Spring 2016 Rads

JudyKRN

Hey, all,

I am having 13 radiation tx in all. Just had my 11th today. About a week or so ago, I began to have a horrendous sore throat (not when swallowing liquids or saliva, only solids.) I thought it was a side effect from Ibrance. I was given magic mouthwash but it didn't help. When I saw my radiologist, he thinks it's from the rads. I do have some redness at the neck, on my right side. Has anyone else experienced this?

cbowle

Yes. I've had a sore throat here and there through out rads. I just completed #29 of #33 today so fingers are crossed I won't have them anymore. Mine came and went very quickly, within a couple days each time it happened. It was a side effect that warned me about so I wasn't surprised. Most recent was Tuesday and it was gone Wednesday.

Valstim52

Congrats Cathytoo

I have 4 boosts left. But my neck is peeling. I have the silverdine cream, anythihg else that helps? it's really raw, but does not hurt weird eh? I don't want it to start hurting and ofcourse it was not peeling today when i saw the Dr.

Yay DFWFlygrl, almost done. Ejmann, when you say break do you mean blisters? what are they giving you to put on it?

sarahrae

me too - the sore throat thing

comes and goes

Cathytoo

Valstim52...Well, I have a surprise side effect from rads. Saw the RO on my last day which was Tuesday. She said my skin looked amazing! One day later the burning and redness began...my neck up to my collarbone and under my breast. I'm a gooey mess with the Miaderm, Calendula and Silverdine. I keep layering them on but nothing is helping the burning today. I can't believe that I went through the whole thing with no problem and now have this mess after it's all over. What fun‼️‼️

ejmann44

Vlastim, this is what I mean by break. This is my armpit several days ago. It is worse today. I feel like someone dragged me across a cheap carpet several times over. The area under my breast is worse. I'm extremely uncomfortable. The silvadene is not working for me. I must be allergic because it stings like crazy when it hit the open skin and I itch more with it on than off. I switched to calendula and Aloe today.

tbalding

ejmann, hope you can get some relief soon! How many more treatments do you have? Hugs!

Cathy, my skin continued to get red after rads. Boost area didn't start to get red until 1 week after I finished rads. Now 2-1/2 weeks after, armpit looks good. Red & brown almost gone. & SLN scar not so noticeable. Nipple is still peeling. Outer breast area kind of rough feeling like it's going to peel.

Valstim, interesting that you say it's raw but doesn't hurt. My whole breast got very red all over like a very bad sunburn. But I found it surprising that it never did hurt like sunburns do. Just had itching.

Yay cbowle! You're almost there. Hope you all have a relaxing weekend from rads!

LovesToFly

hey guys, my skin was very peeling and broken, it kept getting worse for a few days after radiation, by day seven it had kind of plateaued, and then it started getting better. By two weeks post I had a bit of peeling skin but that was it, and I was back in my regular bras. Now one month off rads and the radiation zone is slightly pink. When my skin was really bad it would hard to believe it would ever get better! Believe me ladies, it will, and wasn't starts healing it's amazing how quickly the healing is.

in the meantime I had flamazine ( I think that's the same as Silvadene) but what I used more than anything was the Polysporin with pain relief, I believe in the states it's called Neosporin. It helped to prevent infection and helped with the pain. I used it liberally and the broken spots, every where else I used a variety of different moisturizers, I don't really think that one was better than the other! Whoever did not have a Mesec to me, my nipple got very very bad, white and huge. It looked like an infection but the white was actually blistering skin, I confirmed that with the radiation oncologist yesterday. I kept it covered in Polysporin and then put a non-adhesive gauze pad over it, I didn't need tape or anything because my bra held in place, really the Polysporin hold it in place.

buttaflydiva

ejmann44..i have the same thing happening close to my collarbone, and a rash under my breast.

Katzpjays

Congrats on finishing rads, Cathy!!

Katzpjays

EJmann-JUst saw the picture. Hugs to you...it does look miserable. Hoping you are beginning to get some relief.

cbowle

Me and my Radiation Techs celebrating my last treatment! So happy to be done with this chapter!

 

Ingerp

RAY RAH CBOWLE!!

Cathytoo

Cbowle... GREAT PHOTO‼️ CONGRATULATIONS.

tbalding

Yay cbowle! You did it Great pic

Katzpjays

Cbowle - beautiful pic...congratulations

cbowle

Thanks all! Feels so good to be on the other side of it. I hope everyone is doing great!

tbalding

Had my follow up with RO today. He did exam. No issues except for fatigue. He said the dry skin, peeling should be done in next week or 2. Use lotion until then. I go back to see him in 6 mos. I see my bs in 3 mos for 1st mammogram. RO said I should be seeing one of them every 3 mos.

heidi16

Hi, Did anyone here under age 50 get hypofractionated radiation (19 sessions instead of 33)?? All I read says that no prior chemo and age 50 or older are some of the eligibility criteria and I do not fit those yet getting hypofractionated radiation.

Ingerp

heidi--I think different cancer centers just have their own preferred way of delivering the radiation. Seems like most are getting the Canadian protocol these days and are happy to only have to go for four-ish weeks vs. six-ish. I'd trust your RO to make the right call.

cbowle

I asked about the shorter version and my Cancer doctor told me I was not a candidate for it. I didn't ask why, which is strange of me not to, but he told me everything would be specific to my case

heidi16

Ingerp: Thank you, you are very right about that. I am treated at Dana Farber in Boston.

rcbowle: The shorter protocol is not used for DCIS yet. Studies are being done to evaluate whether it is as effective for DCIS as for stage 1.

Ingerp

I had the shorter protocol for DCIS.

Cathytoo

FINALLY....after 2 1/2 weeks post rads, the skin under my breast and under my arm is BACK TO NORMAL‼️ My hair is growing...I'm eating healthy...starting exercise. Hope I never have to deal with breast cancer again

sarahrae

Cathytoo~

so good to hear! I am 6 zaps from finished and really looking forward to my body having more energy to direct towards regrowing hair, skin cells, lung tissue, etc. And exercising again, sounds wonderful

hope the good stuff keeps coming your way!

LovesToFly

yeah Cathy!!

Sheri64

I finished rads on 6/9 and find I am still really tried at the end of my day. Anyone else having issues after 9 weeks? I don't think this very hot summer is helping.

mltdd

I finished June 19th and I am still having issues. Energy level has gotten somewhat better but I am still sore and arm is still stiff.

ejmann44

Can you two drink Boost or Propel? Maybe you need a little extra supplement. The Propel really helped me with the fatigue.

mltdd, how is your arm stiff? I felt my skin got very tight in my armpit and we slathered it with Aquaphor and I slowly worked it while watching TV. Is there a PT you can consult? The place where my BS is based out of has a lot of services available if we need them. This includes a physical therapist and a personal trainer with expertise in the issues survivors face.

tbalding

Yay Cathy!

I finished rads July 12 and still dealing with fatigue. I make myself go to Zumba class which keeps my armpit stretched. Also hoping it helps me with energy. Otherwise almost healed.