Summer 2013 Rads

I saw someone finish rads yesterday.  They threw confetti and also rang the bell.  Great news and congrats Corky!!  

I had my 2nd rads (of 33) on Friday.  Surprised me that they were doing my neck...the others areas are from center of breastbone to underarm and down several inches past the bottom area of where the breast use to be.  Sorta hoarse today.  Is that the norm?  What is it with the lack of providing information unless one asks.  Can't ask questions until one is informed enough to know what questions to ask.  I will have a lot of additional questions for the RO when I see him next week.  i understand that some people just don't want to know any more than they have to--I spoke with a woman is that catagory yesterday while waiting.  I want to know every single detail as do probably everyone else participating in this forum.   

My high field (super clav) is on the side where my clavical is.  Thyroid is in the middle above the collarbone.  Close, but with how accurate rads has become, hopefully isn't going near it.

Thanks for the info!!!   Hope everyone is recuperating well over the weekend and ready to fight the battle well rested next week.  Since it's been in the 100's plus temps, not being able to use deodorant is problematic.  I will check on some of the recommendations mentioned in prior posts.  Can they be used during the radiation itself?  I guess I will clear with staff to be on the safe side.  Sciencegal--good thing they caught the minerals... 

Just checking in.  Friday was treatment 11 of 30 for me.  I am getting IMRT with breath holding technique.  So far I have no skin changes and I'm not using any creams or lotions.  The RO said I should expect my skin to get a little pink next week and red the week after that.  I just noticed a little fatigue this afternoon.  Fell asleep in my chair while watching TV.  Other than that, I feel fine. 

Congratulations to those who are already finished.  I still have all of hot July and part of August to go.

So glad to be through, with the weather getting as hot as it it here in South Texas now. Yesterday my skin started peeling as if from a bad sunburn and it's starting to feel better.

Yesterday I finished my 19th treatment.  I was sore, started burning pain at the crease of my underarm, itching, very red in a few spots.  I decided to break out the Lindi skin cooler pad I bought a few weeks ago.  Used that for about 45 minutes, then later used my frogg togg towel to cool my skin.  And I've been using just the aloe, biafine lotion and cortisone.  Almost all my markings are gone.  They are so not going to be happy with me on Monday, and I'm not going to be happy with myself if I have to lay there for an hour or more.  

Hi Cozzoli- Welcome! You can reply to any posts you want or start a whole new topic. This is a great place to ask questions since quite a few of us are done rads, and there are all sorts of different treatment regimens being done.

OK, I have a question.  About three times now (once near the beginning, once a couple of weeks ago, and once on Friday) as I've gotten my rads treatment, I swear that I've felt a vibration in my breast tissue during the zap.  Not painful but weird, sort of like a wide jolt of electricity without the pain, if that makes any sense.  It's mild, but strange.  

Has anyone else ever felt this? I wonder if it somehow all in my head, for whatever reason...like maybe that is what I expect rads would feel like?  

24/34

Nyama- Yes! It happened to me and I asked the techs about it. Mine actually also felt like needle pricks along my breast bone. The techs said it was due to static electricity from the machine. They said they see it a lot more in the winter. Sure enough as soon as it started getting really humid here it stopped. Is the air really dry in your treatment center? That could do it.



Clyday- Congrats! Sadly the answer to your question is yes. For 7-10 days after treatment you can see more breakdown. I saw new problems for a little over a week, but then it drastically started improving fairly quickly. So there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel.

I start radiation tommorrow. I'm so worried. I'll have 28 treatments with an additional 10 to the chest wall. The rad onc said there will likely be wet desquamation.

Nyama - I've had the same feeling maybe twice.  It's not painful but it feels more like a mild muscle spasm.  I also get these spasm’s when I have the breast MRI but it’s usually in my sciatic and not in my breast.

I hope everyone had a good weekend.  I rested all day Saturday and then went to the beach yesterday to try something new.  My husband and I rented some stand up paddleboards.  It was so much fun!  I’ve always wanted to try it.  I was too weak after chemo and my surgeries last summer to try it and we’ve been waiting for the water to warm up to try this year and then I had my biopsy so I had to heal from that.  I figured now would be my best bet to try it before my skin doesn’t allow me to be in the ocean.  Anyway, it was so peaceful and because I had to concentrate on keeping my balance, I had no room in my head to think about my rads or my recurrence.  I needed that!!!  I want to try it again this weekend, if my body will allow me.

On another note, I ordered My Girls cream and Miaderm last week online and received them over the weekend.  They are so easy to spread and they’re not greasy.  I was having a hard time keeping my marks on with the Aquafor so I’m all about the creams right now.  They’re on the pricy side but if they help keep my skin healthy or as healthy as it can be, it’ll be worth it.

6/33

Good to see everyone moving forward. Won't be long now until many of you join the rads survivors club. 

Sharon--I undestand your fear because my RO told me the same thing since I was getting the bolus each time to bring the radiation to the surface of my skin. And maybe it won't get that bad. But know that there is an end to whatever breakdown you have. "Heart" and I finished rads a few weeks ago (last week of June) and we both had some serious skin breakdown. It seemed at the time that it would never end, but we are healing very quickly now. Also, you and I made it through Adriamycin, Cytoxin and Taxol...we can make it through rads. Think of it as the last step in the trio of treatment: chemo, surgery, and rads. You are 2/3rds done with the heavy stuff! I think that I cried more during rads than during chemo or surgery...the months of treatment just wear you down. So give yourself permission to feel blue sometimes. These treatments are a marathon. But there is an end, and it is so sweet when you turn the corner and see your skin begin to improve! Really sweet!! I went from crying to laughing with joy pretty fast. 

Clyday--My experience was the same as Hearts...continued breakdown for a week and then fast improvement. Hang in there. The end is in sight!

My advice for anyone starting out with rads is to immediately speak up about any discomfort/pain you experience and ask for medication to help you. I had prescriptions for my skin and Percocet for the pain--that really helped me sleep at night. As my skin got worse, I could still use emu oil but the other over the counter remedies burned terribly. I went topless or with a very loose top as much as possible at home. Camis under a shirt might work when you have to go out.  I was bandaged like a wounded soldier when I finished rads, with gauze wrapped around me, holding the medicine in place. I just started wearing a bra again a few days ago and it is still a bit uncomfortable, but my skin is now intact and improving each day. And I am still using the emu oil along with other moisturizers. 

Would I do rads again knowing that my skin would get this bad...YES! The long term gain is too great not to put up with the short term problems. Hang in there. The time will pass, you will heal, and you will have peace of mind knowing that you did everything you can to decrease the odds of recurrence.

Peace and gentle hugs to all,

Linda 30/30 Finished 6/26

Thanks Beachbound0 but they won't ship here, and just thought since my friend offered, I would ask her to pick up a tube for me to try, may have to just use my emu oil! Had my 7th today and boy my nipple is sore, I don't know how it's going to last 26 more zaps! Ouch ;(
7/33

It's funny, it depends what it is, but that's ok, I did get emu oil from them and have been slathering it on 2x day. Right now I have a cool compress on, hoping my angry nipple calms down. If not I'm taking something for pain to help me sleep tonight. Hope everyone is doing ok and having mild SE!

7/33

They explained to me that the bolus is actually to protect my skin. It's like an extra layer of skin, because the scar area is a bit thinner, so bolus adds a layer of protection.



Paula