November 2011 Rads

Saw redness and itching after three treatments and was told it was too early to see reaction. By week two, I was very dark and red under my breast and under my arm. Took until week three to see overall redness but had open spots under my breast by then.

My skin started turning pink around #10, by #16 it starting getting purple-red and my underboob started to break open, peel and seep. My underarm also turned black and raw. It wasn't until #21 that I had an approx. 5cm open area on my underboob and my armpit was so raw I was crying in pain. The techs didn't want to proceed and the RO finally said I had to take a week off rads (which they rarely do). I missed 4 days of work and just went back today. I'm about 80 percent better with just an open area of approx 1cm. I'm worried because I restart rads tomorrow. 2 whole breast and 5 boosts. The boosts will be targeted to the scar on the underboob. I just don't want a relapse. And I thought fatigue was going to be my problem. I haven't had any of that! I'm so anxious to get this over with now!

Hi all,
After a week I thought I had slight swelling, but I also adjusted some drugs too.  Nothing visual yet...
Question:  some ladies have described axilla skin damage and discomfort.  I noticed that some did not have affected nodes.  So, why is the underarm being irradiated?  Does it depend on where the tumor was?  How would I know the extent of my irradiated area?
They took x-rays Friday and I see my R.O. tomorrow.  I guess I can ask her to describe the area or to show me the x-rays and explain.
I don't know whether to be putting products on the underarm or not.
Can anyone fill me in?
Thanks,

Joan

Thanks,rn4babies...I think I will ask also...Joan

Hi Joan...I asked why my underarm (where I had positive nodes) wasn't being done and my collarbone area (superior axillary??) and I was told that surgery took out lymph nodes and they go to the next area and shoot that...so I guess they just follow chain..not sure if someone with dcis would have armpit done?  and was also told that because I had lymph node dissection in armpit that rads would draw blood to area and would have pain from that not actually from rads to armpit...can't wait for this to be over..ugh

Duh to me - did not proof read previous message - 'meant to type, "my shopping cart full of...."

LuvRving If you are  not sure of where they are irradiating ask them to draw an outline of the field. They did that for me just before my first treatment and I knew where to put my cream.I have had 18 treatments and my skin is holding up fairly well. I use hydrocortisone cream after the rads, followed by Miaderm cream and put Aquaphor on my nipple area. Since the 14th treatment I have also done Domeboro soaks (1 packet to 16 ozs of water) two or three times a day.) My RO said to mix up and put in refrigerator. I pour alittle into a glass bowl and briefly heat in microwave to take chill off. I use paper towels to soak up solution and apply for twenty minutes changing towels after ten minutes. A mixed solution lasts about two days. Hope that is of assistance to you. Good luck.

I had chemo before surgery and no scans showed positive axilla nodes, but did show positive internal mammary nodes. I haven't had my set up appointment yet but the ro did mention radiation to the axilla, im nodes and supraclavicle. My snb was negative so far, final path on Tuesday. He also said I could completely forego rads if my final path report is negative, and they could do a watch and wait thing. I am pretty sure I will do rads even if path report shows complete response.

Mandalala-raw would mean skin is still there, but very thin and sensitive, and redish and sore.

I am not having axilla nodes done but one of the angles they shoot at me gets part of the armpit. That was the part where I burned because I didn;t realize it was going thru there. Having the weekend off seems to have helped-and now that I know I have to put cream there.

  Since I started back to work last week I have been doing some sweating and was kind of mortified that I might smell bad to the rads techs. My sweat smells like drugs because of the Herceptin. I apologized and they laughed and said they have some people who smell so bad they put on masks-or take turns doing those people.

Hi - Haven't posted in a while. Today will be treatment #13 out of total of 33 (28 with 5 boosts. So far only a little redness and some itching. I have a history of eczema and the doctor prescribed a steroid cream that has done the trick. I've been using Aquaphor about 2x daily and not sure if having dark African-American skin is helping with possible skin issues or not but I haven't had any issues.

Don't think I'm having any significant fatigue. Chemo was much worse. My work schedule has changed significanty to adapt to Rads schedule so I attribute that to my need to be in bed by 10pm.

Really I'm more concerned about my hair growth. hahaha

Thanks for reading. 

JenBro Have you had the Zometa infusion before? Be sure to drink lots of water the day before and the day of according to forum they have on it and some have suggested Advil, ibuprofen etc. Good luck. My oncologist mentioned once but hasn't since so I will wait and see.

Bak94 - I have been on medical leave from work.  I admire any who can work while on chemo.  I had so many bad days that there was no way I could work.  I am still off while on rads.  Be kind to yourself.  You will get back to work.  I cannot wait to go back to work.  That will mean I am no longer sick.  I always admire hair stylists being on their feet all day...I could not do it even if I didn't have cancer.   You will get back to work...just take time off and get well. 

Natters -  I was in the same position for both the regular and the boosts, on my back with my arms raised over my head. My scar is in the 3'oclock position, vertical. That area got pretty red during the course of the 5 boosts but the scar held intact. 

Bak94 - hi, I'm in Seattle too. I had a lumpectomy at Swedish in August and just finished rads last week. Sounds like you have a tough decision to make, but i agree that you should allow plenty of time to rest and recover.

LuvRVing - I was lucky and didn't get red until the 5th week. My fatigue started in week two, though. But once I started my boosts, the fatigue suddenly went away. Not sure if it was related or not, but one day I was tired and the next, I wasn't. 

Omg dawmson, that will be SO great, not having to leave work early to head over to the hospital!!! I can't wait. Two more weeks for me, so the end is in sight. Thanks also for the info on the boosts.



I'm olive skinned, tan easily, rarely burn, but rads made my breast bright red like a lobster. Its crazy looking. Also, swollen up much bigger than the other one. Super attractive Under my arm is much darker, more like purpley tan, and the raw area closer to my breast is dark red.



Today they called me at work to tell me a machine was down, they were all backed up, and did I still really want to come in...I was like, "YES!!" I really want to try and finish by Friday, Dec 16th.if they make me wait BC my skin gets too bad, that's one thing, but a delay because of machine failure? No way, man!



Nat

Today was my first boost. They were running late and my 4:20 appointment didn't get started until 5:00. By the time I got dressed and out of there it was 5:40. I am usually home by then. Walked in the door and the dog jumped right on my breast.Yikes! What a day! It has been raining tons here and by the time I stopped for gas and got home it was 6:30. Almost bedtime :-)



The boost will be okay. It doesnt appear that it will hit my armpit nor my nipple. Both are sore, raw and oozing in spots so that is a plus. I swear that one of the positions feels like they are boring a hole in me. Kind of like holding a magnifying glass in the sun and focusing on one spot of your skin. It was hard not to squirm. Could have been my imagination but I don't think so.



Good news is only four more days. After everything I have been through, four more days is nothin'.



Good to hear that lots of you are nearing the end. We can do this!!!