadn't even started. Feels weird that something that momentous could fit between haircuts.

Tresjoli2

i have my first RO appointment next week. I am very nervous about having to apply all this cream. I work and plan to work through rads, and i have to dress up for work. How am I going to manage creams at work and the mess on dry clean only clothes?

ElaineTherese

I worked through rads, too. I used cream three times a day: when I woke up in the morning, after rads, and right before I went to bed. The only tricky time was right after rads (2:40 pm). Since it was earlier spring, I wore a lot of cotton layering shirts under blazers and sweaters for the most part.

NY2TXbaby

I too have been working through my radiation treatment. Mine is at 8:45 in the morning so when I get home I slather on calendula gel which dries clean and not as messy as the cream. Sometimes I put a little extra on of the gel during the mid day but usually not. As soon as I get home at 5 o'clock I again slather on a heavy dose of creams. Then I put it on again using even thicker creams like aquafor at night when I go to bed and sleep in an old T-shirt. So far I haven't ruined any clothes but I have stayed away from blouses that are made of a silkier material. The worst part for me was actually putting on my bra after one of my treatments and I forgot to wipe off their marks made with black and then a green marker and it stained my white bra! Now I go to treatment braless And wipe off the marks as soon as I get home and before I go to work.

ksusan

Boosts are radiation directed at the incision. The hypothesis about why there are recurrences at the incision is that the scar tissue doesn't absorb radiation as well as normal tissue. Therefore, the boost is given to target more radiation to the scar tissue to compensate for this.

MaryJC

hi everybody, goodness I'm jealous of you ladies who are done. I'm just about to have my sim tmw and don't know what to expect. I really like my radiologist in that he has such a great, upbeat, encouraging spirit. On the other hand he's somewhat used car salesman. He says this is gonna be a walk in the park compared to chemo and will feel like I'm going to the tanning salon lol. Meanwhile he does say I'll be fatigued and also encourages exercise which I already do. He said of able to do so before and after each treatment.

So can anyone school me on the sim? Also I got the impression exercise reduces the fatigue but not sure. Thanks. MJ

Tresjoli2

Thanks NY2Tx. My work and treatment facility are in Boston close to each other but an hour and a half commute from my home. I won't go home between work and treatment...maybe I can make my apt. At the end of the day. Hmmm...

KimmerB

It's been a week and a half since my last rads! I'm happy to say that the burning and itching is getting much, much better! I love my Emu Oil. Fatigue seems to be getting a little better as well. I'm still taking a nap every day but overall feeling better.

U4 - I also found a lump in the same place - and my RO said not to worry - was just swelling. And it has disappeared now.

Congrats to all who are finishing up. Good luck to everyone just starting. You will get through this!

bw49

MaryJC

I worked out 6 days a week during radiation- I have 4 more to go- some mornings you are more tired but push through it- it has helped me not get as tired-

for simulation- it is not bad - they will mark you- I had a tattoo- they put the small small dots one on either side of your breast and one in the middle of the chest- it looks like a freckle- they will take pictures- once you do a few treatments its a walk in the park- fast fast fast and think good thoughts while you are on the table-

good luck

CassieCat

MJ, my initial CT scan and first rads were both long - 45 minutes or so. I wasn't prepared for that, and it was uncomfortable. I didn't realize I'd by laying there with my arms up over my head and while I had decent range of motion, I wish I'd worked on that more diligently prior to rads (after my MX). After that, the sessions went by very quickly and I was in and out within 10 minutes most days. I tried to exercise as I could, while working full-time too.

sandyhook26

I am almost to the half way mark. I have completed 14 treatments (total 25 whole breast and 5 boosts). So far really little side effects. My nipple was a little sore the other day but that has been it. Can't wait to get this finished.

Tobycc

FINALLY finished! Reality of the treatment being over after 8-9 months is sinking in. And I am loving it

ElaineTherese

Yay, Toby! Yeah, treatment can go on forever. I still have a few months left of Herceptin.

zjrosenthal

ElaineT, You are a month ahead of me. I started my herceptin / perjeta at the beginning of Nivember. Finish hopefully 11/15. Weare both more than halfway. Long journey for sure. Love, Jean

NY2TXbaby

finished my 25 "regular" treatments yesterday and start my 5 boosts today! I am so glad as I look like a cooked red lobster! But as red as my entire chest isthere are really just 3 places that are truly sore - mostly edges where the Bolus was. But the gels and aquaphor really are helping. Not much itchiness or peeling, but that may come later. And on top of all this I had a large absess on my bum which I had to have lanced yesterday! Can you say "ouchie"?!!!!! It hurt worse than anything - even my BMX! LOL. So I am having to take off a few full days off from work after all - but not due to rads - go figure. I guess getting cancer wasn't enough? I can only shake my head and laugh. So glad to start the boosts cause I know it will be over soon. Best to everyone still in treatment and congrats to all those who just finished. Hugs,