Winter 2013-2014 Rads

Hi, I just found these discussion boards. Wish I would have seen them at the beginning of all this mess! I am done with chemo, I had 4 doses of CT every 3 weeks, I am 6 weeks done tomorrow.  I started rad and will have my 9th out of 25 tomorrow. So far no redness or itching.. i read some many of your post and am interested to see what else will work if aquaphor does not. not sure about the boost thing but I understand that I will be getting those.

I read Gubbyann's post above. I too have had horrible muscle pain since my third chemo. I felt like the rad brought back some of the flu like aches but the muscle pain gets worse as the day goes by and Advil does not touch it. I take tramadol and that works. I have gotten less head to toe pain and the tingling fingers and toes are better(so glad the hammering of my fingertips stopped!) but now the muscle pain is in my calves, thighs, forearms, hands and biceps.. I guess your most used muscles. Can anyone tell me if they had that and how long till it goes away? I want to get back in the gym but if I do ANYTHING to exert my muscles I suffer the next day. it's crazy! I was able to mop the other day without getting completely out of breath though, so there is progress! that's my word for 2014.. PROGRESS!!!

Thank you for creating this group Teamkim!

Holly 

Hi smrlvr

The reason I am going to MGH is that I had laryngeal cancer almost three years ago and was treated at MGH because it's a rare cancer and they have a center that treats 100s.  Because I got the maximum amount of radiation to my throat I was worried about getting more radiation for this cancer and did a consult at MGH.  As far as I know the short treatment is only for early Stage I with no lymph nodes and they don't offer it in Albany yet.  I don't know how far along you are in treatment but almost all insurance companies let you go out of network for a second opinion.  After my previous experience I am a big fan of second opinions at major medical centers like MGH.  If they verify the treatment they are planning for you in Albany then you know you are on the right track.  If not, you hear what other options there are that aren't available here and go from there.

Hi, RIsteadman....I think we all go through this second guessing ourselves at one time or another...It's normal...I have second guessed myself a few times....But I keep thinking that I have gone through the chemo, and made it through despite all the side effect, and hey, I am still here and feeling pretty good right now, and I only have the rad to go through...I have 20 left...Before you know it, it will be over soon, and by spring there will be a better and improved me...Thats how I try to think when I get up everyday...I have to think that way to keep me going, and you do too...Having a great family and friends support helps too...So just keep thinking you made the right decision, which I am sure you did...Hang in there...Your Spring time is right around the corner too..Take care and God Bless

Rosie, I am also having the same problem with regulating body temperature. I am usually (pre-cancer) always hot, but these days I am always cold. I used to never need the heater on, even in winter (I live in California) but these days I'm running the heater full time. But, at night, I turn the heater off and I get really hot! It doesn't make sense at all. I'm also post-menopausal and done with hot flashes, so I'm confused by all this. 

My biggest side effect so far from rads is my breast is swollen, and my nipple is so sore and painful. And the nipple color is much darker than usual. I'm taking Aleve for the swelling and pain, and that's helping somewhat. Tomorrow is day 14/25. No itching yet.

Gubbyann, I love your positive attitude. I'm also trying to take it all one day at a time. I do whatever the doctors tell me to do and don't try to second guess everything. I feel like I'm just moving along, like floating on a raft in a river, and will eventually come to the end of the ride. Trying not to think of the future or the past, trying to stay in the moment is helping me get through this.

Good morning ladies.  Looks like I got too excited too fast about my rads .   Yesterday I had terrible swelling, red and purple areas and itching.  The techs sent me to the nurse and between her and my RO I got sent home with prescriptions for Flamazine and Aristocort, as well as full breast Flamazine and bandaging to keep on for the night.    Yesterday was my last full breast treatment and today I start 4 days of boosts.  

I picked up the prescriptions at the pharmacy along with my first bottle of Tamox.  I felt so crappy by then, tired, pain, itchy and bandaging on a swollen breast - lol, wasn't a happy camper!!

Needless to say I came home and made red velvet cupcakes and knocked quite a few back with a cup of tea.  

Junipergirl, 

Yikes, that sounds painful & itchy. I hope the prescription helps and you get through these last few treatments. You should be done by Friday, correct? Happy Dance, more cupcakes & tea!

I also love red velvet. Let us know how it all works out, my skin is rashy, itchy, I still have 14 more zaps.

Tomorrow will be a week since I finished rads and just thought I'd check in.  My RO had told me my skin would continue to burn for up to 5 days after the last treatment.  On the 3rd day after treatment I had a spot under my arm near the pit that hurt so bad it woke me up.  A small area of skin had turned almost black and was very tender. Two days later the skin broke and it looks like raw meat underneath. It's not painful anymore, but looks bad.  

The area is very high up in my arm pit and I don't think I was putting aquaphor up that high, so this might be the reason for the break. The rest of my skin has held up well and my dark red color is turning into a deep dark tan.

Our celebration cruise on Friday is now on hold because my husband had an emergency appendectomy this morning!  We are quite a pair!  lol

Hi all,

Had treatment 12 of 32 today.  Someone on another thread talked about the rad fatigue feeling like a heaviness rather than sleepiness.  I noticed that my legs felt heavy as I walked into rads today.  The sensation passed rather quickly but reminded me of the previously read post.  Since I am on anaztrozole, I know the feeling might be related to that rather than rads.  I have also had mild nausea today which I will mention to my RO at tomorrow's appointment.

peaches, thanks for the reminder to take things day by day ... I really need to remember that now because when I do, I feel better.

Junipergirl - So sorry you are having a problem. At least you are almost done  I found the boosts to be easier because they are not to the whole breast.  I hope they are easier for you too.  Red Velvet cupcakes - yum!   

Peaches - Glad it's going so well.  You never know, you may only get tan and not burn! 

Sally - I have that heaviness feeling from the rads.  That is exactly how I would describe it and would think that the rads are causing it for you.  Yes, we have better days to look forward to.  It is one day at a time.  

Cari - Hope hubby recovers quickly!  Thank you for continuing to post.  I am right behind you and it helps to know what might happen next.  Hopefully no more side effects for you!

Dawn

:0). First boost done and the creams of last night helped tremendously.   Going to slather them on again before bed.  The boosts are longer because they hav to do a scan each time but the radiation itself is nothing.  Three more to go .    

Cari - "ouch".  Amazing how an invisible (to our eyes) beam can cause such skin issues.   

Dawn - Congrats!!!!!!!!  What an amazing feeling that must be today

Congratulations Dawn.

algranna, I only undress from the waist up.  

I have arthritis in my shoulder, neck and hand.  I went for my simulation last week and will begin radiation therapy in the prone position next week.  Any suggestions for making this experience a little more comfortable?  My hand fell asleep and my shoulder hurt during my simulation.  I am thinking about bringing in a wrist guard to help with my hand, but I don't know how to prevent my shoulder from hurting.  I want to do the prone position because of the positive outcome.  Any suggestions? 

Bondsy--glad to hear I am not the only one with the temperature problem.  I have finished 14 of 25 and my breast is sore at the nipple and incision; some swelling, but mostly underarm.  I try to avoid meds, but yesterday had to take an extra strength tylenol.  Helped some.

Gubbyann--I am way past menopause; had severe hot flashes after hysterectomy (at age 50).  Did estrogen therapy which took care of that.  Sorry to hear that yours never went away and that you continually have breast pain.  What a bummer!

Algamma--we undress from the waist up, put on a gown.  When we get to the radiation room, gown comes off and they give me a small piece of cloth to cover up while I get on the table.  After adjusting and positioning, they fold back the cloth to expose the breast being treated.  At the end, I am recovered, get back into gown, and go back to the dressing room to dress.  And I have been able to wear a bra, but not an underwire.  I wear a soft cotton bra or sometimes a surgical bra that zips in front.

Annika12--I enrolled in that same skin study.  They took pictures, ask you to fill out a short questionnaire once a week on your pain and any skin problems.  At the end, they will take pictures again.