Any April/May 2012 rad girls out there?

Michbunny:  I got Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel with no dye at Walmart in the lotion section.  It was pretty cheap, $3ish a bottle...

All you Canadians will be done with rads before I even start next week with my 30 sessions...

Yes, my RO told me I will have one tanned breast (I tan easily) so I guess I can wear my one shoulder bare tops -- ha ha LOL. Great. Am anxious to get started though.... I won't be done with rads until after the first week in JUNE.

I know Aloe is refreshing on a sunburn, but it is sort of drying as it doesn't have any oils or lanolin in it. Will check out the FOTE Aloe at Wallys, will also check out the Dollar Tree as that was on their website. I'm thinking about an Aloe SPRAY, saw one by FOTE on drugstore.com. Guess I will have to get some Aquaphor -- where has everyone gotton that from? My RO didn't give me any samples! She just said to use whatever I wanted and gave me some names/ideas but she didn't have any special recommendations. Thanks for everyone's comments on creams and potions!

MOT - Aquaphor is in the skin care section (hand lotion section).  I just bought a tube tonight at Wally World.  Got chewed out a little today by RO for not using it.  Must admit it feels good tonight in my oldest nightie but don't know about how good it will feel stuck to a bra tomorrow.  Also chewed out for not putting on my cream 3 times a day.  And I must admit I started this by c/o my nipple hurting rubbing on my clothing.  Definitely seeing a difference on the tx side. Had one of my sticky tabs reset.  Tech says because of "skin changes" and that they do move around just a little bit.  AH would skin changes be tightening?

Hope everyone had a good Tuesday.  Hump day tomorrow!

I think the radiation will "prune" me..... so tighening, yes. That is why all the creams to keep skin supple and intact. Just my guess.

Wishn4one: Welcome to the April/May rads! Of course we don't mind you joining though we are sorry to see you have joined the club. I had my 12th rad tx today. Only now am I starting to see a pinkish hue from the rads. I have a VERY fair complexion and my oncologist told me that i should expect to see the redness around 2 weeks or so. However, one of the things I have learned in the breast cancer journey is that no two people experience breast cancer the same way. That is, everyone reacts differently to meds, has different experiences and side effects and I have therefore learned to take everything I hear and read with a big grain of salt. So it is certainly quite possible for you to be experiencing effects already. I do hope your side effects are minimal. Good luck!



Hope the rest of you radsters are doing well. Had a wonderful massage and facial today. I was given gift certificates to a spa during my chemo treatments but was never up to going during that period of time. Boy do i feel nice and relaxed. Ladies, the Spa is your friend and you should go spend some quality time there. You certainltly deserve it!

Hello ladies



Luvmygoats - in answer to your question about where I live, I only put Nanaimo because that is the closest larger city to where I live that has a hospital. I live in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area. Look that up. Yes, it is beautiful here. I wake up to a view of the Parksville Bay, which is the nicest, warmest sandbar bay and tourists flock here. We're big into recreation here and it's predominantly a retirement area where I live. Currently I'm undergoing treatment in Victoria and taking advantage of hikes and sights here. I grew up in Victoria, so am familiar with it. The Cancer Lodge is through the Cancer Agency and offers island patients hotel style accommodation including all meals and 24 hour nurse for $43 per day. Not bad, but rooms are shared with two twin beds. The Cancer Agency flies me back and forth by private plane between Victoria and Qualicum airports under the Angelflight program. This is at no extra cost, so I leave Qualicum at 11:00 am for an afternoon rads appointment, then early morning appointment Friday morning and arrival back home by noon. More time with family and a step away from cancer.



Six days down, so I've had tx #11 & 12. A slight pink look to my chest that doesn't bother me and nipples seem sore. Anyone else with that going on?



Energy good and so are spirits.



I tried a special massage treatment yesterday thinking I had a bit of cording with my lymph node robbery, but apparently I don't. It is likely nerve damage added to a little "golf elbow" from three weeks ago. She's treating the seroma anyhow, so it was all good.



With the discussion on Aloe Vera, I was told to avoid any product that contains alcohol.



Anyhow, just dropping in to say hi and hope everyone is getting through treatment. One day this will all be but a blip on the radar. Take care girls. Ta for now - a beauty of a day to be had!

mamglam, I had my 7th treatment today and I am just like you -- some discomfort and prickly feeling -- my lumpectomy incision is becoming a bit dimpled too -- yesterday afternoon I finally took my bra off and wore a tshirt inside out -- keep the seams from rubbing my breast.

You are 1/2 way there - me almost.

Momof3boys - Yikes!  I'm glad that the last doctor had a lightbulb moment, and especially happy to hear everything turned out OK.

 I learned yesterday that I will have 8 boosts, rather than the five I had assumed I would get.  I also asked my RO about using Miaderm vs Vitamin E/aloe, which was the "officially" recommended product.  She said I could use it in the morning, but still prefers that I continue with the Vitamin E cream at night.  She also said that she personally uses the Vitamin E product that she recommends on her face.  After hearing that, I was ready to go home and roll in the stuff - she has incredibly beautiful skin and not a single line on her face (she's 51).

I'm very thankful to have passed the halfway point with only very minor skin changes.  I know, however, that the ride will get bumpier from here.  

MizMarie- what is that vitamin e cream? I want to get some!

Sandyland, I'm sorry your RO was kind of negative... Maybe he's been burned in the past with a patient with great stats like yours that unexpectedly had a recurrence? I can't imaging how these cancer docs do this day in and day out. I know it's unbelievably stressful for us, but has to be one of the most stressful careers out there. I hope you have a peaceful night :-)

Hi Ladies,

 I am brand new to this discussion board.  I do recognize some of my sisters from the Oct 2011 Surgery and Nov 2011 Chemo boards.  I am catching up!

I had a CT scan & preliminary marking last week.  I had my simulation today and I start RADS tomorrow for 25 treatments.  They will use a boules every other treatment to concentrate the radiation closer to the surface. The  surgeon member of my BC team said that the most likely place for local recurrence will be the skin on the suture line.   It will be followed by 5 to 8 boosts, to be determined close to the end of my RADS by the RAD ONC.   The RADS will be on my left side, superclavical, uderarm & breast bone nodes + entire breast.   They also told me that some of my back will be in the radiation field. My RAD ONC is known for being very aggressive & I am all in for that.  We only get one shot at the radiation.  I am good to go!!!!!

 I have to keep my fingers crossed that my implant (TE Exchange March 20th) maintains some semblence of normalcy.  Not real important to me since this is just cosmetic.  I will deal with whateven happens with this.  And then of course there are the potential skin issues.  I am already armed with Miaderm and Organic Aloe Gel.  I also talked to the nurse practioner about itching, since if I have skin issues I usually itch beyond belief, I scratch my skin off. I can use any OTC antihistimine & she said they could give me a steroid script if necessary.

Right there with y'all on the RADS journey. Wishing all minimal side effects.  I will check in and keep you posted on my RADS oddessey.  Your support is appreciated more than you know.

Rose

I'm done!  16 treatments, no boosts, which surprised me.  I thought everyone gets boosts, but I guess not.  My care team was excellent and I'll miss them and their kindness.  But, I'm sure I'll see them again, when I go back for my follow-ups.  It is a great relief and I'm looking forward to finally recovering.

Chickenpants, my nipple is sore like hell.  It started last week, around tx9/16.  My nurse gave me an ointment to soothe it and a supply of cotton pads to cover it, to protect it from friction.  The aloe gel I use is alcohol-free, I made sure to check.

Another less than pleasant rad side effect is that my breast has swelled even more than it had post-surgery.  My nurse and RO said it was normal, but to keep an eye on it if it gets worse or if I develop a fever.  Marvelous.  I guess some women get bad rad burn; I get balloon breast.

MizMarie, I'm with momof3, what vitamin E cream do you use?

Overall, I'm supremely tired, but glad that the rad part of my journey is over.

Lory, yes, it's another side effect of rads.  In fact, hours after treatment, I just had a jolt.  My nurse noted on my discharge papers, that the sharp pains can continue after treatment has ended.

Hi Everyone ~ Had #2 rad treatment today.  Is it my imagination or is it really possible to have a sore breast already?  Also, the tech told me today that I would "definitely have bad skin issues even if I stood on my head all day to prevent them."  Oh yay!  I guess it's cause of  big boobs and really light skin.  I don't know what I will do if I can't wear a bra.  That would definitely not be a good look for me,  Oh well, I guess we can't worry about what might happen.  I will hope for the best and use all the info you guys post regarding rad issues. 

Welcome TexasRose ~ I remember you from our chemo board.  Looks like you and I are on the same calendar for treatment.  Hang in there.

Michbunny ~ Congratulations on finishing another part of the journey.  I keep thinking that in 31 more treatments I will be where you are.  Can't wait!

SAN ~ Let me know when your final rads treatment date is.  I may want to steal your time when you are finished.

Hi Ladies

I popped by a week or more back and boy it's a busy place.  I'm done my last chemo TX this Friday (Whoot!!) then have to meet with the RO to discuss RADS.  Very nervous about RADS.  Its hard to tell by anyone's signaure but is there anyone here doing rads that has had a MX???  Any feedback is appreciated!

Thanks Maureen

Maureen, I had a BMX and have TE's... I'm getting rads to my incisional scar (no nodes involved) because my tumor was just over 4 cm....

Don't be nervous about rads. It's not nearly as difficult as chemo, IMO. The only thing about it that made me nervous was when they did a chest CT scan beforehand... I didn't know they were going to do this and I'm paranoid and was worried they were going to find something else! They didn't. Everything else went/ has been going smoothly. I'm in and out of there in 10 minutes flat, except for once a week when I see the RO. Then I'm there for an hour, tops. I get my blood checked weekly, rads can cause anemia.

Congrats on your last chemo!