Winter 2013-2014 Rads

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  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited January 2014

    minus, 

    my place has wash cloths to wipe down if you think it is needed. I would think 4 hours would be ok, I always shower, walk out the door and have rads 15 minutes later..I live really close..

    I have had 25 zaps, 8 more to go....

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  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited January 2014

    Welcome Lilyluv & RedReading (good to see you again) to the Winter Radiants!

    MinusTwo, I asked that question and was told that the skin absorbs the creams, so no reason to wipe or shower.  The RO I see said no cream for 6 hours before, but to slather it on at least 3 times a day the rest of the time.  So my tx are at 4:00 each day, and I use Miaderm right after, then aloe at about 7:30, the more Miaderm at bedtime.  If I wake up in the night I put on more Miaderm, then Miaderm again in the morning after I shower.  I have been refilling the little sample pots of Miaderm the RO gave me, and I carry that in my purse.  

    I am no expert on this, but think it would be unusual, Red, to use nothing at all, ever.  The closest I have heard to that was someone whose RO said wait until you have symptoms before lubing.  Most say to start right away, if not beforehand.  Rads make the skin dry and the aloe, calendula and specialized creams like Miaderm (formulated specifically for radiation) help the skin to recover and stay strong through the treatments.  

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  • peaches12
    peaches12 Member Posts: 67
    edited January 2014

    Red- 

    I, too, am very confused as to what your RO told you about creams.  None at all even when getting rads?  My RO told me to start immediately and slather it on as a preventative to keep skin lubricated and problem-free and then to help heal any burning or irritation.  Hopefully you can find out why your RO says no creams.  How could enriching your skin be anything but helpful?  My regime and what I use are exactly like Kim's, though I get my rads in the late morning so start my 4-5 times/day creaming sessions at noon right in the dressing room after my zapping.  This regime has been highly successful.  See if you can get more info.  The more we all hear the better the forum is.  Good luck to you. .  

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  • 70charger
    70charger Member Posts: 963
    edited January 2014

    Red Reading  I was also instructed not to use anything.  I completed my rads Jan 3rd.  When I was done I was given glaxal base to use.  I used that for 2 weeks.  I haven't used anything since.

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  • DawnCT
    DawnCT Member Posts: 143
    edited January 2014

    HI again everyone.

    I am one week out after finishing rads.  I wanted to let you know what you might expect

    1- I had a rash on my upper breast that was so itchy.  It began to heal immediately after full breast rads stopped. 

    2- Fatigue was the strongest during the last week of rads and the week after.  I am still fatigued now( starting week two after rads) but it is improving daily.

    3 -  Breast is tender.

    I agree with those that said the anticipation is worse than the treatment.

    I am happy for all of you rapidly approaching the finish line!

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  • encyclias
    encyclias Member Posts: 302
    edited January 2014

    When I went through my 33 rads last summer, all I ever used was baby powder (kept nice and cool in the refrigerator) and aspirin for itching and pain.  My skin never broke down, nor did my right breast look any drier than my left breast, only a light tanning.

    Worked for me, but might not work for others.  My RO was very happy with the results.

    Carol 

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  • Miminiemi
    Miminiemi Member Posts: 340
    edited January 2014

    Well had 1st of 16 rads today. Asked the techs about cream and they definitely said we prefer no unless you start to have side effects.  Then in conference with doctor asked the same question.  He said go ahead if I want to and pulled a jar of vitamin E cream out of the drawer.  treatment was fast and easy.  Didn't even feel the last tattoo.  Best to all who are finishing.  Don't abandon us late bloomers!

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  • aeryno
    aeryno Member Posts: 59
    edited January 2014

    Today will be 18/25 and I'm not wearing a bra at all unless it's for exercise and it's basically my old, soft sports bra.  I'm quite red after treatment for a few hours and then it gradually fades to bright pink by morning.  By the end of last week it was annoying and then seemed fine by Sunday but it's red again this week.  I'm applying Miaderm several times a day and at night I have to go without a top (much to the delight of my BF!) and just drape a blanket over everything but that area if I'm chilly.  I put on an extremely soft shirt for sleeping and I wear tank tops under my tops for work.

    I keep saying I'm a little crispy and my BF now calls it "deep fried ta-tas."  So true :)  It's not that bad though (knock on wood) - just a little tender.  I'm running a 5k on Sunday, my first post-cancer race, so as long as I get through that I'm good!

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  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited January 2014

    Erin -- deep fried tatas!  Haha!  Thanks for the laugh -- I needed one today!  

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  • Miminiemi
    Miminiemi Member Posts: 340
    edited January 2014

    Me too!  Needed a laugh.  A friend has on FB that her husband labeled chicken breasts for their freezer Chicken Tits.  She didn't know until she took them out weeks later.

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  • Rlsteadman
    Rlsteadman Member Posts: 76
    edited January 2014

    Good day today. Finished 15/30 treatments. Then the temp made it into the 20's and I was able to take the dog for a walk. Feeling hopeful!

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  • peaches12
    peaches12 Member Posts: 67
    edited January 2014

    Yuck!  Missed rads today and will again tomorrow.  Puts me 2 days behind now.  Roads still bad here in Atlanta suburbs and everything is closed including all non-emergency health treatment centers and offices.

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  • SallyS70
    SallyS70 Member Posts: 947
    edited January 2014

    DawnCT, thanks for your comments on what to expect and congratulations on finishing.

    Erin, have fun doing your 5K.  Wow ... that's inspiring.

    Rlsteadman, glad you seemed to enjoy your walk ... I will be doing one in a few minutes.  I find that my daily walks, requested by my RO, energize me.

    Peaches12, the pictures of Atlanta on our news are astounding.  Stay safe.

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  • Jmfrankel
    Jmfrankel Member Posts: 86
    edited January 2014

    It is interesting that the ROs all say different things about the creams.  My RO said up to 3 hours before. The miaderm instructions say up to 1 hour before!  Generally I have been sticking to 4 hours before to be safe.  The thing I heard about the creams is that it intensifies the effect of the rads.  I think of it kind of like some of those light bulbs that you can't touch with your fingers because the oil from your fingers makes the bulb get too hot and break.    Don't know if that makes sense.  

    On a different subject I met with my MO yesterday and she is still deciding which drug I will take after rads.  She is afraid to put me on tamoxifen because I had a blood clot right after my surgery last November.  Tamoxifen is known to cause blood clots.  She plans on talking with my hemotologist but is leaning on 1 year tamoxifen with Coumadin followed by arimidex.  Anyone else take tamoxifen with a blood disorder?  

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  • candi07
    candi07 Member Posts: 188
    edited January 2014

    Welcome to all who are new and congratulations to all who are done! Today was 25/33 tomorrow I start my boost so excited. I have no skin breaks, rashes or pain just an occasional itch and some slight pulling. I ordered calendula but only used it a few times I've men using the Hydrophor the doc gave me and when ran low they gave me more. I can't wait for February 10th. 

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  • Holeinone
    Holeinone Member Posts: 2,478
    edited January 2014

    Candi07, 

    You are rock in' the rads. My skin is a mess, but I have always had rashy sensitive skin. I will be done on the 7th...

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  • MrsDarcy
    MrsDarcy Member Posts: 162
    edited January 2014

    Day 5 post rads here and its "Let the peeling begin" time ... yuck and ouch ... lol !!!!   I have a really dark spot where the lymph node incision is and a dark band under the breast.   Sooooooo attractive ;).  Lol

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  • Furfriend2
    Furfriend2 Member Posts: 299
    edited January 2014

    Hi Juniper, how are you feeling? Where was your incision ?  Are you fair skinned? Are you itchy as well? Using any ointments?  I haven't started yet so I am absorbing all the info shared here.  Hang tough & stay warm.

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  • RedReading
    RedReading Member Posts: 2,143
    edited January 2014

    Hi Furfriend and Juniper - I know you girls from other threads. Barbe, Mimi,   Aeryno and TeamKim too. Yay!

    I haven't started yet either Furfriend, so like you I'm trying to learn all I can but there seems to be quite a difference between what RO's say. Is this a regional difference I wonder. 

    I'm from ontario and my RO says no creams at all.

    Could people chip in with their RO's recommendations and a general location? If that's ok?

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  • MrsDarcy
    MrsDarcy Member Posts: 162
    edited January 2014

    Hi Furfriend.  I feel great, minus the itchies and occassional twinges.   I am actually fair skinned but I don't usually have skin issues.  I have my sentinel node incision in the armpit and my lumpectomy incision is at the 2:00 position on the left breast. 

    I used only pure aloe vera gel after my treatments and before bed.  By treatment 16 my skin decided it had enough and I had some swelling and burning.  Luckily the next day I started 4 days of boosts so my skin started to fair better.  

    I have 7 days left to apply the Flamazine cream I was prescribed and then I am to apply Glaxal Base cream after that

    All in all I think I did really well and I hope your treatments run as smooth as mine - or even better.  :)

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  • MrsDarcy
    MrsDarcy Member Posts: 162
    edited January 2014

    Just as a side note, I had tried Aquaphor but we didn't hit it off ;).  It gave me a rash.  *sigh*    

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  • lovewins
    lovewins Member Posts: 881
    edited January 2014

    Today was 6/32.  I have been using Skintegrity which it say it is a hydrogel which is greaseless only once a day before I go to bed.  I have not really had any issues except maybe a slight sunburn feeling and I am very fair skinned...Redhead.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited January 2014

    RE - lubing:   I'm wondering if the rational behind the use of creams or not might be cellular?  I know my MO took me off of lots of supplements.  The reason was they encouraged cell growth and chemo was trying to kill cells - so these things were working in opposition.  Wonder if some of the RO docs feel the same way about creams & ointments?  Wonder if lube vs. don't might be a new protocol vs an older protocol that some docs have changed?  And which one?

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  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited January 2014

    I think there might be some old and new to it, probably also research and articles they have read which might have conflicting results or recommendations.  They also might have stock in companies that come out with the cream (sorry -- that sounds cynical).  My RO nurse told me that Aquafor is the "old standby" but it is not water based, so they think the Miaderm soaks in and helps the skin more.  At $35 per tube, it better help a lot! 

     RedReading, I am in Southern California, and getting my tx at a small cancer care center close to home (but I had a consultation with an RO at the large regional cancer center about 10 miles away, and she was big on Miaderm and 100% pure Aloe Vera).  I really like the RO at the larger facility, but it would have added another hour to my daily afternoon commute because of traffic, so I went with the close to home option.

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  • bondsy
    bondsy Member Posts: 94
    edited January 2014

    Finished 19/25 today, then met with my RO. He decided to prescribe the antibiotic cream Silver Sulfadiazide which according to the insert is used "to treat wound infections in patients with serious burns". He also prescribed the stronger hydrocortisone ointment 2.5%. My RO said that my rash is looking like it could soon open up and become infected. He said everyone's skin is different and some people have no reaction while others have serious reactions. Just so happens that my skin is very sensitive. When I put my arms up in the little arm stirrups, the skin near my clavicle folds and the worst rash is inside that fold. Also the axillary lymph nodes that are being zapped are much closer to the neck than I realized, and the left side of my neck is very swollen and red. The breast/nipple swelling is also pretty serious. This is all much worse than I ever thought it would be. I didn't think anything could possibly be worse than the chemo side effects, but this is coming close. I'm dreading my last 6 treatments.

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  • MrsDarcy
    MrsDarcy Member Posts: 162
    edited January 2014

    Bondsy - are your last 6 treatments full breast or just boosts ?  Or do you have boosts IN your regular treatment ?  Just trying to see if maybe your last few treatments won't be as bad if they are boosts - mine went off without a hitch as the boost only targets the actual "bed" or "hole" where the tumor was.  

    It is a rough thing to go through when your skin acts up like yours :(   I know my nipple is now a dark beige / pink color, seems bigger than usualy and has a serious contour line around it - like someone took a lipliner and lined my nipple instead.

    Thank goodness we can share these intimate little things here .. lol  !! 

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  • Gubbyann
    Gubbyann Member Posts: 34
    edited January 2014

    Bondsy....So sorry your having so much trouble...I really wish I could give you some advice, but I really have no answers...Who knows why people react differently to rad or chemo...I'm going in a few minutes to get my 21st rad of 33 and I don't seem to have that much of a problem...Yes I am a bit red and sore but nothing bad...Now chemo was a different story...I had every side effect you can imagine...and 2 months later I am still dealing with the side effects...I hope all goes better for you soon...Your RO seems to know what he's doing, and seems to be giving you the meds you need for the rash, and I guess you are comfortable with him being your RO....So the only advice I can give you is to hang in there, it's almost over for you...Look how far you have come....You can do it....Hugs

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  • Oncearunneralwaysarunner
    Oncearunneralwaysarunner Member Posts: 252
    edited January 2014

    RedReading - I'm in Ontario (being treated at the Ottawa Hospital) and I've been instructed to apply Glaxal Base Cream or Calendula cream three to four times a day from the get go. I've had my RO, nurse and techs remind me to do so. I was given written care instructions for my skin before starting radiation.

    13/25 down, whoo hoo! My skin is holding up well, getting a bit itchy and red but not bad. I just have to remember not to scratch the right side. It is making me realize how much scratching an itch is instinctual 

    I've agreed to go ahead with the brachytherapy once external radiation is done for my boost. It's not scheduled yet but will be about one to two weeks after the end of radiation depending on how my skin is after it all. Not looking forward to the procedure but I was reassured that I'll be under some form of sedation for part of it, so that makes it easier to handle.

    Welcome to the new ladies and congrats to those who are done this week! 

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  • LanaM
    LanaM Member Posts: 142
    edited January 2014

    Leaving for rads sood - my last rad is tomorrow! My entire armpit area has broken down unfortunately and is quite raw/sore - at least that area isn't included in the boosts this week. I wonder if I didn't realize how far up the armpit the rads were going and maybe didn't moisturize far enough up. It makes it hard in this area because when your arm is down its skin to skin (or skin to raw!). Laid in bed last night with my arm up trying to get air to that area. I'm almost a radiant lady though - looking forward to being a rad grad tomorrow! 

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  • TeamKim
    TeamKim Member Posts: 568
    edited January 2014

    Awwww Bondsy -- so sorry the skin is giving you problems.  I fear mine will be similar once I get to your point.  I have two little bumps that have cropped up just below my scar under my breast.  They are sore as the dickens, and one has a white head on it.  I have only had 8 zaps, but if this is the kind of thing that develops into a bunch of bumps all over my breast, I will be one unhappy puppy!  Meeting with my RO after tx today, so will try to bridge the language barrier (his English is not the best) and see what (if anything) he recommends.

    Lana -- hang in there!  Just today and tomorrow, then you can look forward to healing day by day.  Do you have the prescription cream that Bondsy describes?  If not, it might help to speed your healing.

    Junniper -- I got a smile from your description with the lipliner.  I have a scar around my entire areola (they kept it attached underneath, but moved it aside temporarily during surgery, then glued it back in place), so I wonder how the nipple area will react as tx go on.  So far the scar under my breast is the most sore spot.

    Thank you all for posting your experiences -- It helps so much to know what I might be getting myself into!

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