February 2011 Rads

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited February 2011

    I have heard great things about emu oil, but my RO didn't want us to use any oils during rads due to potential for increased burning.  Probably fine to put it on after rads but note before...

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  • Adey
    Adey Member Posts: 3,610
    edited February 2011

    I have TEs too but am only on tx number 4.  Wish I could help.  Healing vibes and hugs.

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited February 2011

    hey i finished rads and today im burning up.the new skin is very red.I called the dr.and he said only the calendula with alo vera.im wondering about the Emu oil...I did sooooo good im afraid to disobey(i never listen to anyone) that was before bc.He wanted to give me a script for something with sulfur in it.but im sooo alergic and i havnt used that in years im fearful....lately im  fearful of everything....I thought I was done with all this crap....DOES IT EVER END?????somehow i dont think so....

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited February 2011

    {{{{{{HIUGS}}}}} to you Grannydukes!!  xoxo

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  • Adey
    Adey Member Posts: 3,610
    edited February 2011

    grannydukes- now I know, never mind the question on the other thread, healing vibes to you.

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited February 2011

    granny - was he offering something like silverdine or silvadine?  That is a sulfa based cream.....good for you for saying no.  I once was in AZ and had a massage outdoors in the sun at 110 F.  Major,  major burn. When the ER doc put the silvadene on it, I went into serious reaction.  I had no idea it was sulfa based.  And yes, I was very young then, it was totally stupid to have a massage in the sun in AZ....

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  • BrilandGirl
    BrilandGirl Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2011

    Beacher:  Sorry to hear about your skin.  I read that you're using four different creams/lotions and always keep it moist.  I would try reducing the number of products--maybe just the aloe and the Miaderm, which was formulated just for radiation and seems to contain everything needed.  The Andra Sina lotion and the Aquaphor both contain oils are more general purpose products--also the Andra Sina contain parabens, which I've read is now banned in Europe.  Also, I would try to air out the skin a bit--I let my aloe and calendula cream soak in, put some corn starch underarm and under the breast before going to bed and let the skin dry for half hour or so.  My RO also said to hold out my arm away from my body as well for a bit to lessen the skin to skin contact.

    Grannydukes:  The radiation effect continues in your body for two weeks after the last treatment.  The emu oil sounds great from some of the posts I've read here but I'd be a little worried about the oil intensifying the radiation burning effect.  I used a calendula infused cream that had almond and sunflower oil--felt good going on but then felt my skin get warmer and a bunch of little red spots appeared.  So I just use aloe and then Boiron calendula cream that doesn't contain oils

    Completed #19 out of 33 today. So far, so good and I really hope my skins holds up for the next half. Doctor also marked my skin for boosts--don't know why so early--boosts start with session 27.     

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited February 2011

    Raincity---Yes that was it.one of them im not sure which one but when she said sulfa I said no.Thank you for telling me i did the right thing.im just using the calendula now.5x today and im wearing a whit tshirt with no bra.i never went without a bra.they always got in my way.the Boiron calendula gel is great.expensive too.

    you would thing when you finish tx your done...WRONG.....Monday will be 2 weeks that i finished tx.will i be done then??????sure hope so....

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  • beacher4209
    beacher4209 Member Posts: 540
    edited February 2011

    Hi BRILANDGIRL,     thanks to here from you,Tha Andrs Sina relief lotion does not have parabens in it .But ya i do not use the aquaphor barely at all to greasy i do have calendula creambut have not used it yet my dr. swears bt the andr sina but i so confused now

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited February 2011

    When I asked the dr about the utterly smooth cream that im using for years all over my body my dr said too many ingred.for the rads.I just think every dr.is different and we should follow the rulesthat they make.hey they are the drs we chose right.Good luck sistas.

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  • Teklya
    Teklya Member Posts: 435
    edited February 2011

    So, I am 1 week out of rads and still feeling yucky, really tired and the breast is still sore, red, some areas are peeling (not like a light sunburn, but like a real a nasty one, you know those that have blisters and real pink skin underneath).  But so glad to be done!!!!! 

    Saw the gal today for fitting of a compression sleeve, (I have a prescription for one and a gauntlet, too).  She was helpful as I knew little about this and now feel I am in good hands.  She said often rads will bring on a fullness and that even driving for long trips in a car can be cause for concern.  Certainly while flying is the big one as the cabin pressure changes often and that is hard on the lymph system that has been compromised

    good nite and take good care

    Teklya

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  • beacher4209
    beacher4209 Member Posts: 540
    edited February 2011

     no phone calls from any of my 3 dr.s who have  3 different opinions on continuing my last 8 rads!! SSSSoooo I am not going tomorrow ! if they can't get it together to get it right for me,why should put myself in what could be more trouble!? anyways who the heck would intentionally go fry a big giant yellow blister more!! makes no sense...and its only going to eventually pop and then new even fresher skin to fry ! what the heck ???i do not think so,not going to let that happen, they better figure this out quick,  but i really do not think they got a clue

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited February 2011

    beacher - I totally agree that having a treatment tomorrow could be difficult. BUT, I would not give any doc an opportunity to not answer to the situation.  I would show up tomorrow and I would be asking to see the RO and asking him some questions, pushing him to talk to the BS.  Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease....just a thought.

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  • libraylil
    libraylil Member Posts: 528
    edited February 2011
    beacher  the squeaky wheel or as I say the patient with their chart flagged :)libraylil
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  • Pegs
    Pegs Member Posts: 198
    edited February 2011

    I don't think they were blisters, but It was hard to tell what they were, it had sores (I guess) under my armpit and under my boob (expander)  the armpit was really sore, i walked around holding my arm out.  i would try the emu oil, research it , i couldnt find anything bad about it, it absorbs so quickly ,  you only need a small amount i think it would take care of that big blister, but hey i am not a doctor either, but i found for myself , there are so many options out there that the doctors don't tell you about.  the expanders are a real pain....sometimes i feel like something is poking me.  they are hard as a rock I can't wait until they come out.  how may more rads do you have to get?

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  • Pegs
    Pegs Member Posts: 198
    edited February 2011

    I would look into emu oil, i tried it and it worked in a week, my underarm was raw, my chest looked like an iron burn, in a week after emu oil (i was done rads) i was just pink.  the emu oil absorbs so quickly I would put in on right after a shower and wait a few before dressing and it was fine.   I put it on in the morning and before bed, i hardly look like i had radiation.

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  • elaineg
    elaineg Member Posts: 198
    edited February 2011

    Had first radiation appointment yesterday.  It was kind of a non event, other than they had to do xrays to make sure tattoos all were in the right spots which meant another 20 minutes plus of my arms over my head.  Seriously how can that hurt so bad?  And I feel like I worked out they are so sore today, so I am pretending I did.  I did not notice any effect from the actual radiation.  Hope the rest of the time is as others say, a quick in and out and over before I know it.  I did let my sister talk me into coming to visit her in New York city for my 50th birthday in April which will basically be the very end of rads, so if anyone was super tired at that point please don't tell me lol I figure I can suffer through it. 

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited February 2011

    WOW soooo much goin on here.All i can say is IT DOES GET BETTER.yesterday i was burning up.today after using the calendula 5x i feel almost perfect.Monday will be 2 weeks done.I was told it takes time but it will and does get better.Just follow your instincts.if you dont feel good enuf to go for tx.DONT GO.they will add it on at the end.I played hookey 3x.we know our bodies.

    Elane by April you will be good to go anywhere.YOU GO GIRL.

    Teklya----time honey...as you say breathe.

    Beacher---im so sorry.go kick some ass.

    hugggggggggggs to all my sistas.God bless...We are gonna make it.K

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  • Pegs
    Pegs Member Posts: 198
    edited February 2011

    actually emu oil, is not really oily, aquaphor is a lot worse.  the emu oil absorbs really fast , if you put too much on its greasy, you only need a small amount.  if i was still receiveing rads, i would put it on in the morning that way its absorbed before you get rads, depends on your time frame i had rads in the late afternoon.  before i found emu oil i put aquaphor on in the morning and by the time i got to rads, sometimes they had to wipe some off.  i hated aquaphor it just stayed on me, never absorbs and ruin so many t shirts.  i did find that putting dawn dish liquid on the grease marks and then soaking the shirt in dishwasher tab got most of the grease mark out. 

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  • beacher4209
    beacher4209 Member Posts: 540
    edited February 2011

     oh its gonna be flagged im sure! the flag will probably say with b~~~~ch ! My husband (forgot your abbrv. for them) is calling to let them know we have made our schedule for my last 8 treatments. 3 next week t,wed th,same following week and the last 2 the following week total o8 just as they want but would not get with each other to discuss .Took it into my own hands husband is calling cause after spending all day trying to get those 3 ghjjppp,,  to communicate i might say something unkind. I would not be able to be disguised like my last sentence   

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited February 2011

    2nd treatment down..26 regular treatments to go and then I have boosts...will be done the first week in April....my birthday is the 2nd week in April, so that will be a good present to be done with it all!

    I was given a prescription called Xclair...and I have Aquaphor to use if I want to in between the prescription.  I've heard yuckiness about Aquaphor, but if I'm home with nowhere to go, I can use that and the big, plain white t-shirts I bought....  :) 

    Praying for all of us ladies...that this treatment is doing it's job of eradicating any leftover boogers for good!

    Have a great Friday and enjoy your weekend!

    Tori 

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  • Jwatrlily
    Jwatrlily Member Posts: 211
    edited February 2011

    Yeah, another thread that will help me. I'm Juanita and I start rads a week from today on Feb. 25th.  I had my tattooing, CT Scan and first simulation yesterday.  On the 24th I have a simulation verification then start treatments the next day.  I'm kind of scared as I just read a thread that talked about getting a bad infection 2 months after rads ended and sometimes those infections if not managed can lead to a mastectomy!!!  How often do these infections happen?  I had a partial mastectomy (I think some surgeons call this a lumpectomy) and so I saved the breast but don't relish I may lose it due to a radiation infection!  Sometimes reading is the worst thing you can do!

    Juanita

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  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited February 2011

    juanita---welcome...I never heard of that one and ive been on the Dec,Jan & Feb thread.Dont worry about it now.Everyone is different.Im sure some of the other ladies who have been around as long as I have will jump on here and tell you the same thing.Rads are a walk in the park.Sure we have up and down days but basically if you follow your drs.and listen to the sistas you will be fine.

    If you have any questions ask away.We are here for you.Drink plenty of water,eat lots of protein and cream,cream and cream again.Stay active...body and mind.hugggggggggggs K

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  • Jwatrlily
    Jwatrlily Member Posts: 211
    edited February 2011

    Thanks Grannydukes.  My RO told me to use Caress soap only, so have been doing that for a couple weeks and to use Eucerin lotion in the pump bottle, not a cream, the regular kind but mine is Everyday with a SPF of 15.  Do you suppose it;s ok?  Guess I better ask them.  As someone said all RO's are different in their approach.  I haven't started using the Eucerin yet.  Maybe I should but didn't want to fade the permanent marks from the get-go.

    Juanita

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  • walker2222
    walker2222 Member Posts: 558
    edited February 2011

    Beacher - how is it going today did you get to talk to the Drs yet.



    Really really tired today, dr said it would take a couple of weeks before the affects wear off. Here's to a great weekend.

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  • ToriGirl
    ToriGirl Member Posts: 1,188
    edited February 2011

    Welcome Juanita!  Good to see you here!

    My RO said to use Dove (unscented) soap...so yes, each RO is different in what they want you to use...most do say Eucerin is good though.. A lot of ladies don't like the texture and what it does to their clothes...I figure that I will use it at home when I can throw on a big white tshirt and not worry about what I look like!  :)

    Have a great weekend everyone!

    Tori 

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  • raincitygirl
    raincitygirl Member Posts: 3,143
    edited February 2011

    Juanita - I haven't heard of that either - given all the great people and information to be found on here, I am sure if there were more than a miniscule chance of that, we would have read about it by now....don't worry too much. I just finished and it was really quite easy, tiring, but easy.  You will likely be pleasantly surprised...

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  • Eloise
    Eloise Member Posts: 137
    edited February 2011

    I had #20 today, just one week to go.  Still having a lot of redness and itchiness, but only under the breast, around the nipple, and a small spot under the arm.  I broke down and ordered some Miaderm which I've been using since Tuesday; it feels soothing going on and the consistency is less gloppy than the Cetaphil I was using.  I hope that between having three days off for Presidents' Day and using the Miaderm, things will get better soon. 

    My fatigue is manageable but I'm working a very reduced schedule -- about 10 hours a week from my usual 50 (two jobs).  I'm so glad I had sick time banked up. What I'm finding more bothersome, and it may just be me, is that even if I'm not especially sleepy or tired, I don't want to do much of anything except watch TV or read or surf the web. All my grand ideas about reorganizing the closets, shopping for a new car, etc. during my leave have gone up in smoke so far! 

    Elaine, I'm also planning to go on vacation shortly after my last session....others have told me it should be doable....and for you, since you'll be with your sister, she'll be understanding if there's a day when you want to stay in or rest in the middle of the day instead of running around the city? 

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  • GirlFriday
    GirlFriday Member Posts: 461
    edited February 2011

    Hello Everyone!

    Got my tats last night after they completed the simulation. I have Xrays the 25th, than start my 33 sessions 28th.  At least I think it's 33...I asked her twice, and when I left it really hadn't stuck in my head.  I was just so happy to get it over with.  I took some ibuprofen before I went in because I knew my shoulder would not like my arm being over my head so long. It seemed to work.  The tat under my arm is a pinched bruise looking thing.  It doesn't really hurt, but it's really bruised about the size of a dime.  It looks kind of funny next to a mole I have there.  Just one more thing to add to the constellation on my body!

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  • Elisimo
    Elisimo Member Posts: 1,601
    edited February 2011

    Juanita - Welcome, there is a lot of good information, encouragement, and support here so ask anything and there will be someone to answer whatever question or issue you have as you go through radiation treatments.

    I have finished #4 of 28 and if all goes as planned I will be done n March 24th.  So far everything has been easy since they let me lay on my side then turn over to my back.  That has helped with my back pain issues.  The treatments are pretty much in and out and from the time I walk in the door until I walk out is usually on ablt 30 minutes.  That includes all the talking and visiting I do with everyone. ;-)  I am using the Emu oil and the Calendula lotion, both of which absorb into my skin quickly.  I have ordered the Miaderm but it has not come yet.  I think I will try just using that everytime once it gets here.  I am using the Emu oil in morning after my shower and after my treatment and I use the Calendula lotion mid-morning and at night.  My treatments currently are at 2:30 but will be changing to 10:00 on Wed. so the times I use each may change then.  The only thing that I have noticed it that the Calendula lotion seems to sting a little when it get on my arm where my port is. Don't know if it is the lotion or the arm rubbing against my side.  The port is so close to the surface that a lot of things seem to make it sting a little.  I tried putting tape over it but the tape takes my skin off so that won't work until I can find a tape that won't take my skin off.

    Hope everyone is having a nice break from rads this weekend.  DH and I have gone to see some friends that live about 2 hours from us for the weekend.  We will be going back home today.  It has been so nice to get away for a little while.

    Tori - how are things going for you?

    Joy and blessings, Amy Jo 

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