MARCH 2018 starting RADIATION

Billb464

flowergirl,

Mine didn’t get that way, but a friend said hers did, and still were hot to the touch 6 months later;). I wonder maybeif it has to do with the boost? I didn’t have any, did you?

flowergal

Thanks for the info Bill464- I did get a week of boosts but it has been this way since post op. The Surgeon's PA said it was probably serous fluid seeping under the breast tissue and would eventually go away or it was infection. When I saw the RO he said to take the antibiotic and then it got less red but has been warm ever since. I guess I just need to stop worrying about it although I will mention it again at my post Rad visit if it doesn't go away. Have a good week.

Paco

Pain and discomfort is finally catching up to me, too, ladies!

Finished boosts last Tuesday, so now 6 days done with treatment and my nipple and areola are so sore and painful. Irritated, itchy but the itching doesn't abate with a gentle scratch. Even my lightest nightgown creates friction and discomfort. Wearing a sports bra helps a bit, once I get the thing on and get past the initial wallop of pain. It seems to hold everything in place and doesn't rub. My underarm area is peeling (why? I was told they didn't radiate any nodes?) I took a couple of Tylenol last night but today I'm going to try one Tylenol and one Motrin and see if that helps more with both bringing down the inflammation and calming the pain.

Wishing all of you pain-free radiation recovery. I'm looking forward to getting back to my healed up self!

kaywrite

flowegal - mine feels warmer, too. Especially during and right after treatment. Abating now. I'll ask my RO what she thinks about that during my appointment on the 8th. I thought it was normal?

Paco - I'm very tanned and peeling a bit under my arm/on the side of my chest, too. I thought it was normal - looks like I was wearing a brown tube top that stained that half of my body. My poor nipple and areola are the same. Try sticking a nursing pad inside your sports bra, then slathering with Aquaphor or some other ointment. It's making a world of difference for me - abating the itch, allowing the skin to come off in a more moist way. (that sounds awful, but it works...)

Veeder14

Hi Paco,

Sorry to hear your having pain and a lot of discomfort.The symptoms hit me about 10 days after I finished. While I don't have pain or peeling my skin got very red especially where I think the boosts were done. It seems to be decreasing somewhat and I'm using the Miaderm 4x/per day, no wearing a bra, wearing soft cotton shirts. The weird thing is that the areola area looks like it has large areas where it's pink, like the color is gone, not like just a pinkish tone to it. I don't know if it's supposed to look like that or not. Luckily, no pain. I hope your symptoms lessen soon.

metoo2018

Paco - sorry to hear your pain is coming after treatment ended! That seems cruel - I knew it could continue to darken following treatment but would hope the itching/burning would start to clear after a few days of no treatments.

Today, I finished my 25 whole breast treatments and tomorrow I start my 5 boosts - I am finally in the homestretch!! My skin really deteriorated last week and like you, Paco - even some of my softest clothes rub the wrong way. Today, they prescribed silver sulfadine (or something like that) and my husband just picked it up so I slathered that all over and hoping it helps a lot. I am so glad my underarms will no longer get zapped - it is very raw there. And my boosts will target an area that is also very sore and red so I guess we'll see how it looks when all is said and done.

But, the good news is I am almost done and then I'll be heading out on a two week vacation to England. I am starting to try to figure out what I can wear. I have gone braless for the entire time pretty much but I did find what feels like very comfortable all cotton sports bras that I hope will prove comfortable - I too will check out the nursing pad approach and see if that helps.

Nothing will keep me from enjoying my vacation - just need to make sure I am as comfortable as possible. Will be so happy to leave this all behind.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Nancy116

Dlpaquette, Yeah! Tomorrow is our last day! I'm sorry you've had to work through it, I can't even imagine.I've been really fortunate that I haven't had to work since my surgery in January, but I do have to go back Thursday. They moved me to another department so I'll be doing computer training for about a week or so.

As for treating the skin, I have resorted to mixing aloe w/ 4% lidocaine into calendula cream, it really helps the pain.Then I spray it all with aquaphor. Also keeping it clean and covered. I also take 1 Advil and 1 Tylenol every six hours, that helps too. However the skin under my arm peeled off and it's not as painful any more. My husband told me this morning I look like a burn victim he's pulled out of a fire.

We are almost done. We will cook a bit longer once were done but it shouldn't get any worse than it is now. Congrats on finishing and hang in there Dawn.

Hope you have a less painful day

Paco

Thanks for the well wishes. The redness is lessening by the day and not really any peeling going on, so that's a relief. The pain is still sharp in the nipple but manageable with a soft sports bra that I wear day and night (this is new for me, I rarely wore a bra before diagnosis, and only if I had to go to the office or was out in the evening).

Congrats Dipaquette and Nancy116 on completing your treatment! Nancy, I like your idea of mixing the lidocaine with the calendula. I think the lidocaine is the key. I should get me some of that! Also, yes, a Tylenol and an Advil works wonders. Just popped a couple myself.

Meetoo, the end is quickly approaching. Best wishes to you. Today is going to be a hot day for gardening, but I can't wait for the warmth!

Love to all

DoubleBloom

I'm almost three weeks out from my last rads. I had two open sores that are now healed with new skin. The pain lasted for about 10 days as did fatigue. I never needed to nap but did need to sit, up to 30 minutes at a time to re-energize. The RO stated that fatigue could last up to two months. Thankfully I was able to push through any residual fatigue and walk six to nine miles daily these past five days when I slipped out of town with hubby. It was our first getaway since being diagnosed last May. For those of you who are still with symptoms, rest assured that it does get better! As for pigment changes, my RO says they can take a up to a year to fade.

Kaywrite, Thanks for sharing your beautifully written chronicle.

Meetoo: Have a wonderful vacation in England!

Felinemum: How are you doing?

Nancy116

Thank you Paco! I'm so glad it's over. Now I just heal up so I can get reconstruction done, then I can have a normal life again.

I found that aloe gel w/ 4% lidocaine at Walgreens. My RO gave me a Rx for 3% straight lidocaine but the tube was $52 for 2oz. I don't get it, insurance companies will pick up highly addictive narcotics but not a tube of lidocaine.

Hope you heal quickly and have a pain free day!

operamom1

I am so disappointed. My onco prescribed silvadene cream for my burns a couple of weeks ago. It did a wonderful job of healing the skin, but I have now developed what my onco thinks is an allergic reaction. She told me to stop the silvadene, of course, and prescribed an antihistamine for the rash. The antihistamine is barely taking the edge off the itch. I was supposed to finish my treatments this Friday, but my onco has decided that my skin needs some time to rest. So I get the next three days off, then the weekend, and finish next week on Thursday.

Congratulations to everyone who has finished their treatments!

flowergal

Opera mom- What a bummer .I do hope you will heal soon.Are you eating well? Nutrition is so important in the healing process. Enjoy your rest as much as you can.

Congrat s Nancy116!

fyi- when my soreness and irritation was the worst under the arm, I wore a loose, cotton shirt inside out so the smooth side of the seam was on inside.Of course, I couldn't do that out in public, they would think I was senile!

Dlpaquette

Nancy, Congrats we are done!!! So glad to know we will no longer be adding fire to the burns. I was told the Silvadine is supposed to prevent the burns from getting worse, but that hasn't worked. I think I may be allergic to it as I am very allergic to Sulfa and stings going. I am just so glad there is an end in sight:). I am also excited that I get to sleep in an hour as I get to work my normal hours, going in an hour early so could leave early for radiation had been exhausting.

Meetoo, enjoy England, you deserve it!

Nancy116

Dlpaquette, Congratulations on finishing! What a relief! Hope you heal quickly!

Today when I came out to make my follow up appointment everyone including my RO was in the waiting area w/ maracas, a disco light ball and a disco ball. It was so awesome!

Flowergal- Thank you. I’d rather have people think I’m senile and be comfortable. I thought I’d never be able to go out in public without a bra but I did because it hurts way to bad to wear one.

Operamom, Sorry to hear about the silvadine. Hope you find what works for you so you heal quickly.

Hope everyone is healing well and congratulations to all that finished or will finish this week.

Veeder14

Nancy116 and Dlpaquette,

Congratulations on finishing rads!! Just not having to show up daily at the clinic is something to celebrate. Those of you who were able to work while undergoing treatment are amazing. Best Wishes to all for quick skin healing.

flowergal

Congrats Dipaquette on finishing.

Veeder, I agree one of the best things was not scheduling my life around rads!

Nancy 116- you must have quite a special team of caregivers! I am jealous! Everyone who I have seen has been nice but it;'s a huge cancer center so there is not much personalized care but i know the providers are top notch and I do trust them .

Nancy116

Thank you all for the congrats! 30/30 done!

Flowergal- I loved my staff. I had my treatments at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL. It's like an assembly line of patients but they still make sure everyone feels cared for and top priority. I get that treatment form all the doctors and nurses on my team. I am very lucky.

I'm sitting here now trying to figure out what to do today now that I don't have rads. I go back to work tomorrow but they have me on a 4 hour a day schedule until I heal up. People may complain about Home Depot but they take care of their employees when we need it.

Hope everyone has a pain free day

Paco

Nancy, that sounds amazing! It must have been a big moment for you, I'm happy for you that they made it special!

I just wanted to report that I am feeling much better today. The itching has subsided quite a bit and my redness is now more pink than red. The pain is still there, but not nearly as bad. I took a Tylenol and an Advil this morning at 5 am and haven't felt the need for another and it's already 12:30! There is light at the end of the tunnel of all this discomfort!

kaywrite

Nancy and DIpaquette - congratulations!!! Nancy - that is hysterical (maracas, etc.) - I love it!

Paco, I'm glad the itching is subsiding. My boost area is still changing colors. I'm keeping it moisturized, so no peeling or itching (yet), but I am getting some skin irritations (like pimples or tiny blisters) in the soccer field area (whole breast). I went out today for more wireless sport-like bras. I'm going back to work on Monday and will need them. I'm kind of digging them, actually. Much more comfortable and no fat rolls under the arms.

I'm sorry to hear of the silvadine allergies - as if anyone needs to feel worse during treatment. Ugh. Chins up, ladies. Love and peace.

Veeder14

Paco, glad your pain is less and your skin is more like pink than red. It's amazing how long the effects of the radiation last, I was sure two weeks after my skin would go back to normal. I didn't peel, itch, or have any pain (except for laying on that table daily) but still wake up everyday with pinkish skin. It is fading a bit. On Friday, I'm one month out from the boosts and 5 weeks out from the all breast so continuing the Miaderm. I do notice that I'm getting my energy back and just a little down time the last two days after the tooth extraction.

Nancy116, enjoy your last day off before starting work again.It sounds like your employer is very accommodating.

Operamom, I know you wish you could just finish but enjoy your days off and I hope the break gives your skin time to heal.

DoubleBlooming, great your keeping up with your exercise. I'm trying to do the same thing.

Marigold8

Hi, all,

Just a check-in. Congratulations to everyone who's completed! So happy for you!!

My most troubling skin areas after radiation were under the breast, at the boost area, and around my nipple. All are beginning to fade at 2.5 weeks post-rads. Still using Miaderm several times a day. I wore a bra for the first time last week, but I'm still staying away from them (unless I must wear something to go somewhere special). The skin beneath my breast seems to become irritated--and much redder--by wearing one.

Still recovering, 18 days later, from the cold and sinus infection I got right after rads completed, so it's hard for me to know if any naps I felt compelled to take were due to post-rads fatigue or these other infections. But at least I'm regaining my energy now and don't need them any more. Hope you all are returning to your previous energy level too!

Hey, Nancy116--My family lived on the South Side when I was young, my uncle and his family lived in Oak Lawn, and my grandfather was treated at Christ Hospital. Almost all of the family has since scattered away from the Chicago area. Still, I consider myself originally a South Sider, since I was born and lived part of my childhood there. Small world!

operamom1

After suffering with terrible hives for the last 4 days -- antihistamines weren't helping at all -- my PCP prescribed oral steroids. It's already so much better even after just a few hours! Yay! I called my onco to let her know. I hope this doesn't do anything to mess up my remaining 3 treatments.

Veeder14

Hi operamom1,

I'm glad that you have finally received medication that is helping. The hives sounded very miserable and for that many days. I don't see why taking medication would disrupt your treatments but it's good to let your RO know.

Beaverntx

operamom,

Echoing Veeder's comments. I've had generalized hives and I was miserable. Hoping you can finish radiation treatments as planned and without further complications.

Dlpaquette

Thanks everyone! Two days of working 8 hours then going hime has been great, the 8 hours plus rads (about an hour als a half with travel) was exhausting. I did not get a special arms off like Nancy, but I did get a huge surprise at work. I was checking a patient out and could not figure out why the respiratory therapists all seemed to be just hanging around, as soon as the patient left I all of my co-workers, even my manager singing a made up song to the tune of happy birthday about finishing radiation, then gave me a card and a gift card to the salon. I was not expecting it at all. They sent flowers and bought gift cards for restaurants after the surgery and now this, they are amazing! I could have taken time off unpaid but I felt too guilty as it is a small office and we can barely keep up with all of us there, when I came back after surgery it took weeks to catch up.

I am pretty sure that every bit of radiated skin is going up peel off, has anyone else had all of their skin peel. I will run out of the silvadine before this is over I am spreading it on such a huge area right now.

Bbccats

I started radiation mid April and have an appointment with my radiation oncologist already booked for the end of June. I’m seeing him weekly until May 25th.

Nancy116

Paco- Glad to hear you are doing better.

Veeder- Thanks. My husband took me out. I had two drinks and I was done, lol. But it was nice just to get out. Hope everything is going well for you. Hope your mom is doing well.

Marigold- It is a small world. I was born at Christ hospital and have been in Mt. Greenwood for about 40 years now. It's a nice place to raise a family.

Operamom- Sorry to hear about your hives. Hope they go away quickly and you are able to finish your treatments.

Dlpaquette- I'm glad that your co-workers gave you a celebration. Especially since you worked while doing rads, you deserved it! As for peeling. I'm peeling just about everywhere too. I don't think there is a way to stop it unfortunately. I just keep it clean and moisturized.

Hope everyone is doing well.

metoo2018

Nice to hear how everyone is doing - this is such a nice group to check in with every few days. I am now down to my last two boosts- today and Monday. The first few weeks were very easy and then the last two weeks it just all caught up with me. My underarm area is quite painful - weird coloring but no real blisters or open sores. Under my breast is my other nasty spot. Everything else is just really red. But I am relieved it never got bad until so much later in the treatment. Operamom - cannot imagine how much more difficult with hives and trying so many different ways to get relief. I truly hope your remaining treatments go smoothly!

I've been lucky to work from home throughout rads which made a huge difference in my stress level and I could go braless and wear really loose cotton clothes. Tuesday I will likely return to the office for a few days before heading out on vacation. My boss is fantastic and certainly would be fine if I didn't come back until after my vacation but I feel so isolated and like I am ready to just get back to my normal life again.

Looks like follow ups with my surgeon, oncologist and radiologist will all take place in June and then I am hoping nothing until the next round of imaging in the fall - not sure what that will be. I do know every shadow will be closely scrutinized going forward and I need to steel myself to be prepared for biopsies that may not result in anything more than a medical bill. I watched my Mom go through this next stage for a few years until she just couldn't do it anymore and opted for a double mastectomy. I do not anticipate getting there but you never know until it happens to you.

I have such respect for all of you who had much more difficult and long roads to get to the end of active treatment. You are brave, amazing, supportive women who deserve years of treatment free happiness. Here is to hoping we all have as much peace of mind as possible.

Looking forward to letting you all know on Monday that I am DONE too!

flowergal

Dipaquette- what a great group of people to work with!

Opera mom and paco, hope you are both feeling better .

Metoo- It will be so nice to be finished, won't it!! But like everyone else, I am finding that it will still be awhile before the soreness, redness, etc is gone - I HOPE it will be gone eventually. I have been told that the dark tan like look may always be there .I'm fine with what ever it looks like as long a I know it is "normal" post rad.

Have a great weekend everyone.

kaywrite

dlpaquette - what a wonderful group of people to work with!

Metoo - thinking about you, go get 'em tomorrow. Ring the bell!

I have my first follow up with my RO on Tuesday. I'm happy to say my breast is healing nicely. The boost area is no longer red or pink, the brown skin on my areola has sloughed off with gentle washing and is healthy pink beneath. The incision scar is turning soft, too, although still thick and a bit touchy in one area.

Still using Aquaphor and nursing pads inside bra to moisturize.

Tomorrow is my first day back at work. My time off has been calm and meditative, all things considered. I'm not sure how I feel about going back - chaotic place.

Love and peace to all xox