Summer 2013 Rads

Happy today because I am moving on to boosts!! The end is finally in sight. Five boosts and rads will be done.



Idesim...we are 5/6ths done!!! YES!!!



Heart--I will see my doctor tomorrow but a tech mentioned something called "polymem" for the raw underarm skin, or any raw skin. Meanwhile, I am slathering on the emu oil and radiaderm and sleeping topless with the little pillows they gave me when I had my mastectomy under my upper arm to prevent skin on skin contact.



Blackcat2012--I have bolus every day also, 25/30 done as of today. I have made it this far by moisturizing with calendula, emu oil, and now radiaderm throughout the day and lately once during the night also. I am a teacher and I am off work right now so I can moisturize every two-three hours all day long. My treatment is at 8:20am. I cannot wear a bra (ouch!) and I am a uniboober so I have been wearing camis with loose cotton tops over them. Lefty is a borderline 36C so not too big to be braless--as long as I don't go jogging! Ha!



Gentle hugs to all

Linda 25/30

Heart, no.. but it it getting really uncomfortable.  I have been wearing a tight(ish) tshirt under my clothing..  that way I can keep the Aquaphor or Radiation gel on all the time.  

What do yo umean by breaking down? Mine is rough and almost purplish.

So sorry for all of you folks with the skin soreness and pain.  I will hope and pray that you all feel much better soon.  The skin under my left arm is getting a little red and sore so I am using the Aloe Vera Gel and Radiaplex Gel more often.  Just 4 more treatments to go though as I am in the study comparing Canadian RADS to American.  I got chosen for the Canadian version where I get 15 treatments total and boosts simultaneously.  HUGS to all!

Carolyn

Idesim- Ok this is pretty graphic so anyone who gets queazy please skip this post.

By breaking down I mean the skin is gone. I have figured out the pattern now so I know when that is going to happen. For about a day before it happens the area I am going to lose is super red and kind of shiny. Then I usually wake up the next morning (my treatments are at 3pm) with the area being crazy itchy. Not just regular itchy. By the time I get undressed for bed at night the skin in the super itchy area is gone. Sometimes you can see where it peeled away, sometimes it is just gone. The area now looks like and feels like a skinned knee. It is just raw and either oozes fluid or sometimes blood. I am super careful not to scratch so I am not scratching it away during the day. This has happened to the whole under breast crease (except about 1 inch) and it is starting to happen under my arm.

My apologies to anyone who read this and got grossed out.

Thanks Sciencegal- Almost done. Today is my last whole breast treatment, and then I have 5 boosts. The boosts should not hit these areas as hard. My RO did give me the option to take a break earlier this week, but with only 4 whole breast left I just wanted to be done.

I hope everything is going well with you and everyone else who just started. Gentle Hugs to everyone!

I had my CT simulation yesterday (June 19) and I will start treatments on June 27.  I will get the usual radiation plan of 5 days a week for 6 weeks.  The last week will be boosts.  I did have the chance to join in studies of accelerated treatment or partial breast radiation, but I decided to go with what is known to work.  At the simulation they made a body form for my left shoulder and arm to be able to place me exactly the same each time.  They marked me with semipermanent markers - no tattoos.  I will also be holding my breath to increase the distance between the radiation and my heart, as I will be doing left breast and I am small-breasted.  For those who have not had simulation, there is no pain as the machine doesn't touch you, but you will have to lie perfectly still and not talk for a rather long time.  I couldn't see a clock, but it felt like about 30 minutes.  I have some pain in my left shoulder from arthritis and it hurt to keep my arm up and behind my head like they want.  When I was finally allowed to move, I couldn't bring my left arm down without using my right arm to move it.  The actual treatments will only take a few minutes, so it will be easier than the sim.

They didn't say anything about prescription lotions or creams, so I will ask the RO next time I see her about that.

Best wishes to all the others in this thread who are doing rads during the hot summer.

GoWithTheFlow- I had to fill out a form about my worries and concerns on my first visit with the RO. I met with the social worker during my first week of treatment. I agree with you, kind of creepy. She just sat there waiting for me to say something. Of course I am stressed. Of course I can't sleep. I've got many legitimate things causing this right now. But I don't really have a lot to say to her about them unless she can fix them. Which she can't. She suggested all sorts of support groups. I am not really a support group type of person though. This board is my support group. I really don't need anything else.

However, with that being said...now 5 weeks into treatment I actually went to see her. My husband and I had put off getting our advance directives done forever, and she provides a free notary service so we can get them done. She was still a little creepy during this visit though. A lot of silences like she was waiting for someone to start talking.

Carolyn--Great that you are almost done and your skin is intact. It will be interesting to see if America adopts the Canadian regimen in the future.

Please don't worry about being too graphic, Heart. The beauty of these boards is that we can spill our guts and receive the love and warm thoughts of others who understand and who may be going through something similar. I have some skin breakdown going on also. Yesterday some clear fluid. Today missing skin. My doctor gave me a medicated gauze to go with my Kenelog cream and the Domeboro compresses which you can get at Walgreens. My boost is hitting one bad area but not the rest. Strange how the bottom half of my chest looks red/tan while the top half and under my arm is flaming red and feels like little cactus spines have taken hold. I get the bolus for the boosts, too. Drat! I thought I'd be done with that! Four more boosts.

I feel for you, GoWithTheFlow. The support groups weren't for me either. This is my support group! And last week there was a flyer up in the rads women's changing room advertising a survivor/patient breakfast for Saturday morning. I cannot imagine a daily radiation patient wanting to spend Saturday morning at the cancer center. Isn't Monday-Friday enough for us? Sheesh! 

Extra Gentle Hugs

Linda 26/30 Four more for us, Idesim!!! 

Ok.... I'm done complaining now. :-)

Caitlin61- that's great about the 30 instead of 33.



Lin43, Cmbernardi, & Idesim- you're almost done. Yeah!

Caitlin--three less treatments will give you a big smile at the end. So happy for you!

Heart--no worries about your behavior toward the social worker. You don't have to appease anyone, least of all someone who should be good at reading social cues and understanding how treatment and side effects wear us down. So glad you only have the five boosts left! I took Percocet last night because I was tired of being tired and unable to sleep because of pain. I hope you can get some rest tonight and over the weekend.
Go Idesim! Let's rock these boosts
Gentle hugs!

Linda 26/30

Heart your description of the social worker is so funny. I know they are trained to listen, but not with creepy long silences. Geez!



This is my support group as well- which I attend at home, in jammies, with my little dogs in my lap. I agree - who wants to be att he cancer center any more than necessary??



Hang in there!!!!

Sending very careful hugs!

My radiated side is sore to lay on now.  I guess it's a little pink but it's hard to tell.  BUT, it feels "stiff".  If I touch it, it feels really dry and stiff.  Normal?  Just wondering.  I've been using the radigel from the RO, but wondering if I need to switch off with aquafor too.  They told me to ask for it when I needed it and I think I want to make sure I"m moisturized along with being gelled.

Welcome Goldycat. The girls on this post are great. I have learned so much. Congrats on not having to have chemo. YAY for you!!



Gowiththeflow the tightening is the "contracture" that almost always happens. It is expected (but not welcome, I know). It is from the skin trying to heal. Keep moisturized!!!!



Heart I hope you are doing ok today. Nearly done.



I was awake freaking out in the middle of the night and posted to see if anyone came through rads withOUT major problems. About ten women wrote back saying just pink skin or mild sunburn. Gives me hope! Fingers crossed for all of us just starting out. And healing thoughts to those who are almost done.



((((Hugs)))))

New to the board, it is so nice to know I'm not alone on this crazy roller coaster!

I was diagnosed with dcis in may, lumpectomy in June and radiation scheduled for July. Have been pushing for bi mast but keep getting told this is too aggressive. I find out today if I will need rad even if mastectomy due to dirty deep margins. Anyone else decide on mast when lump and rad recommended? I'm scared of sneaky cells creeping around!! Want to evict these bad tenants! Haha