Starting Radiation August 2017

illimae

Yay Charleecat! Happy surprises are the best!

inccmd

CharleeCat, what a wonderful surprise for you!

Legomaster225

CharleeCat, that is even better than finding money in a coat pocket. Good for you!!

Littleone1

pollicakes are you using the Camis as a bra? My bras are making radiation more uncomfortable so I'm looking for something ultra soft to help. I have incisions from a reduction done 6 weeks ago and they're still a little tender. Thanks!

Littleone1

yay Charleecat!! Great news

Annbee

I have not posted in awhile, but I have been reading. I went back to work last Monday and started radiation, well actually started on Tuesday. Monday was a simulation. I have been using the emu oil and aloe. No pinkness but my arm staring at the elbow hurts and a bit swollen. Feels like cording. I am a teacher and probably over used it. I asked the techs (not sure if that is the correct title)in the radiation and they said they couldn't see anything. I see the RO tomorrow. The arm pain stinks. I have gone through a BMX with reconstruction and chemo with out any hiccups. I am hoping this is nothing. I am so happy to have you all for support.

LoriBee

HI all. I just had my 5th of 33 treatments today. Had a lumpectomy in February, chemotherapy from April through June. Now this. I'm happy to say I started rads feeling 100%, even after chemo. I'm 55 and exercise daily. I even broke an all-time swimming record last weekend. My energy is great, but after only 5 treatments, my skin is already pink and I've got breast pain. It's a big disappointment because I'd worked so hard to get my body in the best shape I could after chemo. With 6 weeks ahead of me, I worry if I can make it through the treatment without having to pause to let my skin heal. I'm trying not to get too far ahead of myself with anxiety, but GOD I just want all this OVER!!

I don't want to scare anyone with my experience. My oncologist said because I'm large breasted, I'm getting more radiation than others may get. I am also somewhat sensitive to the sun--I was actually diagnosed as being allergic to UV rays when I was a teen. I have read that my reaction may also be worse because I just finished chemotherapy. AND to top it off, I'm swimming in a chlorinated pool 4 days a week. So I am definitely a worst-case scenario.

I'm not too crazy about my oncologist, she's kind of a dead fish when it comes to bedside manner. But she's 10 minutes from my job as opposed to the next nearest which is 45 minutes away, so I'm sort of putting up with her. I'm using Miaderm-L once a day on the advice of a friend. The doctor prescribed Triamcinolone Acetonide .1% cream. I can only use it once a day because it contains steroids. Her nurse said Aloe helps, so I'm ordering that from Amazon Prime tonight. I also read that using Vaseline before I swim will help keep the chlorine from irritating my skin. I really don't want to quit swimming--it is mentally very good for me, and I'm told the exercise will stave off fatigue.

So, there you have it. Thank you all for coming here and sharing your experiences. Gosh, I hope I don't sound like Debbie Downer! I'm just getting tired from months and months of treatment. I've been in "breast cancer treatment" mode since Christmas and want to be DONE. I pray, in the end, it is all worth it and I won't have a recurrence. I now joke, "I better not get hit by a bus after all this". Sorry if that's a bad joke, but it's how my family deals with challenge. We gottal laugh!

pollicakes

hi littleone, i'm fortunate that I don't work, i'm a stay at home wife, but I admit, after I leave treatment, I just have on the cami, no bra.  If I go out, I found a website called rawganique.com and I ordered an organic cotton bra from them, it has no underwire and no clasps or anything, it is incredibly soft and doesn't irritate my skin, so I will wear that if I go out somewhere.  But I admit, at times I'm a walking scandal in my cami with no bra !!!  Oh well !!   

pollicakes

I'm curious what treatments some of you are doing.  I had lumpectomy and oncoplasty, reduction and lift.  I started anastrazole 2 months ago, and i'm doing hypofractionated radiation schedule of 15 sessions with 5 boosts at the end.  Also with the anastrazole, my medical oncologist has me taking a prescription of calcium with vitamin D.  I did not have to do chemo.  Sometimes i'm very glad i'm doing the hypofractionated and sometimes I wonder if I would be better off with a more standard 30 or so sessions.  I don't know anymore....ugh

pollicakes

littleone, I also ordered a set of certified organic cotton sheets, they are so soft and I know they have no chemicals or anything in the fabric.  My radiation is at noon each day, immediately after my radiation, in the changing room, I wipe down the entire area with green tea.  When I get home, I put on organic coconut oil.  Before I go to bed, I wipe down again with the green tea and then I mix some organic aloe vera with about 3 drops of organic calendula oil and I rub that on my breast, side, chest and underarm.  It only takes a few minutes to soak into the skin and it isn't greasy.  That allows me sleep with nothing on and the organic cotton sheets are very comfortable against my skin.  So far it is working, so i'll stick with it until something changes.  I hope you find a routine that gives you the most comfort !!  i'm about 12 weeks out from oncoplasty and lumpectomy, I too had a reduction, my radiation was delayed because I had difficulty with my incisions and had developed a slight infection in the incisions and I also developed cellulitis that I did 2 rounds of antibiotics for.  I'm now into 4 sessions of hypofractionated radiation, so i'm getting much larger doses each day, I have 11 more to do.  I'm doing surprisingly well, considered the difficulty healing from the surgery.  So far so good !!

ShockedAt48

LoriBee: I have finished my 8th treatment today and I wanted to let you know that I am also large breasted and experienced difficulties my first week with redness, swelling and horrible nipple pain. Aloe Vera gel is so far the best product to apply. I am also using Mia-Derm and not so much the Aquaphor ointment, too greasy. In addition, I found the tightest bra that had for running and that seemed to help prevent any movement and that seemed to help me a great deal. My painful swollen breast got much better over the weekend. I originally started on a Thursday and that wasn't too bad because it was only 2 days. The five days will be difficult but there is a respite during the weekend. The only other thing I have noticed is that some of my internal stitches from my lumpectomy and SNB are popping up. I spoke with my RO today and he said just to leave it alone and that they couldn't possibly remove them because they don't even have a tweezer. My RO doesn't have the best bedside manner as well. Good luck to you, I am sure that you will have 2 days off since this was your 5th treatment and you will feel a ton better. You might check with your RO about the hypofractionated radiation therapy that is only 15 weeks like I am having done. It is suppose to be easier for large breasted woman, not as many skin side effects. Here's a link discussing its:

http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/benefits...

https://www.mdanderson.org/transcripts/cancer-news...

A question for everyone: Today was my 8th treatment and the entire time spent being "radiated" was extremely short, maybe a minute, usually it's 4 to 5 minutes. I am estimating here though. Has anyone experienced shorter sessions?

vixxyn

Shocked, my sessions have been totaling about 10 minutes, from walking into room to walking out. Of that, according to my techs, 44 seconds are actually radiation, 22 seconds each from underarm area toward center and from center towards my side. The remaining time is getting me aligned correctly, draped and xrayed to confirm alignment is correct and make any adjustments, and getting this not-so-nimble-anymore body up off the table ... lol. I've had 5 of 25, so far so good. No redness, no fatigue yet, knock on wood!

Lin

LoriBee

Shocked, thank you for the encouraging words, recommendations and links. That is very helpful! I started on a Tuesday so this 5th treatment was Monday. I do think you're onto something about the bras though. I had switched to a light cotton bra, and I think it's not giving me enough support. My breast is "pulling", possibly due to slight swelling also. When I went back to one of my padded satin bras last night, I felt immediate relief from the pain. So I think I will need to keep experimenting.

I'm very hopeful that my reaction "flattens out" for at least a week or so. My biggest fear has been the idea that every week it gets worse and worse and worse, where the heck will I be 6 weeks from now? I'm hoping this week proves that wrong. The technicians were wonderful in telling me that they don't think I'm any more pink than everyone else who comes through. So maybe my problem is more about expectation management.

Regarding those stitches, I was also told not to touch or pull on them. You don't know if there is a knot on the inside that you could be yanking on. Mine really did fall out on their own, and did right around the time my surgeon said they would. If they are really bothersome, find some sharp scissors and cut them shorter. I think I even took a razor and (very very carefully) lightly brushed it over the top to try and shear it off. I was told cutting is okay, pulling is bad!

Bmac16

LoriBee

I think we started on the same day. I had session number 6 today. I got through 24 weeks of chemo with minor SE. I'm also dreading how bad this may be as I'm very light skinned. I hadn't heard large breasted women get a larger dose. Not good news for me. I have been using an aloe product twice a day and so far so good.

Tappermom383

Bmac and LoriBee - you don't get much fairer than I am. If I even walk around the block in the sun, I get burned. But I came through my 33 treatments with flying colors. Got a little red but nothing terrible. Developed a slight rash which hydrocortisone ointment took care of. I had no blistering, no peeling. Everyone reacts so differently but being fair doesn't doom you to bad SEs.

My treated breast did get sore; the bras I had (no underwire) were bothering me so I switched to wearing camisoles with built-in sports bras. That was enough support for my small breasts and felt so much more comfortable. I'm still wearing them - have to shop for new bras.

Best of luck to you and all your August sisters!

MJ

Littleone1

pollicakes, thank you so much for the bra info. The bottom of my bra sits on my reduction scars so I'm looking for something that sits under the girls. I am so glad you're finally healed from the surgery! That sounds like it was a difficult time for you. I've only done two out of 20 rads but so far so good. I'm still having phantom pains from the two surgeries, especially around the aerioli from the reduction and the snb incision that I'm not sure if they're bothering me because of the surgeries or radiation. I'm a teacher so the camis probably won't work for that lol. I'm definitely going to look up that website tho! Funny thing is that I don't have a clue what size I am now that I've had the reduction

llamalady

CharleeCat - That's fantastic news on your number of treatments!!! So 5 more to go! You're almost there :-) I'm happy you're not having any skin issues and imagine you will breeze right on through this last few days! I still know that green tea helped me tremendously. I also have heard the coconut oil is really good as well. I didn't have an real fatigue. I was tired the last 2 days of treatment (I had 16 also) but I wasn't sure if that was radiation or just being tired from everything. I'm now 4 weeks post radiation and I started my tamoxifen 2 weeks ago and I feel fantastic! Hoping like crazy it holds and that I get no side effects! But so far so good!! Energy is great, mood is great - I feel like I did before I had to get on this breast cancer rollercoaster! Just wanted to check in an tell you I'm so happy you're almost finished and that all is going well!

Susan144

Hi all! Great to read everybody's experiences. I am so grateful for all of the help and support you all offer. I had weekly Taxol and Herceptin, then a pause, then lumpectomy and three lymph nodes removed. The WONDERFUL news is that there was no sign of cancer in lump or nodes!

Now I am doing the year of Herceptin and radiation. Second radiation today. So far it's fine. My RO said to use aloe vera and lotion to soothe my breast. (So far no discomfort.) I asked about using green tea and was told that since it is an antioxidant, it would be better not to use it! I guess different POs have different takes on this, huh?

I am thrilled to say that I now have fur on my head! About ¼" long now. I am tempted to go topless now that there is fur. It doesn't look that bad in my opinion!

Anyway, thanks for all the kindness and support!

Susan

LoriBee

Bmac16 and Tappermom38, thanks for the replies. If anything has been consistent for me when it comes to breast cancer treatment, it's that I freak out at the beginning stressing over what might be. Then, when it's over, I look back and conclude I came through it okay and most of the things I had stressed over never happened or wasn't that bad. My first week of radiation set me back because I got it in my head that I wouldn't have any side effects at all "until the end". Everyone keept saying "at the end", so I wasn't expecting anything at all my first week. But I've found, just like going through chemo, if I adjust this or that, it gets better. I think it's important that we pay attention to our bodies, what we are doing, what might trigger irritation, and so on. If we stay observant, we can make changes that ease problems.

I have been playing around with bras (luckily I have a half dozen in various different styles to start with). I also did little things like adjust my desktop at work to put more tasks on my non-radiated side, as I found some of the movements I was making on my computer aggravated my breast. I actually came through today better than I did yesterday, so I think paying attention and trying different things can make a big difference.

Tappermom, I really appreciate the words of assurance. And Bmac16, I think we'll come through this fine. If I've learned anything, it's that we are powerless to predict or assume how good or bad we will do. And by the time we've figure it out, it's all over!

pollicakes

Littleone,  I know how you feel, it is strange, I don't know what size I am either.  After my surgery, I lived in the compression bras given to me by my plastic surgeon and those "wraps" with the Velcro (the ones you wake up from reconstruction surgery in).  Now I have the organic cotton bras and they are just a size Large.  How funny, i'm 50 years old and have no idea what size bra I wear now !!  LOLOL  I hope you find something that works for you and brings you comfort !!

pollicakes

Littleone, I wonder if that wouldn't help you, the compression wraps, they are about 16 inches wide and wrap around your entire upperbody/chest, with the Velcro strip down the entire front.  I didn't like it and thought it was uncomfortable when I woke up from surgery in it.  But after I healed a bit, I found them to be very comfortable, they cover such a wide area that they don't put any direct pressure on the incision.....I don't know.....just a thought for you !!

Littleone1

Pollicakes thank you for the suggestion. When I had my surgeries they put me in pink surgical bras. I still have them both but stopped wearing them because once you wash them a few times I found that they don't keep their elasticity. I wore them a lot after the surgeries. I did go ahead and order two bras from rawnique so thank you again for that suggestion. I hope they work well! The girls are starting to drop like the surgeon said they would and they look more natural now. One more step to what is going to be the new normal! Thanks again!

Susan144, congratulations on the clear lump and nodes and the fur! That's great news! My doctor also said no to the green tea! They said they don't want me to use anything that isn't on their approved list. I am using calendula cream which I chose because it is made for burns. We are on the same schedule. I am having my third treatment today. So far, so good

jessiebelle

LoriBee, you are very wise and I agree that it is better to make small adjustments than try to control what you can't. I am on treatment #5 (of 16) today. I had the extra fun of visiting my dermatologist today (I've previously had a melanoma) and had her look at the slight redness under my breast. There is a small papilloma under there which has become irritated. She said the skin looks fine and I shouldn't worry too much (easy for her to say). Otherwise I feel a bit tender but quite well overall. I'm still using the barrier spray every other day and aloe vera at night. I was advised against the green tea as well and have tried using cosmetic pads soaked in plain water and in the fridge for after treatment. They seem to cool things down well until I get home from work. Susan144 I'm so glad for you and I think "fur" looks very edgy and cool:) One thing is that I went for a run this weekend but ended up holding my breast as I apparently need more support now. Hmm. Good luck this week all!

inccmd

Pollicakes, my treatment is very much like yours. I had lumpectomy and oncoplasty, reduction (more of an alignment than reduction) and lift I didn't have chemo, and now I'm having hypofractionated radiation (16 with 4 boosts for a total of 20). I reached my halfway point of radiation yesterday!

Castigame

14 out of 30 done. Still multiple annoying SEs including nerve pain. Pink skin only. Got to tread along.

Yes I hate bolus.

Mimi

CharleeCat

Llamalady, thank you so much for the great tips and for checking in. I have to say, the anticipation of it all was so much worse than the actual treatment.

I am down to 4 treatments to go! I did develop a rash on my breastbone. The RO prescribed triamcinolone acetonide cream 0.5% and it is already feeling better after one application. She also said that it was fine for me to continue using my coconut oil with lavender oil. I am a big proponent of essential oils and so far they have been fine with me using them, as long as I don't use them prior to my treatments. Since my treatments are at 7;00 am, that is not as issue. I just apply them after my treatment, many times in the dressing room, after the green tea. The tiredness (or fatigue) has really gone away too! I am grateful to be one of the lucky ones. I wish everyone had an easy time of it. I go to the MO on 8/31 to get my prescription for tamoxifen. They wanted me to wait until after radiation was over - so that they could determine the cause of any side effects (radiation or tamoxifen). I am ready to get back to a somewhat normal life.

blooming

Hi,

I've been off boards for a while. I was a bit overloaded at work. I haven't been able to catch up on everything. I hope that things are going well with folks.

ShockedAt48, you mentioned something that seems like a stitch sticking out from your SNB scar. I was one of those who "spit stitches" from one of my incisions. Definitely show it to a staff member at the rads center. In the 6 weeks between surgery and starting rads, I was "spitting stitches." I spoke with the nurse at the plastic surgeon's office. They told me there is a difference between ones that are clear or colored. There were some that she told me were OK for me to pull out. One, however, the surgeon cut out on my next exam. The most recent one, the radiation oncologist saw in a hard-to-see area in the fold under the breast. She cut it to prevent it from promoting an infection. Ultimately, this was not a big deal. However, it was so helpful that the staff checked and intervened where necessary.

So far, radiation has been going smoothly.Yes, I have redness and itchiness but it's manageable.The creams are helping. At first I felt very worried about the logistics – finding 100% cotton items;I am a plus size and was concerned about finding items that would fit.I got lots of advice on these forums.Things have been falling into place so if there are ways to pay it forward and help others going through similar experiences, I will try.

I have a question.Have any of you felt that you wanted to express appreciation to the team taking care of you through this – whether it was with your surger(ies) or other treatments? With radiation, 5 days per week, over several weeks, it feels intensive. It feels like the team members have been patient in answering questions and offering help.If any of you has found good ways to express appreciation, would you mind sharing ideas? I want to write a note.Beyond that, I wanted to offer something small but tangible that each person hopefully could enjoy.So far, I've thought of a basket of fruit (organic?) or a box of snacks that are supposed to be healthy (I saw a few on Amazon).Would appreciate any ideas?

I'm sending good wishes.

LoriBee

Hi Blooming, I've thought the same thing. Maybe baking a batch of cookies and bringing them in on my last day. At my lab, you "ring the bell" on your last day, so there's a little bit of a celebration. That or a box of Sees candy. I hadn't been thinking healthy, LOL If I had a bigger garden this year, I'd bring them a basket of home grown tomatoes, but thanks to cancer, I cut the amount of veggies I'm growing in half.

pollicakes

Hi Inc, yes we have quite a bit of similarities !!  How far along are you in your radiation?  and how is your skin holding up?  I'm curious if your oncologist explained why 4 boosts, mine said 6 boosts.  No reason as to why she feels 6 boosts, I have to admit, I think 6 boosts seems a bit excessive for me !!  Hope you are doing well in your treatments !!

DodgersGirl

Blooming- I finished chemo today and took the nurses for MO and the Infusion Center nurses a thank you gift. I took a large box of Cheryl's cookies for the infusion staff and each MO nurse got boitie socks and rich hand cream because of how many times they must wash their hands during their work says. There is also a lady at the Infusion Center who is like a waitress while getting treatments doing things like getting you drinks and snacks, and pillows and warm blankets. She was sooo nice. I got her angel wings necklace.

Others have brought in balloons or nuts abs chocolate from a local chocolatier

I had thought about gift certificate to near by restaurants so they could have a free lunch