March 2021?

txdcis2021

I did my mapping last week, start 6 weeks of radiation March 1st.

DCIS, lumpectomy, estrogen and progesterone positive.

Lovegrant2020

This is my first post. My course has been so very different from others that I was shy to post.

My first radiation treatment is tomorrow. The first week will be scar treatment. I’ll get my full calendar of treatments tomorrow. The weather here has been horrible (Oklahoma), so my radiation was delayed. It’s projected I will have 6.5 weeks of radiation M-F every week, which is standard.

I had full reconstruction at the time of nipple-sparing bilateral mastectomies and right axillary lymph node dissection. I have silicone gel implants bilaterally and two internal allografts on the right due to the amount of tissue that was taken. My incisions were also horizontal S shapes/scrolls as opposed to the traditional anchor shaped incisions. I have a separate horizontal incision in my right axilla for the lymph node dissection.

I had a couple of setbacks. The first was skin integrity issues with my nipples. Thankfully, they made it, but I did have some skin slough and a slight loss of pigmentation. The second setback was a seroma on the right that had to be drained (arnica gel afterwards was a godsend at keeping it from reforming). Now, I’m doing great. I went back to work January 27th.

My OncotypeDX was low x2 (9 both times) so I will not need traditional chemo, and I’ll be taking Tamoxifen after I finish radiation.

My biggest concern is skin breakdown and capsular contracture. Any tips for avoiding them?

My plastic surgeon started me on Singulair to hopefully prevent the capsular contracture, and I’ve got Aquaphor, aloe Vera, and Calendula on hand for the skin. Anyything else I should have on hand or be aware of?

MindiG66

HI! I started radiation in February and will finish March 23! I post on the January group but I look at the month behind and ahead as info and help if I can offer!

I've done 15 tx and so far, no side effects whatsoever. I'm not fatigued and my skin is normal. I apply Aquaphor and Jeans Cream each 1x a day. I know they say skin and fatigue often presents right at the end or up to a couple weeks after but I'm hopeful to sail through!

I hope you both find it to be the easy part! I have really gotten to be okay with it and my techs are fantastic which greatly helps bc it's a pretty vulnerable experience in many ways! But, no pain and it's really over quickly. I will say when they took marker to my body it was a bit traumatic! I wasn't prepared for that.

Also, @lovegrant - I'm in OK too! I am near Tulsa! I LOVE my whole team! My breast surgeon, MO, RO and PS! All fantastic!

Hope you both have great days today!

Mindi

Lovegrant2020

MindiG66 small world! I’m in Muskogee, but all my doctors are in Tulsa, and I commute to Tulsa daily for my radiation at St Francis off Garnett

I did scar only treatment last week. Today, I had my first round of whole breast radiation. I just slathered with calendula and Eucerin. I can’t quite stand Aquaphor. I’ve got alittle redness right now that I hope goes away.

txdcis2021

Welcome! Nice to have someone here who's going through this.

txdcis2021

Hi, my start was delayed, so my first day is tomorrow. Glad to have others going through this to talk to.

MindiG66

@lovegrant that is a smal world! I had my mastectomy/reconstruction at St Francis. My treatments are at the cancer center. I know what you mean about the Aquaphor...ugh but I’m hanging in there with it and so far after 17 radiations no skin issues at all!

@tx sorry for your delay! I had a couple days delayed due to weather but they said it’s not big deal!

Lovegrant2020

Hi there txdcis. It is nice to have someone who can understand what we're going through.

@Mindi... I had bilateral mastectomies and reconstructions at St John's downtown. My breast surgeon and plastic surgeon were there. Because my primary care is associated with St Francis, I was referred there for med onc and rad onc. I've loved my doctors so far!

I haven't cruised the boards too much. If anyone has recommendations on how to deal with the greasiness from Aquaphor they would be greatly appreciated. My RO nurse highly recommended it, but I don't want to ruin clothing. I was using gauze as a barrier, but that can stick I'm still working and work from home, so going shirtless or braless aren't options because we frequently have video meetings.

DeniseML

lovegrant20: Both my nurse navigator and posts from others have recommended putting pantyliners inside bras or camisole ago protect clothes. I personally have not tried it so cannot comment on how it works. I simply wear camisoles under my tops which will be thrown away when this is all over. The shirts and tops have so far been spared. Good Luck!

arb95f

Hi March Radiation Friends - I'm starting 4 weeks of radiation March 30 and have an interesting question for you all. I was actually just scheduled for my first COVID vaccine shot for Thursday, but this means my 2nd shot will be at about the halfway mark and I hear the 2nd shot side effects are more pronounced. I'm talking to my radiation doctor before my shot appointment, but wanted to hear if anyone else here has taken the vaccine during radiation and how did you feel

Thanks

Melbo

I had the Johnson and Johnson vaccine last week during my fourth week of radiation. I don’t think the side effects are quite as severe as the two dose versions of the shot, but it wasn’t that bad. I felt slightly sick — achey, tired, and just off — from about 10-20 hours after the shot, and then I was fine

DeniseML

arb95f: I received the 2 dose Moderna vaccines. Recieved the second dose after starting RADS also. Did not have any significant symptoms other than my arm was sore, more so than with the 1st., and a little fatigue for a day or 2. Could have been RADS ?? I think the younger you are the risk of more side effects is greater because your immune system is stronger. Just my professional opinion . I spoke with my RO also and was told that I could still continue RADS even if had more symptoms than experienced. Definitely discuss with RO first.

dogmomx4

Have a question - am I the only one who has run into their doctors no longer wanting to exam their breast? Prior to my surgery, nearly every appointment included a physical exam of my breast. Now since my post-op appointment with the surgeon which took place 1 week post-op (a week earlier than scheduled due to an allergic reaction to the surgery prep cleanser resulting in a rash around my incisions) none of my doctors have wanted to look at it, or see if everything is healing ok - I've had 1 appointment with my MO, 2 appointments with my RO, had my CT stimulation appt for mapping & tattoos, 1 appointment with my GYN & 1st weekly visit with the fill-in RO after 1st week of radiation treatments - none of the doctors looked at my breast - trying to figure out if this is normal.

DeniseML

Hi Dogmomx4: That is an interesting observation! My RO is evaluating left chest wall and axilla ( had left MX.) if it warrants. The MO and PCP have not asked to see incision site. My surgery was in January 2021 so I am guessing if there is a specific problem they may, but, since I still have scheduled appts. with SO they are leaving it to her. I did notice that ill visits to my PCP have been exclusively a discussion across the room and the NP did not do any physical exam in the past year, not even when I was being seen for "breast lump" last July. Simply ordered the appropriate diagnostic tests. Hoping this is just COVID-related and will change as time passes and COVID is no longer a issue.

panout

I'm seeing this too...I think everyone just leaves the incision care to the surgeon. Of all the medical staff, surgeons can be the most territorial about people messing with "their work." There is a part of me that wants to scream, "how do you know I have healed enough for radiation if you're not looking at it??"

Melbo

my RO checked my skin weekly during radiation, but that’s about it. My MO has never examined my breasts beyond a quick feel of the tumor area once I was done with chemo. My SO never examined again after surgery — leaving all post op checks to the plastic surgeon, and those were mostly handled by his physician’s assistant, who was checking woun healing.

dogmomx4

panout- that was part of the thinking behind my question - how do we know if we're healed enough for radiation if no one checks. My surgeon did not want to see me again past my 1 post-op appt unless there was a problem. I had no reconstruction, so no plastic surgeon. I was just surprised at the difference in the visits.

panout

dogmomx4 - You can ask them to look. Just say, "I'm concerned about my incision" followed by what you've seen like: its a little red, the edges don't seem to be lining up, it feels swollen, it hurts. I think if you state your concern, they will at least LOOK and likely refer you back to your surgeon.

Personally, I feel like we should be given lots and lots of beads for all the boobs we've had to show

annlat

I had my CT mapping done last week and I am scheduled for a "dry run" on Monday. I think they will schedule my first actual treatment the next day. My RO said he's hoping I can do 4 wks, but maybe 6. I am ready to get this started and done!

Lol, I want my beads, too!

panout

AnnLat - I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get to start soon!! I found some breast cancer ribbon beads on amazon.....they looked sooo cheesy.

dj1reno

hi everyone. I am in day 11 of radiation treatment. Has anyone used the treadmill during radiation treatment? I am still having trouble with swelling from my lymph nodes surgery and from the radiation. I am also just exhausted. I know my ro said something about not using my arm for exercise during treatment but I am not sure if it's because of the movement and rubbing the area or if it would change the measurements. I feel like I am retaining fluid and gaining weight. Is this normal?

Melbo

sorry I don’t have a good answer for you — I couldn’t imagine exercising enough to sweat because my skin reactions were so bad and I couldn’t wear a bra because of blisters along my bra line. I did have swelling from surgery go down while going through rads,’but then the breast started new swelling immediately from the radiation.