Any February 2012 radiation gals out there?

I have had 10 treatments. Using the respiratory gating. Today after a 4hour drive home my neck is swollen where the seatbelt was sitting. Anyone else experienced swelling like that?

I have had 12 of 30 and already the skin under my breast is excoriated and nearly at the point of breaking down. I don't want to frighten other people because this seems very unusual and is probably related to the fact that I have an auto-immune condition called chronic idiopathic urticaria (Hives). I am starting to get worried that this is going to get really nasty. I am using Kenacomb which is an antifungal, antibacterial and has some cortisone. I use moisturiser on the top of the breast. I was just wondering if Bojo can tell me what sort of dressings she used. I don't feel fatigued. I have an appointment with the RO on Monday.

Hope you all have a nice weekend.

Gerri 

regenshirm - can you explain the gated breathing? I have not heard anything about it. Is it something I should be doing?



#12 of 33 today. So far the skin looks great. The Emu oil seems to be working, hope this continues!

I also started my anti hormanal therapy before rads. It was pretty much the week after chemo ended. I had a total hysterectomy 2 years ago, but the AI makes my night sweats a lot worse than they were. I wake up so hot I think I am suffocating. 

#22 today. I just realized that next week is my last week before my boosts. So far them doing the bolus every other day seems to have helped slow down the problems with my skin. I am hoping this means no break in treatment. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend break!! 

Hi ladies. Been a while since I checked in. I have my final implant in and have had 17 of 25 rads. 8 more to go. Thank God! The top of my breast and underarm are a little red but otherwise, ok. The area under the breast is red, itchy.....seems like heat rash. My RO switched me to the Calendula Cream last week. Same as you, bak94. It helps. But, I have a small red, raw area underneath the breast. Just putting zinc on it with non-adherent dressing. It's stable but clearly NOT gonna heal until this nightmare is over. They just keep on radiating.....LOL. At this point, I don't want any delays.

But, I feel like I will be limping over the finish line. Especially, getting that stupid bolis every other day.



Not to scare anyone but I have a friend who just finished. She did have some peeling blisters. The RO removed the top layer of skin to allow the new skin to grow in. now, she's on the mend.

All--

The weekend after my 15th rad i started to tan and my hair follicles darkened. Now with 6 of 33 rads remaining, my breast is positively blackened, swollen and painful. The underarm and crease are the most uncomfortable. I had used aloe vera and aquaphor prophalaxis. Now i am using domeboro soaks and aquaphor with lidocaine, both provided by my rad onc nurses. I had hoped my brown skin would somehow spare me this degree of "burning" but it hasnt. ( I am using a superb univ medical center with new linear accelerators etc). So far no blisters or ulcers, but my doc says i am on the verge. I cant wear a bra and yet am not too comfy without one since i have 36dd size breasts. I expect this weekend will be the worst and that i will start to heal. I am in the booster phase, now wherein only the tumor bed is being radiated. Good luck to all ... My six weeks is going fast and i am feeling less fatigue now than at the beginning. Radiation isnt chemo, but its not a cake walk.

Carrye,

So sorry you are suffering so much. 

Someone posted somewhere here that she wears her camisoles with shelf bra inside out.  I thought that was brilliant.  Wish I knew where I read it so I could credit her.  I tossed my bras after the first day of treatment and only use camisoles or go w/o.  I'm tiny though and can get away with it most of the time.  

 My RO only allows the use of corn starch until he determines otherwise.  I'm at 18/33.  By 13/33 I needed to start using the corn starch more liberally to prevent friction in the underarm area.  Works surprisingly well.  The post pinned in this forum - Rad onc weights in on radiation "burns" helped me understand why my RO limits his patients to corn starch.   

Jean - is there any chance at all that you are dehydrated?  During my chemo I went to my onc just crying because I was so exhausted, I thought I needed a transfusion.   I could hardly pick up my head.  Here I was dehydrated.  She said Gatorade was the next best thing to an IV bag, and it fixed me right up.  Just a thought. 

Allegashmaggie,

Dehydration is a likely problem.  You might also check with your MO to see if you are anemic.  I was after the last round of chemo.  It took me about 6 wks to feel well enough to return to near normal activities.  Only this week when halfway through radiation did I start to feel fatigued.  Could also have been because my secretary was out ill for most of the week and I had to cover for her and attend a bunch of meetings and slip out for radiation.

Thanks to Girlpowerdebbie and doxie for the suggestion of dehydration causing fatigue.  Maybe so.  I have to admit that I have not drank as much liquid since my last chemo.  I was so sick of drinking lots of water that I have backed off since my last chemo.  My blood work has all stayed good throughout all the treatments but I have not had blood work since my last treatment.  When I go on March 12th, I will report this to them but just this afternoon, the fog seems to have lifted and I feel better.  I appreciate the suggestions. 

Thanks for the tips re dressings Relda and to the other suggestions too.

I have had 12 now. Breast feeling heavier and sore at times and skin underneath peeling and 'pimply'.

My RO told me there have been no studies to prove when is the best time to start Tamoxifen with regards to radiation but he suggested to wait until I finish so it will be clear what is causing any SEs.

 Hope you are all having a restful weekend

Gerri 

Hi and thanks for the responses to my initial submit.  Thanks especially to Richar and DanceTrance.  Well surgery is over and It went very well.  I actually feel better than when I had the two biopsies!  They were without sedation and I suppose that may be one reason why, but I was sure the surgery was going to be worse.  Anyway, I was quite surprised when in the operating room to see 5 nurses all dressed up in their caps, gowns, and "over the mouth" scrubs...AND ALL wearing a plastic coated/or glass shield from the top of their heads to their chins!  I thought I was in a Darth Vador film!  I asked them why they were all wearing that and one said, oh, it's just standard equipment now.  I thought, yay, right.  I was afraid they thought I had aids or were worried I had something "awful" and they didn't want to get it, OR, they expected BLOOD to come squirting up at them, etc. and that really got me to worrying before they made me say goodnight!  DId anybody out there have this happen to them in surgery?  Times may have changed and maybe now its standard, but I've not had anybody else tell me of this when they had ANYKIND of surgery.  Well, whatever it was it gave me pause, as I went "under".  All was well, they said as I was coming out of it and then I had myself a nice 2 hour rest and was on my way home an hour later.  Had seed plantation at 7:30 AM and the Cancer Center, then on to the hospital for 10:30 surgery and was home by 3:00 in the afternoon!  Went to bed and slept until Saturday (today).  Am feeling sleepy today, but I am NOT hurting at all!  Must be the Vicodin....(keep them coming, I say)!  I went with two breasts and came home with 1-3/4 breasts so I am happy!  After 4 days I'll get the results from a Pathologist and we'll go from there.  So, anyone ready to go in for a lumpectomy, don't worry, it's not that bad.  Just think of it as a "mini vacation" to sleep and rest and a good reason for your husband to bring you flowers (which mine did)!   Will report back when I know something.  PEACE be to all the breast cancer ladies.

Love,

gjsqueezebox

@doxie: inside out shelf bra is brilliant. I am always dismissing those because the shelf is irritating. I dont need support (had mastectomy) as much as just coverage to stop rubbing. I got a nice silk camisole from rei that works well.

Just a heads up to all that the chest muscles (pecs) on the rads side could tighten up while undergoing rads. I've been feeling it (and keeping ahead of it) by doing some stretches each day (gently).  You may want to discuss with your RO to see if it is something you should be doing preventatively.  (I wouldn't rush out and start stretching until you clear it with your RO, since we've all had different surgeries, etc.)   A friend of mine recently finished rads and told me she didn't realize it was happening - she now has developed associated neck tightness and spasms.  Ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

I've been doing arm stretches that my PT taught me. I had a seroma at my axillary incision and cording (Axillary Web Syndrome) that delayed my Rads by a week. Anyway, the PT taught me lymph massage as well as some arm stretches to keep my muscles limber and to strengthen my shoulder. They totally help. I still have full range of movement on my shoulder and arm. And the incision seroma is gone.



I have major itching, though. My RO gave me an Rx for Lidex on Friday. I don't really notice it helping. Cold gel packs help the most. My foob is so freckled now.



#24 of 35 on Monday. They are also going to do extra scans to start my boost planning.