Summer 2013 Rads

Sandy, I only had my 4th rad treatment today, but had a stinging pain at the surgical site from the very 1st.  I also have a seroma located there.  Nothing really painful; more annoying but only lasts a couple hours.

Sat down and had a discussion as well with my RO today and he said it was fairly common to have some pain along the scar, and that some patients also get shooting pains in the breast; not to worry and let him know if I needed any painkillers.  I am trying to be optimistic and hoping to breeze through these rads.  But if not, I do have a doctor who will try to keep me comfortable, which is a tremendous relief.

I also asked him what damage I can expect to my innards and he told me just the very top of my right lung and that my heart is a 'zipcode' away from the beam.

I wish everybody pain-free success with their treatments.  I will be so glad when this is over

Carol

Haven't started yet, but I'd say yes!

I start my rads on Monday.

So far, I've purchased emu oil (amazon), will pick up the Lindi Cooling Roll at the hospital when I go in for xrays tomorrow.  The other item mentioned a lot was aquafor mixed with hydrocortisone for itching, and pure aloe.  

I got a prescription aloe cream earlier this week from my RO.  I figured I'd rotate that cream with emu oil for now and see how it goes.

DiZZyMom-I do the same thing on weekends as I do through the week - I use aloe gel during the day while wearing a bra - my rads appointment is 7:45 so I use the aloe after the rads.. and when I am home after work I use aquaphor - no bra as aquaphor is so sticky -just an old tank top... I have 7 treatments left and so far so good - the area is pinky brown but doesn't hurt and isn't burned..The center did tell me if I needed anything stronger, they would give it to me but so far this is great! one night I thought it was itchy, and I read here someone mixed cortisone with the aquaphor and I did that and the itch was gone.

I know people use different cream, lotions and oils - whatever works for you is good.

My RO supplies the cream I use and its wonderful. Other than the orange creamsicle smell that it has which I didn't like in the beginning but do like now, it is very soothing. Here is a link to the product on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/beauty/dp/B001441XF2

I am almost at the end of my 5th week of rads and do have radiation folliculitis: red skin and itchy bumps, as expected, but the skin is still intact. One more week of regular treatment and then one week of boost left to go!

Only two treatment to go after this afternoon!  I have a weird red freckly looking rash I need to ask about. My RO gave me everything I'd need, aloe gel, aquafor and some anti itch cream.

So sorry to hear you are having pain, Heart. I hope the bandage helps! This can get really tough the last week or two, huh?!

I now have a prescription for triamcinolone acetonide, a medium-strong corticosteroid. My RO looked at me today and said "my, my"!!! That was very different from last week when she commented that I was holding up well considering I get daily bolus. It is amazing how fast things can change. I have been so diligent in applying creams/gels but my skin is saying that enough is enough! I look like a lobster. I don't want to worry those of you who are not as far along. My doctor says she expected these problems earlier given my daily bolus...most women get bolus every other day or not at all. It is meant to bring the radiation to the surface of the skin. My RO is happy I made it this far without a radiation holiday. I really hope I can finish the last 8 treatments on time and without skin breakdown. It is marginal in several spots. My RO will re-evaluate next week. Meanwhile, I burn and itch and feel like I have fiberglass stuck in some areas of my skin. This too shall pass. I keep telling myself that!!!! I have Percocet on hand if it gets too bad. 

Looking forwad to the weekend! We can do this, right?!?!?!

Sending healing thoughts to all.

Gentle Hugs,

Linda 22/30 (last 5 are boost, so three more whole chest) Arghhhh!!!!  

Monday I went in to the RO for set up for rads.  They told me it would be a week of them putting the puzzle pieces together before I could start.  Yesterday they called me to go in today for "some xrays".  

I was on the radiation table for 2 hours today while they set everything up.  

Is this normal?  Thankfully, they gave me a vicodin because I thought I was just having xrays and didn't take anything before hand.

Cricketsand, yes I am working fulltime through this and worked through chemo too. I am blessed to be able to work from home and don't think I could have done it otherwise. My work schedule is completely inflexible and my job is stressful (telephone customer service, calls are constant with no breathing time in between and I have to takeover escalated calls with angry customers.) But at least I can work from home four days a week and go in once a week. During chemo they didn't make me come in at all. Working through chemo was very hard and I'm still tired all the time. I've used sick time when I really needed to, but didn't want to run out of my accrued paid sick leave because I can't afford to take unpaid time off.

I just finished up with my radiation on 6/12. I started with Remedy Creme, then went to hydrocordisone creme, and finished with aquafor.

All can be purchased at Walgreens or on Amazon

They gave me vicodin because I have cording from my recent surgery.  It hurts to lift my arm and there was no way in hell I was going to be able to keep it above my head for any length of time without something.  I actually started physical therapy on Wednesday for it.  It was also pulling the incision area when my arm was up.  But I'm determined to get radiation done so I can go on vacation at the end of july.  I've missed taking 3 vacations this year to visit family and friends, and I'm NOT missing this one.

But is it normal for them to take that long?  They said it would mean a shorter appointment on Monday, but I'm still scheduled for 45 minutes (instead of the hour I was originally told).  I just felt like after being there Monday for an hour, and two more hours today, it seems like a lot.  Not that I'm complaining, because I'd rather them get this exactly right, just curious.

GoWiththeFlow,

That seems like a really long time. My first treatment appointment took about 30-45 minutes. Now I am out of there in 10-15 minutes. Sometimes a little longer if we need to do the weekly x-rays. In addition to this once a week I meet with my RO for 5-10 minutes, and once a week I meet with my radiation nurse practitioner for 5-10 minutes.



Well I just went online shopping to see if I could get more of the silicon dressings I got today. They only gave me enough to get through Wednesday and I am worried about ruining any of them trying to get them on. They are not super easy to get into place. They have me using Mepilex Lite. When I looked it up online I was just floored. It will cost between $75-110 dollars depending on where I buy them from to get enough for 2 weeks!!! That's only 2 large dressings that I can cut into smaller ones. Think I am just going to hold off on that one and ask for a new bag of dressings next week. Yikes!

I completed my first 10 treatments with only minor complications.  The breast is tender, slightly swollen and starting to see some redness. 

I am starting to experience some minor fatigue.  I think it may be a combination of the rads and my getting to my appointment each day. I go to work and then have to leave work and come back to work every day after treatment.  

GoWithTheFlow- cute button!



Good Luck to everyone starting next week! I wish you a smooth journey!

oh yuck! feel better and sweet dreams!