DCIS girls starting radiation June and July?

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  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited August 2012

    Info I had a thought about all of this. My boob like many I'm sure is jello like when we lay down. When we stand up or lean over they stick out more. The radiation beam is tiny but is straight. Everyone of us is built different. Some of us have different density, some larger, smaller. After nursing my 4 boys I have hardly any breast tissue it's mostly fat. When I lay down my barely C's slide to the pits some & I'm almost flat. My tumor was closer to the chest wall as that was the side that had only 3.5 mm of clear margins. I have seen my weekly boob pics post RADS of where the RADS hit. Nothing in the esophagus throat area. Yes you can see where it does hit my lung. But as I said the beam is straight & it doesn't curve & go around corners! But that beam sure goes right over top of those areas though. I also work in a nursing rehab home. There is a lots of upper respiratory stuff going around & with my immune system compromised ( I know not like Chemo ). but it still can mess with your white count. Just rambling my mindful thoughts! I will get my weekly pics tomorrow & bend my nurses ear too. She is very helpful. I am feeling better, but darn throat still hurts annoyingly so. If I must I'll go see my GP tomorrow. As my new GI Dr. Said 2 weeks ago, that she suspects that all this will get better after RADS are over! Counting the days down!

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited August 2012

    PS.... Thanks for everyone support!

  • mnkid
    mnkid Member Posts: 33
    edited August 2012

    Thanks ladies.  Yes, I'm having the dry cough, too.  Not too annoying but noticable.  Thanks for the advice on the gauze pads vs. abd.  I hope I don't have to delay treatments.  I SO want to get this over with. 

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,836
    edited August 2012

    Julz4 - I had a sore throat and dry cough for several weeks during my radiation and have had one off and on for the two weeks since I completed my rads. They told me (and i have read) that it is a side effect of rads. Not sure why though.

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited August 2012

    Mnkid I hope so too! Once you start you just want to get them done. I'm thankful they don't take long. I have a BC friend from church who was DX 4 years ago. She has never told me or anyone what her stage is. I know it wasn't good at all from what she has gone through. She had a BMX after Chemo & still went through at least 35 RADS treatments. She said her RADS were 45 min to an hour every day!!!! I try to remember that when I complain.

    Mini I know I have read that too but just how my RO gets about the stomach issue I have NOT being caused by RADS!!! I bet he might say the same about this too! Boy I sure wish he had 1 10th of my MO's compassionate charisma!

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,836
    edited August 2012

    Julz4 -They told me me mine from from the rads. And the lack of taste of my food too. I still amazed at the difference in info we all get about things.

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited August 2012

    Well they never emphasized that SE's. Mostly the skin issues & pain. The rest of it they say at a glance so to speak. I will go find my paper that has all the SE's they think could happen & see if that is listed. My RO nurse is more in tune with all this & told me on the sly that she has seen 2 others have nausea from the get go also. Very rare. Go google & read the SE's of Radiation sickness which Did AFTER all this stuff started happening. Now granted we are not getting that kind of exposure but come on you can have 1 million people take the same dose of a medicine & not everyone is gonna feel the same way!!! We all react differently. Yes many may get the same symptoms & many may not. Then there are always a few that just plain do the weird thing! That's ME! Lol!

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,836
    edited August 2012

    Julz4 - they never told me either. It was a nurse that asked me about it and then discsussed it with me. :-) I've had them tell me that a SE COULDN'T be a SE from the rads. Never mind I didn't have it before the rads and it stopped after the rads. Nope, isn't possible. They also told me when my son was small it was impossible for him to have the type of cyst he had where he had it. Sent his biopsy to 9 labs in 9 states. Guess what? It was what it was and was where it was. They asked us if they could put it in the New England Jounal of Medicine. So much for impossible.

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited August 2012

    Mini can't find it yet .... I will stumble across it one of these days. There is always a first! You just never know. Is your son ok today? Going through SH... with our babes is so tuff. I have 4 sons oldest & youngest have Crohns. 2 end 1 has severe IBS...someday I wonder if that will change to Crohns. My 3erd one has ADHD....but lately has had tummy issues. This is just the tip of our family's health problems! It never ends! I know we have hit close to1 million dollar for the family in Medical since DH & I got married 27 years ago mostly in the last 12 years! Boggles the mind!

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,836
    edited August 2012

    He's fine. Healthy as a horse. That was one of the few times in his life he had an issue. It was kind of scary at the time though. His dad had cancer and had just finished up chemo. He was younger at the time than his son is now which seems weird. :-)

  • Myna
    Myna Member Posts: 17
    edited August 2012

    Hi All.  I did not have time to post last week.  My last of 34 rads treatments is done! Yay!!!

    My breast is sore and a bit red, but it should heal in a few weeks according to my docs.  So far, so good.  Wondering when the nipple sensitivity will end as that has been most difficult; any clothing on it is painful.  Tried with and w/o a bra (doc wanted me to go w/o all the time).  Tried a gauze pad over it and that works.  But hard to keep it in place without tape and I am not allowed to tape anywhere on that breast.  Finally got a netting from the nurses and that helps a lot while letting the breast 'breathe'-- LOL!  Doctor has me on Silvadene cream as the redness got more "angry".  Other than that, Ihave had fatigue for the last 2-3 weeks.  Nothing a lot of sleep does not help.  Sorry some of you are having more significant side effects from the radiation.  Just hang in there. The creams are a pain in the neck to keep up with but worth it. They do seem to make a difference for some.  I got through mine with calendula 10% cream and 99% pure aloe vera and recently, the Silvadene cream.  Now I just have about 1.5 years of tamoxifen/3 yrs of an AI to get through!

  • mnkid
    mnkid Member Posts: 33
    edited August 2012

    Myna, congratulations on finishing!  I've started the countdown, 10 more treatments to go!  Yay.

    My rads nurse provided me with some really nice dressings for my peeling and sore underbreast.  She recommend to use the Aquaphor on the sore spots instead of the Radiaplex gel.  The itching is quite distracting at times but it's better with the steriod cream.  I took off three hours early from work today and will likely do the same tomorrow.  Sleep is so helpful.  The cough is not rads related.

    Our heatwave finally broke so that make the daily trip to tx a little easier, too.

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,836
    edited August 2012

    Someone on one of the natural girl pages suggested steeping tea bags and putting them under your breast. I didn't see the post until I was done so I don't know if it works, but she got relief from it.

  • Nanam
    Nanam Member Posts: 21
    edited August 2012

    I've got 3 treatments left and have done 25.  My skin is breaking down and pretty raw in a few spots.  I've found great relief from saline compresses, recommended at the Cancer Agency where I go for radiation.  You boil up about 4 cups of water and add 2 teaspoons of salt.  Let cool to room temp. (very important!)  Place gauze or clean face cloth in a bowl and cover with saline solution.  Lay wet gauze or washcloth over the area for 10 - 15 minutes.  Do this 2 or 3 times a day.  Use clean gauze or washcloth every time and change water every 1-2 times.  Dry gently and apply creams after.  It really cleans and soothes the skin and reduces inflammation. 

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited August 2012

    Nanam that does sound soothing!  Yeah to only having 3 to go.

    Mnkid my cough is definately not RADS related either.  I am heading to the GP tomorrow.  I feel so awful with the cough tonight.  Hurts!  Lemon ginger tea tonight to get me through as it's soothing & cough drops.  I have to watch what I take because of my BP.  Many over the counter meds now come with warnings for people who have hight blood pressure. 

    Mini Grace did it from the July Rad group & said it helps sooth.  I think she boiled the tea bag & let it cool then layed them on the areas that needed it.  I think it was Black tea.

  • mnkid
    mnkid Member Posts: 33
    edited August 2012

    I thought about the tea bags since they are so good for puffy eyes but the saline compresses sound a little more sterile for some reason.  Ibuprofen is also very helpful with some of the inflammation and pains. Eight more treatments to go.  Thank you for the recipe, Nanam.

    julz4, I have high blood pressure, too, so I know what you are talking about.  Coricidin makes a line of cough and cold treatments that won't raise one's BP.  Mint and camomile teas are my go-to for sore throats and sad tummy.  They are also very refreshing iced.

    My non-rads breast is both happy it doesn't have the troubles her sister is having but is feeling a bit neglected with all the special treatment rads-breast receives.  I'll have to take her to the zoo or something to make it up to her (humor).

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,836
    edited August 2012

    mnkid- Love it! Some girl time is definitely called for. :-)

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited August 2012

    Mnkid LOL!!!  By all means we don't want her to feel left out! Hahaha!  Yeah they are good but when I take them I get tired.  

    So I tucked a cough drop in my mouth didn't say one word to the RO or the team & got Fridays RADS done.  Walked out of the building & called my GP.  I got in & Yes I definately have Bronchitis.  I saw the Physicians assistant she was glad I came in to see them as other Dr's like a RO ect. order weird anti-biotics & meds.  That are not always the most effective for what you might have.  She got me Tessalon Perles it's a cough medicine pill that has helped a good bit.  I'm starting to feel better but it's gonna take a while.  Not sleeping well as I have had to sleep on the couch sitting up the past few nights to help with the cough.  Also it's quieter for every one else in the house if I'm out in the Family room hacking.  

    On another note I had a wonderful surprise Friday night.  I am sitting on the couch in my Jammie's & my Dogs start barking up a storm.  I look over to see the commotion & this WOMAN & 2 other people are walking in my living room through my kitchen.  No knock on the Door Nothing....It took me a few seconds to realize that it's my Best Breast Cancer Friend from 4 states away!  I was in shock! There stood her, her DD, &  her DH in my house.  They were coming back from a trip down south & stopped in to spend the night & visit with me.  She had contacted my DH 2 days prior & was in cahoots with him.  He knew all along & told them to just walk in when they go here.  We met on here 4 years ago & have been fast friends since.  I wish we didn't live so far away but we have gotten together 4 times now.  It was wonderful to see her it really helped to lift my spirits!  Just what the Dr. needed to ORDER! 

  • mnkid
    mnkid Member Posts: 33
    edited August 2012

    julz4, what a GREAT and happy surprise!  Hope you are feeling better with some meds on board for your bronchitis very soon.

    Well, today my rads doc told me to put my breast in a sling at night.  It kind of cracked me up but it makes sense to get some of the pressure off the undercarriage a bit.  So I cut up an old t-shirt.  We'll see how this is going to work.  I don't usually like things around my neck but I'll give it a go.  Only two more full-breast treatments and then five focused on the malignant area treatments.  That will be less taxing on the breast and get that undercarriage healing up sooner than later.  Almost done!  Yay!

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,836
    edited August 2012

    mnkid - an actual over the shoulder boulder holder! lol Congrats on being so close to being finished with the rads!

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited August 2012

    Mnkid....I'm loving that over the shoulder boulder holder too!  I hope it's working out for you!  My meds are working the cough is much better.  No voice now though.  Oh well as long as the pain & cough are gone.

    4 more to go! 

  • Mini1
    Mini1 Member Posts: 1,836
    edited August 2012

    You're almost there Julyz. Only 4 more. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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