Winter 2013-2014 Rads

Lilyluv - my nipple also turned yellow when cold! But that's all in the past now that I'm doing radiation because my nipple is so swollen and dark. It's very sensitive. My RO recommended I cut up an old cotton t-shirt (a soft one) into squares and put it under my tank top to protect my nipple (either that or a gauze pad, but I tried the t-shirt and it's a lot softer than gauze.) I'm also putting the cut up cotton squares under my armpit now because it's very painful when skin touches skin. My skin has taken a turn for the worst. But today is my last radiation day, so let the healing begin!

Hello Ladies I haven't posted in a couple of weeks but have been checking in from time to time. I have just finished 21 of 33 and skin according to my RO and nurse is looking real good. I am more fatigued than usual which I guess is part of Rads but so ready to be done with this. My RO told me today that the last 5 treatments will be just boosts to the scar line where my mastectomy was performed. Did any else have this if so how did your scar hold up to that? I think he said it will be a minimal amount of radiation. I hope everyone continues to do well as we continue on this journey together.

Hi all you lovely ladies. I'm almost to the countdown. Monday is my planning appointment and with your help, boy do I have a list of questions. I also have my initial appointment for Wellfit next week on Thursday and my old lady doc wants to see me on Wednesday. (he's an oby/gyn who specializes in peri menopausal and post menopausal women) Boy just full of appointments. The people who run the Living Well program will also call me next week, that's a program for women taking  tamoxifen. My dietician girl called today as well and has booked me for the 17th. And since I also have to quit smoking, Kelly is calling again next Tuesday. Dear Lord, I am so glad I have a cell phone that allows me to record all these appointments. If I ever lost it, I'd be doomed.

To the new girls, Michele and O'Connor, welcome. Sorry you're here. Glad you found us. Read TeamKim's post about questions to ask your radiologist. It's super. Thanks again Kim. O and my doc is a no creams at all doc - not even Aloe.

OK so off I go for a tub. Have a lovely evening. 

Kim, glad to see my questions making the rounds.  I let the RO go through his assessment of my case checking off the questions he covered and then asked the remaining questions afterward.  If you have an IPhone I suggest you get the app AudioMemos (<$10).  You can use it to record everything the doctor says and play it back later.  I used it for all my second opinions and my post op appointments.  It's surprising what you don't remember.  

Hi,

I'm new to the group. Can someone explain boosts? I am getting 5 weeks of daily rads after taxol (5 down/7 to go) the radiologist never mentioned boosts.

Didn't sleep well last night, lots of itching even though I used cortisone cream before I went to bed. I'm going to try some Benadryl tonight.  I discovered if I use the cortisone cream first and let it absorb into the skin and then the Remedy cream my RO gave me, I don't get the mottled skin I was concerned was an allergic reaction. I'm also finding I need to let my skin breathe. So I bought 600 thread cotton sheets (so soft!) and am sleeping "au naturale". Even with the itching, in the morning my breast looks so much better than it does after being covered up all day.

Lonnie- Just to add a ditto re boosts.  I had never heard of boosts until I found this forum after having started rads.  So I asked my RO.  She laughed and said if I felt "left out" she would order me some boosts, but they are given to lumpectomy patients to give extra treatment to the site around where the lump had been and not done for mastectomy patients since the breast had been removed.   I said, "No thanks, 28 rads will be enough for me".  We both had a good laugh.  Welcome to the group!

I had a double masectomy and my RO has me for 5 boost. New question to ask when I see him.

That's really interesting, alfranco.  Please post his answer when you ask him why.  It may be like using creams; some ROs say start using immediately, some say no.  

jpteacher, 

The boosts, are very fast, and the machine gets close to your skin. Actually easier than rads, cause it is quick. Some ladies with a mx still get boosts. Every case is different.

I am DONE ! 8 dose dense of toxic, scary chemo....33 rads...wish it felt better, but it's all takes time. I need to have a ultra sound in 2 months, I have a inflamed node, looked somewhat suspicious on my PET scan after lumpie..RO says he " thinks" it's benign. Start Arimidex next week.

Thank-you Kim, and all. I know I was a whiner in the beginning, the chemo put me in PTSD...that's my excuse & I'm stickin' with it....Good Luck to all....

TB90, maybe because your cancer was DCIS, and not invasive

Congrats Holeinone!!!  Yay!!  You should start to heal very quickly.

Rosecal - Let us know how your onco appt goes.  I saw my MO this week and came home with the Tamoxifen prescription this week.  I do think(like Desalonde said) that it is supposed to lower your risk by half so your risk may be 26% without the Tami.  How common are the eye side effects?  

I finished rads two weeks ago and have healed up very nicely.  I had fatigue the last week of rads and for about 10 days afterward but am really feeling better now.  In retrospect, I really got  myself all stressed about rads and it wasn't nearly as bad as I feared.  

You all will get to the other side and try not to worry like I did! 

Congrats to all who have completed rads this week!  Celebrate!

Two weeks post rads:  I've developed a rash all over my breast, doesn't itch, just looked pimply or acne- like, applying cream.  Saw my surgeon yesterday for post rads/lumpectomy and he says the incisions looks good. I don't have to come back to him unless I develop a problem. I have one spot of numbness and some slight swelling under my arm from the lumpectomy, just annoying while shaving. He said if it's not tingling it might go away in time.  Just waiting for my appt. on the 12th with my MO. I'm quite nervous.  As far as fatigue, it's about the same as last week.  Pretty tired in the evening, feeling done for the day at 8:00 p.m.  I am looking forward to getting my full energy back.

desalonde and DawnCT:  Thanks for the posts, info and concern.  I am post-menopausal (age 59).  I have moderate osteopenia.  The plan was to take Tamox for 2 1/2 years, then switch to an AL for another 2 1/2 years but with my bone loss she would have to put me on another drug (along with it's own SE's) with the AL. She doesn't want to do that, so it looks like Tamoxifen is my only option. I believe the bad SE's for eyes are a small percentage, but not sure if I'm willing to take that chance. I know I could try Tamox to see how it goes.  I have an appt. with my eye doctor next month to see what he knows about eye problems and Tamoxifen.  26% is a pretty big number for distant recurrence.

My face is still tingling after I wash it and my hands redden up in warm to hot water just a little.  I imagine this will disappear all in time.  So strange because I had minor redness on my breast.  Of course this was due to scatter; I was just one of those people who reacted in this way and you are right Desalonde, no one has published anything or have done a study on it. 

Hi there. I haven't heard of scatter. Is it common? Can we do anything to protect ourselves from it? Should I be asking my RO about it on Monday at my planning appointment? 

Holeinone...congratulations on finishing.

Regarding the discussion about boosts...I think I am getting 3 after I finish my 25 and I had a BMX.   My RO didn't call it a boost but he said it wasn't going to target as much.  I am confused though because I asked if it was along the scar line and he said no the whole breast.  That doesn't seem like much less than what they are doing now.  Maybe no lymph nodes at my armpit and collar bone?  I will need to ask him next week.    Maybe I am getting the whole breast because I had two tumors that were huge and grew very close to the skin.