July 2012 Radiation

Okay, Ladies.  I have a deodorant question for you:

My RO says NO deodorant under the treated arm--only cornstarch.  My sister (again, radiation therapist) says I can use Tom's natural deodorant.

What have your RO's been telling you?  Thanks. 

Belinda, Mine said no shaving, but right now, due to chemo, I have no pit hair (one of the few chemo advantages).  Anyway, I purchased an electric razor on Amazon (high ratings, etc).  I thought I would need to use it while doing chemo.  Either I am stupid (could be) or the thing was a piece of s....t.  I have never used it and will probably donate it to the goodwill or women's shelter.  I never did like electric razors anyway.  

Belinda:  Did you opt NOT for chemo due to your onco. score? 

I was told no shaving no deoderant on rads side. The long hair grosses me out but its over soon. Honestly I havnt needed deoderant on that side and we have been in tx for the duration of my treatment. I havent sweated at all. The rads i think damages those cells some. Sorry for mistakes... on my phone.

Kyberty - Mine said deoderant with no aluminum. The gave me a small bottle of a spray called Naturally Fresh Spray Mist which works well. I had already been using Tom's and they said that was ok too.When my Tom's is gone, I think I'm going to kee using the Naturally Fresh.

I also bought an electric razor and think I irritated my skin more using that. I bought disposable razors and used those just once and then them away after each use (I didn't tell my doc though). I never cut myself and didn't get the irritation I did from the electric one. I just soaped up well and before hand. I think the electric one is going to end up in the next garage sale. I haven't had hair on my legs since I had my first child, so I won't use it for anything else. I certainly don't want it under my arms again. Owie.

Belinda:  My score was a no-brainer for me.  I was fortunate that the S/E's were minimal considering what they could have been.  

I bought the cornstarch today.  My work wardrobe is black, white, black, black, black.  (No, I don't wear uniforms--black is a very forgiving color--LOL).  I can hardly wait to see what the white stuff looks like all over my clothes.  If anyone needs a BRAND NEW electric razor, PM me and I will send it to you.  

Thanks to all with your dr. recommendations.

TAB55:  What was your score?  PS--I drank TAB all through college--hated the stuff--LOL.  And I was born in 55. Glad they came out with Diet Coke--which I rarely drink now anyway.   

weird, I never had that test run!  When did they do it?  Was it part of your pathology report?

The rad tech was the one who told me no deodorant unless it's the Arm & Hammer natural one which happens to be the one I normally use.  She mentioned one other kind I could use that I forgot.  But I am not using it under that arm except on weekends.  I don't want the radiation baking the deodorant in there!  She said baking soda was fine too.  She didn't say anything about not shaving though and they must know I am shaving. 

My oncotype score was 11 and my MO still wanted me to do chemo! She said that the test was new and before the test, I would have definitely gotten it.  Well what's the point of getting the test then?!  So I said no and then 2 days later my BS called to say she saw the note from the MO where I was being recommended chemo and she wanted to make sure I didn't do it.  She said the oncotype test was a good test.  Interesting to have two docs in the same hospital disagreeing though I suppose that is pretty common. Sheis really not going to be happy when I tell her I'm not going to take the tamoxifen, but I have to do what I think is best for me.  We all have to take all the advice people give us and make our own best decisions.

My MO said that I did not need the onco test because I had one swollen node and a biopsy prior to treatment showed it to be positive.  Also, with weak ER+ and a Grade 3 tumor, she said chemo was a "must."   I wonder now what my score would have been.

We are told to avoid getting our bp checked, blood drawn, injury, or bug bites to the arm where lymph nodes have been removed to reduce the risk of lymphedema.  Guess what has already happened to me.  I have a bug bite on my left arm.  Should I really be concerned?  Or, do I only need to be worried if it gets infected?

I'm still trying to adjust to the "new normal."  I don't want my life to be filled with worry about every little thing that happens to me.

Good luck to all as we start another week of rads.

There is great advice on the LE tread about lymphedema.  Basically when you get an injury to the at risk arm you want to rest, drink lots of water, take deep breaths through out the day, breath as full as your stomach can get and then let air out and compress your stomach as small as it can get, it stimulates the Lymphs in the stomach area, which is your largest concentration of lymphs... When your LE are is compromised and you get an injury, your body brings fluid to the arm to treat the injury and may not be able to get the fluid to leave. its harder to get it out.  When there is fluid buildup you increase your risk of cellulitus, a PTA infection... When doing rads or chemo any infection needed antibiotics will slow your treatment.  So they say minimize risk as much as possible.  Wear gloves and long sleeves hwen gardening, gloves when dishwashing, bug spray, no sunburn, ect.  I am only 28 with NO lymphs on my right side PLUS rads, so lymphedema is part o my new normal   But my arm looks normal with some work that we are doing, and over time, hopefully, I can decerase the amount of time it takes to keep the LE under control.  Sorry for the rant

I get my sleeve tomorrow. My arm is only 1 centimeter bigger than the other but without thinking I reached out and moved a chair. By the days end my arm was swollen. I elevated it and did the self-massage for several days and it seems to have gone down considerably.

Sometimes I think it's better that I have some degree of pain in my arm. When there is pain, I think more about how I move. Being right-handed, without pain, I just reach out instinctively and do things. I don't think I'm going to ever get used to being a lefty.

#15/34 done = 44% done

Today was my weekly appointment with my MO.  She was pleased with the condition of my skin--only slightly pink.  She shared with me that she thought I might get an early reaction because I am extremely fair skinned.  Then she said that she is often surprised about how various women handle rads.  I hope I get to be one of the lucky ones. 

TAB55 - Thanks for the link to the LE paper.  I found it very informative and saved it to my computer file for future reference.  I hate the thought that I need to be concerned about getting LE for the rest of my life.

Karen - Did you find out when you start rads?