Winter rads 2014-2015

Oh, Labelle, you deserve to rage. Barbaric - yes like sucking leeches. At least better than what women faced 40 years ago. We have options but need more complete information early in the process to make those choices. This week's postings seem to prove my feeling that medically one thing just seems to lead to another. Hope the airing out works quickly to give you some relief

Well dammit. i am pink already under the arm, and quite sure I am headed to the land of third degree burns. I have three weeks left.....no way will my skin last.

I may just quit before then though. After all i have been thru, that will be just too much. i had hopes of sailing thru rads. Ha! Not gonna happen. I am not sure I am able to handle open wounds that are debilitating, and am pissed that I am being subjected to it.

I too was told there would be redness, not any of the apparently common horrors. Meh!

hi ladies, were you told not to drink any alcohol during rads? I am not a big drinker but it would be great to drink a few glasses of wine during these 7 weeks.

I was told not to drink during chemo because your liver is already taxed. Wasn't told not to during rads. I haven't had anything to drink because my liver isn't doing well. The counts are worse now than they were during chemo.

Beachbum, I had #5 today too. A little pink and feels like a sunburn couple hours after. Using aloe gel immediately afterwards and it seems to soothe it. Call me crazy but today I felt a tingling during the second zap. Traveled downstate (lower MICHIGAN) ) for my sister in law's' memorial. Passenger seatbelts are not my friend. I'd ask my RO for something now. It's hard when they dismiss your symptoms. Aloe Vera does seem to help. Using Eucerin too because that's what I have. Hang in there. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers as we are on the same schedule. We will see what next week brings. Hugs.

My instructions only say to drink 8 8-oz. Glasses of water per day. General breast cancer recommendations seem to usually discourage alcohol. I think because it interacts with estrogen.

Bippy, I hope you can discuss your concerns with your RO, a nurse or tech. There may be another cream or gel that will help. You are around halfway done. I have peeled skin in the armpit and fold that is sore sometimes and the boost is bringing up a scarlet slash near my incisions, but the Calendula cream and Silvadene help a lot. That Dale post surgical bra though pricey as been great to sleep in to avoid gravity driven pain. I wear a tee and my cotton nightie inside out to avoid friction from seams. I hope there are things you can try to make it easier.

My RO recommended Vanicream and Aquaphor (question spelling).  I had some Vanicream that has sunscreen already and found the Aquaphor at Wal-Mart.  I have been putting the lotions on now so that my skin is in good of shape as possible before I start on Monday. 

I started rads this week. I was just told to get aloe with no alcohol. I asked the RO about lotions people use and he dismissed it. He said he even thinks the aloe really is of no use to the skin itself but the massage while putting it on he said my help and that while it did not help the skin it did make people feel better with the cooling effect. I don't know what to believe as almost everyone here seems to be benefiting from lotions creams etc. it's frustrating to not have a standard on this.

On the alcohol, thanks for the input, RO did not tell me no drinking but the tech did and when I was surprised said in general they do not recommend this. I would really love a glass of wine, last time I drank a glass was on New Years

By the way, I rang the bell by mistake today! Was walking down the hall (did not even realize the bell was there) and as I was trying to take off the shawl on my shoulders it touched the bell and it rang until I could figure out what's going on and stop it. Then I heard clapping 👏👏👏 ) it was funny. Wish it was 33 instead of 3!

Good evening all! I had my sims today so I feel like an official member of the group now. First rads will be Monday.

Today is 3 weeks out since my final treatment. It was such a joy today to NOT have chemo! I celebrated with a glass of wine tonight. Thankfully it no longer tastes like turpentine. :-)

CoyoteNV, it might be the machines or the treatment plans. My RO said that I shouldn't see any serious SEs until week 5. She will look at my skin weekly to monitor it. The machine they are using on me has shields, so that the thinner parts of the breast do not get as much radiation as the thicker parts. During my treatment, I get zapped once full force from the left. Then they adjust the shields and I get another zap, then hey adjust the shields again, and another zap. Then the machine moves to my right, and I get 3 zaps there too, with the shields adjusting each time. I have a skin fold on my right side that they are concerned about, they actually tape a small roll of bubble wrap there. I guess the bubble wrap lets the beam through, but lifts the skin enough to get rid of the fold

My RO asked me questions about how my skin fairs in the sun in our first appointment, Did I burn easily? Tan? She said that there was a range of effects. There was a packet that I took home that listed the more serious potential side effects. I felt prepared, but have had a very easy time of it after reading the range of experiences here. I am lucky. Finished #15 of 21 yesterday and have a tan all over the area being treated, and fullness in my breast. No chance of going braless and my fluffy winter coat seems to provide enough cushion for the seatbelt. I've been doing the stretches my surgeon recommended since my lumpectomy and try to do at least one yoga class a week. Last week I was just too tired and too cold. My RO recommended calendula lotion and the first one I bought had lanolin and almond oil in it. I'm glad that I tested it first as I had a skin reaction to those ingredients. She made a note that she should tell people to look for a pure form. I am grateful that everyone is so receptive to my concerns, fears. I can't imagine when this ends and I don't have the daily visits for reassurance.

I was told to limit my drinking for eternity. No drinking during treatment especially. I have all sorts of people offering advice about drinking and nutrition, so I met with the nutritionist to clarify and can now tell everyone to back off. The recommendation was to save drinking for special occasions. I would love to have a glass of Malbac in front of the fire during all this snow. More snow in the forecast for Monday, mother nature seems determined to extend my treatment plan.

The hardest part has been managing my own expectations of what I am able to do. Yesterday brushing the snow off my car and driving to school was exhausting. It always kinda hits me out of the blue. Not sure why I am surprised every time I feel like taking a nap. I don't like being needy, much prefer the caretaker role.

I finished my 15 whole boob rads this week along with two boosts. Two boosts left to go. My nipple is extremely tender. Anybody have any great tips for what lotion works best in that area? I have tried vit e oil, aquaphor, canadulla, aloe without alcohol and lotions with cocoa butter.

My mo said a glass of red wine was fine. She said studies have found that the stuff in red wine is good for your heart. She did say no more than seven glasses a week and no I couldn't have seven in one day.

Good morning everyone, I had a problem with seatbelt straps over the summer when I had my port put in. It always would rub until it got cold and I broke out the winter coat. I have a little stuffed puppy that I keep in my car and he fits right under the strap when I drive. I tried the pillow thing but just couldn't get it right. They were all the wrong shape, too big, too stiff etc. And I gave up until I bought the puppy when I was out shopping one day. It works great! and besides, who can resist a cute little soft puppy?? Anything that works and makes me smile!

Silvadene is sulphur based. I am allergic to the antibiotic Bactrim which is also sulphur based. But the RO questioned me about my reaction which was "gastric" (A nice way to say I threw up). Since I didn't have a skin reaction, I tested a little on my arm which was fine. So they tell me I have an intolerance not an allergy. That means I have been able to use it.

Aj and LaRock- My Onc told me the same about alcohol. When I asked him about drinking, he said one glass of wine every once in awhile. In his words, "Most evidence points to alcohol increasing the risk of breast cancer, so why would you?" Believe me, this is NOT what I wanted to hear, but I'll stick to it. I've always been a social drinker plus usually wine at home while cooking, and now I've have breast cancer twice, so in the least, I'm thinking the alcohol didn't do me any favors. I've told my family I'll do everything I can to never have cancer again, so I can't go against doctor's orders. NOT HAPPY!

I've finished 6mos of chemo and am now 3 weeks out from a Level 3 ANLD (already had BMX 7yrs ago). I'll have my rad simulation this week then 33 rounds of radiation.

I have kind of a random rads question... I've been keeping an eye on this thread and am wondering why everyone has problems with their bra during rads. I'm assuming many of you've had a BMX, so why not go without a bra? I haven't worn one all that much since my BMX and reconstruction unless my top is sheer, and even then I almost always wear a tank top instead of a bra (tank without shelf bra). I was thinking to prevent rubbing irritated skin from rads I'd wear a soft ribbed tank under everything

Also, who's used Medihoney products? I've heard great things. Which product(s) did you use and how? My plan is Medihoney and Silvadene (regardless of what my RO says... if I've learned anything through all of this, it's that you ladies know MUCH better how to handle side effects!).

Thanks!