Summer 2015 Rads

Keys-Plez

When I woke up this morning, for the first time in many months, cancer wasn't on my mind. Last night my landlady notified me that she is selling my apartment. Starting next week there will be a parade of people brought through my place for viewing. And after 6 months of doing very little, my place is far from being a Better, Homes and Gardens showcase. I'll probably have to find another place to live too. I prayed to take my mind off of the consuming thoughts of cancer. Well, I guess my prayers were answered. Today I'm worried about finding a new place to live. Be careful what you ask for.

CAMommy

bluefin, try lots and lots of aquaphor to keep from sticking. I stuck to the nonstick gauze and it hurt like a )$&) to peel off. Ripped off skin too.

bluefin

Saw my RO's colleague today (as my RO is only in the office on Thursdays). The nurse gave me a saline soak and the RO gave me a prescription for Silvadine. They want me to come back tomorrow for another soak. If it starts looking worse they want me to start on antibiotics. They are being extra cautious since I have the TEs (as I guess if I get a bad enough infection, I could lose the TE). They all seem pretty confident that this is the "worst" it will get and it should start improving. They said if the redness starts to spread outside of the boost area or if I spike a fever to call immediately, but again not expecting that to happen.

ChicagoReader

Bluefin, glad to hear they don't think it will get any worse. I was already taking antibiotics for another reason, was instructed to continue them, and didn't develop an infection.

Hope things start getting better for you soon.

ORknitter

Bluefin, I had to use the Silvadene cream on an area under my arm that was sore from a bra rubbing on it. It worked wonders!

I have a question for those who have finished radiation. I had my last treatment August 14th so I am about 8 weeks out. Last week I started to itch in the treated area. There's no redness, no swelling, no nothing, just itchiness. Anyone else experience this??

BT828

ORknitter, I finished rads July 16th and I still itch. Mine is mostly in the areas of break down, nothing obvious on the surface so I figured the deeper layers were still healing and keeping it moisturized has helped. I still have pain in the breast tissue as well. Mostly in the tumor bed and into the armpit, opposite side of breast from breakdown areas It's worse when I wake up in am if I've been sleeping on surgery side, which is the only time I have swelling in the breast still. Massage takes care of the pain and swelling.

ksusan

Yeah, I still have some itching. Miaderm still seems to sit better than Weleda calendula lotion right now.

CAMommy

my itching is much better. I get a little under my breast in the crease where I burned the worst. My skin feels super leathery now, even with moisturizers. Feels like I've been a sun bunny for the last 40 years.

ChicagoReader

Yep, I eased off the moisturizers too soon and my itching came back. I also had a rash. Had to break out the steriod/corisone cream again and go back to regular applications of Miaderm and Aquaphor. I'm now 6 weeks out and the skin on my nipple is still peeling. Otherwise, the rest is good as long as I stick with the moisturizers.

Keys-Plez

BT...I'm only 2 weeks out. I never really itched. When did you start taking AIs? I just got my script today. Itching is listed as one of the possible reactions. But you'd probably have more issues than that if it were the AI though. Just throwing it out there.

BT828

Thanks for the suggestion, Keys....I started letrozole July 27th, doing pretty good on it so far! The itching is only on my radiated breast....I think I'd itch in more places if it was the. AI. The pic below is what my skin looked like when I finished rads. It's the scarred areas that are itchy.

ksusan

~7 weeks post-radiation. My phone is really kicking the reds up--the chain on that necklace is silver, not red.

queenmomcat

Not surprised about the shift in colors. I'd've tried to judge 'rads field relative to apparent normal skin tone'.

bluefin

The silvadene cream is working wonders. This is what it looked like on Thursday:

Today:

I assume the dark skin will slough off once the skin underneath is ready. I have been using silvadene 2x daily and doing saline soaks once a day. HUGE improvement!

ChicagoReader

KS and bluefin, you've both come a long way! Glad to see so much improvement in your skin. Bluefin, the dark stuff will fall off in little bits. It shouldn't be painful and you should find new, healthy skin in its place.

BT, you might consider whether you've used any new laundry detergent, perfume, or body wash. Also, have you bought any new shirts and worn them without washing? I've heard that we have to be really careful about that sort of thing after radiation, and something like that might be the cause of your itching.

KBeee

Ouch Bluefin, I feel your pain. That is what my axilla looks like. My "breast" (implant) area that was part of the boosts is headed that way and will look like that in a few days. Unlike my axilla which has full feeling, part of my breast area is numb, and for once, I will appreciate that.

ksusan

Thanks for posting, bluefin. I'm glad you're getting some relief! Resist the urge to wipe, pick, or peel the brown stuff--blot it instead, so it can protect the new skin underneath.

AnniebNJ

Hi all,

I finished rads the beginning of July and I sailed through treatment. About 4 weeks ago I began to have a sharp pain under my arm, about an inch below the scar from my node removal back in April. I just saw my bs and she said the location is at the top of my ribs and is probably just inflammation from rads. I didn't have rads to that location however as the node was negative. Of course as soon as she said the ribs, I'm thinking bone mets. Has anyone had inflammation that began this far along after treatment? I need to find a way to step back from this ledge I'm currently on.

Thanks!

ChicagoReader

Annie, back away from the ledge! It could be inflammation around the ribs, which can happen up to a year after treatment. It usually gets better with aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs available without prescription. It's called costochondritis. There's some info towards the end of this article: http://dslrf.org/breastcancer/content.asp?CATID=29....

Although your rads weren't directed to your lymph nodes, some portion of the upper rib area likely was in the radiation field. Here's an image showing a typical side view: http://www.breastcancer.org/pictures/treatment/rad...

Keys-Plez

Annie...I'm so glad you asked that question. I'm 2.5 weeks post rads and I'm experiencing shooting pains in my tumor bed surgical area.

Chicago...What do you think? If anyone's followed me on these boards, you know I'm not a complainer.

I also sailed thru rads with just mild discomfort. Has anyone else experienced or heard of this phenomenon?

meezers3

six days post-rads

ChicagoReader

Keys, that's a new one for me. I've heard about shooting pains in general for months after surgery, but I don't recall seeing anything linked to the tumor bed except perhaps a seroma. Are you having any signs of that -- swelling, the feeling of fluid moving around, a sloshing sound? Or is it like the "zaps" from the nerves trying to reconnect after surgery? I'm sure there are many other possibilities I've never heard about, so maybe others will chime in with ideas. If it doesn't go away with extra-strength Tylenol, I would contact your RO or BS (whichever is most likely to be responsive).

Meezers, ouch, that looks painful!

AnniebNJ

Chicago.....thank you so much. I tried to research prior to my appt, but I focused on lymph nodes, not ribs. Apparently it is pretty common, and my bs said it could last 2 years, ugh. I am now safely off the ledge.

Keys....... I also had shooting pain near my tumor bed, but mine was about 2 weeks post lx. I hope your pain diminishes soon!

CAMommy

I've had lots of shooting pains. Not as many as I did early on, but I still get them. Dr said it was nerves healing.

CAMommy

meezersi feel your pain. I had it very bad like that. It will get better. I never thought mine would it hurt so bad. But it will.

meezers3

Thanks CAMommy! It feels like it will take forever! It continues all the way around my breast. I have to go back next Monday to see the nurse. Should have some new skin by then.

Keys-Plez

Yes. I got zingers post op and some during rads. These feel a little different. I also started Als recently. I'll be seeing my RO in 10 days. They come in sets a few times each day. If they don't get worse, I guess I'll just ride 'em out till I see my RO.

It's always something.

ajbenefield12

Hey everyone...I finished rads on october 2, my underarm is super burned but is getting better. My question is I am having some pain in the underarm area kind of near my node scar. Of course I think of bad things but I also know I have been holding my arm funny for the last week so it does not rub on my burn. Anyone else have pain there?

Keys-Plez

ajbenefield....I'm 2.5 weeks post rads. When I woke up this morning, I was doing some stretched. I felt some pain under my arm. Lo and behold, the tenderness is right over my SNB area. Then I saw your post. I guess we're normal. I'll see my RO next week. I'll ask her next week. I'm having all kinds of weird pains. Different than before pains. I'm not panicking about it att (at this time).

ORgal

I posted a while ago about pain I had in the area between the SNB and breast. Had tests done. Was told that radiation can cause lots of odd pains in odd places for a long time (up to 2 years). So hopefully you are all normal as they said I was.

Just throwing this out there. I needed new bras. Haven't had any new ones since surgery (a little lopsided now) and radiation, and my old favorites were discontinued. I went to the local department store (Penney's) who is having a bra fitting event this week. The woman there was AMAZING. She knew so much about bras my head was almost spinning. I thought wearing bras this many years I knew something about them - not! I tried on lots and lots of them and finally found a new favorite. The new one still has underwire but the wire doesn't come up as high into the armpit area so it's a lot more comfortable. Anyway, my point is, try to find a store with someone who does fittings and is really knowledgeable about the different styles. Hopefully you will be as happy as I am with a bra again.