Fall Rads 2014

jedimom: I'm postmenopausal so am taking the generic Arimidex - anastrozole.

Dixie, I started my boost treatments on Monday, after a 4-day holiday weekend off... maybe that was by design?  As it turns out, Monday was supposed to be the plan check for the boost, but the tech messed up and treated me instead, so did the plan check on Tuesday... a little troubling, but apparently everything lined up fine, so no harm done (as far as I know). 

I still have 5 more full breast treatments to go, but the skin underneath my boob is so dark and tender and raw, the doc decided it needs a rest.  I can hardly stand to wear a bra or even a cami with a built in "shelf" bra.  The elastic is very irritating.  So I've been just going directly to and from treatments braless, or wearing a tight t-shirt as an undershirt.  Other than that, the rash on my chest is healing, and I feel pretty good overall.

Oh, and my hair is starting to grow back!  Finally, 7 weeks post final chemo, I have fine white fuzz and 5:00 shadow over most of my head.

Yea Jeanelle! Praying for no side effects - ever!

Jedimom - I am 1-1/2 weeks post last rad (24 regulars +12 boosts) and I have several places right where the boosts concentrated that look like I was burned by a cigar. If I dont carefully remove the bandage when I change it twice daily, these places will bleed a little. Its getting better though. I have the zinger pains too but nothing too bad. No shrinkage yet!

Hey Pontiac! What a difference a few days make. The bleeding has stopped - I don't have to be so carefull when I take off the bandaging (I'm using maxipads - hee hee!) Also Silv...something cream.

Blownaway - so glad you are feeling better. The silvadene cream really does work. It is what I used for my bad spots. My breast keeps getting to look more normal every day. I still have the plucked chicken look going and some red and brown spots but the dead skin seems to be peeling away. The worse is my nipple (where my boosts were). It is still sore and peeling. However, it has been sensitive since surgery so I don't know how much is still that and how much is the radiation. My breast is getting smaller as the swelling goes down and there is definitely a size difference. I may get that fixed sometime in the future but it just isn't that important to me right now. I am still getting those zingers. They seem to be worse late afternoon and evening. I'll be glad when they go away. The RO said it could be up to a year though.

Glad everyone is doing so well.

I opted for proton therapy, to protect my heart since Im young and also on Herceptin which can damage the heart. I have had a stronger than average reaction to rads, getting pink and swollen after the first few days of treatment. I am getting 33 doses, with just two more to go. The boost couldnt have come soon enough as my treated area was red, swollen and blistering. I had terrible burning nerve pain and could sleep weel for two weeks, even with vicodin. This was followed by dry desquamation where the top surface of the skin on my side shriveled and dried up restricting motion and causing a lot of pain to the new skin below.

The blisters all broke open and now I have spent the better part of a week dealing with gross oozing. At least the non-boost area is settling down now, though I keep peeling.

I read that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help alleviate damage from rads and I will be going for a consult this week about it.

I am fair-skinned with freckles and I don't tan well. Typically I am sensitive and tend to get sunburns and any color tends to go away pretty quickly.

I hate rads

Hello from a cold and dark England. Can I say a big 'thanks' for all the generosity and kindness shown on this forum and this thread in particular? There are some strong fine women out there.

I start rads in ten days and have what may seem a silly question...but I'll ask it anyway...given the time of year, I'd like to be able to enjoy the odd glass of good red wine while I'm undergoing this treatment (I have fifteen 'blasts', running from December 19 to Jan 9 with some interruptions for public holidays and weekends.). I've been advised variously that this is an absolute no-no, but also that it's not a bad idea at all (all that Resveratrol helps cell reconstruction, apparently.).

What did you other ladies do? Forgive me if this seems trivial!

My doc said no alcohol during chemo because the liver was working hard, but nothing was said about not drinking during rads.

I am now having nausea.  Has anyone else experienced it with rads?  what did you do about it, if anything?

Ok, so now my underboob is peeling... It started as dark brown spots that increased in size and joined together to make very dark skin and then got very sensitive, and now the dark skin is peeling off.  I am very fair and don't tan easily, but this area where the sun has never shined really got dark!  I hope it doesn't re-burn too badly when I go back to the last 5 whole breast rads next week...

StrongEnough13, glad you're not too miserable. Hope it gets better ASAP!! HUGS!

Jeanelle, You bet we're drinking this holiday!!!! HUGS!

CeciliaAnn - Cheers to you in the UK! I drank a glass of wine lmost every evening during rads but none during chemo. I did not realize that drinking alcohol during rads was harmful.

Thank you, Blownaway, and thank you all. Those were some very nice responses to awake to. And not just because they said what I wanted to hear!

Just to reciprocate with a 'share' of my own; for those experiencing skin discomfort I have had several strong recommendations for a cream called XClair, which is specifically formulated for radiation dermatitis. I'll be slapping it on liberally once I start rads, so will report back on its efficacy. Hopefully it's available outside of Europe.

Blownaway, you sound like me. I get motion sickness very easily. I got it really bad from the vibrations in the MRI. Friday is a 6 hour drive up to Michigan to see the family. If I'm not driving it is always a struggle not to get car sick.