Winter rads 2014-2015

Yea Pita. Nice feeling to be finished. You'll heal quickly, now that you're done.

I did it! I am done with radiation. I cried today when I got to ring the bell-partly happy tears and partly tears because I have been feeling so lousy lately. One step closer to being done but it still seems so far away--still on Herceptin until end of August, will start on my AI drug soon, and still need to finish with reconstructive surgeries. But I think the worst parts of it are over.

Past week has been really tough with a lot of skin irritation/blisters/peeling and quite a bit of pain. Also some fatigue. RO said she expected the skin issues since we were targeting my chest wall area and also since my skin is fair. I have been taking ibuprofen all during the day and percocet at night so that I can sleep. Also applying lotion several times a day. I felt like I have been being overdramatic with how I feel but even the techs today told me that my skin issues are very bad and that I have been a trooper through it all. Don't know if they were just being nice but it did help me feel a little better. Can't wait until it starts feeling better. How long did it take other people's skin to clear up after you were done with treatments?

Welcome Lulubelle1. I had a CT scan as part of set-up, but not a mammogram.

congratulations to all you incredible woman that have finished treatments! I got pulled away for two weeks and missed this and YALL so much! I completed dec 22 and was blessed with a posse of friends and loved ones there to support ye ole bell ringing. Today met with chemo onc. About Tamoxifen and she's changed the plan by adding a med that's injected monthly and pushes me into full blown menopause and has possibly horrific side effects. Gonna research before agreeing- it's brand new cutting edge stuff- my other oncologists had never heard of it....I hope you all had marvelous holidays

To all you ladies who have finished rads...what instructions were you given regarding care after treatment? I was told to continue using the aquafore for the next week & then to start using a lotion that had cocoa butter in it and to massage the breast 2 times daily for 4-6 weeks. It's supposed to help with the breakdown of scar tissue & with the elimination of any fluid that may have accumalated during treatment.

Congratulations to all who have finished rads! What a great accomplishment - you made it! I only have 4 more to go. Sadly, my clinic doesn't have a bell or a bell ringing ceremony, so you just kind of walk out your last time and say goodbye. Very anti-climactic I think. I'm thinking I should buy a bell for them and for all the people who will finish after me. I want to ring a bell, dang it!

It sounds like it depends on your surgeon whether or not they order a mammogram for you before rads or not. I did not have one, but my sister in law did. My surgeon did tell me to expect "suspicious results" after the first one since it will look completely different that the ones before surgery.

I did meet with my RO yesterday for the weekly check up and the nurse said to expect side effects to continue on for a week after my treatment is done. After that, things should get better. That's not what I was hoping to hear. I had taken my last week off from work, hoping to recover. Now I'm thinking I may want another week as well.

H

Jlynn - the bolus was a definite discussion in the Fall Rads 2014 topic.  I'm not sure that is has come up here.  I read both so I get confused sometimes.

hi all, it has been awhile but thought I would check in. Finished rads Dec 11. When I finished I was fatigued and quite red with some peeling. The fatigue is much better and the redness is gone. I do have some dry flaking that is similar to tanned skin peeling. I am slightly bronzed on the radiated side. No pain but some slight swelling. I was told to continue using the lotion they gave me or whatever I wanted as long as I used something. Oh, I also had a rather large keratosis (sp) mole like thing on my upper mound that has now fallen off since rads. One good thing, I guess.

I did have a bolus every other time. Mine was like a wet wash cloth but I have seen other pictures where women have something that resembles a plastic cast. The bolus is to trick the radiation filed to get closer to the skin. I also had to hold my breath because my Cancer was on the left side. I wore goggles that showed the computer screen used by the techs and I would hold my breath within a certain zone during radiation. It was easier than I expected it to be.

Looking forward to nutting all this behind me in 2015 and focus on strength and reconstruction.

Good luck and happy new year to all of you.

thanks CoyoteNV and SCMom

I had "Mr Bolus" every other day. Mine had gel inside of a plastic flexible casing.  I start my boosts on the 5th and finish on the 9th.  I can hardly wait!!!!!  I will have to admit, that as much as I hated the every day regimen it went fast and was much easier than chemo.  For me I didn't have the time to think about the every day radiation, but had plenty of time to think about going to chemo every three weeks. 

Hey Meanmomto3 - I have also questioned a couple times my choice for lumpectomy vs. complete mastectomy. Radiation is tough and no one tells you about all these other side effects you will endure. So when you make your choice at the beginning, you really can't make a completely informed choice, I think. I am still glad I did the lumpy. I get to keep my own boobs for a little while longer, even though one is missing a nipple. But I have had many questioning moments.

So sorry to read how discolored your skin is. The calendula and aquafor really helped me a lot. But I also caked that stuff on. I've gone through 3 tubes of calendula and need to pick up one more. A couple shirts and bras are just going to have to go in the trash when this is all done. That being said, I can't sleep tonight because I'm sore and can't get comfy, so again - another lovely SE no one tells you about. The black and charring doesn't sound good, though. Do you have a good RO? What is his take on your skin condition?

For my own whine session - I had a terrible RO that didn't listen to me and basically told me any SE I was having other than redness or fatigue was not due to radiation. What bunk. I would get so upset after seeing him that now I'm finding I need a xanax anytime I have any doctors appointment at all! I'm supposed to get a regular pap smear today and my stomach is in knots.

I am so ready to get off this ride!

meanmomto3, I was just getting ready to post when I read your post..... I haven't started rads yet ... Was supposed to on the 29th but still had some unanswered questions. I have been vasilating between not doing rads due to all my good numbers, ie Oncotype 10 , node neg , stage 1 , grade 1 Er Pr+... So many side effects that I really never knew about until I really started to delve in. I asked why I didn't have the opportunity to have Brachyo ( so) therapy. They said it's because you didn't ask. Here, I went for a 2nd opinion when first diagnosed because I was first going Togo with a mx, double mind you, but the 2nd opinion led me to the lumpectomy option., which would allow mme to keep my own breast. I feel that I should've read more at the time about rad side effects ; short term & long term because now I wonder if it's going to be my breast at all by the time I'm done. I did meet w/ my RO yesterday & she assured me that I would do well. She answered all of my questions so I go to scheduling & set my first Rad up for Jan 5. She comes in the room & tells me she forgot to mention one thing to me... She's leaving the practice & today would be her last day. I really liked her, had confidence in her & she's not even going to be my RO. She reassured me that she had my plan set & was conversing with the new Dr. On my treatment plan as well as the therapists. One thing she told me is that I needed to stand up for myself when I didn't feel comfortable with things..... Hmmm, this is all I have to say about that!L

meanmomto3 - I'm really sorry to hear about the MD - especially when you are dealing with this other issue that we all share.  The stress of it and the "piling on" feeling can be so overwhelming.  The good news is that they are really doing good things with the MD.  If you are as early in its detection as it sounds, the treatment - although not very pleasant - can stop the progression of the disease.  It did for my Mom and that was several years ago.  The meds they used for her were not originally intended for eyes, but of all things hemorrhoids. At that time it was an unusual treatment.  I don't know if it is more common now. It totally stopped the MD from spreading.   I know you will stay on top of this.

Also, there are some posts in the fall rads 2014 topic about the black tissue issue.  It does seem that it peels off to fresh skin beneath.  Again ... not so pleasant.  The reports are that all will eventually come back around.  But omg, the process is definitely the pits!  You have my empathy, sympathy, best wishes, prayers, and whatever else I can send. 

We can second guess ourselves to the point that we go a bit crazy.  Ask me.  As a recurrent BC - what is the appropriate word, I refuse to use "victim" - (person, recipient, patient) I asked myself, "What did I not do right? What didn't I know that I needed to know." It is amazing what all these experts don't tell you and somehow expect you to decide upon.  I have come to some conclusions on that, and hope that on this re-do, I did and will do better... and yet I wonder, what is it that I don't yet know that I should.

Just be kind to yourselves.  We really have gone through enough to earn that. 

mean mom--I opted for the mastectomy and was originally told if I did that then no chemo or radiation. Of course they then found more on pathology so then I still had to do radiation and chemo and still have to finish reconstructive surgery. There are no easy options.

Jlynn--I also did have to do a bolus. I did it for every treatment except the boosts. Mine was like a wet pillowcase. It seems like it is used sometimes following mastectomy. The bad part for me was that I have pretty sever skin reactions--blistering peeling and quite a bit of discomfort. I finished Monday and am still waiting to start feeling better.

Meanmom - I also opted for the lumpectomy, but my surgeon could not get clean margins and discovered a mass in the same breast during that surgery.  I had no choice but to do a mastectomy at that time.  I had a double mastectomy, as I had pre-cancer in my left breast as well.  I did question as to why they didn't catch the mass on the first mammogram and cried for days over losing both my breasts.  I have been through chemo, almost done with radiation and will start Tamoxifin in January.  But, I am still alive, flat, fat, sassy and loving every minute life has to offer!!!  I have never looked back, but always look forward to tomorrow.  Happy New Year to all my wonderful ladies and may 2015 be better for all of us!!!