Summer Rads 2016

JudyKRN

I am to have 13 tx of rads. Had number 11 today. This was done to relieve nerve pain in my right arm, where the tumor is (right axilla). I have been having a sore throat (mostly when swallowing food, not liquids or saliva) for over a week and thought it was the Ibrance, as that can cause a sore throat. Seems the radiologist thinks it's the radiation causing the sore throat. You can see the redness just at the right side of my throat. Has anyone else ever experienced this, when having radiation tx?

LoveMyVizsla

Judy, it is listed as a side effect in the rads booklet I have. See pages 49-50 here : http://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/radiationttherapy.pdf

gardengypsy

Hi everyone,

I am one week out from finishing my rads - 25/25. I have a dark, angry purple area on my upper chest. It is also very red on the side of my chest, and below my mastectomy area. It's all very sore, and the sports bras aren't comfortable at all. There is no broken skin, but I think it will peel.

However, my doc and nurses say it looks good. I have used coconut oil and pure aloe jell throughout the five weeks. Towards the end, a prescription strength steroid has been necessary for the pain and itching. Tylenol is useful when there's pain, and a dusting of cornstarch under the arm pits is excellent for the summer heat and stickiness. I wear a men's tank top around the house.

I got to stay at one of the Hope Lodges for the entire five weeks. Although it is certainly easier than chemo, radiation is a very intense experience for your body, which has probably experienced a lot. I really recommend taking advantage of any and all support you can get so that you can rest and heal for as much as you can throughout this part of your journey.

Blessings to all.

DaraB

Gardengypsy, are you at City of Hope?

jenniferjo71

On to 28 in the am- last whole breast then on to my 6 boosts! Unfortunately, the skin opened up in 3 areas under the breast in the fold this morning. I was hopeful, but not to be....but hey- I would rather deal with open skin than recurrence....if I don't stop by tomorrow, I am sure it will be because I am covered in creme and using my hand held fan (and probably popping' another probiotic! good god)

Heal over the weekend ladies.

gardengypsy

Dara~

No, it's called Hope Lodge. The ACS and local communities sponsor them. The overnight stays are absolutely free to patients and caregivers, including some meals. You can stay two nights for each appointment you have. Absolutely lovely.

I think there are more than 30 located in the US.

http://m.cancer.org/treatment/supportprogramsservices/hopelodge/

DaraB

What a wonderful thing to offer. Someone on a different thread was trying desperately to find lodging while her husband is in a special trial in Texas. I'll post your link in case she might see it and try to find a space. Thanks!

Valstim52

PDP, I feel the same way. Rads is the end of an 8 month journey and I feel like I'll be off the cliff. Especially being TN, there is no more chemo for me, or hormonals.

My skin has opened up at the neck, but the silverdine cream really works to soothe it. I start boosts today.

Soon, this will be a distant memory like chemo. Never thought I could barely think about chemo, but it has happened.

ejmann44

I'm not finding relief in the silvadine. I think it might be allergic to the sulfur. Has anyone used Sonafine? Someone my brother knows that went through this recommended it but it is prescription only. My next session is at 1:00 to day and I was going to ask them for it.

KarenInCanada

My underneath of my breast opened up too. It is finally setting down. The saline soaks helped as well as polysporin once in a while and my regular Glaxol base cream.

Today I have the lovely purple where my boosts were done. Very sore since the worst part is in my arm fold. I see a day of saline soaks and sleep because I slept horribly last night because of this. Plus I have the tiredness anyways. One week out from rads, counting on this turning around soon

Opt4Life

Hi ladies, had 7/25 treatments today. They are very quick-timed at 6 mins once settled in place. I am usung the cream but so far my breast area hasn't changed. I don't feel tired yet but that could be due to my low carb diet and exercise plan started a few weeks ago.

The one thing that worries me is that I'm told to breathe normally even though the left side is being treated. I'm told that treatment will miss my heart and leave about 5-8% scar tissue in my lung. Anyone else getting left side radiated without breathing techniques or apparatus?

Well so far this is much easier than chemo so I'll take it.

Have a great weekend al

Kechla

Opt4Life, There was a lot of discussion about left side on the Spring Rads 2016 board. Maybe a good place to look for some info. Mine is right side, so I'm of no help...

Kechla

ejmann44, are you allergic to sulfa antibiotics? If so, I've read you can not use Silvadene. I have a sulfa allergy, so it is out for me.

Carlsoda

Opt4life, I am a lefty and just like you no special breathing. I was told missing my heart and just touching my lung. You are good! I am also a low carb gal but the rads have really tired me out. I am struggling to figure out what to eat, nothing sounds good except carbs at the moment. I did had a tiny bit of dark chocolate and it helped! Only positive thing is I have lost weight during rads since food just doesn't interest me much. I hope it's the same when I start tamoxifen!

Ok, 3 left! Interestingly I have not found the boosters to be shorter than the regular rad treatments. At least to me it seems to stay in the field a little longer plus I am getting hit on both sides. As long as it doing what it is supposed to do I don't care!

Met with my MO on Wednesday, she is recommending genetic counseling as my grandma died of breast cancer when she was 57, back in the days when the only treatments were horrible radiation. I am not opposed to it because it would be good for my daughters to know. We shall see if insurance covers it, if not, then it wasn't met to be. Oh and I have to start tamoxifen one week after rads, so August 10th is my start date. Fun fun!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Rowmac46

hi ladies. Big Woot! to all those almost done! I can say that you sharing is helping.

I have developed this weird tan from my armpit around the outside of my breast to the area underneath it. The RO says this is normal. I have developed a darker redder patch the size of my thumb on the lower breast. My dh is sacrificing an old soft T-shirt for me so I don't chafe there.

He gave me this idea to put an ice pack in my saline soak water that keeps it nice and cold. It feels REAL good after being out in this muggy hot weather.

I also feel tired and overwhelmed. The every day treatment and trying to juggle life is exhausting. And that little niggle of 'will this be enough' doesn't help. All I know is that we are strong, we are survivors, and we will get thru this. Have a good weekend ladies.

Carlsoda

I also have the dark tanned patch by my armpit. I do wish it was my legs instead since they are so pale, but oh well, can't do anything about it.

I know exactly what you mean about overwhelmed, us women we are used to multi-tasking. Can't even handle one thing at a time let alone multiple things this is a very interesting time period in my life.

Valstim52

Opt4life, I think it depends on how extensive your tumor is and also what they are radiating. My sister is a radiologist and at her center they prefer the breath hold or an apparatus for left side rads, only due to what she calls radiation scatter. But that is them,and she says its a case by case basis.

I have the breath hold because my chest nodes and neck nodes above my clavicle were radiated and my tumor bed was dead cernter in my chest. Additionally with medical professionals in the family and having access to my medical team I think they went with safer than sorry. I can say it did make me feel better with all the calibrations and practice to make sure I could hold my breath.

Opt4Life

Thanks Kechla, Carlsoda, and Valstim. I certainly don't want to worry unneccessarily. I trust my RO and I know we talked extensively about side effects especially with my cancer being on the left side. But reading about other experiences here, I often compare.

Carlsoda, I crave carbs too especially sweets and bread but I gained almost 30 lbs during chemo so working hard to get rid of it.

LoveMyVizsla

Kechla, thank you for that piece of information. I am allergic to sulfa

Valstim52

Help all

My neck skin is peeling, any ideas?

Amie0215

19 or 34 complete, but I'm getting crazy insomnia! I'm exhausted, but can't sleep and if I take anything I get restless leg syndrome. This is new for me. Has anyone else had issues getting sleep? My oncologist thought I was nuts and wanted to give me sleeping pills, but I don't want to start that stuff.

jenn32214

Just started my rads this past week. Contrary to what I was told, I have experienced some nausea after treatments. does feel kind like morning sickness when it happens. Skin ok so far, I am using emu oil right after treatment and other lotions later in the day.

Valstim52

Amie0215 I've had restless leg syndrome off and on since starting rads. I think it's because I'm on that hard table and it's does something to the nerves in my right leg. Ofcourse they say no it's not rads, but um YES it is. I'm so knocked out, that I take a nap and then sleep 10 hours.

I still have no appetite. Before rads it was fine, not great but definitely not like it is now. I have to push to eat just about anything. Strange I think I ate more on chemo. You just never know. I'm afraid when it comes back it will with a vengeance.

blamoms

i finished my first week of radiation. So far so good no skin issues I'm sure next week will be a different story.

gardengypsy

I am using prescription Betamethasone ointment twice daily. It worked ok when things first started getting itchy, but not at this point. I may call my nurse on Monday and ask for something different.

Coconut oil with some lavender drops is soothing, so is pure Calendula. Still doing aloe as well

Carlsoda

I have found aquaphor to be amazing. The aloe tended to dry out my skin, the aquaphor is very moisturizing. It is the only lotion I am using!

Blamoms, everyone is different but each week you will see some changes to your skin. I am impressed with the geometric pattern above and below my breast. I look back and think about how pink my skin was at the beginning now it is very red. I kinda wish I took pics, but there is no way I am taking a pic of my breast hahaha

Valstim52

My neck is raw and peeling. Woke up skin scraped off everywhere. Nothing seems to help. I have all of the following

miaderm

calendula

aquaphor

silvadine mixture prescribe(it does stop the pain)

RO says to be expected, along with a sore throat. Oh well only 4 more boost to go.

DaraB

Hi, I've been reading your threads for a while now. I should be starting the rads process this next week. I appreciate the suggestions and have tried to prep with having all the over the counter creams. I, too, am allergic to sulfa so appreciate that warning.

Carloda, I went through full genetic testing as I am the 8th person in 2 generations to get cancer and the 5th to get bc. I was sure there would be some mutation, but I came back completely negative for all mutations. The geneticist said that they see cancer clusters often in families, just because people are exposed to similar environmental conditions. I have a daughter and thought it important to get some answers for her as well. Good luck with getting the results.

Thanks to all for the helpful information here. I know everyone is different, but for me, it helps to be prepared. Thanks, I'll pop back in when I actually start. I hope there are so newbies then also. I'm envious of those of you who are just about finished. It's been a long wait for me due to additional tests to determine chemo/no chemo dx.

Valstim52

Welcome DaraB and all the other newbies.

sarahrae

Amie~ have you tried anything yet? I have also had intense insomnia since starting rads( i'm at 20/33 ). I currently take a highly concentrated CBD oil. I started taking it because of the studies showing that it is helpful in preventing metastasis. However, it helps with inflammation and anxiety as well, so I started taking it a couple of hours before bedtime. I also started taking a plant based melatonin called herbatonin, so it is from plants not a synthetic form, before bed as well. I feel like between those and a quick breathing meditation i sleep better.

hope you find some relief, let me know what you find!

blessings!