Fall 2013 Rads

canuck46 · January 2014

Good time for catching up with all the radiant ladies. It is snowing like crazy here and frigid temps. I decided this would be a pj day!!

Annie54 - I'm having the exact thing - I thought I had pulled something or was overusing my rt arm. I'm seeing my BS on Monday so I will ask her. I keep feeling like my lymph nodes are swollen (they are not).

Stay warm and safe.

wyo · January 2014

Hi all

I finished rads the day before Thanksgiving and would agree that some "down the road" stretching and tenderness occurs a lot of the time from what I read here and experience myself.

I have upped my yoga practice to more frequency because the stretching really seems to help keep the whole left side from ribcage to fingertips more flexible and my breast is moving better on my chest wall so thinking any scar tissue that wants to form will have a harder time of it.

Angie8 · February 2014

Hi Ladies - I posted this question in the Winter rads thread but since
some of the ladies there have not finished rads, I thought I should post
here too. I finished rads on Jan 27. I supposed to have whole breast
radiation, most of my breast is dark red with little red bumps, except
the inner lower quadrant, the skin looks completely normal... They told
me the skin will continue to get worse after rads so I thought that area
will eventually change color too but it never did. Did any of you have
area of the breast where the skin looks normal? Is that normal? Thanks

MsPharoah · February 2014

Hi Angie, When you have radiation, their is a "field" and over the course of your treatment, you will be able to see that field more noticeably due to your skin changes, especially the color of your skin. It seems to me that the area that is not red was not in the field. If you are concerned that it was missed, you should check with your RO so that you understand exactly what your field was and why.

When I had my simulation, I had my RO show me exactly what my field was so when the skin changed, I was prepared. And when it didn't, I was also prepared. It won't hurt for you to ask about this even though you are done.

Good luck and I hope you are feeling better every day!

Love, MsP

Angie8 · February 2014

Thanks MsPharoah. I don't get to see my RO till late March. I am pretty sure that area supposed to be in the field. That's why it puzzled me. I will ask RO when I see him. I hope they didn't miss that area.

Bounce · February 2014

Hi Angie8 - I wouldn't wait until late March to ask.

Try to contact your RO and ask sooner while you can still see the area clearly. Take some photographs if you can.

I noticed a 2cm strip near my sternum that wasn't zapped - my RO said it had to do with the angle to try and miss most of my lung. I hope he is right and that all was done OK. RO's aren't very chatty it seems.

By the way I finished rads the second week of December and took some photographs of my boob. I saw them today and am amazed at what I looked like. Not pretty pictures and I didn't even have such a bad time skin wise.

Whenever I think about rads and start stressing about long term side effects I remember MsP telling us we are now radiant - and I breathe deeply and relax.

Angie8 · February 2014

Thanks Bounce - My strip is a little larger and it's near the sternum too. What you said about the angle to miss most of the lung made perfect sense. I think that's what happening to me too... Good idea about taking picture... I'll do that... I have to learn to relax too as I still think and worried about the long term side effects of rads.

FierceBluebird · February 2014

I too had a strip parallel to my sternum, but the opposite problem. My skin burned away in a straight line. Makes you wonder what the heck these machines are doing.

So nice to see the "old timers" are still around! Doesn't seem like that long ago we were all just starting out and nervous!

Bounce · February 2014

Bluebird Bluebird - You have a new picture and a new signature line. - You go girl.

Yes. We fall down we bounce back. We hit the floor - we get up.

I said it before - we make Rambo look like a little baby.

sloyd66 · February 2014

Hello Ladies!

Hope everyone doing well, especially in this weather we all having! Well today was day one without Rads.. I did my last boost on yesterday!! Yaaay Me!! Will start tamoxinfin probably within four weeks

FierceBluebird · February 2014

Congratulations! Time to celebrate!

Bounce · February 2014

Hi Sloydd66 - Yippee! Enjoy the extra time in your day amongst other things. Smile

After settling down to wearing my bra all day again I am suddenly going through a stage of tenderness/swelling/who knows what! And by 16:30-17:00 my bra has to be off.

I remember the days of free-boobing all over. It seems quite shocking now - then it just seemed to make sense.

sloyd66 · February 2014

Thanks! My boobs held up good, I was able to still where my bras, but now I am getting the peeling, swelling, and tenderness. My dr gave me some type of gauze to put between the nipple and bra, because that's where the tenderness was more at. I was using just cotton pads which also helped. But skin is working it's way back already to my regular color. So i should be good by the summer. But i also do notice that the left breast is smaller looking than the right =( don't like that at all, don't look cool in clothes, so need to really sport my padded bras now. So just waiting on that dreaded drug i must take forever! lol I hope I do good remember taking it, because Im not a pill popper at all.

L2girl · February 2014

congrats sloyd66 on finishing!

Glad to see some of my fellow fall rads grads are still hanging around this forum:)

Bounce, I know what you mean about the pain/ swelling or whatever. I just started having a lot of it in the past couple weeks or so. I don't know why i would start to feel it worse now, but I can only think maybe the numbness has worn off and nerves have regenerated and I am able to feel a lot more of my breasts than before? Or maybe it has something to do with healing or scarring or something? I don't like it. =\

FierceBluebird · February 2014

I'm having some delayed reactions too. Looks like I have pneumonitis now. Coughing and short of breath. Geez, the side effects seem to never end. The gift that keeps on giving!

wyo · February 2014

I have never been able to wear my normal underwire/sidewire bras since surgery. Just trying them on really hurts because my surgery removed the lower 1/3 area of my breast and the sentinel node bx scar lines up perfectly with the side seams and wires. I finally called and got a referral for specialty bras since my insurance covers (2) bras and a camisole- I need something with some kind of support/padding for my work clothes. ugh

Bounce · February 2014

Bluebird144 - My last post to you seems to have disappeared - I will try again.

Sorry to hear you are having trouble. I hope your docs are taking good care of you.

What is the treatment for pneumonitis? Is your RO in charge?

wyo - I too haven't even tried my old under wire bras. I think its a great idea to get a professional assessment. I was shocked by the lack of bras available to women after breast surgery in my neck of the woods. Heck it was almost impossible to find a bra that was no under wire and 100% cotton for during radiation.

Its hard being in the fitting room the first time but the ladies who deal with the specialty bras are usually professional and compassionate. Good luck.

Bounce · February 2014

L2girl - I am not impressed at my boobie getting sore now either. For me its not because numbness is wearing off.

FierceBluebird · February 2014

I've seen my regular doctor, my RO, And my MO. I am supposed to get an echocardiogram and chest Xrays, but insurance denied the echo and I'm not looking forward to more radiation! I've been using the crazy weather here as an excuse to delay the Xrays.

My RO told me it should clear up with time. It just really bothers me how delayed these side effects are. I also have soreness, swelling and zingers again.

Jmfrankel · February 2014

Bluebird, I am curious about your pneomonitis too since I have recently taken a downward turn for the worse. Had flu like symtoms tues and wed. Saw a general doc to get tamiflu prescribed. Took 1 pill and within4 hours I looked like a spotted leapard....apparently I am allergic to tamiflu. Went to ER wed nt and back in Thursday because my mo wanted me to be admitted to the hospital at this point since my fevers were uncontrollable with Tylenol alone. My fever got up to 104. The doctors are still scratching their heads a bit on this one but they took a ct scan of me last night and found 1 spot on my lungs. They can't tell if it's radiation scarring of a small spot of pneumonia. They have me on 4 antibiotics and this is the first day I haven't wondered if I was going to die. It must be bacterial because I feel so much better. Not sure how many rads I will miss total because I have to get my blood counts up. Not sure if this is the same as what you had? What were your symptoms and how long did it take them to diagnose?

FierceBluebird · February 2014

I first noticed shortness of breath during my daily walk. And then a slight cough that I thought might be the start of a cold. My regular doctor was concerned about my heart and did a ecg which was fine. I then had surgery again for reconstruction and rested for 2 weeks. Things seemed to improve but it was probably just that I was resting after surgery. As soon as I started walking again, the shortness of breath returned and the cough. Saw my RO and she listened to my chest and said my lungs sounded fine, and that I would improve with time. Then saw my MO who thinks I have the pneumonitis and wants other workups. I did not have a fever, though I do seem to get overly hot when I do something even slightly physical.

jmfrankel, hope you feel better soon. Sounds like you're on the mend.

bondsy · February 2014

Bounce - where can I go shopping for specialty bras? Do they have them in regular stores? I want to find someone who really knows how to size me.

Bounce · February 2014

Hi bondsy- sorry I can't answer that as I am out the USA. I hope someone else sees this post and gives you the info you need - where to get a special bra with professional assessment. I doubt you can get them in any store - its worth asking around.

MsPharoah · February 2014

Hello bondsy, The best bra fitters are the ladies in the Nordstrom lingerie department IMHO. You will either need to call ahead or wait for them to have time to pull bras and help you fasten them. They are very well trained. I took my grown daughter there and bought her several bras...she now goes no where else to buy underwear. I would suggest you try there before you start googling and trying to buy products on line. Good luck, hon!

MsP

bondsy · February 2014

Thanks, Ms. Pharoah, there's a Nordstrom in San Francisco near me. I'll call them! Radiation has made it impossible to wear my regular bras.

wyo · February 2014

they gave me a choice of nordstroms in Walnut Creek or a local place called Marzels also in Walnut Creek- it sounds like you are in the bay area. I never got a call back from Nordstroms (interesting with an insurance referral) I got a call back from the small place the next day. I was thinking they may not have a selection like "Nordies" but- they are local and called back I will check it out.

bondsy · February 2014

wyo, let me know what you find out. I'm in Oakland.

wyo · February 2014

will do- just a short drive through the tunnel haha. She called and left a really nice VM at that place and they have appts T-F and Saturday am. Sounds like the appts are 1 hour apart.

http://www.marzels.com/

L2girl · February 2014

oh boy, am I glad to hear I am not the only one who is not able to wear a regular bra. I don't think I will ever be able to wear one again! I pretty much live in genie bras, coobie bras (tank style, the ones that look just like the genie bras) and sometimes sports bras. I still feel the need to sleep in them, otherwise too painful.

Like I mentioned earlier, I have been having painful breasts since last month. What worries me is there is one very specific painful area, way on the side, almost where the breast tissue meets the ribs. This area was very painful this past summer, before I ever got surgery. It is not near where the cancer or snb was removed.

Now I feel a lump near there. Again, not near either of my scars. It is a very definite lump. I am trying very hard not to think about it, and I have really stepped up my exercise routine and healthy eating since noticing it. Maybe I am just scared, and think I will ward off anything bad if I am healthier. I keep telling myself maybe it is a swollen lymph node, due to rads healing?

I have my checkup with my MO in less than 3 weeks, so I think I will just wait till then. Maybe that is weird to wait, but I keep telling myself it is not an emergency, and how could there be cancer there when I just finished rads on that side end of October. I don't want to make a big deal, esp. if it turns out to be nothing. Plus, i am taking tamoxifen. What gives?

Kruise · February 2014

L2girl - try not to panic - it's probably just scar tissue - and seeing your MO in 3 weeks is fine - just make sure you point it out/discuss it then. Keep doing what your doing - eating well, exercising, supplements (maybe ?). The healthier our immune system - the more chance we have of getting on top of cancer cells!

Hi to everyone - 3 months since my rads and treatment finished now and it's really only in the last month that I feel myself getting back to normal. :-)

Fall 2013 Rads

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