Fall Rads 2014

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  • skbrown
    skbrown Member Posts: 40
    edited December 2014

    it was a medication that I started last week.  I did not take it today and so far so good.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    SKBrown, glad you figured it out!!!! YIPPEE!!!

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  • skbrown
    skbrown Member Posts: 40
    edited December 2014

    what are zingers? shooting pains in your breast.  I have a dull ache constantly with shooting pains once in a while.  y'all are scaring me with the boosts talk.  are they that bad?  I start them this week. Thursday.  wow, blisters, bleeding, etc.?,

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    Boosts are concentrated on the area where the cancer was rather than the whole breast. I didn't notice anything different for SEs (which means virtually none). Zingers are shooting pains from screwed up nerves. I didn't have them from my lumpy but had them something fierce with kidney surgery 25 years ago. Once I was healed I used Zostrix on the area and that calmed them down. Just be very careful using it - no open areas!

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  • jeanelle
    jeanelle Member Posts: 179
    edited December 2014

    skbrown, the boosts are just concentrated in the area where the cancer was. It really isn't any difference than the rest of the treatments other than they aim directly at that spot. I didn't notice any other SE from them, just the same ones I had before. As Peggy said above, zingers are shooting pains. To me it feels like a bolt of electricity has shot through my breast. They hurt like the devil but only for a second or two. :)


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  • skbrown
    skbrown Member Posts: 40
    edited December 2014

    one more question.  do these boosts/treatments take as long?  or are you in there for a shorter period of time?  you guys are the best.  I am a lot better than I was 2 weeks ago.  The RO's even tease me when I come in.  He told me the other day if I didn't quit flashing him, he was going to get his dollars out.  They are funny.  One took pictures one day.  He ask me if I minded, and I said as long as I don't see them on the internet you are fine.  He laughed. 

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  • jeanelle
    jeanelle Member Posts: 179
    edited December 2014

    For most people the boosts seem to be much shorter. For some reason, mine actually took longer. I loved everyone at the Cancer Center where I had my rads done. They were all incredible.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    I loved everyone at my radiation center too and was very teary-eyed after my last rad. They had been so supportive when DH was critically ill and and I was running to rads from the hospital and back to the hospital after my rads. SKBrown, my RO sounds a lot like yours - his sense of humor absolutely jelled with mine.

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  • Blownaway
    Blownaway Member Posts: 760
    edited December 2014


    skbrown - Not a lot of bleeding but my breast looked like someone had burned me about 5 times with a cigar right where the boosts were.  If I did not remove the bandage slowly/carefully I would have a little blood running down from those spots. Two weeks later and they are almost healed and probably won't even leave a scar.

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  • Puffin2014
    Puffin2014 Member Posts: 961
    edited December 2014

    skbrown: sometimes my breast would just be tingly, otherwise eanelle hit it right on - like a shot of electricity going through my breast that just lasted a second, I'd be sitting here in my recliner watching TV and all of a sudden this lightning bolt would shoot through my breast and I'd startle and yell out, Lew would ask what's wrong and I'd say I just had another shock.

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  • MarieBernice6234
    MarieBernice6234 Member Posts: 202
    edited December 2014

    Hi All -

    Today was a bittersweet day. On the positive side, I am now down to the "boosts" rounding the final corner. My radiation oncologist asked me how my appointment went with the dermatologist for the severe rash on my arm. Although she couldn't tell me "what it was". She was very voiceful with what it wasn't. In her opinion, there was no way that the rash was related to the treatment. So I told her that the dermatologist stated it was radiation dermatitis. My radiation oncologist said directly to me. "It's not radiation dermatitis." The background to the story is that the rash was only on the side of the radiation. Several times in the past couple of weeks I have been complaining about the rash and she was always very dismissive of the whole topic.

    I never could tolerate any type of arrogance in a doctor. Nor do I put them on a pedestal unless they earned it. The whole idea, especially in the oncology unit is on "patient" centered but yet the radiation oncologist wasn't putting the patient into the equation. Needless to say this doctor has not heard the end of it from me. Why is it sometimes that a doctor hasn't seen a particular thing illness, side affect"or otherwise, it just simply doesn't exist. Has anyone else experienced something like this before.


    MarieBernice6234

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  • yikes1
    yikes1 Member Posts: 120
    edited December 2014

    Hi MarieBernice6234,

    I may have missed a past post from you, but I am curious. Does the area that is getting the rash on your arm get exposure to the radiation?

    If it is not exposed, can it get a dermatitis due to the radiation?

    Is there something else that happens on that arm to create an irritation?

    Clearly you need your doctors to be concerned and helpful.

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  • Puffin2014
    Puffin2014 Member Posts: 961
    edited December 2014

    MarieBernice: is the arm with the dermatitis laying on some sort of body mold that you could be allergic too? And yes, I've totally run into the same thing with doctors, that if they haven't dealt with a side effect it therefore doesn't exist, and they give you THAT LOOK, like where in the world did you come up with that one, the Internet I suppose. On my first visit with my MO I mentioned my concern about chemo causing a flare up of my diverticulosis (and yes, I got it from a discussion forum, a woman's husband ended up with a colostomy because chemo caused so many problems with his diverticula) and she just poo-poo'ed the whole thing. Sounded like a reasonable concern to me considering the effect chemo has on GI tract. Sure enough, my first chemo causes a flare up that had to be treated. Luckily a consult with the dietician was able to give me some suggestions so that I didn't have a flare up with every chemo session. And then I was concerned about the effect of positioning my arm above my head during radiation would have on my post op rotator cuff repair, was told there should be no problems with that, and I'm 6 weeks post rads and still don't have full range of motion of that shoulder.


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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    Don't you just love docs that don't listen and don't believe you could possibly, maybe know what you're talking about? I try to avoid doctors like that. In fact, we changed cardiologists for DH within the same practice (and that was a bitch to accomplish) because the cardiologist knew EVERYTHING and wouldn't listen to what SEs he was causing in DH.

    I loved our old GP (now long retired). If I wasn't totally out in left field he was willing to try anything. How many doctors do you know get you an iced tea during a natural childbirth? None that I've ever heard of and this was 42 years ago :)

    Granted we're more limited in our choices with our cancer docs but still they should LISTEN to us and not pooh-pooh our concerns or their causes.

    End rant.

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  • MarieBernice6234
    MarieBernice6234 Member Posts: 202
    edited December 2014

    Hi Yikes -

    I can't say that it gets direct exposure to the radiation because they are very careful about positioning.From the explanation that I was given though, the affected breast does obviously retain the heat from the machine. Then of, course unless we are walking around with our arms up in the air, the inner aspect of our arms are going to be in contact with the source of "heat." In that way, a prickly heat type of rash can develop. It makes perfect sense to me when you break it down.

    The proof is in the pudding because ever since I started the cream the dermatologist recommended, the rash is all but gone.

    MarieBernice6234

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  • MarieBernice6234
    MarieBernice6234 Member Posts: 202
    edited December 2014

    Hi Pontiac Peggy -

    Yes, I love when doctors like to pull that sh** on us. I rather have a doctor who isn't afraid to admit that they don't know what something is instead of playing with our heads. That I can respect and get behind. Actually that happened to me today when my dentist said he would rather not attempt an extraction I need. He was afraid that the tooth would crumple and the roots would get left behind. I have to go the oral surgeon route. Can't fault him for that. Better that than he tries it and only makes it worse. I am not sure that is making the point.

    In any event, my medical facility has a strong patient advocacy program so I am going to bring it in front of them. Can't let it rest at this level. End of my rant.

    MarieBernice6234

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    Good for your dentist. I also appreciate a doctor who admits they don't know everything. I'll be interested in hearing what your patient advocacy program does with your complaint.

    HUGS!

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  • jeanelle
    jeanelle Member Posts: 179
    edited December 2014

    MarieBernice, so sorry the doctor isn't listening to you. I have to say my RO pointed out my side effects to me before I even noticed them in some cases. I have to say I'm pretty lucky with all my doctors.

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    Jeanelle, my RO did the same. I hadn't noticed the punctation (reddened hair follicles) until he pointed it out. I also have been extremely lucky. Wishing everyone the same. HUGS!

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  • MarieBernice6234
    MarieBernice6234 Member Posts: 202
    edited December 2014

    HI Jeanelle and Pontiac -

    Well today I had one of my meltdowns during my first Boost treatment. I spoke at greater length with my radiation nurse today and told her I was going to end my treatment here. And it came to light that my anger was spilling over into today. Cue the waterworks - my RO was walking by the room where the nurse and then she became concerned. I told her that I didn't feel like she was listening or hearing me. She said "what do you mean I don't listen,,,,I always listen to my patients". Then I was finally able to get her to state that she said it was radiation dermatitis because she never saw it happen outside of the area..Then she said she would call it reaction to radiation if that would make me feel better. I could tell that she was backpedaling because I caught her.I don't think she will ever challenge me again. I also have this philosophy that if doctors want to treat you...they have to have the body (or my body). I have no problems voting with my feet. Doctors might cross me once but there would be a second time.


    MarieBernice6234

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    MarieBernice, doesn't sound like you got much support from the RO or nurse. I think your feet need to walk. Didn't you say there was a patient advocacy panel in place? Have you contacted them? I'd have been insulted if my doctor said "well if it makes you feel better...." In fact, I'd have been pissed. Assume you were, too. HUGS!!!

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  • MarieBernice6234
    MarieBernice6234 Member Posts: 202
    edited December 2014

    Hi PontiacPeggy -

    Actually I did feel comforted by the radiation nurse - she was one of the ones who did believe me! She feels intimidated by the RO though. I really only have to have one more visit with the RO. I will focus on the remainder of my treatment and then decide what to do from that point.

    MarieBernice6234

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  • yikes1
    yikes1 Member Posts: 120
    edited December 2014

    Hi MarieBernice6234,

    I will understand if you do not want to answer this on this forum, but I am curious what the cream is called that the dermatologist prescribed for your arm.

    I am trying to be prepared for any skin issues, and want to know what helps for someone else, in case I need it!

    thanks

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    MarieBernice, I mis-understood. I'm glad that you had someone in your corner! You've put your attention where it belongs, on getting through your rads. Whatever you decide to do, we're behind you 100%! HUGS!!

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  • PontiacPeggy
    PontiacPeggy Member Posts: 6,778
    edited December 2014

    Yikes, many of us use Aquaphor on the entire area getting radiation. And that's all we need. Your RO will prescribe something if you need it. I'd buy a tube of Aquaphor now. It's a good moisturizer to use any time.

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  • jeanelle
    jeanelle Member Posts: 179
    edited December 2014

    MarieBernice, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. That should never happen with a medical professional, especially with all that we go through. *hugs* As Peggy said, whatever you decide, we will be here to support you.

    Yikes, I used this skin repair cream that the doctor recommended that is made by Medline. I do admit that I also used some Aquaphor on my nipple when it started to get bad as the Aquaphor is so thick it stayed on and didn't soak in like the other lotion. In addition, when my burn got really bad, they prescribed silvadene cream that worked really well to heal those areas. I also got some 100% aloe that seemed to help too. I am about a week and half out from the end of rads and am doing really well. Everything is healing well, the peeling is still happening but not bad now. Even the plucked chicken look is going away slowly.


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  • Susug
    Susug Member Posts: 193
    edited December 2014

    Jeanell, I order medline from the Internet. Which cream did you RO suggest?

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  • jeanelle
    jeanelle Member Posts: 179
    edited December 2014

    Susug, It is called Medline Remedy Skin Repair Cream. It worked really well and absorbed pretty quickly.

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  • Susug
    Susug Member Posts: 193
    edited December 2014

    Jeanell, That is what I use its great. I have very dry skin it keeps it moist all day. I didn't use it during radiation because it's scented. I think they told me not to use scented lotion. I started using it again after my rads. I'm healing really goo

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  • jeanelle
    jeanelle Member Posts: 179
    edited December 2014

    Susug, so glad to hear that you are healing so well. They didn't seem to mind the scent in that one for some reason. It did work really well.

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