Radiation March 2019

santabarbarian

PS try rolling a washcloth to "lift" your breast (when you are home especially) so the air circulates? Gauze bandages s that have that light plastic film on them have been good to keep my sticky boob fro sticking to my clothes.

pcranky

Thank you Santabarbarian!

MLAnne

Hello everyone! Final chemo was March 13 and I will begin radiation the end of March. Hoping the side effects are significantly less than chemo. I ordered an Ana Ono bra to wear even though I am a bit worried about support.

Sweetie999

Hello, everyone. I started radiation on 3/14. My last Taxol was 2/11, but I have Herceptin every three weeks for the year. Is anyone else completely wiped out immediately after treatment? I stepped out of the changing room after treatment on Thursday and could barely make it to the waiting room, where my friend was waiting to help me home. That was only my 6th treatment. When I got home and was no better, I called the cancer center and asked to receive IV fluids the next day before treatment. That seemed to help on Friday, but I won't receive them every time. Can I expect this to only get worse? Any tips?

Wereflyn

Sweetie999

I'm sorry the radiation it hitting you so hardly. I have been trying hard to drink a huge amount of water everyday. Staying hydrated is very important. I have heard a round is similar to a day at the beach.

I'm not sure if this will help you but the fact that you felt better after getting IV fluid. I would add water before gatorade because of the extra sugar and sodium. Keep us posted on how you are doing please

BeckyJL

Hi all, just found this thread.

I'm about 6 weeks post chemo and have finished 12/20 rads. My skin is a little "tan" but no burn, no rash, no dryness or itching or anything else. But the last two days fatigue has hit rather hard. Napped both afternoons and I'm not a napper! I'm walking again in the mornings before work - started with 2 miles, did 4 Sat and Sun, back to 3 and some change Mon and Tues and my legs are so tired and sore. It's been three weeks walking regularly and I thought the soreness would go away and stamina would start to return, but alas, no. It seems that most of you aren't experiencing fatigue? I guess if I got to choose I'd pick the fatigue over the bad rash, but I'm afraid from your posts that the rash may yet develop, lol.

Not as bad as chemo, but still not fun. I'm really curious about any others feeling the fatigue, especially those who are done or nearing completion.

santabarbarian

I am done and th fatigue hit me at the end/ongoing. I did 28. My burns got angry in the final ~7 days. Skin is still angry but seems to be improving now 5 days after. Nothing like Chemo because my mind is clear and I feel physically good other than my breast has the flu...

Wereflyn

BeckyJL

I'm a little behind you. I am a little more than 4 weeks post chemo and just finished 7/33 IMRT Radiation. Last Friday (day 5) I napped when I came home from my appointment. I try to walk 3 miles but lately I'm just getting 2 miles before I feel a dread and before I know it I'm at my front door...lol

From what I have read eating a 60g of lean protein a day and a LOT of water to stay hydrated. I use the my fitness pal app to track my protein intake.

Glad you aren't having skin SE. Keep us updated on your progress.

BeckyJL

Joke's on me. Started to develop a bit of a burn/rash day after I first posted I had no real symptoms except fatigue. It's not bad and my RO gave me lotion, hydrocortisone cream and some aloe packs/pads. Haven't busted out the aloe yet. The nurse said they are like ice packs but without being horribly cold like ice and they're reusable. Skipped walking this morning because 1. rain and 2. fatigue was bad yesterday. I did ride my bike though (I have an indoor trainer for it) for about 20 minutes but didn't put that much effort into it. It assuaged my guilt over not walking. Can't tell if the dog is mad we didn't walk or happy to not be out in the rain, lol.

I asked exactly what I'm getting at radiation and they said it's 16 with 4 boosts. So I feel as though I'm getting off fairly easy. It's all relative isn't it. I feel like I got off easy because I didn't have a mastectomy, just a lumpectomy. I got off easy because my chemo was ONLY a 4 course over three months. And now I'm getting off easy because I only have to have 20 sessions of radiation. Compared to many of my warrior cancer sisters, I have a cake walk. But to those who haven't traveled this road, I'm a badass, lol. Perspective is an interesting thing.

Whatever road you're travelling, I wish you all strenghth, peace, and ultimately, good health. Stay strong warrior sisters!

cassiecanada

Hi Kec1972- when did you start radiatio

kec1972

Hi Cassie, I started on Feb 20. I had 16 whole breast and 5 boosts. I finished one week ago. My skin is healing very nicely, though I didn’t realky have much of a reaction anyway, just a little tan. I’ve been applying pure aloe Vera gel from the plant every morning g and night, and also at night I follow the aloe with Ultimate Vitality Radiation Relief cream

cassiecanada

Thanks Kec for your reply and I am so glad the aloe worked... first thing i will do when i get home is revive my neglected plant..its gonna get a workout soon. Just curious- we have the exact cancer stats etc and wonder why you werentoffered partial breast radiation. perhaps its age ( i am 63).

kec1972

I was never offered partial breast radiation. I’m not quite sure why. I was happy to be able to do the hypofractionated schedule though. I am 46

mellee

I've finished 21/32 IMRT sessions. 7 more whole breast sessions to go, then 4 boosts. So far, my skin isn't showing side effects. My RO and the nurses are very impressed. My skin is extremely fair and sensitive, so I don't think this is what anyone, including me, was expecting!

Today, for the first time, I noticed some very subtle redness right after my treatment, but hydrocortisone cleared it up already. I'm slathering on My Girls cream, followed by VEA OLIO vitamin E oil to lock the moisture in. I'm also drinking Juven twice a day, which I think is making a big difference.

LillianGish

Hi Becky! Good to see you again!

Your treatment course and mine sound the same. The difference though is that I have no fatigue but some rather serious skin issues. Luckily, I'm now doing the six days of boost....so the rest of my skin is getting a break and gosh am I glad.

Doctor prescribed 2.5% hydrocortisone cream, which helped with the itch. Miaderm and Aquaphor (whichever I have handy at the time) about three times a day.

Finishing Wednesday.....Woo Hoo!!!!

santabarbarian

Don't be surprised if the skin burns keep getting a little worse after the last rads... I think my skin has finally turned the corner but it has been 7 days since my last rads. Not particularly painful but pretty horrid to look at: very red, peely, dark discolorations, and a little weepy. I did 28 sessions, whole breast + nodes, of proton rads. Luckily no "exit" iskin ssues on my back or shoulder; only in front.

I am sleepy now as I am healing up but was not particularly sleepy during treatment.

BeckyJL

Hi Lillian, does sound like we're tracking fairly close to each other. So happy you're finishing soon (and happy I'm right behind you!)!

Santabarbarian, thanks for the heads up about post rad. I wasn't sure what to expect and knowing it might continue for awhile after is helpful. In fact, that's part of what makes these boards great - getting a better understanding of what to expect. There's so many uncertainties about these treatments, having conversations with others going through it, comparing notes, SEs and just all around feelings has been invaluable for me. So thanks to all who share here!

santabarbarian

I had paced myself to return from rads (I was out of town for rads) and "hit the ground running".... Instead I hit the bed sleeping! I was so anxious to be 'done' I just didn't use logic about the healing time. I guess some people burn less. But another week or two is no biggie.

For healing, the RO suggested "Domeboro" - it's a product that's in powder form and you put it in water to make a soak or a compress. I remember it from post-birth siitz baths, decades ago. It is VERY soothing, it is astringent so if you have a moist wound it helps it dry. It helps encourage the skin that's going to peel to flake off. It feels very good to chill the solution in the fridge and then do a compress with a clean cloth. I do this 2x a day. Then all the normal creams I've been using in rotation: silvadene for any spots of rawness when peels come away, a steroid ointment, Camwell & 7 cream, and pure organic aloe vera, all of which feel good. Also I have Miaderm with lidocaine which is a bit stingy but has a numbing effect too.

The worst part is the weepiness and clothes sticking to the healing skin. You basically want it to dry, peel, and turn over, but without rushing things. I have been topless a lot in the daytime (compress, let dry, then aloe, let dry, then lotion, let dry). A waterproofed/plasticized gauze pad is the best thing I have found to tuck into a shelf-bra tank top to put a layer or protection between my skin and the cloth so when I take the tank off the skin is not injured. Another thing is to put a thin cloth (like a cotton button up shirt fabric) in a damp compress on the irritated skin, then put a sports bra on top of that, so the thin cloth dries in place. Then you can re-dampen the cloth after taking bra off and peel it off 'wet".

It is 7 complete days since my last rads session and I am definitely on the upswing. I think I'll need 7 more days to baby myself.

Misha13

Hey ladies! Finished rads March 11 and just wanted to share in case anyone needs encouragement. The redness is gone, the peeling is over, the zingers have stopped, no sores, just a tightness. I’ve had to stretch and massage to help range of motion return. Fatigue is a thing for sure; especially if you’ve also had chemo. I am recovering slowly and find I need what many have already said: water, protein and extra sleep!

But treatment is in the rear view mirror now! At times it felt like it would never end, but it has and I am getting stronger every day! I also enjoyed my first haircut and dye job yesterday!

You can do this!!

BeckyJL

Thanks Misha and Santab, your posts are like guide markers for me! Misha, congrats on being done. One more week and I"ll be there too! Sounds like all the SEs but the fatigue fade within a week or two? Would you say you're seeing less fatigue/more energy two weeks out from the end of rads? Just curious. Trying to plan a training schedule for a long bike ride event in May and worried about having the energy to train and get my body ready for it. (By long, I mean 51 miiles over the course of a day, so it's not like a marathon or anything, but still, it is 51 miles.)

kec1972

Hi All, just wanted to chime in with some encouragement! I finished rads in the 20th. My skin is doing just fine, just some minor discoloration and slight thickness along my scar. Occasional zingers, but not bad. As previous posters have said, keep up with the water, rest, and good nutrition! Hugs to all. Karen

LillianGish

Thanks for all the information! I think I'm glad I took the two weeks after radiation off work. Sounds like I'll be tired, and since my skin is already enflamed, more to follow! My RO did tell me to expect that the 7-10 days following rads, it may get worse before it gets better. Sounds like she was dead on based on your experiences.

Rest, water, soothe skin = On my calendar for April!

Misha and kec ~ congratulations on being done! Woo Hoo!!! We know it's been a long road and now you're through it. Hugs!

Oceanlove25

Hi Everyone,

Well, I almost missed this post...I've had 13 rads so far. Six more to go and five of those are boost. I'm a bit nervous about it. I've felt a lot of the fatigue as well as skin darkening, and an itchy pimply rash that seems to get worse every session. They gave me a spray with lidocaine but I think the aloe with vitamin D is just as good. I don't know much about the boost, only that I actually go to a different room with a different machine. I see the rad doc this week so hope for more info. Emotions are all over the place so just trying to get through one day at a time. I tell the rads guys that the weekend is my "Stay vacation from radiation". Thanks for listening....I love reading about everyone...thank you to all.

Hugs!

santabarbarian

Now 11 days past rads and feeling much more healed. Still have some peely areas, but most of my breast has peeled and is showing healthy skin. Not nearly as uncomfortable. Almost norrmal again. Remarkable how fast it goes once it stops getting worse.

BeckyJL

I will start my boosts (4) on Tuesday. Are they more intense (though smaller area) or less intense? Just wondering if the rash/sunburn will be amplified or lessened really. I'm assuming the fatigue will be about the same?

LillianGish

Hi Becky, I’ve done three boosts and have three more to go. The treatments before the boost were 2.67 gys, and my boosts are 2.0 gys...so it’s less radiation but focused only on the tumor bed/incision only. It’s giving the rest of my skin a break. The boosttreatment itself is shorter I think.

I’m fatigued today. Skin is super red all over but not too uncomfortable (yet). I’m done Wednesday though, so it helps to see the finish line.

Jacy

Hi ladies, I’ve had 14/16 rad treatments. My skin has held up really well all things considered. It’s just been the last few days that I’ve started a bit of a rash and itchiness. Cortisone really helps and my mainstay has been pure Aloe Vera gel. I’m a bit nervous what the last 2 treatments will do but I know it’s temporary. Reading the experience of so many of you has helped me get through this. The last 4 months have been a blur and it’s odd to think I will be done with active treatment. Next step for me is the hormone therapy. I’ve read some horror stories and have to remind myself to take it one day at a time and not everyone has serious SE. These forums can be a lifesaver and a curse if you let it. For me it’s been a life saver. At the same time I support having a forum where we can also express the difficulties we experience with this disease. Just look out for yourself.

cassiecanada

when do you start radiation

cassiecanada

Hi KEC- when do you start radiatio

cassiecanada

hey kec- brain fog this morning!

you already answered my question!

haha..too much wild surfing thru

these threads ! my rads start

on april 22- seems like an eternity

since surgery ( feb 12).. i tried to

move it up to no avail. My radiologist

is a respected scientist at the top of her game.

while I , on the other hand, am still wrapping my tongue around the basics..

systemic? adjuvant?regional?...yadyada...