Radiation - redness after first week?!

Options
shelleym1
shelleym1 Member Posts: 298
edited March 2018 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

So has anyone here turned red after their FIRST week of radiation or am I just the lucky one? Rad onc says not overly concerned at this point, but redness usually doesn't start until week three. I am doing hypofractionated radiation for 4 weeks.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • shelleym1
    shelleym1 Member Posts: 298
    edited March 2015

    guess I'm just the lucky one here lol


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Beachbum1023
    Beachbum1023 Member Posts: 1,417
    edited March 2015

    Hey Lucky :) - I had 28 plus 5 boosts so a different protocol I think. But I did not have any issues until the beginning of the 5th week. It turned pretty red and itchy with a red rash. The underarm blistered and peeled. I had to keep it wrapped with gel sheets and aquaphor on it. It is still peeling. I can still feel heat from the rib cage area, and it is tender down my side. The area on my back shoulder just tanned and freckled but the skin is very dry. Good Luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited March 2015
    I could be wrong, Shelley, but I think that may be due, in part, to the hypo fractionated schedule. sorry it's starting so early for you. :(
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BrooksideVT
    BrooksideVT Member Posts: 2,211
    edited March 2015

    After my very first treatment, my breast grew warmer and redder all afternoon. I absolutely freaked out. The next day, I insisted on seeing the RO before treatment. She gave me the next day off, laughing that she usually does not give a holiday so early. I'd started on a Thursday, so had a three-day vacation. With great trepidation, I started again on Monday, and all was well. My skin stayed pink, but did not grow any pinker until the normal time. I had no subsequent skin issues, but, despite very fair skin, progressed right along in textbook fashion.

    The RO had only seen one other person who reacted as I did. She thought perhaps I was having a bit of radiation recall. When I was a baby, I'd stopped breathing. The wisdom (?) of those days said it was caused by an oversize thymus gland and the solution was a couple of radiation treatments.

    Oh, yes, I guess I had the same protocol as you--sixteen regular treatments plus four boosts.

    Do speak with your RO. Let me revise that: Do grill your RO. Demand to see whichever RO is on call that day, or a nurse before and/or after treatment until you have a comfort level.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shelleym1
    shelleym1 Member Posts: 298
    edited March 2015

    hi all. I saw my RO today. She said this is considered pink and not red. She said I am fair skinned and some fair skinned people have flushing in the breast. She said it does not mean I will burn any worse than anyone else. I felt better. lol

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Bounce
    Bounce Member Posts: 574
    edited March 2015

    Glad you spoke to your RO and all is well.

    I pinked/redded up quickly (the first week) but made it through OK.

    Free boob (no bra) as much as you can.

    Hugs


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • shelleym1
    shelleym1 Member Posts: 298
    edited May 2015

    Just wanted to let you all know I completed rads relatively unscathed except for some redness and mild fatigue. My skin did not blister or peel. I was very lucky! I thought it was going to be terrible once I started turning pink after three days!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • HomeSchoolMom
    HomeSchoolMom Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2018

    I am currently undergoing radiation. I have done 15 sessions. I looked in the a mirror in the changing room at KMart, and was horrified to see how red my breasts are. Part of me just wants to call it quits on this radiation thing. Has anyone else ever felt this way?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories