March 2009 Rads Group?

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  • NancySchoen
    NancySchoen Member Posts: 32
    edited March 2009

    Karen... I am sorry you have the blister but I can see how something like that can happen so easily. I am using the radiacare gel that they gave me at the center. It seems to be working very well as I seem to have an area on my chest that is very red and almost like little bumps. Plus some on the side. But I figure I have made it to number 20 so that is good. I am actually getting into a pretty lazy routine and that is why I feel good today. Nancy

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  • NancySchoen
    NancySchoen Member Posts: 32
    edited March 2009

    Cora... Have your doctor check that area to make sure you do not have a collection of fluid that needs to be drained. I know that was what mine was. Once it was drained it made such a difference. I had a nurse tell me I could do a little exercise with my arm were you put your finger tips on the wall at about breast level and then you walk your fingers up the wall and hold it for a few seconds and keep doing that for a few times until you can get it above your head. It did help me to loosen that area a little. Just an idea. Nancy

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  • Juli50
    Juli50 Member Posts: 859
    edited March 2009
    I started radiation today. My appts are at 1:15 pm so my lunch hour for the next 7 weeks will be spent radiating. Cool
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  • BooBee
    BooBee Member Posts: 860
    edited March 2009

    Today's your lucky day Robin. No broken machine zapping the wrong spot.

    Cora  I have fat there too.  Not going to stop shaving either....unless I get blisters.  Oops, I forgot...I don't have hair there.

    I didn't get a "mold" but I do have a "wing board."  What did everyone Else get for stabilization?

    My goodness Juli, that's some fur there.  I'm jealous.

    Wish you well.

    Renee

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  • BooBee
    BooBee Member Posts: 860
    edited March 2009

    Has anyone stopped having hot flashes now that chemo is over?   I'm hot flash free for 5 more weeks.  Yepeeeeeee!

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  • karen43
    karen43 Member Posts: 24
    edited March 2009

    I saw the rad onc today. He gave me aquafor for the underarm blister but said not to use it 4 hrs prior to rad tx or it would maximize the radiation effect to that area. I definitely don't want that! He also said I only have 3 more tx to the whole breast left and then 7 targeted to the tumor site. Yippee!! Can't wait for this to be over!!!!!

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  • Juli50
    Juli50 Member Posts: 859
    edited March 2009
    Renee - I stopped chemo the end of January and am still having hot flashes, so it kicked me into menopause, which means I will get Arimidex instead of Tamoxifen. Not looking forward to taking it. Frown
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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited March 2009

    Cora, For a while after my SNB, it felt like I had an extra arm under my underarm due to the swelling. It did go away over a couple of months.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2009

    So far 5 rads down, 25 more to go.  Started on the Arimidex on March 23 and today I am feeling  a bit nauseous - not sure if that is from rads or from the Arimidex.  No other side effects at this point.  Working out 4-5 times a week so hopefully this will help combat any potential fatigue.  Keep smiling!

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  • SusieMTN
    SusieMTN Member Posts: 795
    edited March 2009

    Ok ladies, I am freaking out a bit.  Rad is going well, just had my 5th treatment, so far so good.  Radiology Oncologist wants me to see the surgeon to have her drain the seroma and make sure it is not a lymph node.  Honestly it feel like an enlarged lymph node to me! Although she is pretty sure it is a seroma it still is a bit unsettling.  Glad that she is being cautious, who would want anything less.  But still unsettling!  Gosh, this sucks!  I have to find my good ole sense of humor, apparently it is hiding out somewhere! 

    PurpleMe  Just wanted to mention that when I first started taking Arimidex it cause nausea for me too, but only for the first 3 days or so then I was fine.  

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2009
    Thanks SusieMTN, good to know about Arimidex and the nausea and that it is short term.  Although It's certainly debilitating, it is annoying.Cool
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  • nelia48
    nelia48 Member Posts: 539
    edited March 2009

    I didn't have any nausea with the Arimidex.  But I'm freezing cold all day and sweat all night.  I'm sleeping with ice packs.  Don't know if it's from the Arimidex or from the radiation treatments. 

    Thanks for the info about the "fatty armpits."  I'll wait to see if it goes down in a while.  I don't like that feeling there.

    Susie, can you feel the lymph node or whatever it is?  Is it under your arm?  I've never dug under there to feel if there's anything going on.  In fact, it's quite numb still.  Not sure I WANT to dig to see if there's anything going on!

    Cora

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  • LuckyLindy333
    LuckyLindy333 Member Posts: 8
    edited March 2009

    Hi Sam,

    They do not check bloodwork or temperatures where I am going.  I will see my radiologist every Wednesday.  They did say if you start feeling badly and want to take a week off of radiation to call in on Monday so you can take the whole week off, plus the weekend...  I just had my first one today- one down and 25 more to go!

    Linda

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  • jessee54
    jessee54 Member Posts: 112
    edited March 2009

    Hello everyone,

    I haven't been here for a bit as there wasn't much to report. Then last week I had some sort of stomach bug; Vomiting and diarrhea from Tues eve to Wed eve, then Thurs so dehydrated and weak I couldn't get out of bed. By Friday I was fine, and had lost aboaut 5 pounds (yay!).

    Friday I had my first follow-up with my onc after chemo. My blood counts were fine except I was pretty dehydrated, but he said that was consistant with my stomach bug story. I was ordered to fill up on foods high in potassium and salts and lots of fluids.

    He congratulated me on getting through all that I did, told me to expect to be more emotional, with crying jags sometimes, just a chemo aftereffect. He said it's all very normal, and even feeling scared of recurrance, taking a while to trust my body again. This will all go away in time. He said give it a month recovery (physical and emotional) for every month spent from dx to end of all treatment. So that's about 8 months!  By Christmas I should be a new person!!

    The radiation is going fine, no skin problems yet. The rad onc does expect that I will have problems, and said she would switch to the boosters then go back to the whole breast if necessary Surprised.   No headaches, no fatigue (I've been working out which I think really helps with that), no hot flashes, but I never had those anyway. I feel fortunate.  So far...

    I did finally make it to a Look Good Feel Better session, which was fun, and I learned how to make eyebrows. Also, which was totally unexpected, they gave us each a kit with at least $300 worth of makeup and lotions, etc!!  L'oreal, Clinique, I mean, good stuff! 

    ten down, 23 to go....best to everyone, and hugs.

    Jessee 

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  • SusieMTN
    SusieMTN Member Posts: 795
    edited March 2009

    nelia48 I know what you mean about not sure you want to dig around under, however the oncologist pointed out I needed to check that area when I do my SBE on my remaining breast. 

    Yes, you could feel what I feared was a lymph gland (a seroma is just a pocked of fluid, a common side effect apparently with mastectomy).  It was right before my arm pit and felt like a lymph gland.  

    Good news is it was a seroma and was easily drained.  One advantage about being numb is that you don't feel the doctor sticking you, I had to ask if he had stuck me yet!  So I am a happy camper once more!  Laughing

    Ready for my 6th radiation treatment!

    Susie

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  • Mary22
    Mary22 Member Posts: 779
    edited March 2009

    Hello eveyone. I have not been on in awhile, trying to forget for a short time. It has been stressful going to rads everyday. I seem to have so many obstacles with traffic and road patterns due too too much construction all at once. Enough venting. I do consider myself very lucky that my cancer was caught before it spread to lymph nodes and I was spared chemo. That was by the grace of God.

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  • hotandcold
    hotandcold Member Posts: 205
    edited March 2009

    Hello to everyone, I had Bi-lat mast, no recon in January.

    I went to my consult today for starting rads and the Dr. said he wants my skin red. Yikes. made me nervous.  Did any of your Doctors tell you that? 

    Corrine

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  • kristifromsandiego
    kristifromsandiego Member Posts: 271
    edited March 2009

    Nancy,  thank you for your insight on getting tired and Disneyland.  I am getting radiation at 8:15 am then driving 2 hours to Disneyland.  I think I might get a wheel chair, because everyone in my party gets to go to the front of the line....the bit of good that cancer has achieved (front of the line). 

    Bluedasher, I to also notice I get a bit tired at about 5 hours post radiation, I am only on my 3rd day so maybe I am just tired in general, I don't know.  I have to drive 45 minutes each way...such a drag, but at least everything is green so it is pretty.

    Renee, I will try the Aquaphor.  Actually my nurse gave me the option to use either Aquphor,  Xclair or "Emerald" Aloe Relief Lotion and Relief Ointment.  Heard of any of these other ones?

    Cinda, how long has it been since you stopped chemo?  I was just wondering how long it might be for me to grow hair....I kinda miss it.  Bald in Disneyland, I hope I don't scare anyone!!

    Kristi

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  • sgrimes
    sgrimes Member Posts: 28
    edited March 2009

    Hey Kristi - I can only speak from my experience of course, but I had tx 22 of 33 today, and I have not had any fatigue to speak of.  I have worked every day through chemo and rads and haven't really had any issues.  A little itchy nipple, but not bad.  I have been very lucky.  I am also on the younger side (39) and was fairly healthy and in shape before bc, which may have helped, as someone else said.  I would think you should be fine to fly.

    Just as an aside, do you have a compression sleeve for flying?  Is lymphedema a concern for you?  I am debating getting one - we are flying to austin in april.  What have others done?

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  • kristifromsandiego
    kristifromsandiego Member Posts: 271
    edited March 2009

    Samantha,

    I'm a bit older than you, just turned 50, but also was in pretty good shape.  Chemo was pretty bad but I am positive about radiation.  Thanks for the reminder regarding the sleeve, I had forgotten about it.  I hate to buy one for one trip, I will see if they have any at the hospital.  Any suggestions on the creams I mentioned above.  I am suppose to pick one tomorrow, to get sample.  Kristi

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  • kjbell
    kjbell Member Posts: 974
    edited March 2009
    Sgrimes-I am planning on flying in May and asked the lymphedema pt if I would need a sleeve. (I don't have lympedema, I went to her to regain ROM). She said at least 10% of all lymphedemas can be traced to flying without a sleeve. So it is something to think about.
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  • karen43
    karen43 Member Posts: 24
    edited March 2009

    Kristi, I am on my last tx tomorrow and then only 7 more boosts! I only used pure aloe gel and lately cornstarch for under my arm. I have a blister there but that was my fault for shaving accidentally otherwise am doing really good. I haven't had much fatigue either but am exercising 3-4xwk. I think it best to use whatever the rad dr suggests that way if you have a reaction you'll know it's not from some other lotion you've been using. I have tried to follow my dr's advice from day one and so far so good!

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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited March 2009

    Kristi, I fly about once a month on business (though I had to miss one month's trip due to my chemo schedule). I've flown without a sleeve on 4 round trips since surgery and haven't had any trouble. I had an SNB. You had more nodes taken out so I think your risk of lymphedema would be greater than mine.

    I think it was someone else who said she gets tired about 5 hours after rads. Mine are around noon and I get tired about 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I think that's just because mid afternoon is a natural time for energy to lag. But I only get a little tired and not every day. Overall so far, I'm finding my energy stays pretty good. This is so much easier than chemo that I feel hardly impacted at all. Fortunately I only have about a 15 minute drive to the rads place so my whole trip is usually around 45 minutes including the time for radiation.

    Corrine, my rad onc didn't say anything like that. Today was treatment #6 - 1/5 of the way done. Part of my breast is getting a little pink and it is a little tender (which I mainly notice if I roll onto my stomach while sleeping).

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  • SusieMTN
    SusieMTN Member Posts: 795
    edited March 2009

    Just completed my 7th rad and it has been uneventful.  No pinkness, a bit of fatigue due to schedule and sleep issues but not from the rad.  Hope it stays that way but if it doesn't nothing can be as bad a chemo!  Have a great day ladies!Kiss

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  • Mary22
    Mary22 Member Posts: 779
    edited March 2009

    I had tx#19 today, I still do not have any redness around my breast. I have been tired, but I think that is just due to the hassle of everything.

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  • nelia48
    nelia48 Member Posts: 539
    edited March 2009

    Corrine, my radiologist also said they wanted the skin to get red.  And I'm on #19, and mine is getting red. I'm even getting the hyperthermia (heat) treatments twice a week to help it along!!!!!  I'm using the "My Girls Radiation Cream."  I have not blistered or anything yet, and I like it because it is not heavy and greasy like the Aquaphor.  I can put the Radiation Cream on several times during evening and not ruin my clothing. 

    I get tired, too.  But I also think I'm tired from the whole ordeal of it all.  Also my ribs hurt on the side that I'm getting the radiation.  Anyone else have rib pain?

    Cora

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited March 2009

    Flying and lymphedema -- the National Lymphedema Network has Position Papers here on air travel, exercise, and risk reduction:

    http://www.lymphnet.org

    And StepUp-SpeakOut has risk reduction guidelines (including travel guidelines) here:

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/riskreduction_for_lymphedema.htm

    Seeing as how I developed lymphedema in my right arm during a plane flight, following a prophylactic mastectomy with no nodes purposely removed or tested, it's a subject that's close to home for me!

    If you decide to wear compression garments, be sure they're well-fitted and that you have a glove or gauntlet (fingerless "glove") as well as a sleeve. If you decide not to wear them, then get them anyway and take them with you in your carry-on luggage -- I can tell you for sure it's no fun at all to arrive at your vacation destination with a huge hand and no help!Tongue out Here's a page about proper fitting, since that's really important too:

     http://www.stepup-speakout.org/proper_fitting_of_lymphedema_garments.htm

    Bon voyage, all!
    Binney

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  • NancySchoen
    NancySchoen Member Posts: 32
    edited March 2009

    Kristi....I went to Disney in Orlando last year in January.  I had just had back surgery so I rented one of the electric wheel chairs. There were a lot of people using them and it was great. That is definitely the way to go. You are right at this point we need a little perk after all this. Front of the line that works! Have fun.

    Karen... I have 3 more treatments then 7 boosts. I am very red to the point of small little bumps. I am putting the radiacream on right after treatment and a couple of times the rest of the day. It does seem to help. As far as fatigue I must be getting used to being tired. I have finally decided to not to try to do too much.  I just try to do one thing that is really important to me for that day. Hope you have a good weekend. Nancy

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  • karen43
    karen43 Member Posts: 24
    edited March 2009

    Thanks Nancy! I hope you have a good weekend too. I have little red bumps too and last night my upper/mid chest area has gotten sort of rashy looking. It itches too. The rad techs said to mix 1%hydrocortisone with the aloe gel and put that on it. I'm so glad today was my last whole breast treatment. Hopefully the boosts won't be too bad. I just hope this works. I've been a bit worried. Did the rad dr. ever say anything to you about problems with reconstruction (if needed later on) after having rads? I read that on here somewhere and it bothered me. Also, since I have dcis I've been reading some of those posts. I thought rads killed dcis. But apparently not since so many have recurrences after treatment. The more I read the more scared I get!

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  • BooBee
    BooBee Member Posts: 860
    edited March 2009
    Kristi.....so far I haven't tried the Aquaphor.  Vit E oil seems to be doing the job.  I wear a sports bra ofter rads and the cotton seems to hold onto the oil so I don't need to keep putting more on.  I tan easy so I'm not anticipating problems.  If I do, I work from home so the girls may be floating free. DH should like that.

    One of the ladies in the main office has a blistering rash over the entire area.  She's not liking rads right now. 

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