Starting Radiation in May 2017

MexicoHeather

A/C update: Prayed. Turned off AC circuit breaker and heard a loud POP. Went inside. Came back out and threw the switch again. AC problem is GONE. Scheduled maintenance is July 5. So this is a "yay, no AC bill " posting.

Nancy618

Heather glad you found a temporary fix. Hope it lasts until July 5!

Tappermom383

So here's my latest dilemma. My treated breast is sore all over but the nipple is especially sore. Sitting here tonight, I finally took off my bra and got some relief. I think my bras are part of the problem - too tight?. I had bought some tank tops with shelf bras but felt it was too hot to wear them under another shirt. However, I think I'll give one a try tomorrow and see if I feel better.

I also have another weird problem. Because I took digoxin for my tachycardia, the breast tissue under my right arm (the cancer side) developed about 20 years ago (apparently digoxin causes gynocomastia in men - lucky me!). That means I have a sizable "lump" in my armpit. The RO thought it was a hematoma until I explained. My surgeon was all excited and said he has removed such things from other women. I'm reluctant to do so as I had so much pain from the SNB and my tricep is still a little numb. On the other hand, this lump is quite sore now - I assume from the radiation. And since the SNB scar is right below it, the lump is being pushed away from the armpit. I guess the thing to do is wait and see if it feels better after I finish with my rads (I've done 19/33).

On the good news front, I've lined up rides for myself to and from rads for all of next week and the following Monday and Tuesday. My DH is going to Vermont to visit his 95-year-old mother and said he wasn't leaving until I had rides. I'm feeling so fatigued and foggy, I agree it's not safe for me to drive the 45 minutes down our mountain road and back up. It wasn't easy for me to ask for help but I reached out and seven friends responded.

Hope everyone here is doing well. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

MJ

Nancy618

MJ: Glad you got rides for the time your husband is away. There are good people in the world, and sometimes we find that out more so when we are in need. sorry you're having so much soreness. I am lucky to not have too much soreness. The two different cotton sports bras I bought are doing the trick. I actually feel better when wearing them as opposed to when I take them off. Sorry about your lump. I have a bit of soreness above the sentinel node incision, but no lump. The fatigue is high here too, although I've been forcing myself to do a few things per day. I may have over did when I hoed the garden by hand on Thursday. Last night I didn't sleep well and am so foggy and exhausted today. And I wanted to be well rested since my family is taking me out for my birthday this evening...and my husband for Father's Day.

Peetie1

Tappermom- I am so sorry to hear what you are going through! I don't know if this will help you but one thing that I have done that seems to be helping is wearing men's ribbed undershirts instead of a bra. It makes me feel really self conscious to not wear a bra, but after the first few days of radiation I saw that my bras were leaving marks on my skin that were not fading. I have three boosts left, and my breast is sore and a little pink, but my RO says that the skin on my breast looks "fabulous." Something else that my RO suggested was to buy newborn unscented laundry soap and no deodorant on that side (I learned the deodorant thing the hard way. I was originally told that all natural deodorant without aluminum would be okay, so I was using Crystal. I have what looks like a burn under my arm where I was using the Crystal deodorant).

I am glad that you found some help with driving to your appointments! I hope this removes some of the stress related to your treatments.

Tappermom383

Thanks, Peetie. We have a Jockey outlet store in our village. I'll check there and get some ribbed undershirts. I imagine they'll be cut low so they won't rub against my SNB scar - that's the problem with sports bras I tried on.

MJ

bravepoint

Tappermom - I went through the sore nipple thing too after 23 treatments. It was very red and sore and actually started cracking. The most comfortable thing for me was to be topless which I did at home. In my case, it seemed to be friction between my clothes and the nipple so my RO suggested applying cream (flamazine) then using corn starch on the nipple. I even put the corn starch in the fridge to keep it cool. It was near the end of my whole breast treatments so I managed to make it without too much more damage. I did take extra strength Tylenol for the pain too.

Nancy618

I have used cornstarch through my entire treatments. I've had 16 regular and 1 boost, with 3 boosts left. I have had VERY little discomfort at all. I'm sold on it! I was given a sample of Miaderm and another one made for the cancer center and I ended up breaking out, so I used each of them once. The cornstarch has especially helped when my nipple has become sore. It sounds crazy, but give it a try!

Tappermom383

I mentioned corn starch to the RO and the nurse and they told me not to use it. Don't know why. I'll ask for a sample of something tomorrow.

MJ

CeliaC

Tapper - Not sure I would go for ribbed anything against a sore rad boob. I got tanks from Target that were smooth knit & 100% cotton, and when some support was needed. wore old stretched out bras over these & then a top over. This was a necessity as I worked during rads. Happy you were able to find help with transport to/from rads while your DH is away. Healing thoughts and gentle hugs.

Nancy618

MJ, isn't it funny how different ROs have different instructions. I was told to use nothing BUT cornstarch unless the irritation or redness got really bothersome.

Tappermom383

It is funny - and I guess each of us has to follow the instructions given to us (although corn starch baby powder does feel awfully good!).

I'm feeling much better today - no bra! I wore a tank top with a shelf bra under a T-shirt this morning. Took it all off when I got home and just put on a plain tank top. So I guess that's the answer until after rads. I think I'll check at Jockey in the next couple of days to see what tank tops or undershirts they have. It's hot in the house (most mountain houses don't have AC) so it's nice to wear them as I lounge about.

#20 tomorrow - on the home stretch to #33! If all goes according to plan, I'll finish on July 7. I see my surgeon for a follow-up on July 13 - I'm hopping on a plane to Denver that afternoon to go see my grandson (I'll say hello to his parents!). Come home on the Monday and see the MO on Tuesday. And so it continues!

My DD called my DH today to wish him Happy Father's Day. He said they had a nice long chat. She expressed concern about how I'm doing - I think she feels more comfortable asking him than asking me directly. Basically I'm fine - just worn out mentally and physically. My brain feels very foggy.

MJ

Nancy618

MJ, that trip is a great goal to get you through the last of your treatments. What an awesome visit it will be.

I hear you about the brain fog....even when I get a good night's sleep, I still don't feel "all there." And the stamina and strength are shot. I'm down the stretch...only 3 more and I'm done.

Hanging_in_there

First of all, I don't know what I've been doing for the last 10 days. I've come back and read all of your posts and appreciate the insight into possible problems with rads in the future. I completed 4 rads so far, so Monday starts my second week.

Oh, I know what I was doing for half the time, my husband was away for work for 5 days and I was alone with my son for the first time since diagnosis. It was a lot more work, even though I had a friend help me 3 afternoons with my son and whatever I needed. (He is 9, so somewhat independent.)

I'm sorry to you who have infections, fungus, digestive problems, really bad skin problems. So far everything is OK after 4/33 - 38 sessions. So what is the cornstarch for? I read that some of you are using it and some have been told not to use it but where are you using it? Is it on your radiated skin or is it a deodorant?

I am sorry to hear of so much fatigue that many of you have and will be coming for me too. :-(

On weight gain. I never lose more that 3/4 lb a week, so 7 weeks I could never lose enough weight to make a difference. And I'm not even losing 3/4 lbs a week, maybe 1/4 - 1/2. It was interesting to read all of your statements about weight loss. I've learned more here than anywhere else.

On diet, I'm eating more healthful, trying to eat more protein. I eat chicken and fish. My friend helped me make salmon patties and I actually liked them. Apparently the wild salmon is what I should eat and at $23/ lb for not so good looking fresh salmon at Costco, I would rather eat canned wild salmon which is really fresh and they cook it in the can. It makes a good deal of difference on which canned salmon you buy. I bought the red salmon, which is the really good stuff. I recognized the can from my parents pantry in childhood (I never had it), so I chose the salmon by the illustration on the can. Glad I chose the good stuff. I tried frozen salmon patties from Trader Joes and they were horrible. My friend (who likes salmon patties), said TJ had horrible salmon patties. That is how I decided to try the homemade type. I'm eating quinoa salad, which I have learned to make, less sweet stuff. Less white flour/rice, and more whole wheat. My neighbor brought me veggie Ethiopian food and it is served with injera made from Teff (a grain), I assume it is whole Teff since it is brown.

I think I'm going to make a habit of eating Ethiopian vegetarian once a week. I know most of you have no access to Ethiopian food, but I live in an area where there are dozens of Ethiopian restaurants and stores. All the restaurants used to be in downtown Washington DC, but we now have 3 times as many in my DC suburb as in DC. I'm just thankful Ethiopian food is so close now. Anyone else eat Ethiopian?

Got some great fruit at Aldi today, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon and cantaloupe, I haven't eaten the last 2 yet.

I'm making a shake that I like that fills me up, not one of those kale shakes, I just can't imagine. But about 8 oz of plain lowfat yougurt, 1 package of vanilla (sugarless) Carnation Instant mix, about 4 big strawberries in a food processor. And then I add either some chia seeds or milled flax seed. This is very good and I recommend it. I had to get the sugarfree Carnation Instant Vanilla at Walmart (shipped to store) where my husband picked up. We don't have any real Walmart stores around here, just the tiny ones in Washington, DC.

I would like to talk about creams you are all putting on. I was given a prescription for PruTect cream. Each tube is 45 grams and the 2 tubes together cost $140. Kaiser has given me a grant so that prescriptions and visits at Kaiser there is no copay for a year. (I have to pay copay for radiation, due to in not being at Kaiser. ) In 4 days I am almost thru the first tube, maybe 1/3 left. I'm not sure if I will get any refills, I hope so.

Here is a review of Prutect http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drugreview-153633-PruTe...

Glad to have read all of your progress, congrats to you who have finished. I won't finish until Aug 4. Thank you for updating.

bravepoint

Hanginginthere- Glad things are going well so far! I used cornstarch on my nipple when it got really red and sore. Apparently, it was caused by friction with clothes so the corn starch dried it and made fabric not stick to it. I didn't wear deodorant on my affected aside til last week now that everything has healed. I had numerous creams , Glaxal base, hydrocortisone (for itchy skin) and flamazine (for broken, oozing skin). I'm 3 weeks out now and my skin is almost normal. I still use the Glaxal base around my tumor scar as the boosts made it red and now it's fainly pink.

MexicoHeather

Hanging in There: Ethiopian veggie food sounds pretty tasty. The last time I really had it was on DuPont Circle in D.C.

If I am super tired, I use my Magic Bullet to make a smoothie. I would recommend the Magic Bullet to everyone. It's strong and easy to clean.

I am just going without a bra through the whole thing.

After seeing the various lotions, I have been using Aloe Vera and sometimes Green Goo, a 100% natural first aid cream.

I will be finished 7/7.

Hanging_in_there

MexicoHeather, looks like there are 5 Ethiopian restaurants in Florida. Tampa, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Orlando. Maybe you are near one of those cities. They may have more in other cities, that was the first page.

Ethiopian moved from Adams Morgan (DC) to Shaw (DC) to Silver Spring, MD. You can still get Ethiopian in Adams Morgan, Shaw and probably some in Dupont Circle along with one in Georgetown, but the place to go is Silver Spring, MD

If you get back to Dupont Circle, eat at Lalibela, several blocks away. It is really a bar, but has great food.

CeliaC

Hanging in there - Check your ALDI store - mine carries frozen wild-caught salmon portions (steer clear of farm raised) at under $10 for a 2 lb. bag. Also, Target stores that sell food items have frozen wild-caught salmon portions for reasonable prices.

Another item I use to add protein is Ripple "milk" - It is plant based, 8g protein per serving, with Calcium, Vit D, Iron and Omega 3s. I like the chocolate one - also find this at Target.

Will have a look at the Prutect cream - this is one I have not heard of.

Nancy618

Hanging: What does the Carnation have as a sweetener in it? Other ingredients? For my smoothies, I use fresh fruit. Pineapple and frozen bananas work well to both sweeten naturally and provide some thickness. I add spinach which I can't even taste, but maybe you wouldn't care for that. I use a cup of plain Greek yogurt. Watch the amount of sugars in whatever yogurt you use. And also the other ingredients. I also make smoothies with various berries, either singly or mixed together. The frozen mixed berries are good to use as they are not only high in antioxidants, but also they will make the smoothie thicker. I don't add extra protein as there is quite a bit in Greek yogurt. I do add ground flax seeds or hemp hearts for omega 3s.

The cornstarch is used on the whole breast to keep it smooth and it will also "soak up" any moisture which is good in the summer months. That's all I've used really. I did try Miaderm cream and another one made for the cancer center I go to, but neither really did anything the cornstarch wasn't doing.This weekend I broke out in an itchy rash over the up quarter of my breast toward the center. RO said it wasn't unusual and to use hydrocortisone or benadryl cream on it as needed for the itching.

Only 2 more boosts for me and I'm done!!! I was lucky enough to only need 20 total treatments. The surgical area is feeling a bit tender and irritated today. Usually, whatever I feel after treatments goes away overnight.

I forgot to start my Arimidex today!!! Will start tomorrow.

Tappermom383

Good for you, Nancy! Not that we're counting down or anything! I had #20 today - 13 more to go (eight regular and five boosts). The therapist commented today, "You're pinking up!" I am but it's not bad. And I'm so much more comfortable sans bra (although the tank top under the T shirt is hot).

Had a voicemail message from the MO's office today. I was supposed to see him on July 18 but the message said he wants to see me sooner - next week. Of course that has me wondering why. I'll have to readjust my ride schedule with my friend who is driving me that day; I'll see if they can move my rads up a bit. I just hate to inconvenience people.

Sure is hot here in the mountains. It's unusual for us to be in the 90s. And we don't have AC so I have the fans blowing hot air around. The cats are passed out.

Hope everyone has had a good Monday. My DH is heading to the East Coast to visit his 95-year-old mother so I'm on my own for just over a week.

MJ

Peetie1

Nancy,

I think that I have the same radiation protocol as you, 15 whole breast treatments and five boosts. Anyway, I also broke out in a rash yesterday with two boosts left to go. The nurse that looked at it called it faticulitus sp? They also recommended Hydrocortisone or Benadryl. I was told that we could move to a 2% Hydrocortisone prescription if the rash does not improve. I was happy to continue with rads today in spite of the rash. I have been living out of state the whole treatment cycle, and I am really anxious to go home!!

CeliaC

About rash - Got a rash, similar to heat rash or "prickly heat" after last boost (16 regular rads + 4 boosts) used Mometasone Furoate cream (believe it is a corticosteroid) - this was prescribed before rads began and worked well & it went away within a few days.

Nancy618

MJ: Sometimes being alone can be a good thing. I enjoyed the 5 days my husband went to our cottage because I didn't feel like I HAD to do anything. I needed the rest and quiet. I didn't have to plan and make meals, I could order Chinese, I could lay in bed all morning if needed. So...enjoy!

Peetie: We're close. I had 16 regular and 4 boosts. I think the word you're looking for is folliculitis...irritation of the hair follicles. I've been told that radiation "burns" off the hair, so the follicles are probably pretty upset about that! I found this picture and this is pretty much what I look like! You are close to the end...no wonder you're eager to get home!

Celia: Good to know that the rash went away after some hydrocortisone. I'll keep in touch with radiology after I finish if it doesn't go away.

Nancy618

I had NO idea that the picture would show up AND that big!!! I was hoping I was just posting a link.

CeliaC

Nancy - Ouch! Rash I had did not look like the pic - so, not sure what will help. Hope you find some relief.

Nancy618

I don't have any spots that actually have pus heads like that, but they are individual little red bumps that itch like crazy.

RoseRN1

Today my skin broke a little under my breast. Have to now start using saline soaks twice a day followed by Silvadene cream. Using triamcinolone cream on rash. Rest of breast is red, but does not hurt at all

I used lanolin for nipple pain. Works great, but very greasy and stains

CeliaC

Rose - Ouch. Sending healing thoughts and gentle hugs to you and everyone else in need.

Goincrzy8

#19 today, don't know if its the heat over 100 today or the rads but fatigue hit me today and I took a nap

ML1209

Hi ladies - I am meeting with my RO tomorrow to get this started. Would love any advice or tips you wise ladies have to offer since you are a bit further on down the road. Thank you in advance!