Spring 2013 Rads

Hello everyone. First post in this thread. Today was 10/33 for me. So far, so good. I haven't had any SE's yet, but I know they're coming.

I have chosen to make the best of this journey by entertaining my rad techs. Every day, I put a different message on my breast or torso, on my "good" side. I use stickers and/or markers. If the saying needs a graphic, I grab something off of Google images and tape it on. Some examples: f cancer, cancer you're fired (with picture of Donald), Toast the Ta Ta (with picture of toaster), Does this radiation make my butt look fat?, etc. It's really fun. They are excited to see what I have each day. I live in Indiana which is a big basketball state. Most of my techs went to Indiana University. I went to the rival school, so I put some trash talk on my body when they were still in the tournament. They got me back. They said they needed to make some more markings on my body. I didn't realize what was going on, but I left with red IU stuff written all over me. They used permanent markers so it took a few days to wash away.

I am drinking lots of water, getting about 70 grams of protein a day and constantly lubing the boob. So far, so good.

Good luck everyone. We can do this!

Hi Cindy and Placid,

Corn starch I will have to give it try. I am so afraid if I start itching I wont stop!! lol... insane. Cindy, I will be stopping tomorrow for some hydrocrotisone cream. I have the aquaphor, aloe vera and yesterday got the Aveeno. I like the Aveeno. Skin is burning but it is soft so I know I am lubbing it up enough. I am in a cami tonight, I have teen boys so as much as DH would like it I am covered up!

2 zaps? We are the same DX other than your IDC and I am ILC. Wonder why I have 7? I will ask the tech about the grays tomorrow. Some of my zaps are short some are long. I can see a perfect square burned into my skin, they percision is great..lol

Thank you for the tips. I am going to take a xanax and let it knock me out.

Today was 19/33

I noticed yesterday that my clavicle area upper chest is a little tight .My Ro said it is probably the skin getting a little tighter.My attention span has been pretty short and I've been a little forgetful.Kind of foggy

That is kind of scared huh?

Hey Everyone - first timer here. Just found this community today and have been reading posts for hours. I don't understand all the abbreviations but I think I'm catching on. Does tx stand for treatment?  What are SEs? Today I completed 17/33 treatments and this is the first I've heard about drinking lots of water! Seems I'm the only one who doesn't know about the importance of hydration during radiation.  I've been focusing so much on what to put on and not to put on my skin that I forgot about taking care of my skin from the inside - makes sense though. I'm a little red, a little sore and starting to get a rash on the edges of my incision. I'm terrified of what's coming.  Everyone keeps talking about wearing sports bras and loose T-shirts to work toward the last weeks of treatment but I already am in too much pain to wear any kind of bra. I wear silly shirts with ruffles in front to hide my freakish breasts and they are starting to rub against my skin.  I'm a teacher and I have to be careful what I wear to work.  I can't wear a t shirt without a bra to work and layers don't work because my hot flashes are so severe. Any ideas?  I'm a single mom and have had to work through this whole thing alone and I've about had enough. I think it's great that everyone on this thread is so positive and I'm hoping it will rub off on me because I'm just not there. It's been almost a year since my first surgery and I'm still an emotional mess. I can't find the bright side to any of this and I really hope you ladies can help me see it. Hope no one else is as miserable as I am.

Hi all,

I found this web site very helpful for how to deal with radiation skin, sun, dietary and other issues.

Hugs, Sheryl

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/radiation/skin/care

Chiefsfan,



Welcome. Re ideas on what to wear: how about a cotton camisole instead of a bra? I have tissue expanders (TEs) in right now and only expanded to a B, so I can go without a bra for now. But I've only done 6/28 treatments. When my skin gets irritated I plan to wear a camisole.



Re emotions, I would just say look forward to when treatments end (it's wearing on me, too, after 7 months), focus on the fact that the treatments are reducing our risk of problems, and create a list of new things you want to do and try when treatments are over. Also eat well and rest. I've completely changed my diet and I think it is helping. Also consider seeing an oncology counselor for tips. I plan to at least once.

Welcome braids3, I would say keep hydrated and form good exercise habits as best you can to prepare.

I had treatment 8/30 today. I am so glad I am here reading the boards today. I kept thinking something was wrong because I feel so tired. Not only tired, I seem to have just about every SE you can get. The brain fog, heart burn..and the red swollen boob and arm. I did not even try to take my karate class last night. I just wanted a pillow and blanket so I could sleep. I hate being this tired! I hate not being able to carry a conversation because I cannot remember what I was saying. Oh and the heartburn!!! I already was battling it but now it is horrible. It was comforting to know that others are having difficulties too and that I am not alone. My mind keeps going to the dark place....wondering if the cancer has spread somewhere else. I try to be strong for the kids and my husband but days like today are just overwhelming. OK..done whinning...putting my big girl panties back on and going to feed the 9 children whining about dinner!

momtotenkids- I am so glad you posted about the brainfog. I forgot my debit card pin and I am literally writing things down, I didnt know if it was the exhaustion or I was just crazy. Might be a bit of both, glad I am not alone.

XO

Cindy- ((hugs)) to you.

Hello ladies! I can't tell you how relieved I am to read about others having brain fog. I am an event planner and spend my days working with minute details. Recently, my co-worker who sits next to me has very politely corrected some of the stuff I have been mishandling. It's embarrassing! What do you suppose it is? Are we just so distracted with the cancer? Alzheimer's runs heavily in my family, and it scares me to death to be feeling this way.

On a brighter note, I just wanted to remind everyone of how fortunate we are that modern medicine can treat this beast. My aunt died from breast cancer when she was only 47. That was 45  years ago. I think about her often. I don't think they even had mammograms back then, and I'm sure the treatments were nothing like today. So while we feel bitchy, tired, itchy, sore and have that brain fog, let's all remember why we're doing this. This too shall pass and will become just a bump in the road.

So let's go get zapped and be one day closer to done. Have a great evening everyone.

Count me in.  I don't think I'm having brain fog from radiation itself yet, but from the wearing daily hassle of getting to the treatment center (40+ miles each way) and the emotional toll of just finally having cancer in my face every day, after a longish break following surgery.  I teach at the college level.  Last week I COULD NOT REMEMBER some basic terms in class, struggled to write familiar words correctly on the board, and even had trouble reading a passage out loud.  My students don't know about my BC, but they looked a little alarmed at my fumblings.  I've only done 8/30 so it may get worse before it gets better.  (At first I wrote 7/30.  There it is again.  You'd think I'd get that one right!)

Cancer-schmancer, of course you are totally right, and thank you for the reminder.  I'm sorry to hear about your aunt.  That must make this diagnosis extra spooky for you.  I see you and I are on almost identical schedules!  We will all do this.

Thanks for the welcome everyone - today was 18/33 and I'm burned, itchy and sore. i was told today, for the first time, that the radiation would be going thru to my back and all this time I should've been lubing that area of my back (which I can't even reach!). I'm frustrated because I've tried so hard throughout this nightmare to be educated about my treatments and SEs and I'm told halfway through about my back; also I asked today about staying hydrated and my techs said it wasn't necessary and wouldn't matter. I'm so confused about all the conflicting info. I've heard. I'm mostly confused about whether or not to put lotion/Aquaphor/emu oil/aloe (another question - which is really best for the skin?) on the radiated area in the morning after I shower. Everyone says don't put on anything before radiation - how many hours before? I don't go to tx until 3pm and if I don't put on anything after I shower my skin gets dry and itchy. I made sure to get a lotion without metals or fragrance and I put it on 7 hrs before tx. Is that okay? I certainly don't want to make it worse! Clothing has become a huge issue suddenly. I have burns from my collar bone to below the boob and over to my underarm. Anything touching the skin hurts and no way can I handle the pressure of a sports bra. I haven't been able to wear a bra of any kind since my first surgery 10 months ago. Lots of women say to wear soft cotton camis underneath shirts but I'm having serious hot flashes and I can't imagine wearing two layers. Anyone else experiencing hot flashes? Know of any remedies that work? Just another treat courtesy of BC!

QueenKong- hope you find relief for your burns and if you do, please let me know what works as I'm just starting the really painful part and have at least 4 more weeks of burning and pain from what I hear.

RMlulu - thanks for the lingo lesson - it helps! Did your RO say what to do about the rash on your incision? Mine got a little worse today. I see my RO tomorrow so I'll sk her. I've heard it's good to put A&D ointment on it but I've also heard that's not a good idea so, again, not sure what to do! My breast center offers all kinds of support groups and services but I work full-time, have two kids, and don't have any help. I also do some grocery shopping and light housework for my mom -  so, no help there either! I have a couple of friends who try to help in some way when they can but they also work & have kids so I'm pretty much on my own day to day. Life is hard.

placid44 - thanks for the ideas. I eat well and rest, not sleep, quite a bit and I agree those things help. As far as focusing on radiation reducing the risk of more problems, I have a hard time with that because I'm not so sure I believe it's true. I'm trying not to think about all the other horrible things radiation might cause but I can't help it. Finding out today that it's going through my body to my back is really freaking me out. Don't know if I would have agreed to do it if I had known that.