Spring 2014 Rads

Redhead - I got the impression my PS felt changes would be occurring in my radiated breast for 6 months to  year.   It also seems to affect your skin for a lifetime because I think plastic surgery is more difficult on the radiated breast.  Others with more experience can elaborate.  

Haven't looked at it today - no creaming or anything - too busy.  It was soooo nice not to have to drive 30 minutes to radiation after school today!  I'm sure not going to miss it!

I plan to give the tech who consistently treated me, a gift card when I go for my month check-up.  I think people in that position get too many food type treats.  Not that they are overweight or anything.  They aren't but I feel a gift card would be better.

FightBC

When I finished rads I sent my team a fruit bouquet. I don't bake, and I think they get enough cookies and other baked goods. Fruit is healthy, tastes good, and can be shared. 

Thanks Kay

Anne

Hi Ladies,

Not sure where to ask this, but what is the best electric shaver to get?

Why does everyone give the techs something?  I'm curious about this custom?  I love my techs, especially one, but I've had 4 different girls as they do some rotation.  It is their job as our surgeon, radiologist, oncologist, volunteers, nurses?  I see fruit, cookies, cupcakes etc. a lot, but usually it is brought for everyone, and is left out for patients as well in the area they have snacks and water for us.  My plan was to bring some cupcakes, cookies or cake pops that were designed for this occasion.  It seems people do it more as a celebration that they are done and to give the others hope that they will be done soon too.

My last day after 7 weeks is Thursday.  I'm excited to be done, however I will gladly take my certificate, but will not ring the bell as it just isn't me.  I seem to be one of the younger patients (in my 40's) and people stare at me enough when I walk in.

I was not a fully compliant patient (though not careless, went with my gut feeling), I shaved my arm pit, had no issues (I was full breast and side chest wall), I didn't use Aloe until I felt I needed it, used Aquaphor for a day or two (was given a bunch of samples) but didn't like it much.  I ended up using body butter that was given as a gift to me (made with essential type oils) and it served me well.  I never got really really red, and now as I'm nearing the end of 10 boosts I am getting red and my nipple is peeling, but no matter what I did that was to be expected as I also had a bolus the entire 35 treatments.  For me the biggest issue has been swelling, at the end of the day it is twice the size of the other one. Plus I had implants prior to this and the scar tissue with the swelling is causing me some pain.

I have enjoyed being part of this board.

five days after rads my skin where I was radiated had a few burn-like rash so my wound specialist put a viscopaste on the whole radiated area. It was so soothing and it healed fast, also had to wear fish net vest instead of bandages . What is so irritating is underpit arm. It's so sore for some reason. It felt like it's swollen. What next? Oh I'm so tired of this

Amazon-as soon as I showed them weeping, they put my on Saline Soaks 5X day 20 minutes each and the n nothing but Aquaphor in weeping areas'  Had to cushion armpit and the underbob area to keep skin from rubbing skin--took at least 2.5 weeks for new skin to grow.... Finally, they ordered a specially compounded crème from a compounding pharmacy-- Misoprostol/Phenytoin/Lidocaine that had to be kept in Fridge.  It really turned the corner. I started growing skin almost instantly.

For me, the last 3 treatments and the post rad period of about 3 weeks was the worst part of the deal.  Didn't burn and stay red or warm more t han 24 hours until 3rd from last treatment.  Then I stayed hot and red for weeks.... My armpit area remains the ugliest still today.

After Anne suggested Edible Fruit, that is what I did too.  The techs shared with everyone and because I had to go back for repeated skin checks post rads, everytime I walked in, someone else said--hey you sent us that fruit, that was great.  So,  I was glad I did it.

A heartfelt thank you note would probably mean just as much.  I always treasure those when I get them.

redheaded: Thank you so much for your response. I too was doing just fine until the last 3 treatments that really did me in.

I even had one of the RT tech comment on the condition of my skin at 21/25 rads that it looked 'really good'. And then came the last 3 treatments and as you described the skin just stayed red and inflamed ever since. 

I will call my RO first thing in the morning.

Thanks for your sincere responses regarding gifts. I think the issue I am looking at is every single Dr, tech, nurse, RO, MO, surgeon, volunteers are all in the same building. It just doesn't feel right giving one person/group a gift and not another. I also had a rotation of 4 techs throughout my 7 weeks. I think I will go with my gut which seems to be what is done where I go and bring in treats for patients and staff. This is what I have seen may times.

I had one tech I especially liked she was a positive force and told me one day I was one of her favorite patients (she backed up and said "well everyone is our favorite patient" in a fun way), but I also feel if I do something personal for her I need to do something for all four and probably the receptionist out front as well. I will keep it simple and do what I have seen others do.

I think I'm one of the last ones to finish spring rads, this board has gotten quiet.  Thursday and then I can try and get back to a new normal.

Momto3boys----WOOHOOO early for Thursday.  I hope you feel the sense of accomplishment this truly is.   Join us on the Radiation Recovery thread.  

Thank You Redheaded1 and crazywabbit!  Two more!

Boy, I thought I'd be healing faster than this! My boosts ended a week ago and I'm getting worse before I get better. I started bleeding today under my arm and just below my scar line. The only positive is that the area where the full treatments were is finally looking better (finished the allover rads 2 weeks ago). Where has my patience gone?

clickchick,

Sorry to hear you are still having skin issues. I finished rads a week ago and that is when all the peeling started under and around my breasts. The techs told me that would happen. I had a huge burn at my collarbone but it is much better.

Are you experiencing a lot of fatigue? I feel like it is so hard to get up in the morning. I'm not sure if I am down or just really tired. Any feedback from anyone would be great. Thanks

I feel the same way. I try to stay as much in the day as I can but I worry about everything I feel. Fatigue pain etc. Hopefully this will lessen also with time. My first checkup with MO isn't until September so I can keep that out of my mind for now. I don't know if they check tumor markers or not. I go to Dana Faber in Boston, MA . I would definitely look for another MO if you don't feel reassured by yours. Thanks for replying it helps to know others feel the same.

I am done today. I got the certificate of completion. I got fruit platter and card for my team at radiation. They loved it. I know I am going to miss them, not radiation. 

Things I realized when on this journey, I would like to share with you.

1. Use common sense when getting treated. You know your body well, better than others. If doc is giving you advice that you may feel will not go well, ask questions. 

Simple example, use of creams or not. My skin is dry. I was told, once a day application is fine. But I asked doctor, and he said, the advice on paper is general, you can apply twice or thrice if that helps your skin stay moist. I did. It helped. Now that I am peeling, YES, BIG TIME, i continue to apply aquaphor on the peeled area and keep it open for half an hour or so and then apply Mepilex. Keep skin hydrated.  I can see, and was told that next two weeks will be similar so continue doing what I was doing last 6 weeks. And I will. 

Shower otherwise you will stink and skin won't be clean. Don't rub, or use wash cloth, but gently clean with soap and water.I did that alternate days. other days, just water. Pat it dry.

2. Rest a lot. That made world of difference in my recovery. I am still fatigue, but if I woould have been working,  that would have been worst to my recovery.

3. Ask questions if you are puzzled or need to know more. Keep communicating with doc, techs, and you get different prospectives of same problem.

4. Take at least 20 min walk if you can't do other exercises.

5. It is not death sentence so enjoy the time you got. I just lost one of my friends to accident. he was healthy, happy very young 40 year old. Nobody saw it coming. That made me stop thinking about my mortality.

Redheaded1, momto3boys, and all the girls, It was easier to communicate with you all than lots of people around me. Thank you for being there for me. 

I ate my favourite coffee icecream to celebrate!!!! wooohooo...................and bigger celebration when I will come out of my fatigue!

watch how your skin looks like on the fifth day. If there"s burn-like lrash and it hurts. Go to your physician and get a prescription of viscopaste and vest that have fishnet look. You need help to put that gauze with cream all over the radiation are, then you make bigger hole on the sleeve where the radiation is. It works fantastic! This is if it bothers you a lot and other prescription don't work. My doctor gave me polysporin anent to use that don't work