May 2011 Radiation

I figured for sure it has to be different strengths - I started the same day as TonLee, but only 20 total treatments including 6 boosts.  Did 14 regular treatments (2 zaps) to just the breast and had the 3rd boost today (takes only seconds).  Only have 3 boosts to go.  So far I have no side effects, no redness, no soreness, no blisters, no tiredness, notta (not that I'm complaining).  But I also have no healing wounds either.  My surgery was in November, lumpectomy, maybe a one inch scar that healed WAY before chemo or radiation.  It has to make a difference.

Also, in our local paper on Sunday was an article about a medicine called Aromasin for post menapausal women (I don't fall into that category) but wondered if anyone has heard of it.  Says it has fewer side effects than other meds like Arimidex, etc.  The article goes on to say that they figured out that if they radiate the whole arm pit when it's spread to the lymph nodes that it "significantly lowered the chances that the cancer would come back." 

MaggieMc2, ouchy!  I had shingles as a kid and it's very unpleasent. 

Yes, the treatment SEs are crazy!  Anyone else having dry eyes?  Hot flashes awaken me every night, but now I have trouble prying opening my eyes, and they're bright red in the morning.  My RO suggested eye moisturizing drops, but didn't relate it to BC treatment.  Then I had my teeth cleaned, and the oral hygienist asked if I was experiencing dry mouth as a SE of radiation.  No, but I told her about the dry eyes and she said it makes sense - salivary glands can dry up during radiation, making the patient more prone to cavities, so why not the eyes?   I need to buy those drops.

Then there's the nauseau.  My RO believes it's caused by the constant stress to the body from the radiation.  She suggested Pepcid AC, which has been working  - yeah!  I also have an itchy rash on my chest.  1% hydrocortisone cream did not quell the itch, so now I'm trying Benadryl gel.  

I am profoundly tired, which makes me irritable and snappy.  Usually at the people I love the most, simply by virtue of proximity.  Arghh.

My breast hurts, inside and out.  I wonder why I saved it?  If this is the new "quality" of life, should have had a masectomy?

OK, I'm off the pity pot.

Hi Ladies!  I've been off the site for a week and there's so much reading to catch up with.

The treatment SEs are really crazy.  Anyone else having dry eyes?  Hot flashes awaken me every night, but now I have trouble prying opening my eyes, and they're bright red in the morning.  My RO suggested eye moisturizing drops, but didn't relate it to BC treatment.  Then I had my teeth cleaned, and the oral hygienist asked if I was experiencing dry mouth as a SE of radiation.  I told her about the dry eyes and she said it makes sense - salivary glands can dry up during radiation, making the patient more prone to cavities, so why not the eyes?   I need to buy those drops.

Following up on my earlier posts re nauseau: My RO believes it's caused by the constant stress to the body from the radiation.  She suggested Pepcid AC, which has been working  - yeah! 

I also have an itchy, blistering rash on my chest.  1% hydrocortisone cream did not quell the itch, so now I'm trying Benadryl gel.  My breast remains pink throughout the day but usually returns to normal color the next morning. All  structural garments are really iritating me now so I've given up on them.  Just cotton tees and hoodies now.

I am profoundly tired in the late afternoon/evening, which makes me irritable and snappy.  Usually at the people I love the most, simply by virtue of proximity.  I have been apologizing to my family a lot lately!  I therefore try to be productive in the a.m., before I crash.  Nothing as vigorous as some of you gals, but I am walking/jogging my little terriers at the Rose Bowl after my 9:30 a.m. treatements.

My MO is waiting until I complete radiation before starting me on Tamoxifin.  If I recall correctly, his reasoning was simply that he did not want to overwhelm me.

The radiation patients at my facility are scheduled so that I rarely see anyone else besides the next one after me, but I have occasionally seen other patients.  Most are significantly older women (I'm 50).  And no staff "eye candy" anywhere!  But very lovely, kind caregivers.  I can see that I'm lucky for that.

I hope you are all doing as well as possible!  I am very glad to have your company.

(I have no idea why part of this post is showing up in italicized font (at least on my laptop) but I can't correct that.)

Brenilea~ I had pain, burning etc, on skin surface and sometimes underneath, like a knife jabbing from the inside.  The skin hurting I figured out on me was the skin getting tighter and tighter, until this last Sunday when it opened.  It seems to have skin already growing underneath in most places except right where the SNB scar is. 

My rads were whole breast, super clav and something else, can't remember.  The machine was at nine oclock and in my face for about a 30 second zap, then just off of twelve oclock for another 30 seconds, then the darn thing disappeared, maybe 5 oclock or so for another 30 second zap.  Sometimes I would start to think they forgot to turn it off....

As for Rads isn't as bad as chemo, I beg to differ too.  It kicked my exhausted ass....At least with chemo I was so out of it nothing else mattered, but since I've got all my brain while in rads it likes to mess with me.....lol 

Guess it doesn't pay to open ypor mouth.  Said just days ago never had trouble with the machine. ........only 4 to go, and got the friggin call this morning that the machine is down..i am so pissed...........almost there and everything goes to shit........told about the extra Rads, got over that...........the f/n lymphedema, and wrapping everyday 2 times a day, and now this news.....when the hell does this shit end, when they close the "lid" I guess.  oh well....now where the hell did I put my "big girl panties"

TonLee:  I was thinking of you (do you feel special?) and your question about reactions and treatment plans. I wonder if where your tumor is makes a difference.  Mine was at the chest wall (eek!) so nowhere near my skin.  I've never seen a bolus and only have heard of it here (don't particularly understand it) so I suspect there is a difference in treatment if the mass is near the skin surface??

TonLee - my RO mentioned the study to me on Monday - said it just came out over the weekend.  It wasn't due to finish for a while yet, but the results were so overwhelming that it was released early.

rohanna - if your arm is already stiff, the best exercise is to stand facing a wall and "walk" your fingers up the wall until your arms are all the way up.  I also lay on a foam roller, lift my arms straight up and drop them to the side; then go about 45 degrees; then straight up.

Ducky - TOTALLY get your frustration.  I told me techs that if any surprises came up the last week, I wasn't coming in.  Doc would just have to be happy with what he gave me to that point!  Of course, my husband would probably argue with me about that! 

A cold beer sounds so good right now.....

CB : Today went well, think the routine they are setting up for me will work… I think its the xanax I take before treatment is what is causing the nausea but I'm going to test my theory tomorrow by not taking the xanax (I have to drive myself tomorrow).

I do have THE RASH at #8.. today was doctor day so the RO gave me the hydrocortisone cream to use morning and night with the Xclair and aquaphor… I also asked about my hot flashes I am starting to get and he suggested only 400mg of vitamin E a day - something about- IF its going to work, it will work with that dosage not to take any more than that.  We ARE all fighters, Its just a big bump in the road...we can do it!!!

TonLee - very interesting concept about the different doses. I hadn't thought of that, but it makes perfect sense. Sorry to hear you're getting the max, but also sounds like your RO is up to speed and looking out for your long-term best interests.

FWIW - my target area for the whole breast radiation was a triangle over my breast - short side is about 10" right down my breastbone with the two long sides meeting on my back behind my armpit. When they did the whole breast treatments, they did two "zaps". One was from the side and above and the other from below. It was as if the beam was going to the same place, but different directions if that makes sense.  

From what we've all shared, I expect the centers we're going to have different types of equipment. 

My RO's nurse told me that amount of skin reaction depends on a combination of skin type and amount of surface being treated. Fair skin doesn't necessarily have more reaction. The more surface in the field, the greater the reaction.

I read someplace that the reason you shouldn't put lotions or creams on within 2 hours of treatment is that if you do, the unabsorbed cream can act like a bolus, directing the beam closer to the surface of your skin. Talk about precision. 

Cb451- I just read your post about walking your terriers around the Rose Bowl after your treatment. My daughter lives very close to the Rose Bowl. We are going out there at the end of the month and plan to walk her maltipoo,, along with our new grand baby, around there. I'll definitely be looking for two terriers walking/jogging with their owner.

Today was the first day the machine was down for me.    I only have 6 more to go.  That means I will finish next Friday instead of Thursday.  My whole breast area is bright red, but it doesn't hurt yet.  Under the arm is blackened and kind of gross, but so numb from the axillary node dissection, that I can't feel that either.  I am really tired, but it's June and every day one of my four kids has a graduation or a recital or something or other, and I have not been able to rest, even on the weekends.  This is the last weekend of insanity for my house.  (6 soccer games, 2 dance recitals, 1 birthday party, and a partridge in a pear tree....).  Next weekend rads better be done!  No more machine breakdowns will be tolerated.  I plan on a very big margarita and a lot of sleep.  

Ok, so I've consistently been losing a significant amount of weight through the BC process...to the tune of 49lbs since diagnosis.  I can honestly say that I'm not trying.  It's just falling off.  Mostly due to terrible diarrhea.  I expected to have gained 5lbs at TCH #6 today, but I lost 3lbs.

I really don't see me staying within 1lb of my starting weight through 6 weeks of rads.

And bulking up on protein would seem to be a recipe for weight loss.  If most of your diet comes from lean protein and fruits/veggies - well, that's a recipe for weightloss.    I'm eating better than I have in my entire LIFE.  So it makes sense that I would be losing big weight.

I was told not to lose weight for the simple reason that it would change my breast too much and they would need to re-scan me and re-do the plan for the rads.  I have a good 25 pounds that I need to take off, but I'm holding off getting serious about that until July 6th. 

My treatment consists of 4 zaps in each of two positions of the machine -- both through the breast from above at about the 2 o'clock position and then below from about the 8 o'clock position.  The first zap in each position is about 10 seconds and then the next three zaps in each position are only 1 second each.  Tomorrow I'll be half way through.  I have some pinkness and tenderness, but so far so good. 

Howdy everyone,

I finished my radiation treatments on May 26th...and now on June 8th, my skin looks worse then it ever has...I have developed quite a rash....strange...I was fine until now. Hopefully it goes away soon. I wonder if this is normal?