September 2010 Rads

So how's everyone doing?  I am having some minor skin problems and I'm wondering if anyoneelse is having issues weeks after rads are over?  I had no skin problems during rads at all, then 3-4 weeks after rads ended I started getting very itchy skin and a rash on that breast.  PCP gave me steroid cream, which took care of it, but everytime I try to stop the cream the rash and itching comes back!  It's been 6 weeks now since the rash fist appeared.

Julia 

Hi,

Happy New Year's Day!!!!   January 5th, I'll continue with (PT).

Hi!

I am still having (PT), and getting edema in breast.   

Hey, how is everyone doing? Teka, sorry you are having problems. I don't have any advice, but to me it sounds like truncal lymphedema, which can happen after radiation. It sounds like you are already getting physical therapy, but make sure they know lymphedema could be the problem. You might want to check that thread for more information on LE therapy techniques.

Blessings

Hello ladies, it's been awhile since I have stopped in but I do have a question. Has anyone here been experiencing any pain post radiation? I really started noticing it this week mainly around the incision areas?

Hi everyone,

Thanks Teka and Shelley for sharing info about edema and lymphedema. Some good news is that I flew from Los Angeles to Seattle at Thanksgiving and to Portland, OR at Christmas and had no problems. I had been concerned about lymphedema after BMX and rads, but nothing happened. That was a relief. Teka, I hope you can get a replacement bra soon. Sorry to hear about the hassle.

Dawn, my BMX incisions don't hurt, but my port incision does. I figured it was because they did surgery there twice (placement and removal). It's been almost 6 months and is finally feeling better. It hurt mostly at night at bedtime. I found that rubbing it gently seemed to help. I'm sorry your incisionis painful.

I am continuing to find it important to do gentle stretching exercises with my arms every day. My rad onc said women can tend to favor the arm on the radiated side and not use it, and that then they loose the full use of their arm. He also said that the incisions for a MX want to tighten up so we need to resist this with stretching. I can definitely feel tightness when I start stretching, but after 10 minutes or so the slight pain goes away. I do these stretches on my bed, so it's hard to find an excuse not to do them!! 

I had my radiation tattoos removed yesterday with a laser treatment. I know they were small, but they bugged me. It wasn't painful. Hopefully it will only take one treatment, but it could take another. Has anyone else done this?

Glad to hear about the laser treatment, rcca. One of mine is right in the middle of my chest and definitely shows above almost every top I wear. It bugs me. Good to know I could get rid of it if I wanted to.

Dawn46, I also have had the shooting pains. Not very often and haven't had them for a while now. I think it is just nerves healing.

 But what I have had recently and am wondering if any one else has experienced this. It has been almost 6 months post op for me (with only a lumpectomy) and almost 3 months post rads. Everything healed nicely and I had been feeling great. That is until a few days ago, it seems out of the blue my whole left side (the side with lumpectomy and radiation) from under my arm to my rib cage particularly my back, is very sore and tight. It has not stopped me from working thanks to aspirin, Not sure what to think. Has anyone else had this problem? Just trying to  make sense of everything.

Marie2-I have the same affected area. I just noticed today when I took off my bra that there was a small discharge stain in the position of where my nipple would touch. I will definitely be calling the doctor on Monday. It would be nice not to think that every little symptom or pain could be a recurrance. I have searched around on other forums reading and some of the ladies had to have pockets drained.