April 2011 Rads

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  • tvandyk
    tvandyk Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2011

    The best thing I found for my burned, torn up skin is called a Radiadres gel sheet. My RO gave it to me. The package indicates it is for radiation reactions. Works wonders, especially if you have to wear a bra. Down to my last 2. RO did the boosts last week bcz skin was in bad shape and she said it needed a break.



    Hope you all have a good weekend.

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  • sammolisa
    sammolisa Member Posts: 180
    edited May 2011
    sagina --  wonder what this rash is?  Mine doesn't itch, doesn't hurt, it's just there and spreading.  Thought at first it was  a heat rash - but those types go away fairly quickly as soon as the skin cools.  Rash is going on for 5 days now or so.  I dunno  what it is.  
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  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited May 2011

    Lisa-i have some tiny bumps in the areas you mentioned.  I've had them for a couple weeks now.  I just assumed they were blisters.  I did ask the rad therapist and she said looks like they might be.  They are itchy and have yet to break open.

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  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited May 2011

    Oh well, its finally happening.........boob isn't looking as good today as it did yesterday........Shit when did it begin..........looked ok, but today not too good.............I have these raised lines almost like your stretch marks you get on your boobs from pregnancy , but they are raised.

    Put all the sticky and greasy shit on, and I hate it...............when your a D cup on one side, and God knows what size on the other side it isn't pretty without a bra.................so right now I have on a men's size XL T-shirt, which is down to mid-thigh............if I pinned it under my crotch I wouldn't have to wear underwear............and it is massive..............add the Bra. overtop of the T-shirt, and then my huge "Garth Brooks" concert shirt, and WHOA, talk about a fashion statment.

    Tomorrow I bite the bullet and just wear a Bra without ointment cause I have to go to my grandaughter's bridal shower...........................13 more treatments, and if this got this way overnight, I can't imagine what the next 13 will be like.......................Oh well, ...........shit.............someone find my suspenders...........I have to put on my "big girl panties" again...............................Ok, did someone say Prozac.

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  • DLL66
    DLL66 Member Posts: 700
    edited May 2011

    Poor Ducky!

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  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited May 2011
    DLL66................Did I really think I was going to get through this without any problems........funny me..................I guess I should consider myself lucky...........some of these poor ladies have troube from week 1, so like I said ...................put on my big girl panties.................there is always someone worse then I am.......................Guess I better cancel the Pity Party for today.......................hugs...............Embarassed
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  • GabbyCal
    GabbyCal Member Posts: 277
    edited May 2011
    duckyb1 - be sure to give that area with the little lines extra slathers of Aquaphor. You don't want those little lines to dry out and turn into cracks. Seriously.
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  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited May 2011

    Ok, Gabby girlfriend, thanks for that adivce............what the hell are those lines anyway..........about the size of an earthworm, and a little raised.

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  • ritaz
    ritaz Member Posts: 186
    edited May 2011

    Congrats to Aimee Mac and DLL66 on finishing!  Kiss

    I too finished yesterday!  Whoo whoo - don't know who said it, but strangely enough, I'm laying t there, getting the last boost and I can feel myself tearing up!  Whoooo what the hell was that?  The RO gave me a hug and with a 2 week appointment in hand, off I went.  I really, really wanted to celebrate but unfortunately, the fatigue took over and I was down for the count at 9:00...How boring...

    Didn't get a real bad skin reaction until the second last day - peeling underneath - RO gave me some Silverdine (<sp?) with some non stick curad pads - that helps.  A small area near the lymph nodes is a bit red and sore, she's having me put hydrocortizone on there and that soothes it...oh, and the breast feels like theres a hot coal inside...I have a rash too - the RO said that it's the hair folicles having a reaction and suggested hydrocortizone for the itchness...

    Ducky - I purchased 30 X $2.00 scratch tickets and won:  $14.00...Plus I bought another 10 X 5.00 scratch tickets for the last 10 day (I was sick of not winning on the $2.00 tickets) and won $50.00 - at least got my money back on the second set...Apparently, the only luck I have is getting cancer...

    Hope everyone has a healing weekend and that the rest of your rads go smoothly without more reaction...

    Rita

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  • BlueLily
    BlueLily Member Posts: 60
    edited May 2011

    Last rad yesterday .... cried before, during &after. My skin is still raw & peeling .... they said it will take about a month & to be careful about sun exposure. (As I sit here on a bleacher for a dbl header in 87 degrees. ) I started the tamoxifen w/ rads ... it's ok. My best well wishes to you all. Going through this lonely path together has been so helpful .... thank you for the support ..damn I'm crying again! Cheers!

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  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited May 2011

    Congrats to all of you that are done with this hell fire!!!! Take good care fo the skin and take good care of you!!!!

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  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited May 2011

    Rita........so glad your getting some winning tickets...........I won $9.00 the other day, so far $50.00 total and still have another 13 to open........................At least I covered my cost of the tickets.

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  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited May 2011

    Rita and Debbie:  Yaay! You're finished!  Make sure you celebrate as soon as you're up to it, and take care...

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  • DLL66
    DLL66 Member Posts: 700
    edited May 2011

    Congrats ritaz & BlueLily!

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  • lesleye
    lesleye Member Posts: 38
    edited May 2011

    Ducky:  My breast turned a color overnight.  Luckly, I have olive skin so I am getting a nice tan so far.   Wanted to tell you, I did not buy lottery tickets but saved my money for the casino.  I won the jackpot of  1200.00 on the slots.  So this has not been such a bad ride on the radiation.  

     Just feeling tired now, it hits me in the middle of the day like a hammer hitting my head.  17/33 done.  Halfway there!  Then... the tamox. 

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  • duckyb1
    duckyb1 Member Posts: 13,369
    edited May 2011

    lesleye.............good for you.........nothing like winning............I am beginning...after 4 weeks of treatment to see some changes...........not happy, but who was I kidding thinking I was getting through this trip SE free...............have a slightly itchy rash above my boob, which I guess is getting hit by the Rads.........I'm sure it is going to get worse, but I have my Aloe, and Aquaphor.....my daughter-in-law is a nurse, and she said she will get me  Silvadene (?) if I need it.......Getting a little tired, but still able to keep up with my grown daughters when we go out...................Can't complain, there are so many a lot worse then I am, Hope the rest of your Rads goes well for you.

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  • ReadingMama
    ReadingMama Member Posts: 573
    edited May 2011

    Congrats Rita and Debbie on being done!!!SmileSmileSmile, I'm looking forward to joining you soon,

    So I decided not to bake anything and get candy for the Rad Techs.  I had so many flowers given to me during treatment, I have a lot of extra vases.  So I thought I'd get some chocolate, like kisses and some hard candy and put them in the vases.  I went today and bought the candy. I guess I bought more than I thought, it filled 4 vases at first!  I changed and got 1 really large vase and put all the chocolate in there, peppermint patties, peanut butter cups and kisses and put the hard candy in another vase. 

    I'm bringing it in tomorrow even though my last one isn't until Tuesday since I get there late on Tuesday from commuting.  I also bought 2 dot-to-dot books and 2 other activity books.

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  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited May 2011

    Meegan, thank you so much for sharing the candy vases idea!!!! That will be perfect for all the staff at the clinic - one vase for chemo nurses, one for doc and nurses, one for rads staff, and I could even do one for the front office ladies! Thanks a bunch for this, I just couldn't figure out what to do!

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  • ReadingMama
    ReadingMama Member Posts: 573
    edited May 2011

    Gina, glad I could help!  Funny, last night I started thinking, maybe I should switch back to 4 vases to do what you are saying, one for each area?  Still debating.  I haven't done anything for chemo nurses, but I'm still getting Herceptin, so technically will be seeing them for another 7 months or so..

    Rita, I see that you are seeing your RO in two weeks, which someone else said also.  My appt isn't for 6 weeks.  Curious as you other ladies finish, how longer after you last Rad do you go back to see the RO?

    This weekend both Sat. and Sunday night, I felt sick and nauseous, that happen to anyone?  My DH had taken me out to dinner, but I started feeling sick a little while after we got to the resturant, so didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to.Frown

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  • SusanHG
    SusanHG Member Posts: 655
    edited May 2011
    Meegan-I was nauseous on Friday, but did not think it was related to rads.  That was tx #30 for me.  Friday was definitely the worst day for me up until now with fatigue so far.  I think I might be feeling a little better now with the boosts.  Saturday felt pretty normal for me.  Also,  after my tx today, I forgot to put cream on!  It doesn't hurt a bit! Smile
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  • BlueLily
    BlueLily Member Posts: 60
    edited May 2011

    Hi everyone!  Day 3 post rads -- still red and sore but swelling is subsiding and peeliing is in full swing.  Was not up for celebrating this weekend.  I've had 'tickled pink' champagne on ice since Friday -- hopefully sometime soon.  My post RO appointment is exactly one month out - I finished on May 20th and go back on June 20th.  I see my BS before that on the 8th, but the RO said that I will likely still be to tender for any examination.  He said that it could take 6 months for the scar tissue heal and tenderness to subside.  Well wishes to all! 

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  • sammolisa
    sammolisa Member Posts: 180
    edited May 2011

    Well,  two weeks out from rads and my breast is having a hard time.   Remember that rash?   Yeah,  got another rash that came up last night.   ALL OVER my breast this time and looks like hives - hot, with  a fever of 100.8.   Went to my lymphadema spec for tx today and the surgical onc doc came in and looked at it and said - it's cellulitis. Temp at doc's office 101.7.  (and i felt like crap)  Oral antibiotics of Levaquin for now unless by wednesday it doesn't look better - then hospital trip for me for in hospital iv antibiotics.

     Skin where the burns are have finally stopped stinging.   (the cellulitis is pain by itself.)

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  • ritaz
    ritaz Member Posts: 186
    edited May 2011

    Sammolisa:  Ouch girl!  That's terrible...hope you recover soon gentle ((((hugs)))) to you... 

    Bluelily:  3 days out for me too...swelling is subsiding, as well as that "hard" feeling,the peeling in the crease on the bottom increasing, having some pain now and then...Iike my DH said, it's like getting a sunburn - it always hurts more a few days afterward... I've been too tired to really celebrate - just want to "rest" a lot...I'll definately be celebrating once I feel better thou...

    I'm already on Arimidex for the first BC, so I'm essentially done with treatment - now it's just follow up appts and looking forward to being CA free...

    I ended up bringing a stack of Italian cookies and a box of Joe (Dunkin Donuts coffee) to my last appointment...I think I made their day...Plus, it was one of the tech's b-day, so it was especially nice for her!

    Readingmama:  Good luck on your last treatment tomorrow!

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  • ritaz
    ritaz Member Posts: 186
    edited May 2011
    Thanks everyone for their kind congratulations!  Hopefully whatever the balance of your treatments are, they will go quickly Laughing
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  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited May 2011

    21/33 come on 33!  My armpit is really tender and gray and red and my snb scar is black.....any ideas on how to freshen the armpit without scrubbing? I can't stand the way I smell!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2011

    Got my tattoos today, go back Wed. for X-rays, then Thurs. for first rad. Can't wait till this is over. They said no deoderant but I was wondering if you can use those deoderant rocks? I live in the South so I sweat a LOT. And are these dots permanent?

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  • hdangelbaby
    hdangelbaby Member Posts: 731
    edited May 2011

    sagina,

    I have been using baby shampoo, put some in your hand while in the shower, lather it up in your hands, then GENTLY apply it to your breast and armpit. I have found that works pretty well, since baby shampoo is gentle and doesn't have as many harsh chemicals.

    i just started week 3, and i'm not sweating anymore on the treated side, so luckily i haven't had to deal with "the smell"

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  • sagina
    sagina Member Posts: 1,219
    edited May 2011

    Rohanna, I live in San Antonio Texas heat index will be 100 degree today, I can tell you for me nothing is working, not Tom's deodorant, not cornstarch, but air conditioning - now that works! Ouchie when I see my bill! lol.

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  • ritaz
    ritaz Member Posts: 186
    edited May 2011

    Rohanna - I've been using Tom's of Maine, but I believe Gina when she says it doesn't work in San Antonio...It's pretty HOT in Texas!  Yes, unfortunately, you'll always have the "dot"  I've been told that after awhile they will lighten, but never go completely away...Wish they would use a brown ink instead of black because then it would look more like a freckle than tat...

    Gina - money well spent! 

    hdangelbaby:  Yes, I agree, no more sweating, no more hair there, at least for now...Got a lovely underarm tan thou! LOL 

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  • thegood5
    thegood5 Member Posts: 478
    edited May 2011

    Even here in PA w/ it only in the 80's...Toms doesn't work.  I find that it makes my arm stick to my armpit even more.  Got some gel pacs from the RO yesterday to put under my arm...my armpit is VERY angry!  Stay cool!

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