May 2012 radiation

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    sivia, sorry for the blisters and pain.  they did tell me that i  would "cook" for up to two weeks after the end of rads ;( i wish we could all blink our eyes and it would be next summer.  i am never one to wish away time but i think this calls for a little fast forward.

    i am hoping to be mostly on the mend by 4th of july, i took the thursday and friday of that week off so i will be off 5 straight days and i intend to enjoy them!!!

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited June 2012

    Silvia -- so sorry that things aren't getting better yet ... I am SURE that this week will be the turning point.

    My RO was out this week on vacation, but I saw one of her colleagues (very nice).  They assured me (as many others on previous threads have stated) that the nausea is not due to the radiation. I call BS, there is way too much of it going around for it not to be.  Although, they did say that perhaps dehydration could be playing a part, which reminded me to remind all of you to drink a lot of water -- especially in the heat.

    My rash is pretty severe -- they said I could use hydrocortosone - but did not give me a prescription.  

    Have a good Monday ladies, rest well. 

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  • silviazara
    silviazara Member Posts: 111
    edited June 2012

    Blinthdesert - interesting. My RO told me that the radiation can cause appetite changes and nausea (depending on the location of treatment ... ). . I was radiated all the way down under the breast so is there any change it had an affect on the stomach? Anyhow, she asked me if I felt some nausea every visit, so I put it together with radiation causing it.

    McKenna - yes little fast forward would not hurt, right? I am also planning to be all better by 4th of July, we have a little trip planned. We better enjoy our days off!

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  • jittersmom
    jittersmom Member Posts: 165
    edited June 2012

    Silviazara....... ok I thought i was the only one i preety much lost my lashes like last week and my hair is just coming in like  fuzz. I still am stubburn and try to put mascara on lol...my daughter asked me Mom I thought your eylashes were suppose to come out during chemo? wierd huh?

    I am looking forward to tomorrow my last rad.the worst part on my side looks like white leather! and where my boost are going in you can actually see the shape of the stencil thing they use. I also get a wierd tugging pain at the site of my tumor

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited June 2012

    I am so excited for all of you that are ending soon!  Congrats!!

    I had a strange semi-pain in the middle of my chest, but it was more dull than anything else, and it eventually stopped.  Who knows.  I'm only 16 2/3% done ;)  But tomorrow I'll be 20% done, and hey - that's decent progress :) 

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  • silviazara
    silviazara Member Posts: 111
    edited June 2012

    Ok, so I have a fever 101 and huge shivers. I am scared it's some infection. I am going to wait it out over night and see what happens. :( the wound looks gross, watery. Doesn't hurt or stink though. Oh well.

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    Silvia call the RO on call just to make sure they don't want to see you in the er tonight. Thinking of you.

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  • Spokanellie
    Spokanellie Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2012

    silviazara - call your onc's off-hours number. At least give them the opportunity to tell you to call in the morning. No sense regretting at this point!

    ~ Ellen

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  • silviazara
    silviazara Member Posts: 111
    edited June 2012

    Jitters - weird, but very common. I read through forum and many lose eyebrows and lashes weeks after chemo. And then they grow in and then they fall out again. And then they grow again.. and fall out again.yes, it's happening. How this stinks, right? I thought I'm done with chemo, hair grows as usual. Mistake.

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  • silviazara
    silviazara Member Posts: 111
    edited June 2012

    I'm afraid they will send me to er without being able to look at it. And ER in LA, that's an overnight experience. Twice I've been there, twice spent a night. Tons of people.

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  • silviazara
    silviazara Member Posts: 111
    edited June 2012

    I'm afraid they will send me to er without being able to look at it. And ER in LA, that's an overnight experience. Twice I've been there, twice spent a night. Tons of people.

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  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited June 2012

    silviazara -- keep it clean and as dry as possible -- can you put polysporin on it and then some gauze ..... take care of yourself -- I do understand how bad the ER is but .... just want you to look after yourself.  Call the RO first thing in the morning -- please don't wait.

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  • beachbum22
    beachbum22 Member Posts: 18
    edited June 2012

    Congrats to all that have finished with Rads...I'm looking foward to that day.  I saw my RO today and asked how I was doing..when I told him my issues with sores, fatigue and sensitivity, his reply was, you're breathing so its a good day.  I was stunned at his insenstive statement and I was speechless.  I only have 3 more sessions then I'm done.  Thank God!

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  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited June 2012

    Hang in there beachbum -- yes insensitive is putting it mildly ..... how do some of these people survive in the world with bedside manner like that .... 3 more and then you can do the happy dance !!!

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited June 2012

    Silvia, if your fever gets any worse you need to be seen.  I understand that waiting until morning might be more comfortable, please stay safe -- and by all means, please keep us updated -- we are worried about you.

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  • Jan24
    Jan24 Member Posts: 64
    edited June 2012

    My thoughts are with you Silvia....trust your instincts.  I am sending good vibes your way.  Beachbum, I'm sorry to hear about your experience hang tight girlfriend.Sealed

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  • jittersmom
    jittersmom Member Posts: 165
    edited June 2012

    Silviazara......don't wait too long call your Dr. I will be praying for you

    I am off to my last rad!!!! can't wait

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  • Joanne_53
    Joanne_53 Member Posts: 1,477
    edited June 2012

    jittersmom - love the pic and yeah and congrats !!!

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    congrats jitter!!!

    silvia, still thinking about you. check in when you can.

    had my last day to see RO during the week today.  they set me up for a follow up appt in aug.  they think my skin looks great and they said they consider no blisters a success.  i had  small spot on my shoulder that looked like a black mole that i never noticed before so today i showed the np because i wanted to know if i go to a dermatolgist at the cancer facility or just a reg derm (i just don't know who to see about what anymore).  she said don't be concerned at this point because the radiation can leave the body that way and it just made a small mole i had before darker.  that is really scary, how the heck are they protecting my heart and lungs if the rad is leaving my body through my back??? also no x-rays today???  i was hoping this was my last day of xrays, maybe i don't have to do them again??? :)

    also asked about swimming, they said sunscreen will not protect the rad site for the first year so to swim with a shirt over my suit and that i can swim at anytime as long as there is not open skin.   

    beachbum, sorry about the reaction you got.  i actually thanked my RO and NP today for never saying issues i brought to them were nothing or in my head.  even if they thought it, they kept thier comments to themselves :)

    4 more Cool

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  • Neeners815
    Neeners815 Member Posts: 358
    edited June 2012

    Yeah, Jitter!  Will toast to you tonight!

    Today I am 20% done.  I met with the RO for the first time (since real treatments began).  Also had blood taken.  I had a pain in the middle of my chest yesterday for about 5 minutes.  He said "Yep, that sounds like it's from us."  I said "Thanks a lot, for that."  He giggled.  I also asked him about swimming - he said I could swim a week after rads if my skin is good.  Yay!  So here's hoping the skin does me proud.  He also said to have at least SPF 30 there for a while. 

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  • Jan24
    Jan24 Member Posts: 64
    edited June 2012

    Last treatment today at 11am. Now I won't have any more excuses to delay packing for our Minnesota roadtrip where we spend the remainder of the summer.

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    jan i thought today was your last too!!  i will definatly have a mike's hard lemonade to toast you both tonight :)

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited June 2012

    mckenna

    That mole.  Holy crap.  This is the stuff that scares the hell out of me.  You should summerize a list of what potions you used.

    Neeners815 

    Also that hitting the heart. And he giggled. 

    I am supposed to start next Monday.  I had to sign informed consent on this stuff.  I talked to the RO and he admitted it is all true.

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited June 2012

    Congratulations jitters and jan!!!!  Am thinking happy thoughts for you!  Congratulations!!

    mckenna, yea 4 more, I can't wait to toast you!!  weird about the mole.  I have already had two non-melanoma skin cancers in the past 3 years (one was on my "currently bad breast" - squamous cell carcinoma).  While I know it is scary, it would be unlikely that the radiation caused anything serious this early on.  At your young age, the risk of a long term radiation side effect is much smaller than personal risk of invasive breast cancer would be if you did not have radiation.  

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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    i did not think it had anything to do with the radiation.  i just thought it must have been there for awhile and i had just noticed it because i am getting dressed and undressed everyday in front of a full lenth mirror for rads.  i just wanted them to tell me if i should go to a reg derm or one of theirs.  i was actually surprised to hear that it likely was from rads (but not something to be concerned about).

    infobabe, i started using topicort and vanicream every night on the second day of rads and during the day i just used corn startch.  last week i got rashy and peely so i used aquafor on surgical pads and covered the rashy, peely areas during the day but then jsut did my regular night care at night.  i use cornstarch under the boob often during the day.

    3 more days until a 2 day break!!!

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited June 2012

    Anyone used or heard of "Xclair" cream?  I was fussing at the RO's yesterday and he gave me some samples of this stuff.  I've used it last night and this morning and it's a nice cream, not greasy and sticky like the Aquaphor I've been using.

    I can't go to Makeupalley to get a review, LOL, so I come to you, my glowing friends.

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited June 2012
    Good mckenna, I just wanted to reassure you, I know how many of us second guess the whole radiation idea ... and it is surprising that the radiation can do this!  AND - there is a correlation between breast and skin cancer, they told me that when I was diagnosed last year!!  crud.  I love my dermatologist, I wish you could come and meet with her Smile
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  • mckenna
    mckenna Member Posts: 413
    edited June 2012

    bl, i totally second guess the rads, if i had a surgeon that even listened to me for 10 seconds they would have known, i wanted a mastectomy but he didn't and didn't really give me options.  so i am trying to work under the everything happens for a reason philosophy and think there must have beeen a reason i had to do lumpectomy and rads :)  no use making myself crazy, i have a great surgeon now and know i will be listened to in the future. 

    sb, have not heard of that cream, but i put a surgical pad over the areas i use aquafor on, i would not be able to stand that aquafor touching my clothes all day.  glad you fussed :)

    forgot to say the RO np said i would be seen by them every 6-12 months for several years.  i was surprised since the BS and MO are following me, i just thought once my skin was healed i would be done seeing RO.  at this point, my feeling is there can't be enough people feeling my boobs for lumps :)

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  • BLinthedesert
    BLinthedesert Member Posts: 678
    edited June 2012

    "at this point, my feeling is there can't be enough people feeling my boobs for lumps :)"  So true mkenna, so true!!

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  • Infobabe
    Infobabe Member Posts: 1,083
    edited June 2012

    mckenna

    I have note of that.  I too am wishing I had gone ahead with a mastectomy.  My RO even said it isn't too late. 

    This web site recommends cornstarch.  I got some baby powder with vit. d and aloe.   It has already come in handy as I developed a little weepy, pinky thing under my good boob.  I thought it was perspiration but, no, a little skin on skin thing. 

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