APRIL Rads Anyone?

Hi ladies,

Just had my first rad today. It wasn't what I expected at all. I felt like I had been abducted by aliens with that machine rotating around me and the voices coming over the intercom.  lol. I finished chemo in Jan.  I am a little late strating rads. I am on a trail that adds Avastin to TCH. My onco has been out of the office for surgery so I have been seeing the nurse and she said I didn't get rads until I was done with Avastin. When I saw the doctor two weeks she was very upset because I should have started rads back in Feb and someone dropped the ball. So, here I am. I look forward to reading through here and seeing how everyone is doing.

Take care,

Angie

Hi Shan and everyone -

Yes, it is very unfortunate - the rash has spread beyond the affected area and is all over my back -the rads onco thinks it may be because I am very fair and have very sensitive skin.  So far, the hydrocortisone is working - so far, at least.  I wonder why we have to be zapped every day without a break for those of us who have skin issues - and you are right, apparently it is hurting more than it is helping and is making things much worse.

I am also seriously contemplating ending the radiation treatments.  My right breast is swollen, aches constantly, and the more rads I have, the worse it is becoming.  I feel no one at my rads place is taking me seriously. The nurses are not helpful at all.  They keep recommending different creams which have all caused me to break out in a horrendous rash.  I have already had 19 treatments.  Had a lumpectomy with subseqeuent ALND, only one micromet in the sentinel, low Oncotype score, clear margins. At this point, if it comes back, it comes back.  I really don't care anymore.  This is beyond painful.

Hi Ladies,

Welcome Angie!

Shan1171-OH pleeeeeeeeeeese send us a pic of Dr. Love cause I think you got us all curious!  I just adore good looking doc's, they make visits so more pleasurable:-)

Elaine-I always take my vits. with water, they definitely can cause stomach upset. But glad to hear you're better today.

Britt- Oh noooooooo I am so sorry you are having such a difficult time.  It must be very frustrating to you.  That rash has to be helped by something, someone has to give you some answers BEFORE you decide to quit rads.  Did you try talking to your medical oncologist?  Sounds funny but sometimes I trust my med. onc. about the radiation treatments more then I trust my rad. onc.   He was the one who warned me about the nausea rads can cause.  I do hope your rash is resolved soon! Hang in there!

#7 this morning, AND I got my port removed! Wohoooooooo!

I'm starting to see my radiated side is much more pink then my other side.

Have a great day ladies!

Hi everyone - 18 down - the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter!!!

Britt, I do feel for you and am sorry for the skin problems you are having.  I, like the others, hope you don't stop your rads.  You are more than half-way(?) through.  (But, of course you know we are with you 100% in whatever you decide).  I am astonished that you were not told to not put anything on your skin.  There can be any number of substances, combined with the natural oils in your body that may, just in my opinion, cause a chemical reaction when irradiated.  Many on these boards put stuff on right after rads but I've not heard of anyone putting it on before.  Therein may lay the source of your problem, especially since you have sensitive skin.  I still have no problems with my skin so my rad onc still won't let me put anything on either before or after (just the breast - the rest of the body is okay).

kjbell, I do know that they give extra days off when there are severe skin problems but they don't want to do that probably any more than once during the total treatment time.  That may be why they put people off at first request, awaiting a severe reaction.  My rad onc explained that they don't want to give any potential cancer cells lurking about the chance to bounce back from radiation and so 5 days on and 2 off seems to work the best.  The 2 off gives the "good" cells time to heal; they don't want any "bad" cells healing too often.  That's the simple explanation as my brain could comprehend but I would encourage you all to also ask.

 Elaine - you beat me to bed last night by about 15 mins, but I was looking towards the stairs to go up about 6:30!

Okay, back to work - later all.

Dear Brandons Mom

Why don't you want the tattoos....They let the radiation docs know exactly where to rad at.

I just now made it thru my five years....hurrah...I did not have chemo, I had a lumpectomy and 7 nodes removed, I was er/pr positive...I took Tamoxifen for five years, and i forgot to tell you, I did have radiation for the 6 weeks...Yes I do have a little blue dot, between my breast, but when I see it...it reminds me that this was my life, and I made it thru...you can put a little dab of makeup on it to cover it...I wish you all the best in your life....I will pray for you...Please do not be scared of rad treatments...does not hurt at all..yes you get tired, and you may turn pink, but being a redhead my doctor recommended a cream biafine..and I didn't burn at all. Bless you and what ever your decision is, you will come out of this a stronger, and more compassant to all you meet...Sorry my spelling is terrible....Shardon358.....Sharon

Britt- I was told not to use anything before the daily rads but 2 lotions on 3 x a day after. So far after 15 I'm still not red or sore. 18 to go.

Sharson 358- Congratulations on your 5 year mark. We all can't wait to be there in about 5 years too.

Debbie

Hey everyone!  Wow, I had a lot of reading to catch up on.  Welcome to all new members!  I just had #15 of 33.  Almost halfway done.  At first, 6 weeks--everyday for 6 weeks-- seemed like something I wasn't going to be able to handle.  But the next thing you know, you're almost halfway done.  Elaine, I can't believe how close to the end of this you are!  The closer you come to the finish, the closer the rest of us do as well!

Britt, I have to add that I was also told nothing for four hours prior to treatment.  I always saw it the same way that you don't want to put baby oil on your skin when sunbathing as it tends to intesify the suns rays on you skin.  And from what I've read on other rad boards, having a break if your skin is not reacting well is also an option.  Although most reactions seem to have that 5 day threshold.  Your skin is reacting to whatever was done to it five days ago, so it won't get better overnight, but you will eventually get the benefits of healing by taking the time off. 

So far, I've only been using Udderly Smooth twiced a day.  I've also been wearing the bra/camisoles 24/7.  I'm a 36A, so I don't have much of an overlap, per se.  but I also find that moisterizing a lot with the camisole and having the camisole absorb some of the lotion also helps to keep the area moisterized.  Don't get me wrong, I don't saturate it or anything like that, but I am pretty generous with the lotion.

Shan, way to go on the gazebo!  Now when you get exhausted, you'll have a lovely place to veg!

Also, been noticing that my hair is coming in a a fairly rapid pace,  Last night, I was watching Obama speak about the Swine Flu situation(btw...wtf?), and I noticed that our hairstyles seem to be quite simillar!

Robin.... one word OUCH!!!!!!

I feel so good today! I just came back from working out for an hour. I nearly took a nap instead, but I am now glad I chose the exercise. It lifts my mood.

After 9 Tx, mild fatigue and tanning are my only symptoms of rads. I have been using Udderly Smooth twice a day and going braless. When I still wore my mastectomy bra, I had big time redness and soreness wherever it touched my body on the rads side. 

Robin and Maria, I am thinking of you with your skin SE's

Bette 

Hi everyone,

I've been catching up on posts and wanted to say that I'm thinking about all of you.  My first rads treatment is tomorrow, so most of you are WAY ahead of me and your experiences have helped me to get ready for this last phase of treatment.  I'm a little nervous, but guess that's pretty normal when starting rads.  My skin is fair and sensitive, so I've been using the vitamin e oil and aloe vera that the rads onc recommended.  

Blueberry beer sounds very mysterious -- what is it??

Take care.

Bonnie 

My 4th one down 26 to go, Should I be feeling achy and kind of yucky already ??? Cause I do, Hurting is the worse is it from the Rads or past chemo just started doing this.

Thanks Deb

I get the same thing, caligirl. My techs called it a bolus. They said it focused the radiation closer to the skin.  When I asked why, they said doctor's orders. So I am going to ask my rad onc for a fuller explanation next time I see her.

I am also tired, but have the luxury of sleeping in until 7 or 8, which is when DH gets up after his 3-11 nurses job. We then have breakfast together and he takes me to rads. Most of the time he cooks breakfast. I feel cared for and a little spoiled.

Tonight my skin is warm and tender so no bra for me. I am going to put some aloe vera gel on.

Bette