JUNE 2011 RADS

I'm done too--I met with my RO today and we both agreed that my axilla has had all of the radiation it can take.  Boosts cancelled.   I have major skin SEs in armpit, so I'm not celebrating quite yet.  Congrats to all!

Karebear:  congrats on completing rads.  yayyy

Maybe:  My RO nurse told me to eat protein w/ each meal to speed the healing process for the skin. 

My axilla is now raw but I only have 2 regular and 3 boosts left.  And I'm using pain patches on the bad areas and that helps a lot. 

Congrats to all of you ladies who are finished with rads. Tomorrow is my last boost. Going for a pelvic ultrasound due to pain and bloating, tomorrow also.  Hopefully, it is nothing related to cancer. 

Today I'm joining the ranks of those who are done!!!  I meet with my MO next Monday to talk about the next step with Tamoxifen.

 I don't know if I remember how to work an 8 hour day :-)

 Cindy

Woke up this morning at 6am, I guess I have been doing this for so long, my body told me to get up and go to rads.  But, I AM DONE. Was suppose to go to get a pelvic ultrasound yesterday, but of course I got my monthly friend, which I have not had since May. Had to reschedule. I know I should be happy treatment is behind, but not feeling so happy.  I kinda feel like I am in limbo right now, I guess this too shall pass. I have to learn how to move on with my life. Wondering how others are feeling now that you are done rads?

Thanks Brenda-I am sure this will pass.  I am just waiting for the next shoe to drop. I just have a gut feeling that this is not the end. I guess everyone feels that way in the beginning. My DH keeps telling me I am being paranoid, he is so sure this whole nightmare is over and God knows I hope he is right. Sorry you had to deal with family issues, with all else.  I wish you lived closer also, I could really use a laugh right now.  I have a cousin, who is also my best friend. She has stage 4 non-hodgekins lymphoma. She is amazing. She calls me every day and all I do is laugh. Spent the weekend at her house a couple of weeks ago and we sat by her pool the entire weekend and laughed, literally until we both wet ourselves (lol).  Felt so good.

Just finished my 34th and last rad treatment today. For the last week after every treatment I have seen an RO nurse to have my skin bandaged; have to keep dressings on it all the time. I thought for sure the RO would skip some of the boosts or something, but no we kept on going. I am beyond red on the whole left side of my chest from below my collarbone to the bottom of my ribs, including the underarm area. It hurts so bad! Thank God I am done. Now I have to see the RO on a weekly basis until I am healed. I don't think I would tell anyone that this is easier than chemo.

I don't see my MO until the end of August and then I will get the dreaded Tamoxifen prescription. I am so unsure of that too. One step at a time.

I finished all of my WBR treatments today....yay!! However, I have to go back August 15th to begin my 8 boosts. My RO is giving me a break so that my skin can heal up some before I start those.

I'm pink, but red under my arm. I have been struggling with fatigue this week too. My RO said that my skin will continue to deteriorate for about a week more and then begin to heal. 

Melanie Ann...I've had that sensation of my skin ripping apart too. Freaked me out! I went to look but it still looks the same. I was wondering if it had happened underneath too.

Barb: the way my RO my ripping apart sensation is that what I see on the outside is also happening on the inside - therefore, even though you can't see anything it is burned and needing to heal too.

Wednesday morning I was dialing the rads # & going to cancel the last 5 boosts because I was feeling so bad physically & emotionally.  DH asked if it would help if he drove me - DD walked in the door & gave me a hug.  So I went in & had boost 5 BUT I asked if the last 4 boosts could be spaced out with a day in between so I will be finished next Friday.  Guess someone must have been watching over me, thanks goodness....  I have not been one of the lucky ones who haven't burnt - I'm way past burnt & into very dark brown, peeling, & extremely sensitive.  Boosts have increased the fatigue also.

I'm done with rads!  My skin looks pretty good.  I still have some tenderness but nothing I can't stand.  Today was a little emotional.  I don't know why I felt that way.  Good luck Fitz.  Use your gel.  A lady that I got to know said she puts her gel in the refrigerator and it feels so good on her skin.  Have a good weekend sisters. 

Brenda

I'm still a patient--not a survivor yet--and I'm getting impatient!  I'm Day 9 post-rads and keep looking for any sign of healing.  This is worse than waiting for Santa when I was a kid!

Maybe: I went to the relay for life today and they put you as a survivor from the day you are diagnosed. As long as you are alive you are a survivor!!! ((HUGS))

My breast is healing nicely but where I had the boosts (a most tender area) is peeling.  If I use the gel, my nip sticks to my clothes and then the skin comes off.  Yikes it hurts.  No more gel for that area. lol

OK, karebear--I'm a survivor. . . .  I know I'm alive because I hurt so much. lol  No, you're right.  Chin up.  Big girl panties on.

Seriously, I knew that because I have sensitive skin and because my tumor was in my axilla, I'd probably have some strong reaction, so I was meticulous in my skin care but then was thinking I'd be one of the lucky ones to go through rads comparatively physically unscathed.  I did fine until some slight discharge the day before my last rad.  The day after my last rad until now (Day 11 post-rads) has been unbearable.  My armpit looks like those in the pictures when you google "severe radiation burn" or "wet desquamation"--my entire armpit is one solid 3rd level burn that encompasses my incision.  I can't wear clothes, I can't do anything but survive. 

So, mammalou, where do you get the Vigalon dressings?  Do you have to have a script?  As luck would have it, my RO is out of town this week.

I'm so glad to hear about others' healing.  I look forward to being there with you.