Winter RADS 2012 Club...Please come join the fun!

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  • allurbaddayswillend
    allurbaddayswillend Member Posts: 355
    edited March 2013

    adagio, I was on weekly taxol. I started radiation 2weeks and one day after my last chemo.

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  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited March 2013

    Hi Bunkie10. My consultant is Sandy Salzwedel. You can order from her at www.sandras.lbri.com. I really love the aloe! I also ordered samples of the oily skin skincare products and like me as well. Let me know how you like them!

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  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited March 2013

    Did anyone else have heartburn due to radiation treatment? My nurse told me to take ranitidine. I just wondered how long it will take to go away?

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  • BUNKIE10
    BUNKIE10 Member Posts: 733
    edited March 2013

    Sweege - Thanks I will order some stuff. I saw a body wash that looked good also.

    Yes I had heartburn and mild nausea. Rads got me good but I took some chooze gum for it. Old formula my grandma used to use. I find it at my local pharmacy. I am sure any good antacid will work. They even did a chest x-ray on me to see if my esophagus was acting up. Nope just rads pissing off my body.  

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  • BUNKIE10
    BUNKIE10 Member Posts: 733
    edited March 2013

    Sweege - Thanks I will order some stuff. I saw a body wash that looked good also.

    Yes I had heartburn and mild nausea. Rads got me good but I took some chooze gum for it. Old formula my grandma used to use. I find it at my local pharmacy. I am sure any good antacid will work. They even did a chest x-ray on me to see if my esophagus was acting up. Nope just rads pissing off my body.  

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited March 2013

    SwgeeWi - yes, I had heartburn too, but it wasn't bad/frequent enough to take anything more than the occasional Pepcid and it went away once I started boosts.    I didn't realize it was that common!

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  • Lisa1637
    Lisa1637 Member Posts: 101
    edited March 2013

    Hi Tuxtails-

    I too have taken my healthy diet up a notch and try to make sure I get in as many super foods as I can...

    Can you tell me about basic alkaline/non acidic diet....that I'm not familiar with.

    Wishing you well...:) Lisa

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  • fgm
    fgm Member Posts: 831
    edited March 2013

    5LuvBug-I didn't have a mold either.  I had a board with "stirrups" for my arms.  They put a sheet over the board and a folded up sheet for padding for my back. I asked about a mold  and they told me they only use it for "older" patients who can't handle the board.  I never felt  they didn't get the correct spots because they checked the markings everyday and took weekly films.

    The shooting pains are normal.  My last boost was January 31 and I still get zapped.  My RO, MO and surgeon said it's the tissues healing and the zaps will get less and less, and they are. Hang in there. My skin was almost back to normal 2 weeks after boosts were over and I had to take an 8 day break between my treatments and boosts because my boob was really baked.

    Hope this helps!!!!

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  • gemini4
    gemini4 Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2013

    Hi ladies! This is my first post on this thread. Tomorrow is officially the 2/3rds mark (will be 20 of 30). Just this weekend my armpit has angrily erupted! It's so painful. It started with my snb scar being irritated and slightly inflamed, and now the whole area has these thick, welt-like lumpy bumps. Itches like crazy and feels raw and tight.



    Of course I'll have the nurse look at it tomorrow am (and they're usually good about getting the RO to look as well, even though doc day isn't till Wednesday).



    I know boost will be starting at some point soon, maybe this week. So the armpit won't be zapped the whole entire rest of the course. But I'm worried how it will hold up since it is so bad right now.



    Thanks for any words of wisdom you can offer! Hugs :-)

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  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited March 2013

    I finished the whole area rads 1 week ago and am currently doing boosts.  After the week the pink is almost gone with just some darkening still at snb scar and slight pink on top of breast.  Never had any pain or issues with it and it looks like it will be clear in another week.  Finish the boosts on the 19th.....5 more to go. (They are closed Monday for maintenance)

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  • gemini4
    gemini4 Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2013

    Hi all -- checking back in. Nurse looked at my armpit and said that, even though it looks bad to me, it's completely normal. Gave me some Vaseline-coated dressing to put on it and to keep the skin-to-skin contact at a minimum. Only four more armpit zaps until I get only boosts -- looking forward to this!



    Oh but my poor rads boob is soooo sore! Seriously the pain feels like it did just post lumpectomy surgery! My other breast feels just fine, so it's not PMS pain. I understand this is normal too ... But ouch!!!



    When will I feel better? Thanks again for reading.

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  • melmcbee
    melmcbee Member Posts: 1,119
    edited March 2013

    Gemini I remember when I complained about my burns and the techs looked at it and said that they have seen worse. That was not the response I wanted to hear. lol. They did allow me to put silvadine on it during the weekends and once I started the boosts. The silvadine healed it quickly. I hope you start feeling better. Hugs

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  • gemini4
    gemini4 Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2013

    Thanks, Mel!



    I going to ask about silvadine. I told my RO about this board and she said to let her know about anything I'm learning here that seems to be working well. I love this open-minded attitude! :-)

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  • gemini4
    gemini4 Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2013

    Me again. :-)



    I'm in bed now for the night but just wanted to whine a little more. My rads breast is so sore that I took one Tylenol w codeine from the bottle that I have leftover from surgery. It is that painful. It's not a skin burn pain, it's a sore, deep tissue pain. My incision is at the 3 o'clock position on my breast; this pain is at 7 o'clock. What the heck is it?



    Of course I'll check in with the nurse tomorrow am. I know better than to worry that it's "something," but it sure doesn't feel like it's "nothing" either.



    The Tylenol with codeine will knock me out soon -- goodnight all!

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  • SwgeeWi
    SwgeeWi Member Posts: 315
    edited March 2013

    Hi gemini4. I, too, had breast and underarm pain. My RO had me taking Aleve and Tylenol together. That worked pretty well. They also gave me Elasto-gel pads. They are flexible plastic looking sheets you can refrigerate if you want. The gel is very soothing, and Elasto-gel has properties that help prevent infection. I was given an Rx for Silvadene at my final boost appt. I've been using it on my peeling skin. I have about a penny sized blister (of course- now that I'm done and no one is checking my skin on a weekly basis!) The Silvadene should prevent that from getting infected, so I'm not worried. Hope you're felling better soon!

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  • trinity927
    trinity927 Member Posts: 637
    edited March 2013

    Hi to everyone!

    Hope everyone is doing great!  Love to all my sisters ...

    I'm not sure if I'm posting my question on the correct thread, so please accept my apologies if I'm in the wrong place!  If someone could direct me to a more appropriate thread, I would greatly appreciate it. :)

    I had a bilateral MX in October 2011.  I am HER2 positive and ER positive.  My tumor was extremely "close to my chest wall" and "vascular".  My radiation oncologists told me after surgery that I did not need radiation therapy.  I have already completed chemo, herceptin treatments, and I'm currently on Arimidex (for the next five years).  I have recently been reading about radiation therapy.  I have a lot of pain in my right breast area and right underarm area.  I think that's what really prompted me to start researching about breast cancer treatments, particularly "radiation therapy".  And, it appears to me that I should have definitely been advised by my doctors to have radiation therapy.  I am soooo upset and full of regret that I didn't advocate for myself to receive it.  At the time, I just didn't know that much about radiation therapy, and relied on my doctors for my treatment plan.  I'm assuming it's too late for me to have radiation therapy.  Woe is me!  :(

    Any thoughts and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

    Love~Peace~Joy

    Trinity

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  • CarolynVM
    CarolynVM Member Posts: 137
    edited March 2013

    My serious breast pain during radiation turned out to be lymphedema.  I started PT in my 5th week of rads and the improvement is marked.  Before PT my boob was hard, hot and very painful.  I rolled over on my boob while I was sleeping and I woke up in agony.  That was the marker, for me, that something was really wrong.  The next morning or so later I could hear "squish, squish, squish" when I pushed at my breast with one finger.  It was that full of fluid!  My RO sent me to a PT clinic with a whole lymphedema section.  You had two nodes removed plus a lot of radiation with more to come.  That can really upset your lymphatic system!

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  • gemini4
    gemini4 Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2013

    Thanks, Carolyn -- tomorrow is doctor day so I'll definitely ask if it might be LE.

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  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited March 2013

    Morning ladies.  Today is one week past rads!  My skin is still very red and itchy now.  It is starting to look and feel a bit like a snake but I'm not complaining because no blisters or broken skin.  :-)   Friday the nasty port gets removed from the other side of my chest so then both sides can hurt! ha ha.   But seriously, it will be good to get that annoying thing out.  I'm still battling some chemo SE's but trying to get some exercise and it does seem to be helping with the always achy large muscles.   Good luck to all of you still in rads ... lotion and more lotion!  Hugs. 

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  • gemini4
    gemini4 Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2013

    Hi ladies -- today was doctor day, so I'm here with an update.  My breast pain is actually much, much better today, so it doesn't look like it's LE.  The armpit skin has also improved, and I'm to continue with the vaseline-coated wound dressing.  I also got an rx for silvadene to start using in a few days.  The last whole breast zap is tomorrow!  Friday and Monday will be the last armpit/clav tx's, and then it's just five boost tx's at my incision site.

    My RO had never heard of Elasto-gel pads but was interested in them.  The only concern she had in my case was too many antibiotics at once; I'm using the chlorhexidine wash for the folliculitis, and the silvadene also has antibiotic properties.  Since my armpit is improving, and I've only got three more tx's left to that area, I think I'll be OK with the vaseline and gauze dressings.  I'm wearing a "tube top" fashioned out of a pair of mesh maternity panties (the ones they send you home with after you have a baby to hold the giant menstrual pads in place) with the crotch cut out -- this is keeping the dressing in place.  Looks crazy but is actually quite comfortable, and it's also acting as my bra today, too!  Tongue Out

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  • Waitingforthenextstep
    Waitingforthenextstep Member Posts: 251
    edited March 2013

    halfcan

         I too am having pain in my leg muscles all the time.  The only relief is if I take ibuprofin and/or aspirin.  Sometimes I take both a little while apart.  How long have you been PFC?  Do you take anything for the leg aches? 

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  • halfcan
    halfcan Member Posts: 253
    edited March 2013

    Waitingfornextstep ... I am 8 weeks PFC and 1 week post rads. I take Ibuprofin mostly. The muscle aches are less severe now. It could be partly due to using the treadmill now. I had to force myself at first cause it hurt to do anything. I hope it goes away quickly for you! Hugs.

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  • 5LuvBugs
    5LuvBugs Member Posts: 506
    edited March 2013

    Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. I haven't posted in over a week so I'm trying to catch up on all your posts and hope this coming week is better than last. My radiation has been stopped for a few days because I developed bad skin breakdowns under my arm and on my incisions. I'm waiting to move on - 8 to go and I should be done by Easter, so here I sit putting Silvadene on my skin and wearing no bra singing an old song with new lyrics here's my new rendition of Do your Ears Hang low, sing along if you are old enough to remember .....

    " Do your boobs hang low, do they wobble to and fro, can you tie them in a knot can you tie them in a bow, can you swing them over your shoulder like a continental solder, do your boobs hang low" Laughing

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited March 2013

    HaHa I remember that song. Won't work for me now, I'm flat, not planning recon.



    My skin broke down too, what an oozy mess. Rads have been on hold almost 2 weeks. Boosts are done, 4 regular rads to go. Will find out Tues, by Fri I could be DONE

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  • melmcbee
    melmcbee Member Posts: 1,119
    edited March 2013

    Lol. Love the song.

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  • gemini4
    gemini4 Member Posts: 532
    edited March 2013

    I have a song stuck in my head, an old Merle Haggard song called "Silver Wings." I got an rx for silvadene to treat the burns on my underarm and clavicle. My version goes --



    Silva-dene

    Rub it on the red skin

    Heal the burnin'

    Make it feel better fast ...



    One week from tomorrow is the last treatment! Tomorrow is my last clav zap, then it's only boosts after that. I'm ready to be done. The staff is nice and I love my doc and nurses, but my skin needs for this to be over.



    Hugs to all --

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  • bee15
    bee15 Member Posts: 8
    edited March 2013

    Hello All:

    I finished 28 rads on March 5th and have had a lot of peeling, oozing etc in the radiated area.  One of the things  I was given by my Rad Onco was a silicone "bandage". It's used for burn patients and it absolutely wonderful.  It was called Mepitel.  It's an open weave that can be rinsed and reused as it gets gummed up.  I purchased 2 large 3" x 7" Mepilex (they didn't have the larger size in the Mepitel type) silicone bandages from the medical supply store and used gauze on top of them at night to keep the fluid from staining everything.   Silvadene cream can put on over the Mipilex bandage.  You can even shower in them and used the saline soak while still wearing them.  When they get too coated in cream and peeling skin (gross, I know) you can rinse them and place them on waxed paper to dry and reuse them.   The literature says they are good for up to a week, but I used mine for almost 2 weeks.  

    It made sleeping so much more comfortable.  A little pricey at $12.00 each, but so worthwhile.  

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  • daisymom46
    daisymom46 Member Posts: 19
    edited March 2013

    5luvbugs ~ I am laughing so hard....definitely remember that song!  Will be singing it tonight as I 'lube my boob' before bed tonight.

    Only 6 more 'boosts' to go.  Red and itchy but holding up well with aloe and aveeno cortisone cream and occasional aquaphor.

    My nausea stopped completely within 48 hours of my last regular rads tx on Wednesday. 

    Still having that 'what next' feeling for when I am done with daily rads.  Great therapists, dr.'s and nurses.  Have even applied to volunteer there later.

    Hang in there ladies! I don't post much but am so encouraged by everyone here.  Thank you :) 

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  • schoolmom
    schoolmom Member Posts: 458
    edited March 2013

    Only one more boost tomorrow and I am finished.  I am blessed to have move through radiation with little skin issues.  Sachar, another lady who came before me, used Aloe Force and swore by it.  I ordered it online and got two small bottles, one for the bathroom and one for my purse....it came to about $32 I think.  My treatments were at 7:00 AM.  I would shower every morning to wash off the residue of the lotion, have treatment, lotion up in the bathroom at the facility, lotion up at lunch time at work and in the evening before bed.  I know everyone reacts differently but my skin turned pink and then light brown during the whole rads area.  I had some minimal peeling under the breast where the tumor was.  Through the boosts all went good except some drying around nipple.  I extra lubed and peeled away a little dry skin.  Basically that has been it.  Just wanted to share.....I told my doctor I was using Aloe and she said that was fine if I needed it. 

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  • 5LuvBugs
    5LuvBugs Member Posts: 506
    edited March 2013

    Picture This -Laughing Ok so you already saw my rendition of "Boobs hang low" Well here's one to beat that - Fair warning - do not have any beverages in your mouth when you read this and don't be reading it where you can't laugh out loud.

    I have not been wearing a bra because of the radiation burns under my arm and incision but my bossoms are "hanging low" and they hurt so I need some support without a bra - I finally figured it out. I rolled up 2 of my grandsons Elmo pampers and made ledges for my boobs and I rolled them so the eyes are showing Wink- boy are they going to love me when I go back for radiation next week - try it!!!Kiss I think I got a lot crazier as I got older..hell what have I got to lose.. Smile girls and if you try it send pictures.....

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