Spring 2016 Rads

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  • Katzpjays
    Katzpjays Member Posts: 237
    edited July 2016

    Valstim- I washed the cabbage leaves and put them in a zip lock with a damp paper towel...in the refrigerator.

    PlanB - such a lovely place to spend you anniversary. I love that porch too!

    Newgirl- not a tmi question....a burning breast combined with fatigue can definitely be a mood killer! The fatigue finally hit me for real right on the last day of treatment that coincided with my anniversary. I think my DH was suprised it took that long. I'm still tired in spite of getting enough sleep, but this won't last forever. You just have to be patient and try not to feel guilty. We all get back to our new normal with a little time.

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited July 2016

    newgirl we have actually kept up the romance throughout treatment, not as often as usual, and not as vigorous (specially now that my skin is hurting, I get myself into a comfortable position and then tell him understand that w specially now that my skin is hurting, I get myself into a comfortable position and then tell him I'm staying that way), but we still do it a few times a month. My chest is off limits though... Hopefully not forever.


    My doctor wants me to start ovary suppression, I'm very worried about that. Because I've heard very negative impact on libido :(


    I am still in a lot of pain, my under arm is pretty bad, and my under boob, and my collarbone and my nickel. My back doesn't hurt much but it looks awful, all red and bumpy.

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  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited July 2016

    Jill is anything working on your skin? So sorry it hurts

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited July 2016

    nothing really helps for long. I tried the cabbage today, didn't really help. The thing I'm using the most is the pain relieving Polysporin, I think in the states they call it Neosporin. It helps with the pain and I think it's helping heal a bit, but not enough. During the day I'm OK, it hurts but I keep myself very busy and distracted from the pain. It's the worst at night. Every time I move in bed I seem to pull or stretch or irritate some part of skin that hurts

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  • PlanB58
    PlanB58 Member Posts: 157
    edited July 2016

    Carlsoda I have the same area that is now tan under the breast.

    Valstim My DD is a teacher in Niles about 20 minutes from St Joe beautiful area!

    New Girl I was a bit worried about the romance as just finished rads on the 20th. My DH has been great and said no worries "It will be just like riding a bike you won't forget!" Happily he was right!

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  • Grazy
    Grazy Member Posts: 373
    edited July 2016

    PlanB, your husband is adorable - "like riding a bike...." - I suppose he's right!

    New girl, don't worry about "TMI" - this is the place to come for help, advice and support - or for us to just lend an ear if someone needs to vent! My husband regularly works/lives in the US during the week and has been there and then Europe for over two weeks now (home tonight and then we leave Tues on our anniversary trip) -- with him away so often, it's been perfect to just let me heal - he's very sweet and very understanding, at any rate, and any physical contact is entirely my call, but I'll admit I really wasn't into it for a long while. I am feeling quite back to normal now, a month out of rads; my affected breast is still a wee bit tender at the lymph node removal site when I press firmly, so I would say that area should be avoided for a while longer; otherwise I feel like my old self and happy to just be moving forward with life! You'll know when that will be for you! Don't rush it if you don't feel like it..

    Jill, I feel soooo badly for you - I truly hope you wake up one of these mornings soon and find that you've started to turn the corner. Hugs (gentle hugs!).

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  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited July 2016

    Jill so sorry, does your RO have any suggestions? I'm afraid my skin will get pretty irritated. That's why I'm asking.

    I've been married 37 years and we have had a very healthy sex life, even on chemo we had our intimacy, but I find since surgery my fatigue and just overall tiredness is getting to me. He is so understanding and sometimes that makes it worse.

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited July 2016

    He just says to keep using the flamazine, saline soaks.

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  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited July 2016

    So sorry Jill. That's awful that nothing really works.

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  • Carlsoda
    Carlsoda Member Posts: 249
    edited July 2016

    Jill, I am so sorry you are going through this. I hope you start feeling better very soon!!! The only advice I can give you is to stay hydrated. Drink lots and lots of water because your body needs it as it repairs your skin.

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  • tbalding
    tbalding Member Posts: 449
    edited July 2016

    Jill, I can't think of any advice to add, but am praying that you find comfort & healing soon!

    Hugs! Trish

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  • PlanB58
    PlanB58 Member Posts: 157
    edited July 2016

    Hoping for better days for you Jill! So sorry you are dealing with this

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited July 2016

    thanks all. I'm going to call the clinic tomorrow. My nipple is white and oozing...I'm concerned it's infected.

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  • Grazy
    Grazy Member Posts: 373
    edited July 2016

    Happy 4th of July to my American BCO friends!

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  • cbowle
    cbowle Member Posts: 55
    edited July 2016


    LTF - hoping you heal quickly.

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  • Cathytoo
    Cathytoo Member Posts: 667
    edited July 2016

    LovesToFly...JILL, I am so sorry you've had such a hard time with rads. Soon all this will be a memory. ❤️❤️

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  • Lovinggrouches
    Lovinggrouches Member Posts: 530
    edited July 2016

    LTF, Hugs, I think we all wish there was something we could tell you to help!

    I don't remember who asked, but I did have a lot of discoloration I was surprised about a few inches below my breast. It was one of the first areas to heal though and i didn't notice it until the boosts. I finished rads on May 14 and still have discoloration, it's not real bad and lower part of nipple plus area of surgery is hard. if I get hot or out in Sun at all, I still get itching and have to use hydrocortisone cream, of course it's running between 100 and 110 degrees, so that doesn't help lol!

    Happy 4th to all!

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited July 2016

    all the white crap peeled off in a disgusting mess today. I guess it was blistering? So gross!

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  • Truffles1214
    Truffles1214 Member Posts: 31
    edited July 2016

    LTF - I'm sorry to hear that you are in so much pain. I hope that you experience relief soon! Hopefully, the medical staff at the clinic can give you some helpful suggestions when you call them. As Cathytoo wrote - Soon all this will be a memory. Hang in there!

    cbowle - Yes, I am still with you! Finished 15/25 on Friday. So thankful we have today off! I am pink and itchy. A bit tired and warm to the touch. It's really not that bad right now, I am just concerned about how it will progress over the next several weeks. I'll keep my fingers crossed your skill holds up for you trip to Mexico!

    tbalding - You are almost there! Woo hoo!

    Carlsoda - Yes, my pink area extends about an inch or two below my breast. In fact, I'm mostly pink and itchy around my breast, not on the breast itself. Maybe it's because I have expanders and not a lot of breast tissue under my skin to absorb the raditation? In any case, I think the irritation exdending below the breast is normal.

    Wishing all my American friends a very Happy 4th of July! Off to BBQ my annual hot dog, find a shady spot out by the pool and watch some fireworks! Perhaps, I may even drink a beer in my near future!

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited July 2016

    those of you that early on, please don't be scared by my skin! I am very very pale, and have a lot of sun damage already from when I was young. I guess it's no surprise that I had a bad reaction, but I've heard that a lot of people don't deal with what I have, my radiation oncologist was quite surprised that it was this bad and set although most people do get some redness and itchiness, they do not get the broken skin and blistering.

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  • ejmann44
    ejmann44 Member Posts: 89
    edited July 2016

    Jill, I hope you find some relief. To help with healing, could you drink something with electrolytes like Propel and increase your protein? I was told by my nurse to consider buying one of those drinks with protein to add to my diet but I'm obese so I said I would just eat a little more chicken and eggs. Those protein drinks like Boost have a lot of calories. I also think you need to get that looked at. I just doesn't sound at all right. Could it be that you are taking the other meds at the same time?

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited July 2016

    have no idea, but after all the white goop ripped off, it hasn't grown, so I'm hoping maybe it's on the way to start healing. They didn't seem very concerned at the clinic!

    M protein should be pretty good. I'm actually vegan, but I have a protein smoothie for breakfast every morning, and eat a lot of other high sources of protein.

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  • Grazy
    Grazy Member Posts: 373
    edited July 2016

    Jill, glad to hear that you might be starting to turn the corner. You have really had quite an extraordinary radiation experience! We're off on vacation tomorrow for the rest of the week and I sure hope by the time I return and revisit this site that I read you're feeling much better. Hang in there! :)

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  • LovesToFly
    LovesToFly Member Posts: 1,133
    edited July 2016

    Thanks Grazy. Have a great vacation!!!

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  • Katzpjays
    Katzpjays Member Posts: 237
    edited July 2016

    Jill, hoping you are turning the corner!

    Grazy-enjoy that vacation. Don't forget to send us a picture...

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited July 2016

    I hope all of the Americans had a fun/relaxing holiday weekend. Lots of rain here in the mid-Atlantic but I was happy to have an excuse not to do much. :-)

    For those of you late in tx or already finished (like me--I'm three weeks out--hooray!!), is anybody having some minor lung issues? I've been coughing just a bit for several weeks now. I'm wondering if it's related to rads?

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  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited July 2016

    Ingerp, I'm early on, but MO has warned me twice about a cough afterwards. I wrote it down the 2nd time he said it, because i thought hmm, this must be common.

    Jill, hoping you are turning the corner. I'm dreading today, as I've had 4 days off, not looking forward to the twisting and turning.

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  • DFWFLYGIRL
    DFWFLYGIRL Member Posts: 146
    edited July 2016

    Jill (LovesToFly).......Hope you are doing better today!

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  • cbowle
    cbowle Member Posts: 55
    edited July 2016

    Skin was soooo itchy Sunday and yesterday! I wanted to scratch so bad but I didn't. I applied the cortisone cream and didn't touch it. I have noticed the little red bumps almost like a rash but different and only on the upper part of my chest. Still just a bit pink so far. Hope all you girls are still doing well.

    image

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  • Katzpjays
    Katzpjays Member Posts: 237
    edited July 2016

    Cbowle- I am 6 days post my last rads and I have a few of those bumps in the same location. I think it's par for the course. Itchy, but the skin hasn't broken. I've had quite a bit of skin dislodge around the nipple (gross), but have resisted assisting the peeling on the advice of the RO. Getting more comfortable each day as the healing progresses

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