JUNE 2018 starting RADIATION

ChelseaSculler

LiveWellToday, how busy is your local center? Does the local RO do mostly breast cases? I wouldn't hold the mention of a clinical trial against the NY doctor as that could get you a still better option than the standard course of treatment and clinical trials are how we move the science forward, but that does also imply that that doctor is on the forefront of current treatments.

Are they both suggesting the same plan? Same numbers of sessions, boost (if applicable), etc?

One of the things I've learned from this is that there are advantages to using facilities associated with universities. And Caroline brings up a very good point that this is a long game, and 5 weeks now could be worth it in the end.

JosieO

rphouse

Just wanted to second your comments about this bra. I saw them and bought a two-pack. No seams that irritate and the fabric is stretchy, but seems to breathe. I am large breasted as well, so gave me some support and a sleek look even under a thin T-shirt. Wish I would have bought more, as they are sold out at my store.

MAC58

Three boosts to go! Unfortunately, all my stickers fell off this weekend, my daughter and I walked in the Relay for life and it was 89 degrees! The marker all disappeared as well...so they will have to measure again on Monday. I feel really bad that happened, but it's hot outside!

Anyone else have to get all marked up again? I can't wait to be done..the itching is killing me, I have to take a half of pain pill just to sleep...

Carol2018

I have 2 boosts to go! They took the sticker off 2 weeks ago due to my rash and mark me using a template transparency each time I go for treatment. It's fast and not a big deal. Good for you for walking! I have been exercising every morning and feel good. I can't seem to tolerate the sun or heat at all but never had much tolerance before. I hate the itching too. Over soon

Kelligirl5

Bras - I found the BEST bra yesterday!! To late for me but I still bought one. Soma Enbliss https://www.soma.com/store/category/enbliss/cat122... They have both a sports bra style and a more structured style. They are incredibly soft!!!! I like the structured style better but the sports style is perfect for lounging around in. Both are lined as well which is something I prefer.

Stickers finally came off with a lot of work and some of my purple, blistery spots are turning dark brown now. I still have a raised red rash going but the main burning is gone and it just itches like crazy now. Less deep pangs happening as well.

Downdoggie

LiveWell,

Peace of mind and low stress are important for the healing process. If being away from home for 5 weeks causes angst, it is worth considering. Perhaps you can get a phone appointment to find out what the treatment plan is for the far away location. If the plan is the same it may not matter where you go if both are reputable. I agree with someone's comment about having a team. I have an oncology team that I believe is working and communicating for my best outcomes. Good luck with your decision.

Hariry

A reminder to all,

I've been religiously putting on moisturizer on the affected breast and now, two weeks after radiation completed the breast and nipple are fine. But I wasn't aware that the radiation zapp onto my armpit as well and that area wasn't covered with cream. It turns really dark and inflamed and itch by now!

So please, ask your therapist how far the radiation go and make sure you have the entire area covered!

Micahmom

I start 16 days of radiation treatments steadying after my ct and planning period on July 20 th. At that time they will do a small tattoo. They already gave me a cream to use after each radiation treatment. I too found another lump in my left armpit and my radiation dr felt it too. She’s not sure what it’s caused by. What weird before my lumpectomy my internal oncologist felt that lump too. He referred me back to the breast center who did an ultrasound but it didn’t show up. Good luck to all of us going thru radiation treatments

GreenEyes81

Yep, Hariry is right. I did the same thing. Now that I am done and looking back....one thing that through me off is how difficult and "radiated" my chest is after 33 treatments. I saw all these women doing "great", had no problems, no blistering and just blew through it---I EXPECTED that! lol

Now that I look back, those were the women that had very short treatment plans. I didn't catch that. I am VERY happy for you ladies, I just want to give a heads up for those that are getting 33 treatments. You may not have the same expirence, just mentally prepare yourself. It's doable, I just had to get past the "what the heck maybe I should stop" phase because it turned out so much worse skin wise. I had a mx last August and am thankfully mostly numb, I could not imagine the pain/uncomfortableness had I had a lumpectomy.

rphouse

Hariry - Thanks for the heads up! I have not been applying lotion on my armpit, just to the edge by my chest. I asked today and I was surprised to learn that my whole armpit is in the line of fire!

Kelligirl5

My armpit is by far the worst spot! It's completely discolored at this point almost to a very very dark brown/black(not tanned so much more burnt brown) It's healing now but it was bright red/purple and angry and so irritated I could barely stand to move my arm on that side as it rubbed. Also underneath where my bra band hits looks just as bad. I slathered on the aloe and CeraVe and it may have been helping but it definitely didn't save those areas!

Sweetcaro79

Good morning! Its great to be DONE!!!! Spending this morning cuddling my 2 year old, who is the sweetest thing. My skin feels better each day, the nipple, the boost and arm pit areas seem last to heal. I forgot to take Tylenol or Motrin last night and did regret that at about 5 am but overall my discomfort is 0-1/10!!!

MAC58, My stickers fell off and the techs were still able to figure my settings out and gave me new stickers. Great job on the Relay for Life!

HARIRY, You are so right! For some reason my arm pit redness showed up much later than everywhere else? So I was not moisturizing that area...and I even shaved after my full treatments were done.

Hope you all are having a good week!

-Caroline

Pattimills2017

Prayer request. I hadn't had a period in 10-1/2 years. I am 62. Went pee around noon yesterday and there was blood on my panties. I phoned my medical team immediately. It is not radiation related. I have a pelvic exam on Thursday and possible referral for a biopsy. Ugh.

tld2017

Pattimills, I will most definitely say a prayer for you tonight. I know that must be scary but I just looked online and there are several causes other than cancer that could cause this. Big hugs to you!

Puzzlewoman

Pattimills2017 - prayers for you. 🙏

Kelligirl5

Pattimills2017 - I'll be saying a prayer for you!

Hariry

Pattimills, do our best and let God do the rest. You are in my prayers.

The thickened patch under my armpit is making me difficult to stretch my arm wide. I'm putting more cream and hope for the best.

Hugs to all!

Sweetcaro79

Praying right now Pattimills!

-Caroline

Kelligirl5

Well ladies I'm a week out from my last treatment and things are looking a lot better! I can see the patch under my arm is starting to flake off a bit finally and along my band line is just itchy now. I still have a lot of redness higher up which is weird but I guess my body is putting all its energy into the worst spots first. I can wear a normal underwire bra! I am still getting sharp shooting pains all over though. We leave Friday for our trip and I can say at this point I will be totally fine and will get to enjoy those rain forest hikes and lots of exercise! So for me at least it seems to be healing pretty fast! Strength to all who are still getting treastments!

Puzzlewoman

Kelligirl5 - that’s great! Hopefully in 3 days you will be basically all healed. 😊

Motherofall6

so happy my skin is good !!! I’ve been putting the creams on 4 times a day and it paid off. Today I was informed that starting today through my last one next week Friday I’m down to getting boosts and that’s on,y 2 small areas now 🙃🙃 , I will continue to apply my creams all over 4 times a day though and probably 2 weeks after I’m all finished .26/33

PaulaAtlantaGA

I. Am. Done!

28/28 complete, very red breast and "pocket" where 14 nodes were removed. Peeling but not blistering. I felt so bad last week - all over - that I asked if I would be allowed one day off, to be added on at the end. They said, "You're going to want to kill us, but your skin actually looks good for this stage." I'm still tired and cannot stand being in the sun. But as my PT said, "You are still radiating heat!"

Good luck to all - we got this!

Puzzlewoman

Hello all! 16 days post end of treatment, and I’m healing much better physically. But FYI I’m still feeling some fatigue and I am hot so much of the time. Paula, I guess that’s normal, which is a good thing!It’s just weird since I’m usually so cold. ☃️

MAC58

I am done!!! Wahoo!! The office I go to plays Pharrell's Happy song and we had a dance party after my final treatment. Nipple area looks really dark red and brown from the boosts. Now just concentrating on healing. I have till August 4 till our whole family goes on a cruise..

Kelligirl, so glad you are feeling better for your trip!

Pattimills, prayers for you..

Congratulations to everyone making it through and hang in there to all still having treatments.

What is next for all of you? I have an appointment with my oncologist August 1 to decide treatment, most probably Armidex. Hope the side effects are manageable. I am not starting it until I come back from vacation, don't want to be out at sea with an problems.

Homemadesalsa

Congrats to everyone who is done. I am deeply envious. My machine evidently broke today (one of the arms won't move) and it remains to be seen if it can be fixed by tomorrow. I sure hope so. I am due to be done on August 9 and DON'T want that to become August 10.

I can hardly think beyond the 9th, honestly. What a long long path.

Puzzlewoman

All, I wanted to update everyone today. I was officially done on July 2, but I had a pretty painful allergic skin reaction, so I didn’t feel like I was on the path to healing at all until July 9th. Well today is the first day I have not felt any fatigue all day, woke up to wounds finally having stopped bleeding, and no unmanageable pain today! I finally feel like celebrating. So for me 11 days is the great turning point. 😊
Next I am waiting on my genetic test results, which will hopefully be soon.
I am thinking about all of you every day!

ChelseaSculler

Puzzlewoman, congratulations! I've been thinking of you, especially as you had it so much more trouble than most of us. I'm raising a glass (of iced coffee) in your direction and in all our honor!

Puzzlewoman

Chelsea - thanks! Wow that makes it sound like I had this much worse time with radiation than I think I did (looking back on it anyway). If you take out the allergic reaction I had a pretty typical course through.

That was pretty painful though. I keep trying to compare it to other pain I’ve experienced. I cracked my ribs once, I think that was worse. Not much else would I say was worse though...

Enjoy your iced coffee, I’m sure that’s great in this weather! 😊

MAC58

Hi all, did anyone get a really dark brown nipple area and now the skin is starting to flake off in pieces! Pink skin underneath, but I don't know if this is normal

Puzzlewoman

MAC58 - I had that too. Looks really weird, but never hurt so I asked the techs and dr about it and they said it was normal. It’s getting back to regular again so I hope that will comtinue