May 2010 Rads Group

Hello everyone,

   I knew I would be happy when I was done but I wasen't prepared for the enormous smile that came across my face as the final treatment finished!  Thanked everyone and then did a happy dance in the changing room.  Just wait,,,honestly it feels great.

Leslie1962-my skin is also red itchy, but no open areas yet (can you hear the knocking).  I was not prepared for the redness on my back, which is equally as itchy.  Does everyone get that?

Cher- the last few days I have not gotten a good sleep, itchiness and heat combined with the area being sore now is not helping my beauty rest.

Dazdnfused- I don't know how long the soreness lasts but it increased in the last week for me.  Mostly in the side of breast and armpit area.  Tried Tylenol and that actually helped for me.

Luah- hopefully the cortisone cream will help.  I have tried the .5% over the counter but I don't really think it is helping me that much.  Someone recommended cornstarch to me but haven't tried it yet.  Anyone else tried it?  I know I'm not suppose to scratch but I find myself rubbing over whatever material that I'm wearing 'lightly'. It feels soothing.

Two hours wait is incredible!  I have not had a similar experience the most I've waiting with the rad/onc was 40mins. I was also lucky with my treatments they were always impeccably on time.  Some days if I got there early I finished ahead of time.  Out of 25 treatments I only had to wait longer -about 15mins- twice.  Very fortunate but certainly more 'assembly line' feeling to the treatment than chemo.  Not sure there is any other way to do it.

Congrats to all those who finish this week, we will all be done soon! 

Diane

HI Luah, Your diagnosis is exactly lke mine. I am going for my last rad treatment today. Yahoo!

Mary

I FINALLY got a good night's sleep. Asked the pharmacist and he told me to take up to four teaspoons of Children's Benadryl (I have a problem swallowing pills). It worked like a charm with no morning medicine hangover. So many people are finishing up. I may be one of the last ones standing in this thread since I have ten more to go. I'll end up talking to myself! Don't worry. I'll turn out the lights before I leave!

Hey Mchan - I have 11 more to go so I'm right there with you.  I start getting my boost treatments on June 29th.  I will have eight of those and then will be done on July 9th.  My rad onc said that he thinks my skin may blister.  It's pretty red and angry looking now.  I've been using Udderly Smooth cream, and Lindi Soothing Balm.  Has anyone found anything better?  My rad onc recommended Aquaphor as I'm allergic to Silvadine cream, but Aquaphor has petrolatum as the main ingredient and I was nervous about using it as I heard about a Columbia University study that looked at a possible link between petrolatum and breast cancer.  Has anyone else heard of this?

I switched from udderly smooth to Exclair as I went into boosts.  I love udderly smooth, but the Exclair has something added to combat pain. I used hydrocortisone cream for itching.  All the products were given to me by my rads office, so they were clear of agents that might be harmful.  I got some aloe leaves from a friend and used them, but they were messy, and the other creams seemed to do as much good.

I have two more this week and two boosts next week, then I am done. Gotta get in the car now and drive 35 minutes to get to my rad appointment.

I don't know what other thread I fit into. I should go looking to see if there is a Herceptin group.

Mchan, I have 7 more to go. July 6 is circled on my calendar. I'm holding your hand all the way through! You're not alone!

Diane and Leslie, I'm like you. I don't fit anywhere after this. Treatment is done for me. Had my 5 mo of chemo first and surgery in April. I tend to avoid the Stage IV board.

Dazd, thanks for the compliment. I'm definitely not boring. I find fun wherever I go. Life's too short to dance with ugly men!

I'm still here!  I'm close though.  Next week is it for me.  Fatigue has hit and I'm glad my in-laws are here to help. 

retrvmom - i've been using the xclair for a few weeks and it is good.  I think it's really helped my incision.

there's an area under my breast that's a lot more red than any where else.  Not sure why though.  I did finally remember to ask about my rib pain and he did say it was probably getting iritated by the radiation.  Hoping it clears up quickly once I'm done.  Saw my ps and we are lookng at Nov for my final surgery!!!!!

I have 4 more and done!!!!!!!!!  I am so excited and yet find myself a bit weepy!  Thanks Staceyt for the under the boob info!  I'm trying to sit up straighter to keep my skin from touching in that area!  My TE has slipped so much that it's hard to keep her 'up'!  This from the girl who had AA's at best.  Looking at the one pic I took the am of surgery maybe AAA!

Oh no - just started some major peeling under my bright red arm pit! Just finished my only two boosts and two more regular zaps on Monday and Tuesday, then I am done with rads. Hope my skin holds out. Hope all are doing well.

My experience echoes Everett's.  I'm ten days out and my skin has improved markedly.  Energy level is going up, too. 

Leslie and Mom3 : you're almost there!

KittyDog:  I'm thinking of you, and sorry you're having to deal with the weeping skin on top of the p.t.

Good Monday Morning to everyone !

It seems there are so many of you about to finish.  Believe me, you will feel like a new person.

My last treatment was on 6/22.  My skin looks more "normal" every day, the itchiness has eased up  a lot and I have no noticeable problems other than one tan boob and one white as snow boob !My energy level has also improved.  So, I just wanted to write in with encourgagement and best wishes to everyone that is about to finish.  

Happy Trails and enjoy the rest of your summer.

Georgia in Alabama