Radiation March 2019

cassiecanada

Hi Jacy-

we have same stats pretty much-

i start my rads april 22....still

deciding whether to with partial

or full breast radiation. was this offered to

yo

Jacy

Hi Cassie, I was only offered whole breast radiation after my lumpectomy. Since you have a little time have you considered a 2nd opinion? At the least I’d ask the doctor what the standard of care is and pros and cons of both. I’m not sure how doctors can expect us to know which choice is better. I’m sending good thoughts your way.

cassiecanada

Hi elephant- we have same stats!
i am starting rad on april 22...
are you going to take hormone
therapy?

cassiecanada

Hi Jacy- thanks for responding with great tips !and your good thoughts!! you are so right about how do docs expect us to know. ! They give us choices and we
“ choose”.. but how do I know ?
so hard.

Elephant

Hi Cassie: my MO recommended that I take hormone therapy, so I am going to follow her recommendation. She said that tamoxifen would be best for me as it had the least side effects. Good luck with your rads. I had so side effects from rads at all until I finished; now I am a still a little pink and itchy but it is diminishing. Hopefully you will also sail through your rads !

MLAnne

I am only 3 treatments in and I am already experiencing some sensitivity. I feel like that seems really early. What do you think?

Beesy_The_Other_One

MLAnne, I have a ruddy complexion--not a redhead but coloring is similar (mother was a redhead). My mother always calls it "cheap Irish skin." I started reacting the first week also. I'm doing my 22nd of 30 treatments today and am almost blue red in places. As long as I don't try to wear a bra, I'm okay. It's mostly itchy. The radiation techs tell me that some women with similar skin sail through and others with olive (or darker) skin have all kinds of trouble--no way to predict and it surprises them sometimes. They also said the radiation oncologists want to see that red--it's what they're aiming for. The craziest thing of all is the very large dark freckles showing up on my back behind my clavicle, where the radiation is "exiting."

santabarbarian

My breast was bright dark red and horrible looking at the worst (which was apx 5 days post rads). I am not quite 14 days post rads and my skin is nearly all healed.. still some peeling but that's it. Not hot; not red. No pain or discomfort.

Very grateful to be through rads!! And through everything!!!

Jacy

I rang the bell today. I’m red and a little itchy and have a very red and tender nipple. I have not had any blisters so consider myself lucky.

BeckyJL

Congrats to Santabarbarian and Jacy! I get to ring it on Friday. I now have one spot under the breast that is about dime size and looks/feels raw. Otherwise, doing fine. Started the boosts yesterday. I also went to a dermatologist yesterday for a full body mole check. Figured one benefit of no hair was an ability to see everything. I'm clear - no signs of skin cancer. Dr. did actually recommend biotin for hair regrowth and latisse for lashes. Said he'd write me a script for them once he gets the ok from my MO.

It's sunny and warmer here today, my mood is good, and the end of treatment is near!

Hope you all have a good day too!

Benji69

I had lumpectomy and 12 axillary nodes (5 positive) surgery February 19th. The drain wasn’t able to be removed for 4 weeks. I had the measuring and tattoo appointment March 25th but I still don’t have a 1st appointment set up. How long is it safe to wait to begin? I’m not eager to begin, just to end. Thanks. (I did chemo 1st ending 10 weeks ago.

LillianGish

Today was supposed to be my last radiation treatment. All three machines broke today because our bumbling utilities company shut off all the water and the radiation machines overheated. I guess tomorrow will be my last day. I so wanted to be finished!

BeckyJL

Benji, I don't know how long it is "safe" to wait. All I know is mine wanted me to start not sooner than 4 weeks after the last chemo but not much beyond that. I started rads 5 weeks after last chemo.

Lillian - not fair - that's just mean to make you wait one more day.

cassiecanada

Hi Becky
I did not have chemo first but am also
waiting for radiation ( same surgery date
as you). My wait is because we are
waiting for genetic test results. I have asked/researched the delay time
extensively for weeks now.. read every
study available. The window
to safely begin is within 12 weeks from date of surgery ( to protect for local recurrence). I could find zero evidence of time relatioship to cells metastizing.
In fact, in regards to that, a few studies
have shown that the chances of
metasticizing are still small ingeneral,
there is a muniscule uptick if rads
done too soon ( go figure).
So, while waiting is a bitch, ( the mind
imagines free ranging cells)...it looks
like your doctors are right on track.
I am nota professional... just
relaying info i gleaned from hours and
hours of digging for answer. A few studies
(2?)... said up to 8 weeks... a quebec
study said 20 weeks. But the majority
said either no relationship
or 12... by no relnshp , i mean
time delay in general.. in other words,
no definitive corelation up to 4 months
... but beyond is greater odds for
recurrence... so they safely put
the bar at 12.
hope this helps
of digging
no

cassiecanada

oops... meant to address post to Benji69..

( altho i follow your posts becky and

appreciate all you say!)..

santabarbarian

For me Rads was 6.5 weeks after my surgery (I had chemo before surgery). My surgeon and MO both wanted me to get cracking on Rads within 6 weeks, ideally. I am sure the thought is, don't let stray cells take hold, instead zap them right away.

Today I am exactly 2 weeks PFR and my breast is virtually completely healed and no longer red, warm, or sore. I think the very worst of it was about 5 days PFR, and from there I have healed rapidly. One more area (small) needs to peel but everything else has peeled.

Prior to peeling, it feels tight, tender and uncomfortable and a little weepy, then it itches as the peeling happens, then it is fresh new healthy skin emerging.

My poor body has been through a lot. But it still makes beautiful new skin! Kind of reassuring!!

I did my old exercise routine yesterday... a hike I enjoy. I was not particularly tired or winded. I felt normal and I kept up my normal pace. That felt totally wonderful.

I am figuring out my new routines now... I am going to be strict on diet and exercise throughout my window of recurrence (which for TNBC is ~3 years). My MO counts from diagnosis so I am nearly 1/3 of the way.... I am going to keep doing brief fasts to tune up my immune system, and keep taking the supplements that have been recommended to me, on which I am feeling very good, and keep up the vigorous exercise.

Sending all who are completing rads encouragement !! You will be done soon, and then you will heal fast!!

Benji69

Thank you all for the information. I will start Monday finally. I am scheduled for 28 regular and 5 boosts, whole breast, axillary and subclavical nodes. I have old (70 years), sensitive skin but so far everything has gone better than expected so I am hoping for the best. I’ll be finished in May one year after the guilty mammogram. (Not counting the 5 years of AI.) It has been interesting and I’ve learned things and met women I wouldn’t have known. (Would have been better to have read about it than lived it!

BeckyJL

Friday, I rang the bell! I'm all done with treatments!!!!! Congrats Lillian for the same. Feels good. Except I peeled horrifically under my breast. Went from very little tan to full on burn and blister/peel within the space of three days on the last week of treatment. Now the armpit is starting to peel too. I'm very uncomfortable, but I'm done! Hubby brought me flowers and I brought the staff donuts. It was a great moment. And yes,

I rang the shit out of that bell!

santabarbarian

yayyyyy!

Pommom1809

BeckyJL, congratulations on finishing your treatments! How wonderful to ring the shit out of that bell!

Doris

Jjewel

Cogratulations BeckyJL!!!

I’m ready to get started, so I can finish! They called Friday late with approval from insurance for Proton Therapy. I’m ready to get the next 6 weeks behind me. Thank you all for posting creams, lotions and other concoctions to help with SE. Most of you seem to be weathering this portion of treatment pretty well. (All things considered)

Jenny

santabarbarian

Jenny -- make sure to post on my proton rads thread, to spread the word! Great you were approved!

Flower216

Becky...Congrats!!!!!!

Jjewel...good luck! I have three weeks left! I am doing pretty well, getting tired easily, but not the exhaustion like I got from the chemo!

There is a light at the end of the tunnel!!

BeckyJL

Jewel - good luck, I hope it goes smoothly SE free!

Flower - people keep asking/telling me about the radiation fatigue not being as bad as chemo, and it's true, but for me it's true because they are two different things. The chemo tiredness went in waves as treatments came and went and along with it was a pervasive feeling of "unwell" not always sick, but just not right. The fatigue from radiation for me is quite different. It is a full body weakness, but not feeling of sick or unwell. I feel "fine" but the tank is at near empty and wasn't refilling much at all, just dwindling. But it's easier because I don't feel bad, only tired. Both yesterday and today I walked 4 miles in the morning. By the afternoon yesterday, I took an almost involuntary two hour nap, and I'm not a napper. Today, also tired, but managed to stay awake, just not very productive for the afternoon. Still, I'm putting this in the win column. Small gains, but I'll take all the improvements I can get. Fake it til I make it!

For those still getting through treatment, I hope you'll be joining me soon and suffer little to no SE's. Stay strong!

kec1972

Hi All, since finishing rads on 3/20, my nipple still has this crusty yellow covering on it...just really dry. Wondering if anyone else experienced this