Starting Rads in January 2017

annoyingboob

did anyone use an antioxidant serum on their skin before or after xrt? my derm recommends ce ferrucil by skinceuticals, but its crazy expensive. he recommended an antioxidant in the am and aquaphor in pm - thoughts??

warrior6

Brigid,

so glad you are providing updates since you are the Pacer Car

I finished 17/30 today...fatigue is in...soreness, etc. I am so disciplined on my lotions

my biggest decision is...do I return to work now, or do I wait until at least week 2 after conclusion

My RO says my last 2 weeks of treatement and at least one week after treatment will be my worse...so I don't know what that looks like, if I go back to work and Crash and Burn......that will be a mess

Anyone have Night sweats during this, where you are so hot that you don't want anything on you...even though it is winter?

The therapy place is always so behind that today I was cranky and went to the front office to voice it, if they are an hour behind they should call us...don't you think?

Caligirl55

annoying....I used all kinds of creams a lot to keep comfortable & not burn or itch. I bought Miaderm L to use after a few weeks in because of the lidocaine which I needed. I think I've bought every lotion and potion just in case. The utter smooth body cream & calendula cream are two I got at Walmart cheap just to have. The radiation techs gave me Eucerin to use right after radiation, my RO and breast surgeon gave me Jeans cream which I used morning and night till I got more toasted and itchy so now the Miaderm L is my favorite. My RO said I could lotions up to an hour before radiation. Good luck to you

Lorri70

I have done 13 sessions of 20 whole breast radiation I was told the policy in my centre was to put nothing on area, I asked why they said it can leave a film on breast and effect the radiation beamsmy breast is good no irritation yet slightly pink colour so holding up good I'm assuming this will change in the coming days. However I had not been holding up well emotionally, I had a very bad day on Saturday I have been fine since

Leydi

brigid_TO - Thank you for the information.  I read up on the use of "bolus" so I really appreciate you providing the word. It seems to be another one of those weird things that is very inconsistent across the radiation treatment community. I saw one statistic that said almost half of RO's never use bolus.  I'll have to quiz my RO about it when I see him next week.

Some of my skin was still sticky this morning from the Aquaphor, over 14 hours after I applied it. I'm thinking that I need to use less next time, and will probably try to schedule my showers between my last application and my next zap.

kellychameleon

I FINALLY had my first radiation treatment yesterday. I got my initial markings mid-December and was supposed to start rads on 1/3. After way too many back and forths between my RO and Plastic surgeon, we figured out a plan to make it work. It's been awhile since I posted, but the problem was that my expanders stick out too far, even when totally deflated - actually the more they deflate, the more they poke out on the side. They had thought that the only way to go forward was to have them surgically removed (UGH). But they figured out a way to tape down the left side so that it's not interfering with the treatment. So they will have to tape it exactly the same every day. Yesterday it took them about 20 minutes to get it right, so hopefully they'll get it down to a science and can get it done quicker. Other than that, so far so good. I'm just ready to get this done. After 4 types of chemo and bilateral mastectomy, I am SO over this! I'm really hoping that the side effects aren't too bad. I have a big work conference in a couple weeks, and a couple weeks after that I'm going to Breckenridge and am hoping that I'll be up for skiing.

I hope everyone's doing well. I need to go back and catch up on this thread.

Leydi

kellychameleon - woohoo! Not that anyone actually wants radiation therapy but I'm glad you were finally able to get started.

Zap #2 complete today for me. I'm having IMRT and they are scanning me EVERY time to be sure I'm in the exact position. They first use the marks/tape on my skin to line me up manually with the laser lights, then they leave the room to scan me before starting the radiation. Since I'm having both sides radiated, they actually scan me TWICE each time, once for each side, even if I swear that I haven't moved in the 3 minutes since they scanned me the first time.

Is this typical? Maybe just for IMRT? Is my treatment center bonkers?

I got my appointment time moved to the first AM slot. That should work out better for me to have treatment before heading in to work. I've needed to leave work 2 hours early to get to a late afternoon appointment yesterday and today. I should only be about 30 minutes late to work in the mornings.

SweetLaughter

I am so new to this journey. With a family history of cancer, I get to be the first with breast cancer. I was diagnosed early December and had lumphectomy 3 weeks later. Oncotype score of 23. So much to learn, this seems like a good place to start.

annoyingboob

question about timing of your rads - I work in the afternoons, starting at 3pm. would you recommend early morning rads, then midday nap? or sleep in and have midday rads, then work?

ill be going partime, so just 5 hour shifts. curious what your expert advice is. im not much of a morning person, so im leaning towards midday...ty!!

kshorten

Hi Everyone, guess it time for me to join this group. Finished chemo on 12/22 and get my first zap tomorrow. I little background......I did 30 rounds of radiation 2 years ago on my left breast and in June of 2016 they found it in my right breast. Most of my Drs agree that it was probably there in 2014 but to small to find. Maybe if I would of done the chemo then I wouldn't be doing all of this now but who knows. Life is to short to look backwards. I'm having 34 rounds of radiation this time. I did well the first time but I wasn't coming off of chemo, but I'm hoping for the same this time. My big concern is that they will be radiating the clavicle this time. Hopefully the lotion and potions will do their job.

brigid_TO

Work is tricky. I kept working but have questioned my decision at times. Bottom line the distraction was good for me and I think I moved around a lot more than I would have staying home. I also wonder if that bone tired feeling is any better from staying home or working as it is not really related to exertion but to the radiation.

I have never heard of ce ferrucil before. I see there is some science behind it but I bet you would run through a bottle pretty quickly-$$$. And of course as many here know RO's are often resistant to anything but the 2-3 things that they know. You can bring reams of reports , double blinds studies etc and the answer is still "no". Now many of us do things off label but that is a different thing entirely.

I received imrt and the techs were out of the room for about 2 minutes total each time. The machine moved around me and each zap was about 30 sec. For the boosts the machine moved around a lot more, the table moved and I think photos were taken each time- but still about 3 or so minutes total. They were very efficient there and I rarely had to wait more than 5-10 minutes and they would often take me if I arrived early. it is frustrating when appts are consistently late- my MO and SO both run an hour or more late with appts. It is built into their schedule to double/triple book each time slot.

Welcome (you know what I mean) to the new women posting today.

annoyingboob

thanks brigid! I work from home and its just sitting in front of the computer, so I think it should be ok. I only need 5 sessions total, every other day, and I may take time off at the end just to sleep and nest, but like you, I was thinking a bit of a diversion would be good. im just not sure how exhausted you get, and is it RIGHT after rads, or is it more like a cumulative global exhaustion all the time? im sure its different for everyone. just frustrating trying to plan for the unknown - I would be a horrible astronaut, lol...

Caligirl55

annoying....I am working and have found I don't need a nap weather I work or am off. Of course if I get in the recliner and turn on the TV I will doze off and on

SuMarie

hello Ladies, thanks for your post. I'm always learning.

ElizabethAM - I think today is your last radiation. Congratulations. I'm happy for you. Thanks for starting this forum too!

I'm 21 of 25. My skin is very sunburnt, the left side of my throats hurts, I'm exhausted, and emotional. Tmrw I see my RO again.

Warm thoughts for all of you.

naps

hi everybody,

Approximately when did you start noticing side effect from your radiation treatment? How many sessions in?

Also, as anyone else with left sided disease been told to "breathe shallowly" for some of the fields? This seems easier said than done.

During the mapping, I was told I was a "big breather"--I admit it, I do like breathing--but they don't want me to actually hold my breath. I think the beam stays on too long for that to work well for me...but I hope my breathing is shallow enough...whatever that may be. My RO does not seem concerned so I am trying to just let it go and not think too much about my poor, clueless heart.

ElizabethAM

Yay!! Last one was today..

Lorri70

well done Elizabeth I bet your delighted

SuMarie

ElizabethAM- congratulations! Thanks for sharing the photo.

RitaR551

Hooray Elizabeth! 💐

kshorten

Congratulations Elizabeth!

Mamasha

YOU are amazing, Elizabeth! Well done.

ElizabethAM

Thank you ladies. I am looking forward to being able to say the same to you.

warrior6

Elizabeth, Woo Hoo

best wishes as you continue to recover from Rads...

Caligirl55

Elizabeth ....yeehaw.. Congrats! I don't have a bell but I will do something to celebrate next week!!

naps....I didn't have many bad side effects till about 18 treatments or so. But my BS had me using Jeans Cream right after surgery. My radiation is on my left side and when I asked the techs about the breathing or not or shallow breathing they said they don't do that ..so my unsuspecting heart and lung could be getting toasted a bit too!! If I tried to breath shallow I would wind up gasping for air probably. Like during my teeth cleaning I try to not breath through my mouth and only my nose ...I wind up hyperventilating 😳

SuMarie...let us know what your RO says... Sorry your not feeling well..take care

KKsMom

Congrats, Elizabeth! Celebrate!

Naps, like you I am curious about when to expect side effects. Today will be 7/30. I haven't noticed any changes on my skin, but I did have a big wave of fatigue hit me late yesterday afternoon after work & rads. Problem is, I don't know if it's the rads or one of my other meds (that typically causes fatigue). I will say that this felt different than my normal medicine-induced fatigue. It will be interesting to see if I feel that way when I get home today. Of course, part of me thinks that I'm making myself crazy, just "waiting" for the side effects to start. I'll keep you posted.

Annoyingboob, I get my rads after work. I'm still very early in this process, but I thought I might do better getting rads at the end of the day and then heading home. This has worked for me so far. My goal is to continue to work full-time, but I am definitely prepared to go on leave, if I need to. I'm just taking it one day at a time!

Welcome to the new members! Good luck to you.

kellychameleon

Yay, Elizabeth! Congrats on being done!

I had to skip my treatment yesterday because the machine was down. I don't know what's going on at my place, but they're seeming pretty incompetent right about now. Thankfully was able to get back to it today, so I've completed treatment #3. I have several trips planned during this process, so my treatments are going to be broken up a bit. That's kind of annoying, but I have to keep living life. I have a work conference in a couple weeks, and then at the end of February, I'm going to Breckenridge. We're going with a group, and I'm trying to decide if I want to ski. I'm feeling so out of shape and haven't been in like 17 years, so I don't know. Maybe stick to the bunny slopes, at least.

As far as timing things with work, I decided to do mine after lunch at 1:15 every day. We'll see how that goes. Thankfully the hospital is 15 minutes from my office, so I can get there, get treated, and get back in less than an hour. I have a 3 and 7 year old, so mornings are crazy around my house. I was able to work all through chemo (I took off the day of treatment and sometimes the day after), and I made it through, so I'm hoping I won't have too many issues with working through rads. I probably drink entirely too much coffee to get through it though!

Orangey

Congrats Elizabeth! And looking in goid spirits 👍

today would have been my last day too but the machine broke down one day last week. Tomorrow is the day. 👩

Fatigue hit bad this morning. I dragged myself into work late and then went to treatment. On the way back,I knew I wasn't going to make it through the afternoon.I collected my things and came home early.

I'm on the 16 days\stronger treatment. Skin hasn't blistered but is very red/brown, tender. At times the nerves tingle. The nipple is extremely tender. I had to take off my sports bra Tuesday and have become a very creative dresser. I have been sleeping soundly which comes a bit unexpected. I also feel my appetite has increased. Not sure what that is about either.

Best of luck to everyone. Hang in there. Rest when you must and recoup your energies.

I will still have four weeks of side effects. Not showing up for radiation should help get through it. Although I must say the staff at my facility are excellent. I too am in and out without delays.

Somewhere I read that it is important to stay active. I have been going after treatment to a supermarket or store and walked the asisles up and down pretending to need something prior to going back to work. Perhaps that helped? Just thought I would mention it in case it helps someone.

JShannon

YEA Elizabeth! So happy for you! How relieved you must feel.

Today was #8 of 30 for me. Skin starting to look a little pink and itch in a few areas. What has worked best for any of you dealing with itching?

As always, thanks for sharing your journey!

Caligirl55

kellychameleon .... You will do just fine with rads if you worked through chemo. I was miserable with chemo and had SE that kept me sick or in pain or both at times. But with radiation I've been able to work and do rads after and I've kept up with life in general. Careful on the slopes tho!!

Orangey....good luck tomorrow

JShannon... I have the Miaderm L that I put on but when the itching gets bad I use the Lindi skin roll which is just cooling strips. I heard cold wash clothes help too to help cool the skin down. One person used cool clothes soaked in green tea. Good luck keeping that skin cool, calm & moist.

RitaR551

The machine was down at my clinic yesterday too. Wonder if this is "recalibrate big Bessie the rad machine" week.

I'm at 16/33. Discomfort under my arm. A few "tan" spots elsewhere. Fatigue has set in, but I make myself get out to walk. It helps