Winter 2015-16 RADS

Kkubsky

Tomorrow I am 1/2 way done!!!!! I may be starting to see some red skin. Mostly under my boob.... Not sure what to do...I think I need a hoist to keep the girls lifted! I have cream from the RO that I apply 2x a day.

Moondust

Windward, I thought the same thing about wishing I had made sure my arm would be comfortable before they did the initial setup.If they could just change the angle a little it would be a lot better for me.

Kkubsky, hooray for making it to the halfway point!! I wear a supportive bra that keeps the girls from touching the skin underneath. I wear one to bed also.Just keep applying the cream as directed. It may look worse than it feels.

Twinkltoz, sorry your shoulders are tweaked. But you're done at least.

KarenR0618

edwsmom and Musosgirl , The tech called this morning to say they would be down again today. She told me MedStar is working real hard to get the radiation machines up. She had no time frame.

VickiRides

What do you ladies recommend for dealing with open sores? I have a large peeling area right in my arm pit that is driving me crazy! My RO said to use Aquafor, but i find it sticky and gross and i think it actually makes things worse (it makes the peeled area stick to my upper arm). I'm using Silvadeen also and walking around with my arm sticking out. Should I try to keep the area moist? Dry? Cover it? Don't cover it? Help!

edwsmom

Vicki - can you go to your local pharmacy and buy some gauze to put over it so the medicine doesn't rub off on your upper arm?If the sore is in the crease, but larger gauze so it covers both areas when your arm is down. I'd cover it that way and see how that helps.

I'd think that the friction from your arm moving might irritate it if you don't keep something clean and soft against it.

LifeOfBabbs

HI all, I'm starting radiation next week. Should I join this group, or is there a "Spring 2016" Group that I should be in instead?

Thanks!

kbutler

Woohoo finally got s start date April 4, 2016. 33 treatments with boosts.

VickiRides

Thanks, edwsmom. I talked with a nurse after my treatment and she gave me cool gel wound pads to cover everything. I think they will help. One more boost to go tomorrow!

Kkubsky

I am going crazy. I am currently having radiation for DCIS treatment. Had a lumpectomy 2/24/16. Today right before my treatment, I found a small hard bump near the surface of the skin. So I have to go for a mammo and targeted ultrasound tomorrow. I am terrified....again. I am still not over the initial shock and fear of having DCIS. Now I feel like I am back to that initial period of time where you don't know what is going on. I am so scared this is cancer again. I had so much imaging done, I can't believe this was missed. I took an Ativan but it isn't doing much. I am going to have a nervous breakdown.

VickiRides

Oh, no, KKubsky. I am praying for good results for you.

Sunnyone22

Kkubsky - (((((big hugs)))))

You know from experience that the unknown is the scary part. You will have information in 24 hours. Until then - thoughts and prayers.

etnasgrl

Praying for good results! You're not going to have a nervous breakdown, you're going to be okay!
Of course, your first thought is cancer....that would be mine too....but just because that's your first thought, doesn't make it true. It could be ANYTHING.

There is nothing that you can do right now, but wait. And you know from experience that waiting is the hardest part. ((((Hugs)))) Take a deep breath and try to relax. Yes, I know, easier said than done.....but it's going to be okay. Whatever this turns out to be, you're in good hands and you will be okay!

barbe1958

kkubsky, if you were'nt scared right now, THAT would be inappropriate behaviour! Of course you're stressed to the max and you have the right to be. You're already in medical hands, so things will move much, much quicker than before. We are here for you - you are not alone, sweetie! Please let us know how you are doing and what the results are. Prayers going your way.

Windward

Vickirides, Special surgical pharmacys sell Non-absorbent pads of different sizes. The regular gauze pads absorb the goo we slather on. The non-absorbent pads do not. since they don't come in breast pad sizes, I bought a bunch of them taped them together and I put this contraption over breast and chest area at night after applying the very very creamy salve. Then i wear an old bra to secure the pad, and my nightgown, and to sleep. They last over a week, and allows me to believe the goo stays on my skin and not my nightgown.

Kkubsky

Thank you all. I think I really am losing my mind. I cannot find the lump now. I am glad that the dr, nurse, and my husband felt it or I would send myself right to the psych ward. My husband can't find it either. I really don't know what to think. I will keep looking for it though. It was very apparent when I first saw it. I was changing into a lovely gown to go for treatment. I always look in the mirror to check for skin side effects and I thought I noticed a blood vessel showing up more than before. So I poked at it and felt this pea size hard lump. I didn't have to push hard at all. It was right there. Dr thought it felt like it was right under the skin but didn't know what it was. And now I can't find it. Maybe if I push down harder?....but for sure it is not as pronounced as before. I really just can't deal with this. Maybe I should get a mastectomy if every time I feel a bump I am going to go off the deep end. I chose the lx/radiation route but maybe that was not the thing for me.

KateB79

I don't want to derail the ongoing conversation, but has anyone heard from JerseyGirl?

mdoc524

Kkubsky - I would feel the same way - the unknown & waiting is harder than treatments.. So so many thoughts and hugs sent to you!! Try to hang in there I am sure all will be OK! I would share you thoughts on mastectomy and what if anxiety with your Dr... while I had a mastectomy not sure it takes away the fear.. Keep us posted!!

Mary

SouthernSkies

Hi all, I'm a newbie on the boards. I had my simulation today and start my treatments tomorrow, 28 + 5 boosts. Happy April Fool's Day to me! I was told not to wear a bra during treatments. I'm not sure how to deal with that as I work in a professional office environment and it just won't jive well. I have large "head lights" that aren't easy to cover after breastfeeding two children. Any advice on how to work around this issue? I also run regularly and I have to have something to strap them down!

Thanks!

mdoc524

Welcome Welcome LifeOfBabbs - so so sorry you are here but glad you found our group! Are you starting on Monday and how many treatments are you having? I don't think anyone started a Spring Rads group yet...

Interesting survey results Sunnyone - thanks for doing it!

Gemma12 - thanks for chiming in and for the info on Boosts! Good Luck with yours!

barbe1958 - Triple UGH's on your continued Bladder Infection saga - so hope 2nd round of Antibiotics nips it and you feel better soon! I was also told to breathe normally and that 10% of my lung would be in the radiation field - no way around it! I got 2 Zaps to the Clavicle area that went thru to my back - Whole shoulder blade to middle of my back was red whole time and still is pink 2 week out..

Duzy- my RO gave me a scrip for Betamethasone for the inflamed itchy skin - works great - maybe ask for that - hope I gets better

Windward - I did not get any dark or black spots - worth getting checked if they don't fade after tx finished

KarenR & edwsmom - how crazy your tx is still delayed .. I would be so angry .. I hope your machine issues get fixed soon

Moondust -WooHoo - so close to the end!

VickiRides - glad you were able to get the cool gel pads - so hope it heals fast for you! Ouch and hugs to you!!

Kbutler - Good Luck getting started on Monday!!

Kate - I think JerseyGirl is hanging out in the Arimidex forums lately! BTW - I started my Tamoxifen today UGH!

Today is 2 weeks Post Rads for me - skin all healed and just a rectangle of reddish/brown skin - clavicle area still itchy but closed! Still tired alot but gaining energy - walked 15 minutes on treadmill! Had my 3 month Post chemo appt with MO - my status NED - WooHoo! I am going back to work full time Monday! See pic below - my niece dyed my white fluffy chemo hair using semi-perm color with a glaze .. glad I have some hair with color but so miss my ponytail...

For all those with shoulder issues - I go to PT for my Neck and shoulders 3 times per week - RO wrote script for it.. Also I got a cortisone injection in shoulder in 1st week it was so bad from the sim .. I almost broke my neck 5 years ago so was not surprised how bad it was t hold arms up over head. I would recommend going to PT to anyone having issues.

Hugs to All

Mary

mdoc524

Welcome Welcome SouthernSkies - so so sorry you are here but glad you found our group! Good Luck starting tomorrow - let us know how it goes! As far as wearing a bra I know some others here in the group wore a soft cami or t-shirt under the bra to prevent rubbing/irritating the skin if that helps!

Duzy

Vickirides I had same thing under the arm and I used Aloe during the day and Aquaphor at night. Any chance I got I would go without anything on it and let the air get to it and that seemed to help. I also used a cooling cloth each night. They gave me the prescription for Silvadeen and once I started using that it healed pretty quick but be careful that really dries out your skin. You are almost done so your skin will heal pretty fast.

Mary I love the hair color. It seems pretty thick. I have not done anything with mine yet. The front is still pretty thin which is bumming me out but the rest is growing and coming in more grey. I may have to ask for something it the itching does not stop. I am the same as you 2 weeks today and my skin is healed and closed just turning tan but have the itching. I went back full time this week and I am pretty tired by the time I get home.

Kkubsky I am so sorry you have to go through this. I had my first mammogram since treatment this week and I couldn't believe how nervous I was. I had a MRI last August but this is the start of routine checkups. Thankfully everything was good and I will believe your will be too. We are all here for you and staying positive for you.

Sorry Karen, Edwsmom and Musogirl that must be frustrating to have the machine down all week. I know once I got started I just wanted to push through until the end. Although a week break might have been better on my skin. I hope it is back up and running for you next week.

To everyone just starting I hope you can proceed with minimal side effects and the time will go by fast. Get some rest when you can.

We are taste testing at the venue for our daughters wedding coming up in June. All the final preparations are starting to happen.

Musosgirl

My machine was back up today, but it was a madhouse! They were two hours behind, and I go in the afternoon and still had to do a Herceptin infusion. I have never left the center so late! The poor gentleman in front of me was new and it took forever to get him set up--he kept moving. They had to keep going in and repositioning him. The next ten days may feel like an eternity if he doesn't figure this out. By the time I got settled in the infusion chair I wanted to cry I was so tired. They totally messed with my afternoon nap schedule!

DisneyGirl16

Hi, all! I am new to this thread. I have been reading it for a while in anticipation of my rads. I was supposed to start several weeks ago but insurance denied my doctor's request to treat me with IMRT (Intensity-modulated radiation therapy) so he had to change to 3D conformal radiation therapy instead. I went for my mapping today and the nurse said that there really isn't much difference between the two treatments but that I could have worse side effects from the 3D vs. IMRT. Not what I wanted to hear but not a lot I can do about it. Just really looking forward to getting started and getting through it. I need to come up with an idea like sunnyone's champagne flutes. :-)

Congrats to all that have completed rads and thank you for continuing to contribute to this thread and helping those of us that are just starting out or still going through it.

justmaximom15 - I was told by my RO that once I finish treatments, I will get his lecture on diet and exercise. I told him I could hardly wait. Lol.

barbe1958

I was told Aloe would dry my skin out and only use it to soothe the burn feeling when necessary.

I can't understand how an insurance company can over-ride a doctor's order???? I just don't get it. How do you guys stand it? Here in Canada a doctor over-rides anything!

Moondust

I see there is a Spring 2016 Rads forum created now. Some people may want to move over there.

I wore a bra the whole time. It was a soft style with no wires or hard cups. I found some comfie ones at Walmart for not much money. If you are being advised not to wear one, you might ask if you can wear one as long as your skin tolerates it.

Kkubsky

Ihad a decent sleep with help from some Ativan. Still can't find the lump and I have been digging around. It was definitely there yesterday. What the heck is/was it? Having mammo and targeted US today after radiation. Still feeling nervous but better. I am telling myself that a cancer tumor wouldn't just disappear or move elsewhere.

justmaximom15

VickiRides, check with your RO on this but mine had me use Domeboro astringent and it really helped. Astringent sounded scary but it made it feel so good. You can get it at Walgreens and it's about $15 for several packets. You dissolve it in water then soak a soft clean cloth in the solution and use that cloth on your skin. I also went topless as much as possible when at home. Best of luck

barbe1958

kkubsky, still looking forward to hearing "no" news!!

Weird thing at rads this morning. I saw techs standing around and wondered what they were doing and then I heard a GONG and knew! Someone was finished rads!! To my surprise I burst out sobbing. Not crying. Sobbing. Really surprised my DH and me as I'm not a crier. Wasn't sure where it came from but was glad I was in an appropriate area (not work) when it all hit me.

The gong was on the other side of a small divider where my DH was sitting (so neither of us saw the patient. I caught on quickly when hearing the gong and joined the clapping. My DH jumped 2 feet off his chair and then started clapping after we had already stopped! Said it scared him no end as we hadn't heard it go in the two weeks I've been going. Was able to stop sobbing and had a good laugh.

Sunnyone22

I haven't heard a gong at my rad place either. Not sure if they do it. But I DO understand how barbe58 felt when she burst out sobbing. I had that same "hit me all at once" moment when I walked out of an early rad appointment and was handed a beautiful tissue rose that was created by students from a local Catholic high school. The rose had an inspirational poem attached. I looked at it and thought "isn't that nice that students care about and want to inspire women with cancer." Then it hit me.............I'M ONE OF THOSE WOMEN!!

I swear to God, I barely made it out of the lobby before I broke down and sobbed. Got to the shelter of my car and really let it rip. Amazing how much we hold in until there's just no room in us anymore!

Anybody else have their "hit me all at once" moment?

KarenR0618

Kkubsky saying prayers for you.