Summer 2015 Rads

gkodad

I start right breast radiation next Weds - sim yesterday. I had left breast radiation 13 years ago, and I worked throughout the first radiation experience with few issues, but I didn't have chemo the first time. This time, mastectomy, ALND and chemo, so RO said it might not go quite as well.

Someone posted their RO said no aloe - did he say why? Mine said aloe was fine.

123JustMe

Sailor Bev you are doing great! Just hang in there for the last few and you too will be DONE!!! Yay!

sailorbev

My RO said nothing but cornstarch. MAYBE Aquaphor, but only if and when the skin starts to break down. He didn't say why and I didn't ask. My skin looks very dark but feels ok so I haven't complained to the RO about not being able to use aloe. I find it interesting that the rules are so different from RO to RO. 

sailorbev

Thanks, 123JustMe. I think I can, I think I can...

live_deliciously

biggest thing is to reduce friction (bra, purses, under arm skin rubbing together), condition skin, eat protein, drink lots of fluid and keep stretching the arm. It's what helped me

ksusan

^ Agreed!

CAMommy

123. Yes my center has this protocol in place. I was a candidate given the fact is is DCIS. I think they also do it for stage 1 too.

123JustMe

That's great that your center is doing it! I don't recall having a choice

Keys-Plez

SailorBev Everyone keeps talking about exercising during rads. They also say don't wear a bra. How does one exercise comfortably without a bra?

Just wondering.

InStitches

all great advice. The protein thing has been really important for me.

JenH2015

I exercised by walking or, on one occasion biking. Running was definitely out without a bra, and my skin couldn't have tolerated the chlorine from swimming, but a brisk walk was good.

JenH2015

Keys-Plez, I would suggest having a plan in place so that you can stay safe. For me, it was somewhere I could stop on the way home if I was too tired to drive and/or leaving the car in Seattle over the weekend and having my husband pick me up Friday afternoon and drive me back Monday. (But my drive home was 2 hours and 110 miles over a mountain pass). I never had to implement these fall-back measures, as the fatigue got better after the second week, but it made it less stressful for me and my family to know that I had alternatives in case I was having problems so that I would not feel I had no alternative but to drive when really tired. I have a good friend who did radiation 5 years ago at a place 45 minutes from where she lived - her fatigue was worse than mine, but she drove herself each day. She brought her daughter (12) to keep her company in the car (talking helped her with the drive) and also said that she sometimes had to take a short nap before hitting the road.

queenmomcat

Keys-Plez: wondering about that bra issue myself--exercizing braless is right out for me--so I've made a note to ask my RO when I go in for the sim (I suspect the bra/no bra question might depend on how you're responding to treatment, but not sure.

Keys-Plez

JenH. My treatment center is about a mile from my work. I will be going on my way home from work. So having someone ride with me isn't possible. I'm going to ask some of my friends to standby and talk to me while driving. Hands free of course. Plus I've been a shift worker before and have been known to pull over and take a nap after a hard mid shift. I can do that too. Maybe I can fit in a nap during radiation.

queenmom. I'm gonna try braless and see how it goes. But if I do any vigorous exercise braless, I get 2 black eyes. lol

queenmomcat

(bursts out laughing) I'd get a pair of black eyes, myself! even walking.

ksusan

I've been driving myself with no problem. It's only a few miles but I think I could drive longer--I've done some 2-hour drives for other reasons on radiation days. Even on my most fatigued days I've been able to exercise (walking with some rowing) for at least an hour.

CAMommy

1/20 down. Took a long time today. They did sim first then tx. I swear I could feel it. Made my nipple itch, where it didn't for the entire time up to the start of tx.

Now I go every week day at 10:30.

ksusan

I feel a little tingling at times. How was it emotionally? Some people find the machinery upsetting.

Hopeful82014

Welcome to all the new campers joining our late-summer session.

I had my discharge appointment yesterday and will have my last boost tomorrow a.m.

All in all, my skin's done extremely well. I have no peeling, my clavicle is barely pink, the axilla looks pinkish but not very. I wouldn't say that I'm red anywhere.

It's 10 days since the last of the nodal and whole breast treatment and those areas are already fading - which makes the increasingly-pink boost area really stand out. There's minimal irritation or discomfort, although the internal tissues are still tight and swollen. I honestly think the nerve burn from the lx. and SNB are contributing the worst of the irritation.

I've kept up my exercise (although at times it hasn't been as intense as previously) and have found that yoga helps tremendously.

I'll continue with pure aloe, Emu Oil and a few other soothing lotions for several more months.

I hope everyone else sails through, too.

Now, it's time to go pack up my bedroll and knapsack and have one last s'more around the campfire.

CAMommy

I was ok with the machine. But driving there I was very emotional. I was afraid I'd start crying again. But then they were 30 minutes late which irritated me so I didn't feel like crying any more. I'm sad by the sheer number of people at the cancer center :

ksusan

Congrats, Hopeful!

CAMommy, I guess it might have been helpful to be irritated! I'm sorry for the delay, though. My first appointment was cancelled due to machine malfunction.

fltchr

CAMommy - I felt a funny sensation my first day too but haven't felt it since.

Does anyone else have horrible itching? I don't know how to describe it. It's like something inside my breast is firing at my nipple constantly and with each firing there is extreme itching! My RO gave me steroid creme but said not to use it more than 3 times a day because it can break down the skin. She also said to take Benedryl at bedtime. Anyone find anything else that might work? I had 12/30 today.

As far as driving, I drive about 45 min each way with no problems. Although where I live, that's a pretty common time going many places. I go back to work next week so it might be a whole other story.

ksusan

I only have a little itching.

cubbieblue

AndreaC, I had the worst migraine of my life 7 weeks post chemo.

Midgiemoon

CAMommy, I had terrible itching on my chest, not the breast itself. I got prescrition steroid cream, and it definitely helped. My husband was abou to put mittens on my becasue I was scratching in my sleep

FLTCHR, I also feel the beam at every treatment! I know its hapening, very weird little tingle.

Yesterday was my first boost. The table was turned 90 degrees, and they but a box frame on the head. The RO was in to check the set up, and he said it was perfect. I am so happy I have such expert radiation techs! My RO is growing on my too!

The whole treatment lasted about 20 seconds, and I was done. The buzz was a little softer than the WBR, but otherwise it was the same. When the head rotated away after treatment, I forgot to close my eyes, so I got a little dizzy watching it move away...

On the skin front, I am in rough shape, Is anyone using silvadene? Dees it help on the weepy open areas. I am in a fair amount of pain, it isn't just uncomfortable any more. Oh well, six more left. Yay!

Have a great day!

Midgie

sailorbev

Keys-Plez--I stopped wearing a bra very early on. I found that wearing those $1.68 camisoles from Walmart was enough. I am not very large-breasted (38B) and I don't do any exercise that requires bouncing. I mostly walk and lift weights. Also, regarding the friction issue, cornstarch helps a lot but, boy, do I end up getting it all over my clothes!

sailorbev

I still find the size of the machine intimidating. My anxiety goes up a little each time I am being radiated. During the first few sessions I felt a little nauseous as I was changing after the treatment. It is difficult for me to have so little idea what is happening, I think that is the main reason for my anxiety. I don't feel the treatment and I have just a little itching. My skin is quite red, like a sunburn. 

I am finally down to single digits. Today will be my last WBR. I start the first of eight boosts on Monday. I am so ready to be done with this radiation camp but also grateful to be able to share it will all of you. 

123JustMe

sailorbev,

how many whole breast treatments did you have and how many boosts? i have 33 tmts but i'm not sure if that includes the boosts or not

congrats on seeing the finish line! one of the techs described the machine as a kitchenaid mixer! lol! i didn't quite see the resemblence but okay....

CAMommy

2/20 done. They made me wait again today. Hope this isn't a trend.

Hopeful82014

Boost number 7 of 7 today, completing 35 treatments total. I am DONE!

CAMommy - you might try to take something you enjoy doing to fill the wait time - Sudoko, crosswords, a book. Bear in mind, too, that they are probably running late because they are giving each patient the time and care that they need. One day you might be the patient benefiting from that extra time.

Sailorbev and Midgie - I found that it was a lot easier once I finished the WHI and moved on to the boosts. I hope that's the case for you, too. Congrats on being SO close to the finish line!

I could feel a little tingle every once in a while, especially in the axilla. It certainly wasn't consistent, though, which is good because it almost tickled...

Have a good weekend all!