Has anyone had balloon-catheter internal radiation?

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  • viaveneto
    viaveneto Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2012

    Infobabe,

    Thanks for the bra tip!

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  • Shayne
    Shayne Member Posts: 1,500
    edited June 2012

    I can not go without wearing a bra right now.  I take it off to clean the dressing, and it kills.  I have shooting pains too - which like i said are nerve endings that is all normal.  I got some sports bras 3 for ten at Walmart....they even have the front closure sports bras - which arent as comfy - 

    Let us know how it goes........ 

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  • Cherilynn64
    Cherilynn64 Member Posts: 342
    edited June 2012

    Viaveneto,

     For sure get the site checked. I had the SAVI and no stictches or baindaids, just the open wound to close up. I did not shower for 4 days (I didn't shower for almost a month between the lumpectomy and the 5 day radiation catheter - I got very good at baths and washing my hair upside down). Mine closed up in less than 36 hours but I'm told I'm a very fast healer as evidenced by the problems they had removing the catheter. Showeing and letting shampoo and such possibly get in to your catheter exit site could have caused some problems. Sadly, yes, you have to just be patient. We have to go by the book, which sucks b/c I am like I want this out of me, I want this done, now now now. But I was over cautious. If they said don't shower for 3 days, I made it 4. If it was a week, I made it 10 days. Hated it but I was like, I don't want to do any of this over again, so I just went crazy over cautious.

    Also I'm sure they told you, but for your vacation, you can never have that part of your chest exposed where you had the radiation for the rest of your life. They warned me about wearing bathing suits and that even sunscreen was not enough, the area should be covered. Not sure what you were told but I'm so fair skinned that I can't remember the last time I was swimming, but since you are going to the beach I just wanted to be sure they warned you about sun exposure.

    Shayne my scar tissue has been hurting something fierce in the last 2 days. Hasn't bothered me hardly at all then yesterday it was like, OUCH. Assume some of my nerves are waking up again too, so I'm right there with ya!

    Cheri 

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  • viaveneto
    viaveneto Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2012

    Well, I bought a couple of "Ahh! Bra, As Seen on TV" from Walmart and they are very comfortable. I think I'm getting used to sleeping with a bra. In the mean time I also developed breast cellulitis! the area turned red, hot, swollen and painful: typical signs of infection. The docs put me on antibiotic and it seems to be getting better. I still have a persistent hard lump in the area where the tissue was removed. Is it scar tissue and will it go away?

    As for not exposing the surgery area to the sun, the docs did tell me to keep it covered but only because it can cause skin discoloration/darkening. But I understood this is only temporary, not for ever. Who knows?

    On a positive side (at least I think it is positive) my Oncotype score came back as 9. I have an appointment next week with the Oncologist.

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  • Vicks1960
    Vicks1960 Member Posts: 473
    edited June 2012

    Viaveneto,

    AfterI completed the Rad treatments, I too had a hard area, where the tumor/tissue had been removed, and the Balloon inserted.  My RO told me to massage it several times a day with a moisturizing cream.  It eventually went away, but took a long time (like a couple of months).  Now my breast is soft again, although about 1 cup size smaller than the right side, small price to be rid of the old BC!!! (even have a dip on the breast in that area, when I lay down. (tumor was at the 6:00 position)

    I am glad you have found a bra that you can find comfortable, and also glad that the antibiotic seems to be helping!!!

    I wish you a great pain free/healing week!!!!

    Vickie

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  • Cherilynn64
    Cherilynn64 Member Posts: 342
    edited June 2012

    Viaveneto - glad you went and got that infection looked at so you could get on antibiotics. And I have tons of scar tissue from the lumpectomy and also from the radiation internal catheter. I was at a local breast cancer suport group the previous Saturday, and that was the question I asked - how long? Most of them said about 2 years. My breast surgeon and radiation onc both said to massage the area, but it hurts when I do that so I have been being a baby and avoiding it. The doc who designed the SAVI is the doc who told me I could never have that part of my skin exposed again for the rest of my life, and his nurses and other rad oncs at the office told me this literally every visit. I am very light skinned so maybe that's why, but they all warned me seriously every visit, twice a day: "When we're done, aloe vera gel for one year minumun, don't ever expose that skin or right above it to the sun, ever, for the rest of your life."

    Vicks - wow your scar tissue went away in months? That is so cool! So I take it massaging worked for you? I need to stop being a baby and take care of this.

    Cheri 

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  • Shayne
    Shayne Member Posts: 1,500
    edited June 2012

    Cheri - thats weird they didnt mention any of that to me - unless I didnt hear it, which is completely possible !

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  • Vicks1960
    Vicks1960 Member Posts: 473
    edited June 2012

    Cherilynn,

    At first it was very uncomfortable to 'massage' it so I did so with a very light touch.  I also had an area that had split open (about 1 inch by 1/2 inch) from when I had the HUGE hematoma (Dr. removed 1000cc of fluids from my breast) and it hardened to be kind of like leather but that too has now softened.  

    I used a vitamin E based cream that my pharmacist recommended (got it at walmart).  I still have the scars but they are fading. 

    You know, there is a saying that there is victory in numbers.....WELL I figure there are getting to be enough of us BC survivors to qualify for a large number.... LET"S DESTROY THIS BEAST!!!  AMEN?

    Have a great week friends..

    Vickie

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  • DorisMarie
    DorisMarie Member Posts: 129
    edited June 2012

    Hi..I had the baloon rads in May..tube poking out was aggravating..but doable..I bought a 3 pack of sports bra at walmart..the pull on kind..one size larger..put them on over the hip..underarm was still owie from node surgery..at each tx..I just slipped it over my arms and pulled it down to my waist..the bra helds the tube tucked in the side..also held the bandage on wothout any tape..

    the hardest part was no shower...a little fatigue..but i could rest when needed...and hubby enjoyed the bathing me part..only time he got to touch..LOL..cleaning the site I could not do myself..had the help of husband and daughter..

    putting the baloon in was no biggie..and taking out was done at the rads office..no problem..

    I did get some rad burns ..started a week after tx...but most peeps don't..did the aloe gel...

    I do not regret the internal rads..my burns would probly have been way worse on the 6 week external kind..best of luck to the ones that choose this..Doris

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  • Shayne
    Shayne Member Posts: 1,500
    edited June 2012

    took my first REAL shower yesterday!!  Id been taking showers with my sports bra on so I wouldnt get soap in the incision site.  It felt soooo good!  

    Never heard of burns with internal rads.  My techs were so careful to check my progress and adjust dosage as we went.  I had a great experience! 

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  • viaveneto
    viaveneto Member Posts: 6
    edited June 2012

    All of you girls are a great bunch! This forum has really helped me feeling a little less alone. I know you guys understand!

    Thank you for the support!

    Giuliana

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  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited June 2012

    I also got burns and still have scar tissue from the lumpectomy 11 months later. It is improving, but my ro said it could just take a very long time. The burns developed after the radiation and were not particularly painful. Other than a very bad tape allergy rash (glad to hear I'm not the only one who had that issue), the whole procedure was pretty easy. I wrapped my chest in Saran wrap to bathe (wearing the bra of course). That was an adventure.

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  • Cherilynn64
    Cherilynn64 Member Posts: 342
    edited June 2012

    Shayne - isn't that first real shower the BEST???? OMG I know, lol! And as far as the aloe gel and no sun exposure ever, it may be b/c I have very fair skin, but the info was also on my after care instructions sheet. You would have gotten the same one as me I assume. It had listed like the no shower for 48 hrs, how the site would heal over, what to watch for....on that same page was about applying aloe vera gel for one year and never exposing the radiated area to the sun. They were very specific with me about tank tops and swim suits, neither of which I wear so I haven't had to worry about that.

    Vickie - OK, thanks for that info about the light touch. I think I was pressing too hard. The next day I got shooting nerve pain. I waited a couple days and did it again and it happened again so I gave up. But I am pretty sure I was pushing too hard so thanks for the info! 

    Giuliana  - we do understand. Smile

    Nancy, I have read about other people doing saran wrap, that had to be a pain! But at least it worked!

    Cheri 

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  • Vicks1960
    Vicks1960 Member Posts: 473
    edited June 2012

    Cheri

    I have had those shooting pains too. Both RO and MO (and my PCP) say it is the nerves regrowing/attaching.  They told me it would get better and now at 7+months it has gotten better...

    To all the sisters out there::::: KEEP HANGING IN THERE!!!  We can be part of the advance group to whip this BC invasion!!!! 

    Hugs to all {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}]

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  • Shayne
    Shayne Member Posts: 1,500
    edited June 2012

    Cheri - weird - it wasnt on my paperwork - i looked at everything........?

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  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited June 2012

    Shayne/cheri, I never got that particular info either.

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  • Vicks1960
    Vicks1960 Member Posts: 473
    edited June 2012

    I don't have anything in writing either.  I think I gleaned such information from this site or some other article on recovery...

    It is my experience, that sometimes we can learn things from other friends who have been through or going through treatments and find that their stuff works for ourselves...

    It is wonderful that we can feel free to share things with each other....

    Vickie

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