Winter rads 2014-2015

I had a lumpectomy, then rads. After about a month, I began to get skin irritation under my breast. The bra just added to the discomfort so I quit wearing it. Fortunately my rads were done in Nov and Dec so I could flap around inside my sweatshirts without being too obvious. Within a week of ending rads, I was healed and back in my bra.

the poll:

I think I may be onto something.

Part of the poll needs to be: exact dates of radiation tx

AND WHAT OTHER MEDICINES, ALL OF THEM, that WERE taken PRIOR TO RADIATION, DURING RADIATION, AND AFTER RADIATION,

the name of the meds, the dosage of the meds, and MOST IMPORTANT THE DATES THE MEDS were/are taken.

This includes ALL meds: antibiotics, cholesterol meds, tamoxifen, chemotherapy drugs, otc AND prescription, etc. ALL OF THEM even if they are not related to the cancer treatment.

I have no idea how to do this, but it is important.

I am NOT sure the answer to the question: "why not me" has anything to do with the radiation equipment!!!

Let's continue to make a difference.

I agree with quiggy, the moderators need to be involved.

Hi CoyoteNV - what should we do?

hi texas94

sorry the responses have been limited.

i know sometimes i read something then go look at other comments, and never get back to the previous one.

I did not have a bmx, so not sure about the bra situation for you.

but, one thing i do know, is, what works for you you should do

i do not see how you could wear a bra if you did have bmx, unless you have prostheses??

I know people on this forum have used Medihoney, and reported great results.

I just mainly used the aloe vera gel. not sure of using the medihoney and silvadene if no skin issues? but maybe you do have.

I looked at your history of treatments, and realize you have been through a lot. way too much.

I know that maybe on another forum someone may know more about bras and bmx.

What else do you need help with?

My son may be applying for a police officer job in Houston! ( i see you live in Houston).

I am done, done, done. Actually, well done from the looks of my skin, but it is OVER! No more RADS for me..........ever.

I have lots to go back and carefully read what I missed during the couple days that I have been away from the computer, but I do have a question about the post surgical fluid situation.  Didn't all of you have drains after surgery to avoid fluid build up?  This last time - which was essentially a lumpectomy because I had a BMX the first time - the drain was active for 30 days.  There was so much fluid and the little detail that it got infected.

Re: bras.  As I said above, I had a BMX - with tissue expanders - the first occurrence.  There are a couple schools of thought on the bra issue.  Some - including my PS - who say that a bra is no longer necessary. There are others who feel that the reconstruction requires even more support than natural breasts.  I find that I am more comfortable with than without.  Mental? Maybe.

I had no drain for my lumpie.

Coyote-I think the poll is a fantastic idea. I'll help any way I can.

I bought the Tumeric in Costco. It has the pepper in it. Right now it is on sale $3 off regular price. I also read that it may fight cancer, but I have been taking one each day before rads for the curcumin anti-inflammatory properties. I just finished #16 just five boosts left. I am very fair and do not tan. Right now I am just pink underarm and under breast. So maybe it's working

Coyote, I had lumpectomy, no drains. I suffered seroma within a week. hmmm, seroma or drains? Which sucks more?

Coyote- I've been wondering the SAME THING about the fluid buildup. I'm on day 25 with my drain from the ALND, and it's still draining quite a bit, especially now that they have me doing a lot of intense stretches for cording. I don't like having the drain, but I'd much rather have it than fluid build up. I'm surprised drains aren't standard in lumpectomies. Wouldn't a drain be better than fluid buildup?

Also Coyote, after going through a BMX with reconstruction 7yrs ago, I honestly think NOT giving mine the support of a bra allowed gravity to help soften and settle them. They look really natural (I love the 410 implants by the way if anyone is trying to decide).

Labelle, WndrWoman & yikes1-- THANKS for your replies. DUH... of course most of you have had lumpectomies or BMX but are not yet reconstructed. I understand now why bras are a big topic! My situation is a little difference, since I currently have a recurrence. I went through a lot of what all of you are going through 7 years ago. This time, I had 6 mos of chemo, then an ALND plus lumpectomy that removed a large portion of my implant sac (a super duper plastic surgeon used a biopatch to repair it, so I came out of surgery with both implants... I tell everyone I came out "rack intact" ha). Next up is rads, ovary removal and 10 years of Femara. It sounds like not needing a bra is going to be a plus during radiation. I've had very few good surprises through this, so I'll take any positives I can get!

Coyote, please put my start date down - Feb 16. I have sim next week, along with a digital scan to ensure I had no spread of cancer during chemo (both bc I'm a recurrence AND they found 5 more positive nodes in surgery last monthk, I'll have 27 rounds plus 6 boosters to axilla, clavicular, supraclavicular, intramammary, and my entire left chest wall/breast all the way around to the back. Dosage 66 Gray. Yes, I'm getting absolutely fried, but being a recurrence, I'm ok with it no matter what it does to me. I have to be! My doctor will check my skin every week for signs of problems, but THANK YOU ALL for this thread. It's very comforting to know I have a place to ask questions once I begin this process.

p.s. I apologize for the huge attachment in my post above. It looked really small on my phone! How RUDE.

Hi chrissie29

I was also told by the nurse to put lotion on my back because the rays could exit there.

I asked my RO, and she advised me the rays are tangential, and DO NOT EXIT THE BODY IN THE BACK.

If where the skin changes color is any indication, the only places there were changes were on the front of my body.

I am letting you know this because you may have enough to deal with, without needing to put lotion on your back - and based on my experience, it may not really be necessary.

Please check this out (if you want).

In regards to skin issues on your back, I had been warned by the rad techs that I would encounter this, but later than the chest and breast area would be impacted.  Sure enough, my upper left back, behind the treated breast, is now very red, irritated and itchy.  My back didn't start to get red until about the end of the 3rd week of treatments, after the chest and breast areas.  It must depend on the radiation plan being used. My supraclavicular lymph nodes are receiving radiation.

When I had my lumpectomy last Aug, no drain was used, and I did have a seroma.  I had asked the surgeon about that, and was told that they (that hospital group at least) no longer use drains for lumpectomies, as they found that there was a better long term result in the breast shape if they let the fluid be reabsorbed into the body over time (which could be up to 6 months or more).  However, I did develop a bad infection in the breast a week after surgery, which required antibiotic treatments for about 3 weeks.  It has been 5 1/2 months since the lumpectomy and most of the seroma has gone away, but I still have some hard spots in the breast.  I was told (several months later) that I should be massaging the breast to help those go away.

Like bellegirl, I have an intentional seroma that in theory will help with reshaping/holding the shape of my breast tissue. No problems with that, but it is a sort of squishy, numb spot.

I had my radiation therapy in the prone position and the skin damage is all over my chest, including parts of my "good" breast. No sure if that, the position, contributed to the severity of my skin problems, but it was supposed to minimize damage to my heart/lung (left side lumpectomy). I am so glad I am done and will hopefully start healing. Some day (but not today) I hope to be able to wear a bra again!

Prior to BC diagnosis and treatment, I wouldn't have even thought about leaving the house w/o a bra-at least not in the last few decades! Now I've done lots of things (shopping, going to RADS, dropping off papers at my work) sans bra. We even went out to dinner this weekend. I wore a loose sweater with a nice scarf that draped over both breasts. Creative dressing, my new style. I agree it is probably better to do RADs in the winter when layers and bulky clothes are an option.

I'm finally done with rads! Can't do a happy dance because the skin under my arm and on my breast is black or bright red. My techs were great, my RO is, too, but I am soooo glad it's done. Concerned that the skin problems will get worse before they get better.

It's warm here in SoCal, so there is no way to cover up when going braless. While my breasts don't sag any more, they jiggle and are so sore that I hate not wearing a bra.

Hooray for you PoppyK !! I'll trade you some snow for your warm temps.

Texas94 that is one take charge RO but he will find out who e is dealing with if he doesn't come through :-).

Labelle I love your scarf fashioning.

My armpit is not in the boost and peeling areas are healing well with Silvadene.

I have a pink strip on my side that appeared later than elsewhere but I would not actually call it my back - I can just reach it to put on the cream so pretty far around.