Summer 2013 Rads

Lin, thank you for the encouragement.  At this point (20 of 28) I needed a pep talk.  

SLV, does your RO not give you anything?  Mine looks at my skin each wednesday and will give me whatever it is she wants me to use (currently squeezing the end of the biafine lotion tube).

Good Morning! So glad for all the helpful advice on this thread. Today will be #17 of either 30 or 33 and, in the last few days, the game seems to have changed. Still facing each day with smiles, "who, me? I'm doing great!", but more of my smiles are fake these days. <- that one is real.
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Since this is a safe place to vent: Not quite the same, energized positive person I was when I started. Headaches, irritable and sore. I have found that light cardio classes helped quite a bit with fatigue, but now the motivation to get to class is harder to find. Getting to gym not quite 6 days a week, more like 4. Can anyone share if daily exercise really did help them through the slump weeks? Are the last weeks slump weeks?



GoWithTheFlow's quote "how can we sleep while our breasts are burning" is now so true. Paula-what is a bolus? Using MiaDerm and Aloe, graduated to RX Cortisone, too. RO says new study came out last week on a steroid cream for rads which she will RX if still scabby and sore by end of week. I'm 100% Irish, we knew the skin reaction would be coming. It sucks, but is bearable. (and temporary....)



Sharon, I hope your skin stays stays comfortable. Use your lotions and potions.



Shari, I can get MiaDerm at local pharmacy and mail to you in Canada.



Nyama-yes, can feel slight prickles, too. Tech said not unusual. Seems like, "not unusual" is something I hear a lot in this whole BC process.



Feeling so lucky to have just rads, admiring the warriors who tackle much tougher treatments.



CT scan today of "cavity"...



Be strong ladies!

Hi Cozzoli, yep this is the place to vent, for sure. I am just half way through rads today so I cant say much but exercise does seem to help so far and as an added plus it releases the proteins called chemokines and growth factors that help the skin grow (and new skin stem cells to migrate in to the damage). That is what is keeping me on my feet anyway. I agree it would be easy to slump!!!



I am just trying to go to bed earlier. Everything that I "really need to get done" can wait a few weeks (well except dishes, uck).



Curly Sue I had 24 axillary nodes out and, at the risk of jinxing myself, can say that I dont have edema.....yet. It can happen at any time of course. My aunt had a horrible case with her breast cancer treatment so I have been wary. I am only halfway through rads of course, but they are definitely nuking the area under my arm.



Are you having problems or just worried like me?

Good morning, ladies. I have one more regular treatment and then five boosts. I was hoping to get through with little skin issues, but over the weekend things went crazy. I have bad burns under my arm and a huge blister on my lower breast that just "deflated" overnight. My RO gave me script for Silver sulphur cream for the burns. He also is discontinuing the use of the bolus--which there was only one more treatment that way anyhow. Cozzoli, the bolus is a rubbery pad thing they put on (in my case every other treatment) that is supposed to bring the treatment closer to the skin.

I am just hoping it doesn't get any worse. Thankfully there is no pain. The burns under my arm look like they should hurt like crazy. But that area has been numb since my surgery. So nerve damage, at least I've got that going for me  But I am notice a rough feeling to all of the treated skin. Those of you who are finished, once the boosts begin do things continue to worsen in the fields from the regular treatment?

Also still happy that my energy level does not seem to be suffering and feel bad for those of you who are experiencing the rads induced fatigue. The YMCA here has program with Livestrong that gives me and my family a free 12 week membership and enrollment for me in a Livestrong program that includes two classes/week. I can't start until I finish rads because the class times are the same time as my treatment. But I am still getting some cardio at least three x/week and that is nice.

I hope you all have a great day and minimal SEs.

My RO said that the bolus brings the radiation to the surface and just below the skin. It fools the machine -- which thinks the bolus is a part of us. I tried to think of it directing the radiation where it is needed, instead of deeper inside me. I don't have much tissue left on my chest after mastectomy so the bolus made sure that that tissue got the most radiation. The side effect is that the bolus tends to increase the skin "burn". I developed some color right away but initially it would fade overnight. I developed radiation rash during week three and it progressed from there. It was painful from week five; before that it was quite uncomfortable but bearable with tender care. I couldn't wear a bra from week three onward. I used Percocet at night and prescription ointments day and night, but never before radiation (which was at 8:20AM for me). My skin continued to worsen through week seven and then improvement began quickly. Now I look like I stayed in the sun too long. The tightness is currently my major problem (uncomfortable, like a vise) so I will see the physical therapist again soon. 

If you can take some time off work towards the end and immediately after radiation, that would be ideal. I am a teacher so I was lucky to be off work this summer. Since I have a son in his 20's I couldn't really walk around the house topless -- but I did hang out topless, spending a bit of time reading in my chair in my bedroom. My dogs were loyal by my side -- but wondering why mom was such a recluse. I wore loose tops both around the house and out. 

Some people take a radiation vacation if their skin gets really bad, and return to it weeks later. I was far enough along that I just wanted to finish if at all possible. I hope none of this advice is necessary for any of you new to rads. But hang in there if it gets bad because it gets better very fast. I did have to tell my friends and family that I did not feel like celebrating the day rads was over. I wanted to feel better first. I think they understood when I compared it to having surgery and celebrating the moment you get out of anesthesia. No one does that! If I had minor skin issues an immediate celebration would have been good. I waited a couple of weeks to celebrate and it was so sweet! 

Gentle hugs,

Linda 30/30 FInished 6/26

DiZZyMom- Sorry, but for me anyways things did continue to get a lot worse in the regular field. It wasn't the boosts causing it, it was just how the skin breakdown was going to progress. My RO did tell me than my skin could contiue to get worse for 7-10 days after the end of rads.  BUT.....like Linda said...once things start to improve, they improve fast!

My RO gave me the option of a radiation vacation twice during treatment. But each time we were so close to the end of that phase I opted to continue. I just wanted to get it done.

Thinking of all of you. Sending healing wishes to all! Remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel even if you are having some really bad skin issues. By the time Linda and I were done I think we had more bandage and mepilex than skin in a lot of areas, but things got better. I really agree with Linda about the pain meds. If you need them, ask for them. I spent almost 3 miserable weeks between when I ran out of my surgery pain pills and when I asked for a new prescription. I was trying to tough it out just using the prescription lidocaine. They were 3 miserable weeks I could have and probably should have avoided. There are no medals given for toughing it out. It is all about getting through it and moving on to the next phase.

My throat feels a little wired today, but it didn't start until just after lunch. I may have tried to swallow too big a bite of French bread. Hopefully that's all it is.

Does anyone else have a problem with your throat?



Paula

Hello brave women - I haven't visited this group yet but today was my last of 33 rads and I wanted to drop in and encourage all of you.  Over the weekend of the fourth - I had some SERIOUS underarm oozing - but something happened and it has cleared up really quickly.  The last 5 boost treatments were a breeze for me compared to the first half.  I hope you will all heal as quickly as I did from the worst of it.  I know things can still go down hill... but I do think it was around 20-25 that were my worst.  I used a cream called "my girls" day time, aquaphor at night, and then vaseline soaked guaze pads for the really bad week at night.  You can do it - just hang in there!!

Weird mix of emotions as I rang the bell, though...  I didn't ring the bell after chemo - not sure why.  I had my first real CRY since diagnosis - I have stuffed alot away clearly.  Some of it was the fear of letting go of treatment.  Some of it was wondering what would become of all the friends I sat with every morning waiting for my treatment.  I won't see these people again.  Some of it was joy.  I don't know really.

Best of luck to you all - you are all so brave and though I don't write on these boards often - I selfishly read them and gather strength.

M

Congrats MFML . I am finishing tomorrow. Like you the middle days were the worst but all in all , not that bad. One weird problem though.....a very stiff neck for the last week that won't go away, no matter what. Not sure if it is rads or tamoxifin or something completely different???

Anyone else?

Thank you summer rad ladies. On to 35 of 35....

Congrats MFML!!!  I've had a few good cries over the last 7 months.  My last one was Friday when I had a meltdown that I didn't want to do rads anymore.  The weekend helped and then I blew off being good yesterday and went with a friend and our kids to an amusement park and water park.  Lost most of my markings for Monday and Today's rads, but I promised them I 'd be good and stay out of the heat today and return tomorrow iwth full markings.

I think the middle is hard because you start to feel the effects, and you know you are only halfway done and so much can change in a few days.  I'm at 21 of 28 and still worry about what is yet to come.  I know I "overdid" it yesterday being out at the park for 6 hours, although I wore my new one shoulder swimsuit that covered my rad side and wore 50 sunscreen (and did manage to not get too much sun).  today was a bit rough.  Sore from rads, had trouble getting comfortable when I napped this afternoon.  

Going to see my RO tomorrow and have a good talk about my side effects.  I've been doubling up on my ativan to sleep because I'm gagging on the tylenol PM, and if today was any indication of what's to come, I don't think my vicodin are going to be enough to help me get comfortable in bed (although they are good during the day because I can function on them - but is that a reason to stay with them?)

Congrats MFML!

Congratulations to mfml and Lenn13ka!  

On to my first boost today!  Wonder how it will compare to the old treatments.  Wonder if I'll still need to hold my breath  Guess I'll soon see!

Have a good day everyone.

ChickaDe-- I remember reading that skin that had not previously been damaged by sun might do better thru radiation.  it might have been under the "Treatment and Side Effects" and "radiation" tabs from the homepage of this site.  Maybe you could ask the staff from your RO dept.  

No problems yet.  only #5 today tho.  Thought I was getting a sore thoat and hoarsness after the first 2 treatments, then realized that I had been using the emergency asthma inhaler before treatment as I was afraid that I couldn't hold my breath long enough.  The throat issues might have been caused by the inhaler as normally i don't use it very often.  

Congratualtions to all you guys finishing or almost finishing rads.

Melody46, I'm sorry to hear about your discomfort, hopefully things will quickly settle down. I had a blue day last sat. My nipple hurt, I was told by the techs not to wear a bra, so every top I put on looked ridiculous with 55 yer old swinging boobies and that made me cry. Then I whacked my foot and lost toenail #2,that definitely made me cry! I almost felt PMS/hormonal, but I haven't had a period since first chemo 6 months ago. I just realized that I'm allowed to feel down once in awhile, so I took a pain med (toe) and went to bed really early. I was fine the next day. I would definitely ask your RO about lump in throat. I noticed this also by my 3rd tx, was assured by techs that my throat was not in the field but had me see RO anyway. He confirmed that rads was causing it, but that most women feel a sore throat more than a lump. He said sometimes a hoarse voice will also present itself and this is all caused by "irritation and should go away". I still feel the lump at tx 9, and will mention it again when I see him fri. Hoping you can start swimming, but don't push yourself too much, you've been through a lot.

Congrats MFML & Lenn13ka!

First boost today. I really hope the rest of this mess starts to heal soon. Unlike those of you whose docs are saying your reactions are "not unusual", my RO says the way my skin is burning is very unusual. He said irritation usually occurs in the crease and there is no damage there, but I am getting huge blisters from mid-way on my breast down. He even said maybe I'm reacting to something outside of the rads. Hmmmm, I don't recall doing any topless flamethrowing, so I'm thinking it's the rads!

Best wishes to those of you just starting, just finishing and in the middle!!