Spring 2014 Rads

I m miserable today . Some area in nipple is lighter in color than usual. And very very red. Monday off will give me relief, but scared for next 8-9 treatments. Then is boost. 

Also my pain shoots are more intense today. 

I just want everything to get over once for all. 

Hi ladies...I will be starting rads in mid June ( I joined summer rads board)...my question is about being tired as a side effect...I know we are all different ...chemo left me exhausted for about 8 days after...2 days hardly got out of bed.

Rads make you tired I hear...is it as bad as chemo tired??  I just want to be able to do more this summer!  I also thought to schedule it for late afternoons...so I can enjoy the days...any insight is appreciated!  I meet with RO on Thursday...so ready to get this started to be done !!!  Thanks! Rosie

Rosierise: for me I wasn't as tired as chemo but I did have my rest usually in the afternoon.  I was also told to stay away from the sun, to cover the radiated area. For me it was after radiation that I got a sunburn feeling. It was painful. What helped me was a cream-like gauze called viscopaste 

Rosie, I didn't start getting tired from Rads until about week 4 of 5 (no boosts).  I didn't have chemo, so can't compare it, but I do know that you were wise to do it late in the day.  I did come home and snooze right afterwards once the tired feeling started.

MoMMom- I can tell you when NOTto do rads---1pm.  I am retired, so I was willing to let the working gals have first thing in morning/late in the day, but middle of the day is not optimal--- spent all morning not being able to commit to a project because I might not finnish, or I might get dirty, etc. and then I didn't want to commit to anything after 1pm because I didn't know how long doctor day might take, or if the rads would be on time or not.  So, if you can get morning or late in the day----GRAB IT AND HOLD ON.

I did not have to do CHEMO---I can't imagine RADs will be hard for you, but then we all are different.  I wish I had known about the Tumeric/Curcumin study and taken  that, and I wish my RO would have talked about letting me use cornstarch., but she did not want any powders.  I am a fair redhead who sunburns easy and I am big busted. The crease area under my boob was my only issue until my last 3 treatments. I burned on a Friday and then M/T made for a sobering finale.  Otherwise, I left every day with a warm boob and  a red boob, but by a.m. it was fine.    Just make sure your skin is dry especially under your bust line when you get your Rads, and use your crème religiously and generously.

Remember in Fried Green Tomatoes when Kathy Bates morphs into TOWANDA and knocks out the wall in the livingroom and rams her car into the girls car who stole her parking place---You are TOWANDA-Warrior Princess   YOU GOT THIS!

Redheaded1 - Thank you for your excellent advice!!!   We are kindred spirits - that Kathy Bates line from Fried Green Tomatoes, "I'm older and I've got more insurance!" is one of my favorite lines EVER!!  I say it all the time.  Lol! 

So far, I feel so very lucky that I've had minimal SEs on chemo, and I was hoping for the best with rads.  I'm small breasted and some other kind soul here tells me that alone should make it easier for me.  I go to the gym every morning, but I think I'll just get up extra early to get that out of the way and try for a time no later than 9:30 or 10. I can see where later in the day may have considerably more wait time.  I will do research on the Tumeric/Curcumin study - never heard of it.  Thanks again!

Rosie, I went for evening rads, 5pm. And that worked perfectly for me. 

I would go to work earlier than usual, and leave early in the evening to go to rads. Then come home, have dinner n take rest.  

I was tired after my treatments, I had more pain, more fatigue in the evening after tx compared to morning. So I could work in the morning relatively in better shape. 

I did not have chemo, but I was tired at week 2, and extremely tired at week 3. So much so that I am taking time off for next 3 weeks. I have two small kids and due to work n the tx, I had hard time taking care of kids. so doctor strongly suggested me to take time off if I could. And I did. My time off will start from tomorrow . He strongly suggested my to take afternoon naps so fluid in breast does not have to weigh your girls down.

Redheaded, I take turns using aloe, calendula n aquaphor. 

I will see my RO tomorrow. Need to find out what he suggests. 

I think taking rest is important part of radiation. You can't be always on the go like most mothers are. Body needs to recuperate. So PLEASe give your body chance to do so by taking rest, eating well n light exercise. 

I m 50% done. 50% to go! 

Much love,

FightBC. 

Mommom, I have finished rads and did have fatigue.  I think those of us that have had chemo first are more tired going into rads and feel the fatigue more.  I found that it helped a  lot to lie down for about and hour or so after rads.  I didn't always sleep, but it helped to build a little extra rest into the day.  Being small breasted seems to help a lot in terms of skin issues.  I am also small breasted and hardly had any issues....just one little spot at my collarbone.  My guess is that you will do very well.

Yay Lonnie!!! Congratulations on finishing rads!!! 

Lonnie - soo happy you are done!  I have to admit, selfishly it makes me happy when I hear any of you say you are finished, as it reminds me that I'll be saying those words one day, too.  Do you have hormone therapy ahead, or are you done with treatment, period?    Take care of that skin, and I hope it holds out for you!

Hi Rosie

 I haven't had any fatigue with rads, almost done. Chemo was bad, I got anemic too. Days I couldn't move.

Yay Lonnie

Congrats on finishing! I finish tomorrow! I am so excited. The next couple of months are still full with Dr appts, etc, but they are just check ups.  I will continue to get a herceptin infusion once evet 3 weekd till Oct, but that's an inconvenience at best - no se to worry about. 

Vintage girl- ouch! Hope it heals quickly.

Anne

My God VintageGirl, hang in there....... Sending healing vibes on your way!

Vintage - your pic looks just like my right side.  It hurts - mostly just under my arm and at my sternum.  Finished rads 5 days ago and the pain is diminishing but it's still very red.  Looking forward to healing.  Hope you heal quickly.

So very happy to report that I had my last rads today. Yippy!  

Aside from redness, itchiness and some minor twinges now and then it wasn't too bad for me. Redness and tightness is better since boosts.  When it keeps me up at night I've taken some motrin and it helps a bit.   Hope you all heal as quickly.