Spring 2014 Rads

Hi All,

Just checking in.  I have 4 more boosts to go and my skin is holding up amazingly well.  On Friday morning, I woke up with a stomach ache.  It turned into a small bowel obstruction.  I have had them before (I have a lot of adhesions from a prior abdominal surgery).  I could tell I needed to be hospitalized, so I went to rads first and asked them if they could take me early.  They took me right in.  Then I went to ER, next door.  They admitted me in a heartbeat.  They are amazingly fast with cancer patients with complications.  They put in an NG tube which I HATE but needed desparately.  The obstruction finally started to resolve itself Saturday night and by Sunday afternoon, I was home again. It will be another week or so before all the tenderness is gone from the obstruction.

 Funny thing, I didn't even think about my skin all weekend.  I was in so much pain from the NG tube and the obstruction.  I didn't put any lotion on or anything and my skin is fine!  My boosts cover my nipple, but I'm hoping it won't be too sore.  By Thursday, I'll be done.  Almost 9 months from the time I started treatment until the time it's done.  It's been a long road.

Hugs,

Kay

intothewoods-  I agree that sounds early for redness----could you be reacting to your crème? Ask a nurse to look at it when you go for treatment.   I started getting red blotches on my 3rd WEEK.  Make sure you are covering the entire area generously---clear up to your clavicle if you are not being treated ABOVE the clavicle.  Someone else said that we break out where we have had prior sun damage.  that would be consistent for me. the area of my red bumps is where the sun would always get me first., although now it is spreading over to my underarm area, where it was never sun exposed!

Phebe---good for you.  You are closer to the end than me!  How is your skin holding up?  are you doing boosts?

Anne

 I started A&C end of Sept, for 2 months. Taxol & Herceptin started right before Thanksgiving so my year of Herceptin will be up end of Nov. Port can finally be out in Dec if all goes according to plan!

Just finished 23 of 33.  Bit itchy so RO recommened hydrocortisone 1%.   Seems to help a bit.I'm using the pure aloe several times a day and lots of cornstarch too.

Simple-hope you are feeling better today! I have 7 more rads to do then finished! No boosts for me as I had a mastectomy. I saw PS today to see how my skin was holding up, he was very impressed how well my skin looked and how soft it was. He gave the ok to schedule reconstruction about 6 weeks after I finish rads but I will wait and enjoy my summer. I will try and schedule middle of August. Good luck with rads and happy to see so many of you have finished!

intothewood get some Epson salts and use just on that area twice a day w warm water. Take washcloth dip and lay on area. Helps to calm and heal also real aloe plant gel. Good luck hope it works for you.

I am in the home stretch... tomorrow I start 1/5 boosts!  I will be glad to be done with this leg of the journey.  

Keep on Kickin A$$!

hi everyone: I start counting herceptin even when it's mixed with taxotere so I'll be done December 15. Next treatment May 20th. Three more radiation then I'm done. I did 22/25 no boosts. Skin is very red but not peeling. I notice something very funny. I used to have a bit of hair growing on my face before, today I notice I have a little bit of hair on my face lol and very tiny black hair sticking out from my head lol like a brush cut

Anne- hope you are feeling a little better today! I sometimes feel like I can't or really shouldn't complain. One of my sisters went through multiple surgeries and chemo as a young widow with three young kids, my other sister really did well with one surgery and radiation, and my husband's mother battled breast cancer twice and passed away at 43.  And I am going to complain? I consider myself very lucky but that doesn't mean my skin feels any less sore or my body doesn't feel a little fatigued keeping up with all we do in every day. I am grateful and I know others have so much more to deal with but I can not wait to be done. So I am also thankful to have the support of the group. I am sure your family appreciates what a strong lady you are. It is frustrating for families, too. I just had 24 of 25 whole breast and will start 8 boosts Thursday and my husband keeps saying almost done. If he could take my last 9 treatments he would but I doubt my RO would go for that!

intothewoods- all our doctors seem to say different things but mine said areas where skin sun damaged may react differently to radiation. Not so much how you react to sun=reaction to radiation. I have had several treatments at dermatologist for precancerous areas and my upper chest-where skin exposed by bathing suit-reacted similarly to radiation. Good news radiation will knock out most areas that may have needed superficial treatment later.That area is less bothersome now more redness in armpit and areas not exposed to sun so it did clear up but was itchy early on. Wishing you well!

Have4laugh and other girls, 

when a woman is in labor, it is painful and even if millions of women from ages had gone thru' this pain, it is still her pain, unbearable, and difficult. it is not less due to the fact that other women had gone thru' and going thru'. So, vent and speak your mind. 

I have similar situation at home. Some family members lost interest in how am I doing each day. Just giving hug, asking simple question can be helpful, feels better, but it's routine for them. While I was talking to my friend, I just mention that I feel guilty now when I complain. And he gave me above analogy. And it is true! Isn't it?

Sometimes, I get spasm and can't stand it. And it is painful. So, I am going to say it is painful without caring about anybody's reaction. 

So, vent here. Hang in there, be strong! 

This too shall pass......

keepthefaith- good for you almost done! Sorry the machine is down-I am sure you just want to get to the end of treatment. I missed one day to something similar so I finish on a Monday instead of Friday if all stays on schedule. I told my tech today I started off jokingly referring to radiation as "going to the rotisserie" but now it's not so funny! They are so nice where I go I can't say enough good things. I will miss the staff when done but not the process or the time out of each day.Hope you have some plans to celebrate this weekend!

Hi everyone ,

Welcome Barbara. I am down to single digits! 4 more reg, then 5 boosts. The machine better not break down- I have my final boost at 8am, Wed, May 28th, then I am on a plane home  that afternoon at 1:10 to be a GS's graduation from preschool that night. 

I went to my PCP this morning about pain in upper left arm. She sent me for X-rays. After all the signing in, etc, and waiting about a half hour, they told me Dr forgot to specify which shoulder, and she was closed for lunch, so I would have to come back after 2. This was about 12:30. I am at least a30 min drive, so couldn't see the sense in coming home for 45 min. I ended up going to 2 banks, a health food store (for pure aloe , which my RO says not to use until I am finished with tx) then sat in the parking lot for 40 min. reading. Had rads, then had to go back to hospital for X-rays. I am exhausted. 

Hope you all have a great night

Anne

Thanks Flagirl.

Today was #15 of 31. Tomorrow I will have crossed the half way mark.  Itching and burning started on #13. Today it is really bad.  Worries me that it is so bad now and I have 3 more weeks to go.  How bad will it look then?  Tomorrow I begin infusions for the HER2+.  My cancer is DCIS with three 1mm each micro invasive spots.  Too big for the DCIS HER2+ study with Herceptin, yet too small for chemo + Herceptin routine.  I'll be doing 4 infusions 3 weeks apart.

Flagirl, thanks for the words of encouragement and a glimpse into the post rad experience!

Have to laugh----love the rotisserie---I call it the microwave.

Anneb- UGH- Doctors Offices----I don't suppose you could have some early lymphedema could you?  I worked in my garden (surgery on left) and weeded, putting my left arm down to support me while I used my right hand.  Later my neck hurt then the whole arm, and I had some numbness when I went for rads on Monday.  I tried to see our Breast Navigator to see if she would measure my arm for me, but she was out.  Now it seems better, but I still wake up with it sore every morning.  Let us know what you find out.   The whole Lymphedema lecture just gave me the willies.  I need to MULCH but we have had so much rain, I will have to weed again.....I will be really upset if the C wreaks my favorite hobby.  This garden gal is not a candidate for condo living or outsourcing the yard work.
Motherofone---what has your RO suggested to help with itching/burning?  Many of us were told Benadryl, Hydrocortisone, or pure Aloe.  My RO says only 2x a day for them.  I also took a Benadryl tablet one night when the itching was really bad. I slept like a baby....You might try a different moisturizer too, if they will let you.  The Calendula crème is nice and I hear good things about Miaderm.  I tried to avoid Aquaphor, but over a long weekend, I did use it on whole area and I thought it improved things.  I apply mine 3X a day----after treatment, at bedtime and then again early a.m. (I go to rads at 1pm, nothing closer than 4 hours )  I am a fair redhead who burns blisters peels, freckles and then starts all over in the sun.  they say Rads isn't like the sun, but its our closest comparison---Hope things get better for you.  I pray for this group when I get my treatment-so today I wil have your name in my heart at 1pm. Healing for all and thanks given  for how you have each helped me.  Love you all!

OH- ps.  I got my tattoo yesterday---didn't hurt at all.  Wish they had just done them during Simulation like I thought.  I still have two stickers on.