Any April/May 2012 rad girls out there?

Kristi, The draining will help you heal and combine that with the compression bras you will heal even better. Thats how it worked for me. My seratoma is very small and barely there now. For me it took about two weeks to see a difference.



The RO will readjust your alignment too. Talk with the RO and have him explain how he will adjust for the draining. My nurses said that they get about 5 patients a year with the problems that I had.



Take it easy and just rest up. MY surgeon said I was trying to do too much and I needed to take it easy. Nice excuse to just sit and read.

Kristi-  I am a little behind on reading this thread, so forgive me if you posted this before today.  I too have a seroma.  My seroma is under my arm- about 2 cm in size.  Already had 12 RADS tx & had a follow-up with my Breast Sugeon & he wanted to open me up & take it out.  Well needless to say my RADS/ONC put a stop to that.  Nothing can be done until after I complete my RADS on May 23rd--- and to make it worse I have to wait 2-4 weeks after that to ensure that my skin is ok.  In the interim, my RAD/ONC ordered a sonogram, which verifies that it is a fluid filled sack consistent with a seroma.  I have done some reading & it is a seroma if it is filled with serous (sp?) fluid but it could also be filled with lymph fluid.  Since I have not had any fluid drawn from the lump, my guess is that is why my surgeon is concerned.  I am hanging from the ceiling with my fingernails ----more waiting waiting waiting ----Ugh!!!! This all sucks!!!

Wow...so much to catch up on!  For those of you who are experiencing chest pain in your ribs, I've had the same thing.  I do have TEs, and if you do, check with your doc about something called costchondritis.  It is an inflammation of the cartilage in the ribcage. It hurt to take a deep breath, move, life, sneeze...everything! I was xrayed to make sure that there was nothing broken, but it was fine. My doc put me on an anti-inflammatory and it was MUCH better in a day or two.  I hope this helps. She felt that it was related to my last 'fill' and not uncommon.  

I've had 5 tx and am already swelling on my treated side. Nurse said it was nice to have both breasts done, so she could compare!  I told her I was thrilled to accommodate (sarcasm intended...we were just joking around!) Anyway, my scar is also a little red after tx. They are keeping an eye on it since it seems to be early to reacting like this...one of those "you shouldn't have side effects til week 4" comments!

I have also been slightly nauseous after each treatment, very little appetite. They said that should be from rads either!  Oh well...I just chalk up anything odd to cancer.

Dechi, congrats and to you others that are done or almost done!  What an accomplishment! Can't wait to be in the same place!

Rest and heal well.

Andi 

Lori, Caligirl,fredntan- Thanks for the advise..I will make sure they check my allignment if BS drains it! I would hate to mess things up when im 1/4 through Rads. I really appreciate the advice.

Texasrose...My seroma is behind the whole 4 inch incision. It is seriously the size of a softball. I cant even lift my boobs without it hurting. I cant wait to see what BS says. Im going to make him  try to drain it 1st before even opening it back off. I am not going to start the healing process again!!! Im sorry you have to go through it! It sure is painful aint it!@!!

I have not been resting like I should and even way overdid it at work today. I am a workaholic and go crazy when im not working. I am a real hyper person and need to be active..I know it is hurting me and it is my fault things are not healing right! If my BS says bedrest I will do it!!! But I wont l think twice while off and mow the lawn...I am a stubborn gal!!!!lol

Thanks again for all the advice and recs..It is greatly appreciated!!

kristi

Cindyl - I too have a poundage shift.  Certainly have not lost weight.  Went for therapeutic shopping trip today.  Tried on capri pants, denim ones.  I would have thought 16 would have fit.  No, even the 14s were too big in the waist though thighs were about right.  Ended up not buying any.  HOT here in Texas.  90s last few days but tomorrow is the last for a while.  Tuesday in the 70s, back to spring again.

Don't you hate it when you do something inspired like clean out closets and its worse after you do it. I'm bad about leaving out of season stuff lying around.  DD's bed is the catch all place for those things as well as unfolded laundry.  I joke that I need several days notice if she is coming to visit to clean it off.

Kristi - I hope you get some relief soon from the seroma.  Wow - softball size.  You need some serious TLC from DH.  (((((HUGS))))  Pocket party for Tuesday when you go to BS.

Hi Ladies,



Just popping in to say hello. Haven't had a chance to read prior posts but hope to read them soon.



I have 3 tx left and will be done on Wednesday!! Yippee!



Hope you are all having a great weekend!



Cathy

Lory thanks for the info on swell spots I will ask the lymphedema specialist monday

I dont know anything about that nela,but would love to visit veinna. Oh i bet the food is soooo good

soldatov - I wish I knew the answer -- hopefully someone on here can help ...

It is always on-going .... diagnosis, surgery, treatment .. and so on ... all the best from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (70 km from Niagara Falls, Canada)

Claire ~ I just got that exact same rashy-looking thing last week.  Like Lory said, Cortizone is the ticket.  They are all the same (1% Hydrocortizone as an active ingredient) so DH and I just got me the generic one.  It has brought me relief. 

To all of you guys dealing with seromas ~ feel better soon!  I am so sorry you are having to put up with that maddness in addition to everything else.  You have all reminded me not to complain about what I'm going through because it could be worse!

Mamglam & Michbunny ~ The skin under my arm is really bad too.  I only have one more tx to multiple fields and then I drop down to 8 boosts just to my scar.  I seriously feel like my skin can't take one more tx though.  I was interested in what you guys said about your skin so far out from the end of rads   My techs told me my skin would probably continue to break down for 3-4 weeks.  Underneath my arm has gone from dark red to a weird dark brown.  My DH says it looks really badly bruised.  I can't really tell since I can't lift that arm up to see.  I think I'm on the verge of the skin getting "weepy" and maybe even blistering.  Gah.  

Aloe with Lidocane ~ My sister gave me her bottle and I have found some measure of relief with this stuff.  Apparently you can't buy it here in CA, but she brought it out with her from when she was living in Mississippi where her DH was stationed.  My RO said it was fine to use.  If you can get your hands on some...it's worth it.

On the good news front...my daughter, Emily, graduated from Azusa Pacific University yesterday and our whole family attended.  It was good to get out and celebrate something   My family insists that I have enough hair now that I can no longer call myself bald.  Funny, I hadn't really thought about it like that, but ~ okay!

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

SAN

I started rad on April 23. I have to have 30 treatments. After the first 4 my nipple was very sore, actually it felt like it had been burned with a hot iron. The nurse practitioner told me to put Vit E oil on it. I was too tired to go to the store afterward and thought I had some at home anyway. Desperate after not being able to find the E oil at home, l turned to a good old stand by Corona Oinment. I applied and went to bed and by morning I felt tons better. The Corona oinment is a lanolin antiseptic medication acutally made for cow teets and other animals. Years ago a physicians assistant told me to use it on a sore place I had that wouldn't go away; it worked and I've been using it ever since. I'm sooo glad it seems to do wonders on my nipple after radiation. I've had 8 treatments so far, I hope I'm not bragging to soon.

Playme - so funny about the Corona.  Have put it on my goats but not me.  BUT - I'm a hospice nurse and knew a family that was using it on mom's bottom.  Of course, horse/cow background and at home they could do what they wanted.  And it worked for them.  Have you ever told anyone about putting Corona on something and they say, WTH, the beer?  LOL.

Getting red bumps/raised freckle like things across upper chest and around to underarm.  Don't know if this is the beginning of something.  Gone braless at home today except for church.  Find if I bend over/down I have to hold treated side. Owie!  The itch is there but not too intense.  Think I have some stickies loosening that are contributing.

Rose - I know what you mean about the appetite. And not for the good stuff but junk food.  I did lose weight when 1st diagnosed.  Cut out sodas, other stuff.  Slacked off being so good.  Need to get back in the swing.

Hope everyone has a good week.  Cold front on the way for North Texas after being in the 90s.  WooHoo!  Here come the 70s.

San ~ Congratulations on your daughter's graduation.  Glad you and the family had a wonderful celebration.  The good times seem even sweeter now, don't they?

To All  ~ Reading all of your suggestions on keeping the skin feeling better.  I will have #15 of 33 tomnorrow and am starting to get really red underneath.  Can't tell if it's from being too moise or the radiation or both.  I used some anti-fungal underneath and it looks a bit less angry.  My underarm is getting pretty sore as well.  I have to say that I think the MiaDerm has helped as from what I was told I think the expectation was that my skin would have broken down already.  I have a feeling that may very well still happen, but hoping not.  Gotta order a couple of more tubes of the MiaDerm to make it through the rest of this fun.

Hope you all had a great weekend.  My co-workers took me to High Tea yesterday afternoon.  It was really fun to go out and feel good and be able to taste some good stuff. I am so grateful that I have such a wonderful family and friends who do things to keep my spirits up...they are the best and I am sure you all feel pretty much the same way about your support network.  Have a great evening with sweet dreams.  Linda