Fall Rads 2014

Anyone else get palpable 'mass' in your armpit while undergoing rads??  I am going for an ultrasound tomorrow and think it is probably just a lymph node working double time for the ones that are missing but some stories of benign stuff would be appreciated.   Just thought the oncologist would wave it off as no biggie, not send me for a test and word it so ominously.  Yuck.  I pretty much puke at the sight of the imaging centre.  Vitamin ativan for me tonight!!!

Nancy, so sorry you're in such misery.  I can imagine the exhaustion.  But the pain.  Yikes!  Hopefully, you'll start healing even while getting your boosts.  Quick recovery and many HUGS!!

MarieBernice6234 - Hello to you also.  My first rads will be Monday.  I will have a slightly accelerated program of 28 sessions without any boosts.  The earring back was pretty funny and I pretty certain won't be forgotten at the clinic very soon. 

Thanks for the welcome.

Jeanelle, my nipple is still sensitive 3-1/2 months after my lumpy. It is from the surgery, not my rads.  Doesn't make it less sensitive.  It is getting better but that's relative!  It WILL get better!

Blownaway - I know what you mean about the doctor's appointments.  Between PT 3 times a week and radiation every day then throw in the other appointments with the MO, Gyn, etc, I think all I do is go to the doctors these days.  Other than a little arthritis in my knees and back from previous injuries when I was a kid, oh and this little thing called cancer, I'm as healthy as can be!

I try to have a good attitude about it but I just am feeling the need today to have a pity party for myself.  I feel like I'm managing a day care center not a data center with how people are acting at work, I hurt, I'm tired and didn't sleep well last night which makes it worse.  Throw in some PMS just for fun and things suck right now.  LOL

I know I'll survive and this will all pass eventually.  Just doesn't feel like it today.

Peggy - thanks!  I do need them today.  

Hi everyone,

Very funny story coyote.  I keep losing my car keys, I set them down at stores and walk away, my brain is totally gone.

I have 10 more regular tx and 5 boosts to go.  My skin is ok but the te on the rad side is so tight I can't get a deep breath.  Sometimes I wonder why I am getting these implants,  most days they don't seem worth the trouble.  I'm joining this pity party today.  

Had my first boost today 4 more and I'm done  will i i notice a differnce in these boost?

As of today I am 7 days out from my last treatment and my skin has started to peel off leaving me with new fresh skin. I am shocked at how fast my skin seemed to heal. I still have one area that is still repairing but the damage was from the adhesive from the tape.

So if you are having skin problems hang in there things will get better.

Nancy, I think that's how we all get through THIS - focusing on the GOAL!!

Blownaway and Jeanelle I hear you!!!

WIPED FROM RADS ALONE

I didn't have chemo, just these 18 high dose rads (16 done) and I am wiped out!

I want to tell the nurses they lied to me when they said I might need a nap but it wouldn't put me flat on my back, lol!

I sleep ALL weekend when I don't have to go for treatments.

PRETENDING I'M ON THE BEACH WITH A SUNBURN

I had to skip treatment yesterday because doc was afraid my skin was going to blister and I needed a 3 day weekend to give my skin a break.

It hurts to put the silvadene lidocaine cream on.

I think I might just bathe in aquafor instead ;-)

DEFYING GRAVITY?

It still confuses me that during rads nothing is supposed to touch the affected breast including fabric or skin.

It has to be one or the other, right? I mean, if the girls are not gonna hang and touch skin then I need a major supportive bra.

The camisole thing isn't doing anything and they sag AND and I have skin touching.

And if I don't have support then everything moves and hurts.

INNOVATE?

We need a better invention.

In the meantime this looks good for protecting our skin from accidentally brushing up against something:

Sorta like steel toed shoes for the girls.

http://www.browncowart.com/portfolio/cat/5/id/43

Hang in there my energy beam friends!!

We're getting through it!!!

well what a week, one more to go. On Monday rads took 45 minutes again. I saw RO she said everything looked great, asked why it hurt so bad if everything was great and why did it take 45 minutes. No answer. On Tuesday rads took 45 minutes, even though I was giving one hour off for rads from work I was late both days. I was in pain all day long. When I got home I was told that under my arm was completely black underneath. I had been giving doom roo and silverdine, both stung like hell a and seemed to make I it worse.onwednesday my arm was black, RO would not see me, I could not raise my arm so could not do rads. Thursday RO would not see me and still could not raised arm, No rads. thE last two days I i did not take my walfrin a and the blackness was going a away, but blisters started, the kin crack ended, and it was painful. Friday, RO looked said everything was fine, yet she said I could quite if I wanted. I did rads, took fifteen min just to raise my arm. I went to reg doc she pulled up pictures of what I had, and gave me hand outs sayings aloe, doomboro, silverdine, aquaphor would not help a at all all, th, walfirin walfrin makes condition worse worse nd harder to heal. she gave. Me a prescription that is working great, in just one day. And why ro if she does not know know anything

Work is great

could the cream be causing you some skin irirritation? Just a thought...

hubermel - Amen sister. I do not have a clue how I am suppose to make the underside of my breast not touch skin or fabric! The nurse recommended letting the area "air out". I laughed at her and told her I would have to stand on my head to do that! She laughed and suggested duct tape.

I am down to 11 treatments to go, 6 whole breast and 5 boosts. I'm so tired I can barely function at this point. I sleep all weekend and go to bed at like 7 pm on weekdays. I can't remember the last time I actually cooked a meal. Under my arm by my SNB incision is very red though not too sore. The skin under my breasts is extremely red and hurts like the devil. Plus I have this itchy rash all over my chest and down my cleavage. At this point, nothing is helping any of it.

I just keep telling myself that I am almost done and that each treatment is killing any lingering cancer cells. My family and friends keep telling me how strong I am. These days I don't feel that strong. I just want to curl up into a ball and cry for a few hours.

MarieBernice - I had a little bit of pinkness and heat (my breast felt hot) right after treatment during the first few weeks. It went away though by the next morning. It really is early for you to be having side effects. Are they using a bolus on you? That can make the skin side effects happen faster and be more intense. I would definitely show the nurse or doctor when you see them next. I have to say, I am extremely fair skinned (imagine a red head's skin) and they have been amazed at how well my skin has held up.

Giles: so glad to hear your skin is doing better with the new cream regimen, hang in there, you're in the home stretch now.