Spring 2016 Rads

PlanB58

Jacklin- It's lovely isn't it! Are you getting the Canadian protocol? If so maybe the higher rad treatment has knocked you out sooner. I think that you may be still recovering from your surgery and chemo. Goodness knows that's enough to tire you out! Rest as often as you can.

Valstim- I am small so they have not wanted me to wear a bra at all so I wear a tank top and a loose shirt over it. Today they gave me a surgical recovery bra that closes in front Victoria's Secret has nothing to fear! Aquafor stains clothes as well so be aware. The tank tops save my tops from stains as well as a bit more coverage.

New Girl- I have not had that issue nor did my team talk about it. I wonder if it is a difference in area of concern and direction of Rays. Good luck with getting that under control!

I was given the silvadone cream today with instructions to do a hydrogen peroxide/water soak on the areas of skin that is breaking down. Hoping the boosts go well. I'm so giddy at having the whole breasts done not even worried about the rest of it

Deaconlady

Whole breast done! Last day laying on my stomach wearing a girdle. Hated that thing. My tech asked if I wanted to burn it! 😉 He is such a goof. Ready to get these boosts and finish.

New-girl

I don't know what I would have done going through radiation without yall's input!  I wish someone would compile a book like Rads for dummies or something.  Maybe what nobody tells you about radiation?  There is just so much stuff they either don't tell us or forget until it becomes an issue.  I guess there is no way to cover everything but I have been so grateful for everyone's answers and input.  Makes me feel so no alone in this journey.

Carlsoda

New-girl, I feel very much the same. When I had my first appt with the RO and my simulation, I walked away feeling like I knew nothing. I was just told to put on aloe twice a day. No word about deodorant or when to apply the aloe. I'm going to go in with deodorant just because "I wasn't told" hehe. I am STILL waiting to find out when my first appt is. Don't know what the hold up is, but had the simulation last Tuesday. I also refuse to call them...I am pretty stubborn and at the moment I am very annoyed with them

LovesToFly

I was told unscented deodorant is fine unless skin starts breaking. New research shows it does not increase risk of skin damage

Katzpjays

Valstim - I'm pretty small breasted (34B), so I either wear a lululemon sports bra or have actually still worn my regular bra. I have completed 8/20 treatments and have used Miaderm the last 4 days. I have a slight rash near my lumpectomy scar and slightly darker skin...still, so far, so good.!!

Paxton29

My skin has gotten really really really red over the last few days. My fave tech unpeeled my paper gown today and said uh ... let me see if the doctor's available. He was, and said we could stop using the bolus and that should help. Kind of scary how fast it accelerated to angry beet red.

And still 12 more to go . I feel like I'm never going to be done.

Katzpjays

Congratulations, Ladgsma with only your boosts to go. You're in the home stretch!

Plan B - just boosts remaining? Woohoo!

Deaconlady - congrats on being nearly done as well!

New girl - I didn't know about the back issue. Thanks for sharing.

Tbalding - congrats on completing your first treatment. That's pretty much the drill except waiting for/anticipating any skin reactions. I'm on the Canadian protocol and doing fine so far at day 8/20. I work out with my trainer 3 days a week, have walked 5 miles at least 2 other days a week. I played 18 holes of golf ( if what I do can pass for golf) yesterday. I feel tired this evening, but I don't think it's fatigue. I just didn't sleep that well last night.

LTF - wishing you unbroken skin for the balance of your treatments. You're on the downhill run. May it pass quickly!

Jacklin - if you have the opportunity to get any fresh air or modest exercise, it really does help with the fatigue. Justa walk around the block can make a difference.

Ingerp-enjoy a cupcake for yourself...congrats on your last treatment tomorrow!!!

Grazy - thanks for your support...it means a lot

Ingerp

Katzpjays--you said it all!!

(Although after seeing the breathing apparatus picture, I am SO happy I didn't have to do that. And I only had one arm over my head during tx--the other was strapped into this velcro strap thing so I could completely relax it.)

And yes! Today is cupcakes and maybe a tiara and one last treatment and work and then a fabulous bottle of wine I got when I was out in Napa this spring and a wonderful dinner I will not cook myself and looking forward to tomorrow when I have NO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS ON THE CALENDAR. WOOHOOOOO!!!!

Grazy

Ingerp - I'm SOOOO happy for you!! You made it! It sounds as though you've got a fabulous celebratory day ahead. Congratulations!!!

Continuing to cheer on Katzpjays, LTF, Ladsgma, PlanB and Deaconlady with my virtual pompoms as you all continue to cross off appointments on your calendars - you're getting there!

TBalding, one down!

Jacklin, getting some exercise sounds counter-intuitive when you're so tired, but it really does help, even a little walk, as Katzpjays says. (A little warmer out there today for us southern Ontario gals!)

Valstim, you're going to be so well prepared when you start treatment with all the intel you've gathered!!

NewGirl, I hope your back doesn't continue to bother you too much.

Paxton, sorry your skin is bothering you so much, sounds painful - this is probably a time in your life where you'll say the days passed slowly, but the months flew by. Hoping your next 12 days will soon be a distant memory.

Carlsoda, I didn't learn much from my RO either; everything I needed to know, I learned here. Absolutely nothing beats talking to people who are living it.

LG - hope you're feeling a little better each and every day, post-surgery - been thinking about you.

I'm 11 days past treatment now and still a little red in the boost "rectangle", but the itching has really settled down. I have my two-week follow-up appointment with my RO this Friday and will learn at that time what kind of monitoring will be put in place for me going forward.

I hope I didn't miss anybody. Wishing you all the very best day

Ingerp

Grazy

YAY!!! Ring that bell, sister!! You look beautiful and so happy Congratulations!

cbowle

Day 2 complete! I'm keeping Eucerin on my skin reapplying 3 or 4 times per day. I still need to get Aloe and the electric razor. The techs told me today week 3 is when my skin may start to have issues and probably be strawberries in the middle of my chest. The had me turn my camisole inside out and put the sports bra on over it. Hoping I can keep my skin in tact until July 9th! Tbalding/truffles how are things going with yours?

Ingerp

I feel like a lukewarm mess of joy, tears, exhaustion, and gratitude, Grazy, but way deep down I'm so happy to join you on the other side.

Paxton29

You made it, Ingerp!! Celebrate!

I learned today I had miscounted and only have 10 left--yay! And my boosts start Friday.

EmilyJane7505

So, I ended up with shingles - my RO said that radiation therapy can occasionally bring that on. I'm lucky it's not too bad and they prescribed me an antiviral medication that can help keep it from getting too bad.

Wanted to describe how it came on just incase you ladies start to feel it you won't get as worried as I did - my skin felt painful a few days before the rash appeared. There was no bruise or visible sign of irritation -- until the rash appeared a few days later. The rash at this point looks somewhat like poison ivy.

Other than the shingles, I am on my 4th/6 week of radiation and doing pretty well so far.

Take care ladies!

Lovinggrouches

Yay Ingerp!!!! Yay!!!!!!

I'm so glad I didn't have to do the breathing thing either, looks scary!

Congrats to those just starting and those in the middle, the time flies before you know it!!!

To those almost finished, hang in there!

Went to one month post rads appointment, got felt up real good and everything checks out good! He said , "see ya in January! He did say that the MO will probably check up with me more often since he will be putting me on tamoxifen and I will probably have my follow up mammogram also in January. That makes me nervous since it will be 8 months post rads, I will ask MO to be sure.

Grazy, I'm HOPING the days start getting better, not yet ( just 5 days post though) LOL! Hugs!!

Valstim52

Thanks so much everyone for all the tips. Had my simulation and tatoos today. I start next tuesday. Exactly a month since my BMX. Wow.

I'm ready for this step. I think. I have my lotions etc. I get boosts at the end. How does that go? Yay Ingerp for finishing. Hope my time goes fast. The breathing was a little scary.

PlanB58

Ingerp- Yay for you!!! Such a big deal to have done them all! Enjoy that wine!

Deaconlady- We are almost there! 4 to go!

Grazy and LG- thanks for hanging in with us! Can't wait to be on the other side.

Paxton- Glad they took away the bonus and you are almost to boosts. I got silvadone yesterday and that has already helped a bit. Hang in!

EmilyJane- Shingles sound like a nightmare with rads! Take care!

To all in the early days it does go pretty quickly as you get your routine down. Good luck!

Boost today was so much better than WB. I could feel it sting a bit but only 4 more to go!

tbalding

Ingerp, congratulations! So happy for you!

Day 2 of 21 in & out today. About 20 minutes from time they call me back to when I leave. Probably get tats Friday. They want to make sure everything is set. Using Phytoplex nourishing skin cream that they gave me 3 times a day. So far no se, other than SLN site, when I raise arm, feel tightness from armpit to underarm. Had that before rads. Doing stretches to help with that.

#radiateTHIS

Deaconlady

First boost went well. Saw my RO today and her resident told me they would see me in a month! I'm very itchy, so they told me to use more Aquaphor and to stop the corn starch. I also picked up some Benadryl cream that my RO said may help.

Truffles1214

Congratulations Ingerp! Enjoy that wine!

EmilyJane - Thanks for the heads up about shingles. My RO didn't mention anything about shingles being a side effect. I'm happy to hear they were able to catch it early.

Day 2 out of 25 is complete! My tech said that my RO might want to add on 5-7 boosts at the end, but we would decide on that in a couple of weeks. So far I haven't had any issues. I don't really expect any side effects until week 2 or 3. I'm usingEucerin 3-4 times a day and I apply aloe vera directly after my treatment. I have Aquaphor, but my tech told me to hold off on using it until my skin starts to turn pink. Sounds like all is going well for tbalding and cbowle! 😊

Paxton29

Ugh, EmilyJane, how awful. My husband had shingles some years ago and he was miserable. Hopefully your medicine does the trick--going through rads is ENOUGH!

Ingerp

Valstim the breathing gets easy pretty quickly and you don't have to do it for the boosts. I got three zaps for whole breast but only one for the boosts. I also was on my side for the boosts vs. back.

I took today off of work as part of my celebration but will be putzing around the house and yard (although will definitely take a nap). Wedding is now nine days away. Yikes!!!

cbowle

tbalding/truffles, we are 3 into it now!!! I asked about the number of treatments and I will get 33 total, 27 regular and 6 boosts. No skin irritation yet. I think the muscle is a little tight but that is it for now. I've also been using Eucerin 3 or 4 times daily. Used my Aquaphor last night before bed and put Aloe on right after treatment today. I bought cortisone and lotrimin spray as well but no itching yet.

tbalding

cbowle/truffles, doing good so far. Haven't noticed any changes to skin. Got tats today. Skin a little irritated where tape was, but don't notice any changes anywhere else. I'm only using Phytoplex cream that RO said to use 3 times a day. Have all the others just in case, but waiting. I have more issues with armpit and underarm. I do stretches, but easy to forget during busy day at work. Going to put post it notes everywhere to remind me to stretch. Went to excercise class again tonight. Helps loosen underarm.

#radiateTHIS

Bliss58

Yay!! Last day today and I am so glad to be done! Have some itchy red dots on my clavicle and so now adding cortisone cream to the regimen, and I'm really peeling, but I'm done, so that's what counts. Now, back to the Anastrazole. Best wishes and good luck to all those starting and congrats to everyone else almost finished or finally done.

Lovinggrouches

bjsmiller, yay!!!!!!! So excited for everyone's last day!!!

tbalding

Congratulations bjsmiller! You did it!

Grazy

Bravo, bjsmiller!!! You made it So happy for you!