AUGUST 2009 RADS

I finished treatment #17 today out of 30.  I ditched my bra 2 weeks ago and don't plan on wearing one until my skin heals up once I am done with Rads.  I was just too sensitive to wear a bra so I just wear loose clothing with printed material so nobody can tell.

hey all - I just thought I would chime in too - haven't posted in a while.  I am 17 down with 18 to go so after today I will be over the "hump" yeah!  I have a little redness but still not too bad.  I am able to still wear a regular bra so for that I am happy - tiredness is not to bad - almost feels more like I am just plain lazy vs. actual tired. I just don't want to do anything in the evenings! Hope everyone is hanging in there

take care

Lori

Congrats Fmakj...you are done!

LoriR- We are on about the same schedule..I had my 18th done yesterday with 17 to go!  My breast is a little red and get some red spot/bumps, but they go away.  Mine is really red around my collar bone where they are hitting the sup. clavicular nodes(??).  The aquaphor and aloe vera gel seem to be helping.  I am going to use a camisole instead of a bra for Friday to Tues. and see if it makes a difference.

Take care,

Chris

Lori and Chris - Yep, I think we all started on the 17th.  I have 35.  So we're getting close.  My breast looks great, except for the little red bumps on the top.   

Energy level not real good, they're going to up my prednisone while I'm doing this because the rads are causing stress on my body with the Lupus.  Usually it's very well controlled, but with all my body's been thru, it's no wonder. 

 Anyway, actually I'm kind of excited, because now I know I CAN DO THIS!!!!!!

Lori and Kawee,

My energy gets low here and there.  Some days are fine, others I just feel wiped out.  I am not a napper.  Didn't nap all the way through chemo, just layed down.  NOW I could nap everyday!  I am really putting the cream on now.  I put oil on after the shower, then put aloe on that, and then aquaphor on that!  I brought aloe to put on during the day now.  I put aloe and aquaphor after treatment at 4 and then again at bedtime.  I am really trying to prevent blistering and scarring due to my strapless dress for my son's wedding (poor choice in retrospect!).

Keep counting them down......

Chris

Cake, I notice it once in a while.  I attribute it to fatigue.  Are you really tired?  I was doing laundry today and when I was switching from washer to dryer I noticed i was short of breath.

cake is great:     Shortness of breath caused me to ask the rad onc if my lung was compromised from the treatments.  He reached over to my last xray and showed me the "yes" extent that my lung was exposed on the xray  He showed me where on my body the rays hit and it was above the nipple and to the center of my breast. (Right one)   He did however tell me that the only thing I would experience in my future was that this very small part of my lung will show up on a future xray as a shaded area which might cause the tech to suggest pneumona, and I should tell them of my radiation. This exposure caused me to have a small dry cought and shortness of breath but I will add that it is getting better now, 1 1/2 weeks after last treatment. 

You might want to ask your rad onc to show you your latest xray and ask if your lung has been compromised.  Take care   Cathey 

Just curious..I'm finished tx 17 yesterday, anyone having general achiness in the breast area. It doesn't feel like surface tissue damage...more like bruising but very deep? Also, is it common in the node area to feel burning? That's where I'm feeling it pretty consistently.

I have insomnia most nights, so I don't even think about napping. I'm envious of all those nappers out there. Anyone else experiencing insomnia from chemo still? It could be from the tamoxifen or left over from chemopause.

Congrats to all of you that have finished. Thanks for sharing with us.

Wow Alyad...you are the first person that has explained how truly damaged the tissue can get. All I can say I hope you heal fast!  

I too struggle with the idea of sleeping pills but have given up and take a half dose (5 mg) Ambien about every third night. Otherwise, I can not sleep more than three hours. I've been working full time too and need sleep to function. I did ask my onc about it and he said insomnia can last for several months after chemo and don't be concerned about it. I figure if it's still happening when I visit him in Nov., I will get more concerned. I've tried varying my activity...weekends no pills, have reduced my caffeine (1 c of java/day -no pop), stay up later, exercise more, etc. nothing seems to work. Oh well..I hope this too shall pass soon.

Betsy

Alyad - What is IMRT?  I usually research a new term, but frankly, I'm too tired. 

Alyad - Thanks for the info.

Does anyone out there have body aches?

Kawnee - I had severe body aches while on Taxol but a couple of weeks later those symptoms disappeared.  Right now I am just dealing with sheer exhaustion.

I just wanted to jump in.  I have had 8 of 25 treatments and things are going pretty good.  The breast is slightly sore and raw feeling but just slightly pink.  I am using the cream they gave me after treatments and at night.  It is wonderful to have this forum of others that are going through the samething at the sametime.  I can't wear a bra but the cami's with the shelf bra is working pretty good right now.

I also have not heard a bell, I will need to get curious and ask.

Half way done today.  Still just slightly red and a little tender.  Using Aloe as the rad/onc said.  Tired but I don't ususally sleep well so hard to tell if it is from rads or that.  I haven't really slept well since starting menopause.  No problems from Tamox so far.  Hopefully all will continue to go well.  Got my genetics back yesterday, BRCA 1 and 2 negative.  That is a relief but they still want my sister tested since she has had invasive breast cancer twice.  I think she will have it done but of course just switched to not so good insurance.