December 2011 Rad

Michelle, congratulations on #25! I didn't get tattoos (didn't want them) so I have a sticker under each arm, one between the breasts and a small one near my nipple.  I was wondering if the "suntan" would come through those stickers and then I would have little circle marks when I'm finished.

YaYa - according to what I was told, my electron beam radiation was harder on the skin but that may be because they were making every effort to keep the rads as shallow as possible.  It could be the difference between having 25 treatments like that vs just 5 or so boosts like that.  My boosts to my scar line will be electron beam, so I'll know in a few days if that area gets ugly.  My scar area and the rest of the radiated field (other than the mammary nodes area) has held up just fine, too.

Rockym - I didn't want tattoos, either.  But I was not given a choice.  So they tattooed me lightly, then the techs couldn't find them easily so they marked and taped the ones on my sides.  They weren't in the radiation field so I can't answer your question.

Hi Everyone - Have been off the boards for a bit - was causing me to obsess about things. But didn't want to just disappear as I posted here when I started rads. so want to let people know how I am doing. I finished my 24 whole breast rads and am done with 4 of my 6 boosts. So - only 2 more boosts and I am done!!  Yeah!!  For me the rads have gone smoothly and are over before you know it. I did get a slight rash above my breast and pinkish color on breast but didn't bother me too much. I used (and liked the most) Emu Oil, Jean's Cream and Miaderm in combinations and my skin has remained soft - I apply 3 times a day. For me rads were well worth the slight inconvience.

 I realize we all have different experineces with rads. so I think it helpful to share different as well as similiar experiences - not just posting when we are having trouble. I learned that with DCIS rads. can be very impt. given the skip patterns it can have in the breast. So mine was small with good margins and not multifocal (I had MRI and ultrasound prior to surgery) and I had a lumpectomy, full breast radiation was important for me - plus the boosts.

Hope others are also doing well and some of us are almost done with rads which is great news!

Got #21 today. So far the skin is holding up really well. It is  a little pink in some areas but nothing too obvious. It seems to get a bit itchy when I forget to keep myself properly hydrated, then I have a big glass of water and the itchiness goes away. I am also using aloe Vera gel every second night.

 4 more to go and then 5 boosts and I am done.

 Getting more tired now, and sometimes need even two naps a day. Night sleep is usually broken into 2-3 session due to hot flashes.

Good luck everyone! 

YaYa, the really bad burns under the breast are starting to heal, just in time to get burned again next week when my boosts are done.  In the meantime, the area that's getting zapped by the boosts has huge blisters.  Even the nurse was impressed. LOL.  They hurt some, but will hurt more when the blisters open, which they will. I'm using tons of Lydocaine gel and Silvadene and I wrap my boob up in surgical sponges to keep the burned and blistered parts from rubbing on my bra.  Only 3 more boosts and then the 10 full breast.  Almost there.  Thank goodness for Percocet at night.  I actually get a decent night's sleep.

Shelley 2011, I'm still having trouble with my finger and toe nails from the Abraxane (I was allergic to Taxol, so that was my more organic replacement) and the Herceptin, which I have to continue every three weeks until July, hits me with huge muscle, joint and bone pain about a week after I get the infusion.  This all sucks hugely, but I'm grateful that there are treatments available.  Even if the treatments really suck.

shelley, you're so sweet to take homemade food to the rad staff.  i think i'll do the same thing when i'm done.  they're all just adorable and sweet as can be.  {{{hugs}}} back to you!

ellenquilt, i just noticed that you and i have almost exactly the same dx and we were both dx in may!  i appreciate the information.  for some reason, i'm dreading the boosts now.  they will be aimed at my scar and so far, i don't have any burning there, so maybe i'll do fine. my clinic won't let us use silvadene until we're finished with rads.  i want some so badly it'd almost be worth it to break into my pharmacy!  

Windlass - regarding the naps. I just say "I am going to count some sheeps now" and close the bedroom door. 

#26 in the books.  It took them longer to set me up than it did for the "about" 28 second zap.  I had a bolus covering my entire left side.

I am a little tired, but I am not sleeping well (never do, really).  It will be a sleeping pill kind of night!

That's an interesting perspective, Ralston.  My boosts are going to my mastectomy scar.  Since my cancer reappeared in the same spot as my biopsy scar, and since my RO is head of Radiation Oncology at Dana Farber and he said mastecomy scars are where most recurrences happen, I'm going to put up with the boosts.  And thanks so much, I am feeling a little better.  The area that was so bad has peeled and a new very red area appeared just below it (the same rad field) but it doesn't seem to be blistering...yet.

Thanks Michelle and Rose! Well, my scar cover half of my breast... Rose, do you have to check your scar weekly forever? Michelle, I am happy to know that you are doing better.

I am on #17 today....... my skin is so tight and uncomfortable, I am really hoping that i can do this without being in too much discomfort I have 8 more to go!!!!! Ughhhhhh I am doing my stretches and lubing up well but still is so tight and pulling, any one else???

Thank you Rose! Wish you the best Michelle! I miiss the ACT group, we went throught so much together  

Agreed Michelle!  (and Hi Ralston! Hi Rose!)  We have an awesome chemo group.  I'm counting down for you   This week is a countdown to the halfway mark for me.

And I am so relieved to hear people talking about tightness.  That wasn't something I was prepared for and I thought it was strange.  At first I figured things were sore again since I was so good about stretching in the weeks after my surgereies and since returning to work, I have slacked off a little.  Guess it's time to invest some effort in that again!

Hang in there YaYa5 you are almost done!!!

Luvrving how are you doing with your tightness??? Mine is so very uncomfortable I really don``t think the stretches are helping. Here we go again ladies!!!

michelle, you gave excellent info about the markers.  i'm getting re-marked tomorrow for my boosts, and i can't wait to ask if it's a new pen.  it's something i never would have thought about, so thank you!

 and thank you, kennylynn.