October 2011 Rads

I know my cancer is not the worst and I really have no right to complain, but I'm sure having my ups and downs, tonight. My husband tells me I should stay off the internet and stop thinking about it, but that's like not thinking about the sun coming up. My surgeon told me I'm in a high risk group because of my age…my age! I'm only 69!

My zaps are going to take me through the holidays and I'm worrying about that. All my family, kids, grandkids, and brother and sister live near me. The thought of missing the celebrations is terrible, but the thought of being with the whole crowd is exhausting. I guess I just don't want to go into radiation feeling fine and come out feeling awful. I know that you're all going through the same (or worse) ups & downs, but you all seem much wiser & braver than I feel tonight!

I'm so glad to read all of your advice on healing creams and things that help. I think I'm feeling low because of the rain and dark, windy weather. But that's what Seattle is like...it causes mood swings. Here's my chart...I'm about a 4 tonight. I'll stop sniveling and feel better tomorrow.

Klick, I agree you have luckily caught the cancer very early, but it is still cancer and of course you are worried.  I am not sure why your doc says you are at higher risk because of your age.  I agree 69 is not old! 

My DD just turned 14 and is dressing up as a jelly fish.  All her friends are dressing up as sea creatures and they turned a wagon into a ship.  They are having a lot of fun with it.  She is heading over her friend's house tonight.  I told her to get me a pic of all of them.

My DH left for a week my second week of rads for a conference.  I had a really tough time the weekend just before he got home.  Got all teary and upset.  I only have the 14 yo and 20 yo son at home.  I really feel for you with younger kids, but you'll get through it!  The nice thing is the little ones can so lift your mood with the funny things they do and say.  Be as kind to yourself and take it as easy as you can.  There is plenty of time later to cook nicer meals and such.

Vicks1960 - everything went great with the SAVI device. The worse part is getting the device placed - not that it was that painful or anything, but it was a very emotional day for me and the day that I really understood that I was being treated for BC. The treatments were easy and knowing that I could start healing in a week helped.  I have now been done with radiation for 2 weeks. I have a couple seromas (I hear sloshing in my breast), breast swelling and sensitivity but that is all. I will see my MO today for my oncotype results and will see my RO next week for my 4 week post rads check. I am not fully on board with Tamoxifen yet and have decided to see how the numbers work out during my MO appointment. Best of luck with your rads - hope it all goes well!

-Sandy

klick - I hear ya on the gray weather here in Seattle. I went to the Seahawks game yesterday and seriously could have fallen asleep right there in the stands (then again, maybe it was the dismal game and not the gray weather, ha). I get those feelings too, when people hear that I don't need chemo they (and I) know that I'm one of the lucky ones but there are days when I definitely don't feel so lucky. 

Thanks to everyone who helped with my questions on fatigue. So far today I feel fine - but it's only lunchtime here and I still have rads, more work and an evening of trick or treating with my kids ahead of me. Still not thrilled to have my husband leave town in the midst of all of this but I know that my friends will step in to help if I ask. My problem is getting to the asking part. 

I'm with you all on feeling blah about the holidays this year. I finish rads the Monday after Thanksgiving. I think I'll be doing a lot less Christmas shopping this year. Gift cards and Amazon.com! 

I just checked Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and can't find "Life After Cancer". I found "Life Over Cancer" and "Life After Cancer Treatment". Any suggestions?

The radiation facility which had lost power from the storm got energy back yesterday and I was able to get in.  Had to see the RO first and she halted treatment because of my skin.  She will see me again on Wed, and see if I can finish the week.  I am not too encouraged as my left boob is still RED.  I am bummed.  Got in the car and cried.  I so want this over and now I don't even know when it will end.  I was supposed to be done on 11/11/11.  10 more treatments.  Now I am hoping by Thanksgiving.

Thanks for letting me vent. 

Anyone have burns that is allergic to Sulfa?  They don't seem to have a good alternative to silvadene to give me.

Pam I can just imagine what it is like to have them halt treatment!  One lady at my facility had that happen, she is now on her last week.  Sad, but it makes me feel like just NOT telling them if my skin is hurting!  I was really scared they would say something, because my mx scar is opening, and there is an area about an inch long that is open.  They gave me antibiotic cream for that, hydrocortisone for the itchy spots, and the udderly smooth cream for the rest.  Praying the skin holds out!!  20 down, 18 to go!

The book I was talking about is "After Breast Cancer: A Common-Sense Guide to Life after Treatment" by Hester Hill Schnipper.  Sorry for the confusion   I'm on pg 113 and still loving it.  I rarely buy books, just get from the library, but I'm thinking this one is one I'll buy!

If I could figure it out, I'd post a pic of my kids from last night.  Maybe later

Sue, I just had X-rays yesterday, I think. So today I get my first real "zaps," and happily start the countdown to being finished with treatment.

I think some ROs prescribe silvadene because  there have actually been studies showing that it's effective:

"Topical silver sulfadiazine for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis during irradiation for breast cancer" by S. Hemati and colleagues in Support Care Cancer (2011).

This is also a good article where they describe how there is a ton of variation in advice out there, but mostly people stick to what they have been recommending for awhile and it's not generally based on scientific evidence:

"Management of skin toxicity during radiation therapy: a review of the evidence." by S. Kumar, E. Juresic, M. Barton & J. Shafiq  (June 2010).

I have tried to slather on Lubriderm the past few weeks to soften up my skin, and today after my first zap I plan to start using Miaderm to keep it soft. Miaderm has calendula, aloe and some other stuff in it that has been shown to help with the SEs.

5kidsmom, I put that book on my "to read" list because I want to be closer to finishing tx before I begin reading it. I still have at least 7 weeks to go, first. 

Nat 

MinneJen, I have lymphedema.  I think rads are what brought it on so fast, but maybe I was destined to get it any way.  My arm got really swollen though, there was no question about it.  If it started just as a little swelling in my finger, I didn't notice it then.  I am far from an expert on it, but there are some ladies on the website that are.  Post your question in the lymphedema forum, and I am positive you will get very knowledgable answers.  The women there are experts, and they are extremely caring and want to help.  You can ask me anything you want, but I don't have much knowledge or experience yet.

My onco did not consider rads and i'm wondering why.  I just called MD Anderson.

If anyone is interested they have a website that tells you what their standard of care is.  For me, rads should be part of it.  

lovetosail, you said it!  All of the different opinions can drive you nuts.  Several drs told me all i need is arrimidex.  One dr said I needed chemo but no rads.  I haven't been to anderson but they seem to be very aggressive.  Why don't they all agree????

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions on creams/lotions.  I am going to see the RO tomorrow and if she still won't let me have treatment, I am not leaving until she prescribes something for me to get rid of the redness.  She has not been helpful at all with lotions.  Just gave me a list the first day but nothing since.

Mostlysew, Thanks for sharing your experience being put on hold for 4 days.  I feel better knowing someone else took it so hard.  I felt stupid crying about it.  Even welled up when I told a colleague at work.  I was so embarrassed.

Gonna order the Life after Cancer that the message board was talking about.  These treatments can't be on hold forever and they will eventually end.  24 down, 10 to go, 3 full, 7 boosts.

Hi everyone. I finished up rads on October 20th. I celebrated by going on the Blues Cruise on the 23rd. Just returned from the trip and it was spectacular! Fantastic music, food, and fun. It was exciting, but also relaxing. I took my creams and stuff, but fortunately my burned armpit was almost healed and the itching was very minimal. The trip away was just what the doctor ordered (pun intended). I wish that you all could have been with me!



It is such a pleasure to NOT drive two hours round trip to treatments. The relief is extraordinary. To those of you not yet finished, hang in there. Sweet times are on the way!