Summer 2013 Rads

Hi There Paula- have you started tracking down those bunnies yet?

Patricia! Did you make it to Colorado?  How was the traveling on you, did you have any trouble?

TC

Hi Netter- for me, the lotions were bothering me from day 1- so I stopped at day 6 and only use Eucerin at night, nothing during the day.  But I am only at day 10/33.  So far the only issues are swelling (started right after the first treatment) and getting pinker by the day/starting to tan.  Seems like all the doctors are not too keen on over-lubing, but I don't know, many ladies on this site have had success with many different lotions. 

One thing I noticed, check the labels if you go out and buy products.  Like when they told me to use only Dr Tom's deodorant-they weren't too specific- I almost bought the wrong kind- some of the formulas contain aluminum, which is what the Drs don't want you using.  And some kinds of Eucerin contain urea, which I think is also not too kind to the skin.

Has anyone here tried the Lindi brands of lotions?

Best to all

Heyyy everyone I hope everything is going fine..... Shipsgilr... Far I'm know they told me to rest as much as posssie if your body is requesting ... It's how your immune system will help ... Just like babies when there born they need to rest ... So please rest don't over do it.... I finished14 days ago and been feeling so tired still been sleeping 2 to 6 hours a day.... Ewwwww but we are still healing you know....





Yes I did go to Colorado dragonmirova and that's we're I think I left my energy maybe I left too quick...lol.... I felt muscle spasams for a little and discomfort cause I was wearing a nice shirt .... But the sims were so thick that it scratched my armpits which made my trip itchy... When I finally arrived had to change to a tank top with no sims ... I used my compretion sleeve ... But it on my way back I wore my shirt with no sims and took some Valium and Tylenol just in case and was better ....so my ladies any suggestions on how to take care of my skin after rads???

I'm going to be starting rads soon... I read a study about lavender being really successful at helping with burn... Has anyone here used lavender or rose water with the lotions and potions?



Thanks

Lorrie

Congratulations LW!  I go first thing in the mornings before work, I wonder if I will miss the visits when they are over - the techs are so nice and the facility is so peaceful that it is sometimes the best break away from it all that I get all day- which I know sounds kind of sick.

Did you start right away on tamoxifen?

Lorrie- I think Patricia posted a  recipe for a neat sounding concoction with Rosewater earlier in the thread.  I don't know about lavender except maybe as aromatherapy, but I have not had luck so far with using alot of creams.  So far it seems the less I use the less swollen and red I get, but I expect that will change in a week or two. 

11/33- one third done!  But funny, I just felt the fatigue hit me this afternoon as I was leaving work, wasn't expecting that so soon. 

Best to all

PS- One of the ROs recommended to get the Genie bra- anyone here try that- does it have any closures or do you have to pull it over the head?

Thanks Nancy!



Drago: my RO asked that I wait a couple of weeks to start Tamoxifen to give my skin a chance to clear up. I'm ok with that! A couple of weeks of nothing...just being normal (except for the 2" hair)! As for the genie bra...it would depend on the size of your breasts. There is absolutely no support with them. I'm a DD and a D after lumpectomy and had to keep wearing an underwire for support. I just wore it over a cami with another shirt on top or I would wear a piece of a cut up cotton tshirt up under my bra. If I wouldnt have worked, I would have just let the girls go free!

Why do the ROs seem to frown upon moisterizing?  Saw my doctor today and she told me that my skin looked great- asked what I was using.  

I told her the truth- Udderly Smooth and Aloe.  She said that was OK but to only use the Udderly Smooth on weekends and try to tough it out with just the aloe.  I like her and genarally listen to her, but on this one I think I am going to use a little comon sense.  If my skin looks so good, shouldn't I keep doing what I'm doing?

Patricia - thank you for your concern.  I am napping a lot and getting sleep at night, but my medical people all recommend that I take walks and try and be active to combat the fatigue.  I'm trying to do that too.

Canadian ladies, I found emu oil in the organic aisle at Superstore.  I went to Whole Foods but they said they don't carry it.  I didn't expect to find it at Superstore, just came across it.

I did use rosewater and other lotions and gels and was air out the ought out the 28 days of radiation ... It was smoothing but my skin was great till last day of rads .. My armpit peeled but not my chest it's just dark tan and I'm ok...

Hi Lenn,

So how are you doing on the tamoxifen?  I have to have that next, and I do not want it.  I am more afraid of that than the rads.

TC

Drago... Almost 3 months. I totally did not want to take it, as I am post menopausal and had lots of options. But 2 M0' s wanted me on it. I had a few side effects but now that the post rad fog is lifting, I am doing ok with the Tam. I take it in the AM.

Hi Ladies- I just finished 6/30, and I am totally drained! I do have a drive back and forth, but I thought I would not feel this exhausted at the beginning. I am using MyGirls cream which was created by a RO, and it is soft, easy to apply with a nice scent. I found aquafor too difficult to apply. Additionally, I use miaderm am and pm. Both at Amazon. So far no issues with skin. I am having aches and pains on right rib cage??? Any thoughts or advice?



Congrats on all women who finished! YOU are the inspiration for us.



Thank you!

Drago - I am tired.  I'm not sure how much is rads and how much is left over from chemo and sx.  I have been more tired this past week so at least some of it is from the radiation.  I am still functional though - just VERY tired by the end of the day.  Breast is holding up well.  Still crispy and rashy but hasn't got any worse - RO said it might get worse for up to 10 days but it hasn't.  I have appt. with plastic surgeon to quickly begin filling the tissue expanders again so i can have the exchange surgery in October.  I expect that will be very uncomfortable but nothing I don't have a pill for.  Really want to get this exchange done.  Then get the ovaries out.  Then finish Herceptin in Februrary.  Then I'll be done.  More or less.  Well, then there's the 5 years of hormone suppression but i'm not counting that.