October Rads. 2009

Brookside - Funny, that's the EXACT thing my rad onc was initially concerned about. Of course, at first I  wanted to try straight Apple Cider Vinegar ! The 10% was a compromise. Anyway, after seeing my results, she's sold and acknowledges that she''ll suggest it to others. Of course, she also said it takes a particular type person to be willing to use vinegar soaks so that she wont suggest it for everyone. ~smile~

18 of 33 done and counting.  PS says skin looks good, but I probably have to wait until May for reconstruction...sigh...I guess I need to be patient.  It will be next November by the time all is done including tattoo.  I am happpy my skin is OK, but I am sad to wait it out so long....depressing...

Hi Tara,

Slightly late response to your post on 20th Oct

 In respons to your query about working through rads.  I has dose dense A/C every 2 weeks X4 then Taxol ditto.  I started rads x6 weeks at the same time as Taxol (not after if I understand your post correctly).  I have worked through everything, other than having day off for chemo (Thurs) and Friday to recover.  Work has kept me sane, but helped as work is flexible.  The combo of Taxol with Rads either coincidentally, or because there is a real synergism is increased tiredness.  The overall feeling was no unpleasant, as the dexamethasone (steroid)  you are given in the pre meds with the chemo, plus the dex that give you after to take (I dopped it out as I was not nauseous) makes you hyper, and I had problems sleeping.  I generally have this 'not unpleasant tireness'.  However,  througout chemo, my Hb was dropping (for obvious reasons) and although the GCSF (Neulasta) kept my neutrophils up, on week two of rads, I found I could not finish a sentence and the bloods indicated HB of 9.5.  I got a couple of units of blood, and once I got over the virus I has, now feel much better.  So despite everyone being different, and if you can do it I highly recommend keeping working.  It is good for the mind and good for the soul.  When I was at home, I found I relected (perhaps too much ) on BC, and spent alot of time on sites like these.  Work and its limitless problems (I run a research group of 20) was a much better distraction.

IDC  Lumpectomy, clear margins, 0/11 nodes Grade 3, A/C + Taxol dose dense, rads x 6 Tmaoifen ib next

19 rads down - time flies when you're having fun...

Now I have the burn.  Came in this week, just like my rad onc said.

Mostly in my underarm area - no peeling, but definately more than just a glow...Using Eucerin.  Maybe I'll switch to the Aquafor (sp?) this weekend.  I need more goop anyway  I'm going through a ton of it...would aloe be more 'cooling' if I got that instead?

Best of luck to my fellow 'rad warriors' !

Be good to you -

And even more cooling when you keep the aloe or any other lotion in the frig !

Thanks for the update Brookside. I hope my breast swelling and th pain that is going along with it goes away soon too. It's really annoying and I notice like all the time, kinda like a tooth ache.

Being Saturday I had the day off from radiation treatment. Was kinda down about the pain, so I took the day to myself, took a nap and watched funny movies. Feeling better emotionally, but still bummed about the swelling and pain.

Rozzy, my rad-onc gave me a prescription for Biafine.  It is a topical cream emulsion and while I've not had burning yet (skin is getting darker though), she said to use it 2x per day.  I'm hoping it prevents the more severe burns while keeping my skin conditioned while undergoing the rest of rads.

I believe that Biafine is the prescription form of Neutrogena.  It has "OrthoNeutrogena" on the label.

The Aquaphor was too greasy for me.  I also got the Fruit of the Earth 100% Aloe Vera Gel, but my rad-onc wants me to use the Biafine.

Hi after today, I only have FOUR more to go!  I use radiaplex but BOY am I ever itchy.  it looks like I have the measles on my boob and now it is spreading up to my clavicle and over to my other boob.  I sometimes think I'm allergic to that but I do feel it sooth after it is on but BOY do I ever itch.  I can hardly wait until this is OVER.  But I guess I'll itch for a couple of weeks after that too.  Boy knowing that it is only 4 more days of this is a blessing.

However, I am getting kind of anxious.  It is not the fear of the unknown after this, it is just anxious, like okay, October 30 (last day) is the beginning of my new life and how am I going to make is more memorable than the previous 57 years.  I love my job and hate it too (can't figure that out) and I want to retire like all my other friends but I was the 'hare' and they are the tortoises and i don't think a person can retire on no savings and a huge medical bill ahead of them.  I want to find peace and calm but I only can come up with anxiety.  Oh well.  It is my life and I am responsible to make it better.  Is anyone out there like that too????

Another thing that can be used to help increase energy is the amino acid l-tyrosine.  It is supressed during times of stress.  It helps the thyroid function properly (as does iodine) and it helps provide additional energy and suppresses hunger ideations so I know some people even losing weight without even trying and their thyroid levels improve.  Try that one.  I am going to give it a try myself.  I really need the energy and losing weight would be a plus.

Hi people - this is my first time on this thread and I have just two radiations left. So far, no effects on my skin. Here is a trick I used after surgery. For those of you experiencing a bit of swelling -  try cabbage leaves. Yup - just leaves peeled off an ordinary cabbage in the fridge and placed on your sore boob. My daughter learned this trick from her midwife when she had her first child.  Somehow whatever is in cabbage relieves swelling and since it comes from the fridge, it is cooling. If it doesn't help, it won't hurt. Also it is appropriately shaped! And if you don't use it all on your boobs, you can make cabbage rolls. Just don't make cabbage rolls for a nursing mother. The baby didn't like it.

I'd like to know about the Iodine and Tyrosine too. Dosage, etc. Thanks!

vtmom I am taking a thyroid supplement pill which has iodine and a couple of other things  in it including goji berry. I got it from my naturopath after reading on these boards about the benefits of iodine. I am taking I3C which can be a bit hard on the thyroid apparently, so that was another reason to take it. It does seem to have improved my energy levels. I have told my radiation oncologist that I am taking various supplements. She didn't want to know details and she didn't care - said it was fine if I felt it was helping.

lassie that does not surprise me at all. Cabbage and other crucifous vegetables have lots of amazing properties, including anti-cancer ones.

 I have 2 regular treatments left then 5 boosts. My nipple is a bit itchy and the whole boob aches but no other side effects, thank God.

Is anyone else getting sleepy during the day as a side effect?  I've only had 10 rads of 28 total, and it seems a little early for the fatigue (in the form of sleepiness, not tiredness) to be kicking in.

Maybe it's just the weather?

Sleepiness is DEFINITELY a side effect. Many women take a nap after rads and then resume their day. One women (at the moment, can't remember who; sorry) had the coolest office; they moved a recliner chair into her private office for her naps. Also, try to exercise at least a little every day, even if it's just walking. I feel way better as long as I'm moving and feel best of all when I'm walking alot. Once I stop, I either need a nap or some down time.

Brookside ~ Hi!  I will have my 8th treatment this morning.  I have felt nauseated I think every day since the beginning...for about 90 minutes right after my tx.  I thought it was just nerves, at first.  The staff at the treatment center all deny that I should feel sick from rads to the breast.  But it happens every day!  It's kind of crazy that they act like our body parts are not connected!  Like it's not all part of the same organism, right?  Anyway...I don't mean to go on like that...You are not alone!

About Lotions ~ I had a terrible time finding a lotion that was both fragrance and alcohol free...even the ones recommended by my onc had alcohol in them!  I have been using aloe, which is nice for cooling, but I wanted a lotion for moisture and comfort.  I asked at the health food store (because even most of THEIR lotions have alcohol!) for something especially for radiation burn, and the girl handed me a bottle of HydraMe.  She said it was developed by a woman who had BC who also had a hard time finding an appropriate lotion.  So she struck out on her own to make one for all of us!  It is not too thick, it soaks in with no yucky residue, it smells very nice from natural almond oil and it contains no alcohol or other noxious chemicals!  I have been using it for a few days and I like it a lot.  It is early in my treatment, yet, but I am hopeful that I have found a great solution.  

Best to all!  Thanks for being there!  Suzanne