December 2010 Rads

ageorgiadeb - Another good cream for itchy skin is Topicort - it is by RX only.

Wow! I am grateful that I am Canadian...I have not seen a bill for anything...have no idea how much the breast cancer navigator, surgeon, oncologist, technicians etc. charge...I cannot imagine having to worry about how to pay for it on top of worrying about whether or not the cancer will revisit.

As for the aloe vera gel, I bought mine in a big bottle at the local grocery store...used it liberally for the entire radiation event and then switched to eucerin cream once the radiation was over. I peeled and all those fun things but now, three and a half weeks post-radiation, my breast looks like mine again! Even wore my fancy, underwire bra today for te first time in months....things are looking up! (literally)

All will be well folks.

mullaney55 -Congrats  on finishing rads.  So glad you made it through.

The rad fatigue will hang around for awhile so be prepared.  I am 5 weeks post rads and the darn fatigue still gets to me.  I don't know what creams you were using during rads but keep using them for awhile.  The skin will get back to normal soon.

Debbie:

 My folks didn't tell me to use anything unless it got red but I ignored them and they later complimented me on how good my skin looked!  I use aloe vera gel (bought at Whole Foods) and Aquaphor, starting on Day 1.

Good morning ladies - It's snowing in the Northeast.  Hope everyone had a good weekend with time off for our tired boobs.

Canadians- your health care sounds wonderful, I don't know much about it. I am wondering how much say you have in your care or do you have to do what your Dr. wants to do? For example Mx, bilmx or lumpectomy. Reconstruction - do you have a choice in what you can get? How many radiation tx. My RO said that more and more radiation tx are doing 3wks verses 5 1/2 so he told me that if 3wks is as good as 5 1/2 wks why do 5 1/2. I said 3 wks is fine with me. So he totally left it up to me, I just wondered if they give you the freedom like that or is there a standard that they use. The US is trying to come up with new health care and it is kind of scary.

That is good to know, I had often wondered if you had choices with your great health care system, if it changes here in the US I hope it is good.

Happy Monday -- 3 more to go! I can't believe it.  Last week was the worst - had to take a day off and take percoset for 3 days! Now I have a dry peel but can hardly wait til I can use some deodorant - peee-uuu!  Keep lubing those boobies aka goobies!

Did #13 today, slightest hint of rash.  Saw the rad onc and he says I look great, the rash is not significant at all and isn't bothering me.  He says he can tell I won't get a big burn at the end.

He put me in touch with a naturopath to help me with my vitamin, supplement and dietary questions.  Also to help me rebuild my blood post-chemo. We talked about  my frustration with weight gain since chemo, he said that is totally expected and that chemo resets your metabolism.  He said it will take me a year at least to get it off.  Awesome.

toni30, Sorry I wasn't clear - chemo affects metabolism.  I will see the naturopath on Friday

Hi IowaSue,

The adrenal gland product is SRTS (ooh..the combination of letters ,,STRS?,,my naturopath now makes her own so not sure if I have the order of the letters correct)...but if you mention it to your naturopath or at a health food store, they shold know...you could also call it adrenal support....It helped me immensely in the spring just prior to my diagnosis and the three weeks prior to radiation...I had been feeling like someone had stuck a straw in my chest and was slowly sucking out my air...(likely due to lack of sleep...having a hard time sleeping still) . I honestly don't think I would have had my regular energy if I had not gone on it first. I did not feel any physical fatigue during the raditaion treatment..but emotionally I was a basketcase...as long as things went as I had planned,I was ok..but the two days my battery was not charged on my mp3 player, I wept through the session....completely out of my control...can't imagine what I would have been like had I not recharged my battery first!

raincitygirl: good for you...I am on it now and am about half way through...exercizing helps alongside it.

For those of you who are almost finished your rads....CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I felt like an emotional basketcase my second last one..had started the day off energized and ready to do the dance but then fell apart that afternoon...emotional fatigue..relief that phase was almost over? who knows...but expect the unexpected and then celebrate!

My skin was great throughout all 16 sessions and so I did not take them up on the offer of  cortisone offered on my last appointment...but I was back at the clinic 5 days later asking for it...my skin went from a bit pink but fine to peeling, itchy and sore...especially under the arm. My radiologist said that this is typical for a couple of weeks after radiaion is finished. The aloe no longer worked so I switched to eucerin cream and used the cortisone in between eucerin doses...

 Now, one month post radiation, my breast is almost back to normal...well..the new, slightly lopsided and smaller normal..just looks like I was sunbathing with one breast out of my suit! Itch is all gone and the swelling is also dropping so...progress!

Good luck with your last couple of sessions. BREATHE>

SherryC: I am just a few days behind you.  I just had #20 out of 28, then will have 6 boosts. 

My fatigue is not too bad either, but the naps really help.  My doctor said it may take a month or two after the end of rads to get back to normal energy levels.

toni30 - The radiation keeps going up to 2 weeks after rads and the fatigue can linger much longer.  I finished rads on Dec 3rd and just now am feeling really good - no leftover fatigue.  You will want to keep using your creams at least 2 - 3 weeks after rads.