"Easy" part of treatment? MY A**!

Sorry that you're having such a rough time.  My RO said that skin SEs are more severe for  an MX than a lumpectomy when I asked about  the difference.  -- A cousin diagnosed a few months after my DX had asked about my experience and I wanted not to mislead her.  With a lumpectomy they can use diffusers to minimize the skin effects since the treament area thicker. Check with the radiation nurses about what can be done to  mitigate the "radiation dermitis". That's the innocuous term for the burns.

The coolmagic gel sheets can help a lot,  they also suggested an astringent for when things get oozy. Have they prescribed a cream to use?

The nutritionist I saw during radiation said it's important to make sure to eat enough protein and to get enough water.

Good luck.  As Robyn_S noted, it's not a treatment that can be repeated.  *hugs*

I started radiation almost a year ago, so I'm all done.  I didn't have the crippling fatigue but the burns were awful, and even more awful was knowing, every time I went in there, I was allowing more and more injury to myself, that one day would be the day from which I would never recover without scarring, one day would be the day my lung would take enough cumulative hit to show on a chest x-ray, and so on.  It was awful.  I had to keep telling myself why I was doing it, I flipped out a few times and couldn't get on the table.  But BlueCowgirl, like you I was diagnosed at Stage III and I really want to be around and really don't want a local recurrence more than I didn't want scarring.  Stilll, it's so awful if you know what it's doing to you.  I

My rad onc was really good, we talked physics and tangents several times.  People burn differently not only based on skin color, but on body fatness/thickness, and how they're aiming the beams.  They need the dose to dump off where they think the cancer cells are most likely to be, so the specifics of the beam are going to vary with how much tissue there is there.  There are fields of radiation for Stage I lumpectomies that just aren't at all what they do to Stage III.  

....me again....IMHO, I used to feel that I was a very rational person - since this whole BC deal started, I am not so sure that is the case any longer. For example: The thought actually crossed my mind that I would cancel radiation and never go. I realize this is not rational thinking as "statiscally" I have a 40% chance of recurrance without rads. At 57, I would seriously consider not torturing my body any further, if it were not for my three young grandchildren, who see me every day and adore me, and my three loyal cats who never leave my side. I feel that I have to fight this mess to hopefully survive longer for them.....

Sher 

My RO gave me the option of not doing the last 2 rads because I was so badly burned, but I decided that I would do everything that I could to make sure I survived.    The techs were surprised to see me those days as they were warned that I probably wouldn't bother with them.  BCG, you're right, we've all been lead to believe that rads is tolerated better than chemo.  I didn't know about the high protein thing, I wasn't eating much meat then, I ended up being anemic, I wonder if that had something to do with it. 

Dee

Ah, Cowgirl you hit the nail on the head - I still can't be hugged as I have PTSD from the rad burn days.  I am VERY protective of my right side.

Hi ladies- another thing that is mentioned is that rads will increase chances of LE in radiated area- be aware of the complications of this and be very kind to your sore spots even when they seem fully healed over! I am typing this from a hospital bed as I developed the boob of death aka breast cellulitis. I had a bout of influenza(bad enough in itself) a week ago which can leave you susceptible to bacterial infections - my rad boob was just healed but it suddenly became swollen hit and inflamed and fever. The result is a week on iv abs and pain relief in hospital hopefully out by the weekend but just want the pain to go- all nerve ending not already angry are sending off zingers all the time. ahhh BC the gift that keeps on giving....

I just had my fifth radiation. It doesn't hurt or itch or anything, but this morning my left (radiated) breast was a bit bigger than the other. Since the operation it's been smaller, but now it's bigger. I know it can get swollen from radiation, but the nurses told me that this usually happens later. So is it a bad sign? Will it be worse later because it started already? 

Good morning to all - I was without my laptop for two weeks, so I am trying to catch up on several threads- I missed you guys!  Robyn- so sorry you are going through so much. I hope your recovery is going well. Here we go- another day ahead - I am going to try my best to make it a good one. My 11 yr old grandson has a half-day of school, so he will be going to treatment with me today. My cancer center is very accommodating, so the recepetionst volunteered to keep him busy while I have treatment. I really appreciate her help as the machine was down three days last week, so I don't want to miss another day- I just want to get it done!

Wow seems like recon and rads is way worse than my 3rd degree burns on a flat chest.((hugs)) Take care ladies with your healing.

And to make matters worse, went to see an "integrative med doc" (supposedly to integrate spirit, emotion, mind and body - not just body) this AM.

His remedy was:

For not being able to sleep:

-go to bed at 10 PM

For Insomnia and other concerns:

-exercise 90 minutes EVERY day ( I exercise 40 minutes 4 x a week and am losing weight just trying to keep my energy levels from expiring under all this and he wants MORE????)

-NEVER drink ANY coffee, ANY wine (or any liquor) or ANY fruit juice or ANY rice or pasta or ANY soda EVER AGAIN IN MY LIFE! (No moderation, no hay, one cup, one drink an occasional pasta sort of thing. Just, nothing else he could touch as I already "eat right." with few vices.)

For my spirituality and emotions:

-join a support group and go to al-anon and devote my life to seeing "why I enabled my daughter to become a drug addict" (which she became afer leaving home, not on my watch)(blaming me to do the 12 step program for her)  (instead of GET my OWN life in focus for ME) (Oh yeah, and then he insisted he HAD to tell all my other docs about her jail trouble, embarrassing the crap out of me. I asked him NOT to and he said that "I was in denial" and this would be in my best interest -to tell them my private family stuff- when what I would have preferred was some PRIVACY.)

For my pain:

-use aloe vera on my burnt breast (already aware of that and on my shelf with all my other OTC meds trying to find something that will help me endure this).

For my constipation from pain meds:

-laxative

For my mind:

-he recommend a book about nutrition because it was by a cancer survivor

ALL THAT AND I HELD BACK ON MY PAIN MEDS for THIS appointment???

Oh the frustration...

---

At least I love my Chinese med doc. (build me up naturally and balance my system  and on the affordable side). I'm going to him after this rad hell. I am more sick by these MDs than I can say.

truebff, I suggest you get a message to that "integrative med doc" ASAP that if you have told him something in confidence (about your daughter) and he tells anyone else including your med team that you will report him for serious HIPAA violations. It would be illegal for him to tell them when you have specifically told him not to.

To all of you suffering through rads, I wish you quick healing.

Leah

I have three more treatments to go. I can smell the finish line. I never thought I'd make it, even three treatments ago.