Summer 2013 Rads

Congrats ALCS97!!!!!

Congratulations for ringing that bell ALCS97!!

For those who mentioned looking at Biafine on Amazon, I wanted to clarify that my & my DH's experience with it was definitely the prescription form, which wouldn't be available on Amazon. It's a pricey prescription, even with insurance. He had samples, which I finished up. The dermatologist wrote me a prescription before I started rads, but once I found out how much it would cost, I decided to wait and only fill it if I thought I needed it.

I just have 3 more rad treatments and I'm feeling for those of you who've had to do more than 25 plus boosts. I have an angry red rash now in the crease under the breast and I'm sure I can survive these last three treatments, but I'm sure glad I'll be stopping at 25.

btdemo, I've noticed the last few days I've gagged and dry heaved while brushing my teeth.  I wondered the same thing since I didn't even do this in chemo.  

Congratulations alcs 97!! It must feel great!! I am on 25 out of 35 and can't wait to be done!! Ready to stop having to go the cancer center and move on. Diiagnosed on the first week of my intense seasonal business in early April, surgery on April 19th.. A crazy, intense time during the chemo/no chemo discussion - (thank- you Dana Farber no chemo) radiation everyday running from work and then going back to work. You ladies All know the routine!!!! Reached a low spot this week - but when I come to these boards I always find all kinds of helpful suggestions to work with. Thank- you all.



Thanks Heart on the tip about Frogg Togg. Will give it a try.

You must be close go with the flow. Half way through rads?? You are REALLY ready. Even though I had a positive node I lucked out with the low Oncotype and PR and Er positive and " got permission" to skip just 4 rounds of chemo. What are you going to do to celebrate the end of treatment???

Lenn, I'm going to visit family and friends.  I missed visiting over Christmas, over spring break, and this week.  When I finished surgery, I told them that my son's swim champs was on July 26, and I was leaving on the 27th for vacation.  That they had better figure out how to get rads in by then.    I finish on the 25th.  

I'm counting down the days Lenn.  I don't care WHAT condition my skin is in.  If I can't drive the 7 hours to CT in one day, I'll stop in Philly at my sister's house overnight then continue on Sunday.  I will suck it up, make it there, THEN take my pain meds and deal with my skin.  

I'm totally past this whole breast cancer crap.  I'm loving not having to wear a bra, and am totally fine with my flat chested, semi fuzzed headed self.  I'm ready to take my life back after being a good patient for almost 7 months.

I am going to do everything I normally do on vacation in summer (take the kids to the go karts and laser tag, the arcade, the movies).  The only thing I might skip is the beach because I'm not sure sun exposure is the best thing for me (I've been very good at hiding under cover while my son swims at the pool).  I haven't been this pale at this point in the summer in 15 years.

We will give a big YAHOO for both of us at the end of this journey!

Lin43- I am so glad you are starting to feel better. Hopefully my Biafine prescription will be in today and that will help. All the areas that were broken down during rads have started healing, but earlier this week I had a new breakdown. Still doing the tramadol at night because otherwise my DH says that everytime I roll over I whine and whimper.

as far as the nausea goes....for me anyways it seemed to be associated with fatigue. When I had particularly bad fatigue days I was nauseous as well.

Healing wishes to all over the long weekend!

Robin- My skin was pre-breakdown according to my RO around week 3. It started breaking down week 4. At this point it has mostly stopped breaking down in the area hit by the whole breast radiation, and I am only getting minor expanded break downs in that area but the boost area has some new breakdowns. I had 25 whole breast and 5 boosts.

So happy for everyone who's finished and finally got to ring that bell!   AND so sorry to hear about the skin issues so many are still having.  {{{Gentle hugs}}}   That has to be miserable.  I hope you're finished healing quickly!   

Robin3, I also just finished #18.  My skin is also OK so far--maybe just a little pinking and a teeny-tiny rash like a mild sunburn across the top (On the other hand it really COULD be a sunburn....spent two days by a river over the weekend in this heat wave and used plenty of spf50 and tried to cover-up, but.....hard to tell).  Anyway, so far my RO says it looks good and he doesn't think I'll have any major issues.  Hope he's right.  

btdemo - You asked about nausea.  This might not be the same as what you're feeling, but a  few times I had some weird feelings in my stomach after rads, close to nausea but not quite?   I found what made it better was a light protein snack so I now carry a peanut protein-bar with me to eat after rads and have been fine with that.   I know it sounds a bit strange but maybe my body was just signaling me that it needed some extra fuel after rads for healing or ? Don't know.  

The biggest issue I have now after spending a weekend by the river in the heat is the allergies.  I have to hold my breath for my zaps because it's a left-sided cancer and I'm so afraid I'll sneeze in the middle!! LOL!  (Yikes!)

Interesting some of you have been nauseous.  I am taking my mom to a gastro today because three times she was thrown up after doing some exercise.  Twice was in phy. therapy after doing some step-ups which are hard work for her, but when she did less strenuous therapy no throwing up.  I blamed it on orange juice for breakfast, too much acid, not eating enough beforehand.  Yesterday, it happened after a medium-sized walk that she has done many times.  She hasn't eaten since. She has been very tired in the mornings.  It is complicated because she can't talk to tell me how she feels.

Praying the gastro just thinks its acid buildup exacerbated by activity (?)

Hi Everybody,  What do you mean when you say skin breakdown?  I got really burned during the boost period and am just now (2 weeks out) starting to feel better.  I also have what looks like brown freckles all over my breast. Does anyone else have that?

My treatments were also on a foam pad with something under my knees and lasted maybe 10 minutes.  I have also have been having problems with what feels like indigestion or the need to burp for a few weeks although when I wake up in the morning its not there, usually shows up about an hour later and hangs out the rest of the day.  Its REALLY annoying and at this point its hard to know what its from.  Chemo leftover? tamoxifen, rads? 

Ouch! that sounds painful

Congrats ALCS97!!!!! WooHoo!!

I don't recall any nausea during rads.. just fatigue for a small period of time.

Lenn13ka, I am at Dana Farber too.. or I should say.. I'm done doing my rads at Dana

I can say there is nothing so nice as waking up the day after your last rad treatment and knowing you don't have to go in!!

Gowiththeflow, love your attitude! 

Good to see you Lin43, so glad to hear you are on the mend!  I am actually glad I am getting the Herception (I go every 3 weeks) because at least I feel I am still doing something.. I had all my followups today and besides the Herceptin.. no appts until October!!! October!!!

Heart, I hope you got your Biafine today.. I'm sorry to hear you still have some trouble areas, but I'm glad the initial broken down areas are on the mend.

My RO is pleased with my healing, I am raw in a couple of spots, but no pain as I have no feeling in those spots.  She said by next week I should be all set.

Best of luck to everybody in the thick of it... it goes by faster than you think it will!!!