Summer 2013 Rads

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  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 1,120
    edited July 2013

    Hi Karyn, Annie on this thread had recommended the thunder ridge emu oil in the blue bottle- I got three of the two ounce bottles on amazon.



    That is cool that your hubby will research it.

    So sorry that is happening so early, lets hope it does not get worse.



    Miaderm is also recommended, there were clinical trials done and it helped significantly.



    Thank you for the PMs



    Good luck!

  • TMM60
    TMM60 Member Posts: 190
    edited July 2013

    I rang the bell this morning- yee haw! After 35 treatments (7 of which were boosts) my skin is red and stings a bit, but is intact (knock wood for the next 2 weeks while I continue to cook). I used Dove softening body wash, went braless, wore loose shirts and used the cream given to me by my RO: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001441XF2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3MT75038F86CX

    Here's to hoping for minimal skin problems for all of my other summer rad sisters!

  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    no, it comes out as an oil

  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    CONGRATS TMM!!!!  What a greaat feeling it must be to be over!

  • Heart2930
    Heart2930 Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    Congrats TMM!! Yipee!

  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    Off to lucky 11!Tongue Out

  • karynhelen
    karynhelen Member Posts: 44
    edited July 2013

    Yeah TMM!!! So happy for you!!!

  • karynhelen
    karynhelen Member Posts: 44
    edited July 2013

    Carrying my boob off to my fourth treatment.... will ask doc about emu oil.

    Hubby likes it. Depending on what doc says, I will use it either during treatment or after it's over.

    Question is whether it is ok to use during treatment as it is absorbed deep into the skin...

    highly anti-inflammitory...

    Good stuff!

    Will post later.

    Big hugs, ladies!!! 

  • Heart2930
    Heart2930 Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    Just saw a dermatologist for a routine skin check, and once she saw the broken down skin she prescribed biafine. Is anyone using biafine? The dermatologist said once I start using this stuff I will see improvement very quickly.

  • Lenn13ka
    Lenn13ka Member Posts: 313
    edited July 2013

    I am on day 24 of rads and just started to have issues. Follucitus??? A burning, bumpy rash. I work outside and with this hot, humid weather it has been very uncomfortable. The RO Nurse said 1% hydrocortisone but it does nothing. Any suggestions. I have another 2 days of work before 4 days off. Still have a lot more rad treatments. Thinking of asking for a small break.

  • IamNancy
    IamNancy Member Posts: 1,158
    edited July 2013

    congrats TMM60.. only 2 more for me!

  • Heart2930
    Heart2930 Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    Lenn13ka- I had the same thing and when the hydrocortisone did not work I started using neosporin plus pain relief. It seemed to take the itch out. When it was really bad I mixed the neosporin with the hydrocortisone. My rads nurse didn't really like me using the neosporin but it was the only thing that helped. The neosprorin just seemed to soothe everything.She said people can develop allergies to neosporin. Hope it helps.

  • ldesim
    ldesim Member Posts: 1,333
    edited July 2013

    Congrats TMM!!  YAHOO!!!

    Heart, no... my skin is still peeling and raw, I don't feel like I am healing quickly.. I have follow up Wednesday.  Let me know what you think of the prescription.

    IamNancy.. at the home stretch.. yippee!!

  • Lenn13ka
    Lenn13ka Member Posts: 313
    edited July 2013

    Thanks Heart 2939 . I have a can of ice cold soda water on it now and the cold seems to help but will try the neosporin tomorrow. How long did it last??? Do you still have it??

  • AnnieLane
    AnnieLane Member Posts: 856
    edited July 2013

    Heart, my DH had skin cancer in his ear canal, pretty freaky, and had 35 radiation treatments for that. Our dermatologist loaded him up with samples of biafine and told him to use it from the start generously and all the way through his rads. He had some samples left and I used them up. Of course my breast is a lot more area to cover than his ear canal, so the samples didn't last me very long. I think it's good stuff.

  • karynhelen
    karynhelen Member Posts: 44
    edited July 2013

    Heart, Lenn and Ideasm, so sorry you are having skin issues. Keeping you in my most comforting thoughts.

    Iamnancy, good luck on the home stretch! Yeah!!

    I saw my doc today, not worried about the early redness and inflammation. Said he sees it every once in a while and it doesn't tend to get worse. I am just going with that.

    Also, said he hadn't heard of Emu oil... but the nurse had and she said to go for it. Soooo, I went out and got some. It feels great! Wow! Just makes skin so soft and supple where I put some on my hands, and my breast seems to have calmed down a bit too.

    Big hugs!

    Karyn

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 1,120
    edited July 2013

    Good news Karyn! We have Annie to thank for the emu oil- I am using it too.



    Good luck everyone.

  • karynhelen
    karynhelen Member Posts: 44
    edited July 2013

    Yes, Annie, Thank you!!! I love it!!!

  • AnnieLane
    AnnieLane Member Posts: 856
    edited July 2013

    You're welcome ladies! Actually I just learned about it from others on these boards, but I think that was an older rads thread. I've used other things too, like acohol free Aloe Jelly plus the Medline cream my treatment center gave me and some Biafine samples. It seems like some gals have their skin break down no matter what they do. I only have four treatments left out of 25 and I have a red rash in the crease under my breast now and my lumpectomy incision stings, but if that's as bad as it gets, I'll count myself blessed.

  • breezie19682013
    breezie19682013 Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2013

    Has anyone in this thread, heard of or diagnosed with "blushing breast" .  I've had 11 treatments, and since the 2nd. one, I've had a red splotch on my breast.  My nipple feels sore, breast is swollen, but other than that it's doesn't really bother me. My RO sent back to the surgeon and he called it a blushing breast.  I did not respond to antibiotic treatments, and no cream of anything else seems to do anything.  They keep saying it will go away, but it's going to take a while.  I curious if anyone has had experience with this, and just how long did it last.  Barbara

  • Heart2930
    Heart2930 Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    Idesim- I am so sorry you are still in so much pain. I will let you know once I get the biafine. There was some sort of snafu between the doctor and the pharmacy yesterday. The doctor said she sent the script but the pharmacy says they never received it. Trying to get that worked out this morning.

    Lenn13ka- Well....now don't get worried.....mine cleared up right about the time my skin started breaking down. Don't know if it was going to get better anyways, or if maybe with the skin breakdown I noticed it less and thus did not scratch at it during my sleep to further irritate it. However, it came back last week after I finished whole breast rads. It got better after my (unbroken down) skin peeled. It just kind of peeled it away and cleared all the bumps. Not sure how far back you have read in this thread, but some of the women really like the Frogg Toggs chilly towel you can get on amazon. That might help as well.

    Yeah Nancy!! Almost done!!!

    Thanks AnnieLane- If my doctor and pharmacy can get this straightened out, I can't wait to try it.

    Well....woke up this morning, and so far the boosts area had remained intact. Sigh.....not anymore. I noticed that the smell had kind of come back yesterday but it wasn't the mepilex that smelled, and this morning the boost area is definitely breaking down. Really kind of worried about the scar right now. It doesn't look too good, and there is some drainage. Urgh!!!!! Hoping the Biafine really does greatly improve my situation like the dermatologist said it would.

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 1,120
    edited July 2013

    Oh heart my gosh I am so sorry. I had looked at the biafine on Amazon, it looked like it was available there? But one would HOPE that the pharmacy could get it to you faster. You have been to h#ll and back through this, I was so hoping you could keep healing now.

    Gentle hugs!

  • Heart2930
    Heart2930 Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    Thank you so much Sciencegal! I am going to look on Amazon. I have a Prime account there. I just give up with the dermatologist and the pharmacy. The doctor says they have sent the prescription and the pharmacy says they don't have it again. I guess maybe I don't need a prescription for it. Hopefully this is the last of the break down. They did tell me the skin breakdowns could continue for 7-10 days after the rads to that area ended, so it is not a total shock at least. Hope you are doing well!

    Edit- Just looked at the stuff on Amazon, and it is the non-prescription strength of the stuff my dermatologist told me about. Guess I am going to keep hunting the doctor's office for the prescription.

  • sciencegal
    sciencegal Member Posts: 1,120
    edited July 2013

    GOOD LUCK!!! I am okay but only three hits so far.

    I hope you can get it - love that amazon prime account!

  • karynhelen
    karynhelen Member Posts: 44
    edited July 2013

    Hi Breezie, Is your whole breast red or is it a small splotch? I have the same thing, after 2nd treatment, but it's my whole breast. Doc said it can happen and often times doesn't get any worse....

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2013

    I had simulation yesterday and start rads today. They do imaging the first 3 days. I was on the table about 35 minutes, which kills my back, (degenerative disc disease). They said, my treatments would take about 45 minutes. Seriously??? I don't want to be on that hard table in extreme pain for 45 minutes!!!



    They did all they can do to make me comfortable. Put cushioning under my knees, put a folded sheet under the small of my back, but its still close to unbearable. The RO told me to take a pain pill before coming today. OY VEY!



    Paula

  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    Soteria, that table is the pitts!!!!!  My first planning I was on the table for about an hour, then the called me back later that week and it was another 2 hours.  Most of my appointments are 30 minutes, but a couple have been 45.  Tomorrow they re-do me at the half way mark and I have 1.5 appointment.

    Taking a pain pill helps some, but after a while, nothing is going to help.  (I'm usually good for 30 minutes, and it becomes horrible after that without a break).  I've been doing PT every other week to help stretch me because most of my problem is pulling under my arm and across my scar from surgery.  

    The up side of it is that once you are off the table, there are no lingering pains.

  • Heart2930
    Heart2930 Member Posts: 139
    edited July 2013

    I am so sorry you are in so much pain Soteria. Did they tell you why your treatments would take so long everyday. Even on imaging days for me it took about 20 minutes total. On regular days it took about 15 minutes but we did have to set up the breath hold apparatus. Once I got to the boosts it took only about 5 minutes.

  • ALCS97
    ALCS97 Member Posts: 14
    edited July 2013

    Hi everyone,

    I haven't posted much because my schedule with kids and work and treatment is a little nuts, but I have been keeping up on reading your experiences and suggestions - thank you for all the insight!

    I just have to share that today is my last of 33 treatments (10 boosts) and I am so excited to be done!

  • GoWithTheFlow
    GoWithTheFlow Member Posts: 727
    edited July 2013

    Congrats ALCS97!!!!!!!

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