Spring 2015 Radiation Sisters

Oh wow. that cop needs some education!

Finished day 6 this morning. Noticed I was feeling "different" under/ around my breast and sure enough the whole right side is pink. I don't think I was hittting it hard enough with cream.

Because they kept emphasizing radiation coming up almost to my neck, I think I forgot about the far right side.

I was born with pretty orange hair: redhead growing up: anyone else already pink in week 2?

Kath

MombieZombie,

I don't know what the name of the new protocol is, but I can find out. When I had my first lumpectomy, they thought the second margin was clear in the OR, then discovered it still had cancer. The RO had to tell me the results, when I met with him in Sept 2014. When I met with him in Feb of 2015, he said this protocol was not available in Sept 2014, and it was brand new.

MombieZombie,

I am done with surgery, I had surgery on Feb 9th, ( not sure why it's not showing up on my profile). The margin was clear on Feb. 9th. I had chemo before that. I choose lumpectomy and radiation over a mastectomy. I figured I could always get the mastectomy if the chemo did not do it's job. I lucked out and didn't need a mastectomy.

Mombie Zombie,

I was tired the third week, but not the last week. I am still a little bit tired now, but my last rads treatment was Thursday, the 16th. I am not as tired as I was during chemo. I have had no SE of the radiation, just a little bit of pink on my skin, But, then, in a hurry on Saturday to get packed and drive home, I sprayed some mineral salt deodorant with lavendar oil on my armpit, and developed blisters. I am using calendula and corn starch on that. I don't think the blisters are from radiation. Of course, everyone at the hospital was so happy with just the pink skin, no burning, no pain, everything looked great, until the deodorant. I just used calendula, and alba moisturizer throughout radiation. The cheapest place to buy the calendula gel or cream (Boiron) is on Amazon. The cheapest place to get alba moisturizer is Target. I used about a tube a week of the calendula-used it three times a day during radiation. I also used some cream by Lindi, it's made for breast cancer radiation. I used it once in a while in place of the alba. I also used the alba moisturizer for 10 days before radiation.

Mombie Zombie - It is called the "Canadian Protocol".  I am almost finished with it.  It is 16 higher dose treatments with 5 boosts. 

I am starting radiation today- glad I read your posts, ordered the creme from amazon- when does the tiredness set in?

Well, I'm not sure if I had the Canadian protocol. I thought that was the 3 week treatment. Can someone explain what the Canadian protocol is? I cannot find a good explanation on the web. I was laying face down during all of the treatments. I did get 16 regular treatments, and 5 boosts.

Thanks

Hi Everybody! I just finished my surgery on Friday (lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy with 3 nodes removed) I haven't gotten pathology report back yet. I will be starting rads in a few weeks if all goes well. Your posts have been really helpful. I am currently trying to decide whether to return to work during rads or wait until they are all done? I worked through the first 4 months of chemo but had to stop the last few rounds because my treatment schedule kept being changed at the last minute due to white blood cells not cooperating. I don't know if it is reasonable to work through rads? I am a pediatric physical therapist so my job is quite active and involves quite a bit of movement/lifting. I would love to hear from those of you that did (or didn't) work through it. I am thinking two things . . . one that my endurance is already quite low compared to before chemo (so maybe I should spend that time trying to exercise and get closer to normal before trying to work full time again) and two that my work uniform is a rough textured polo shirt that might be particularly painful with the skin irritation. On the other hand, it would be nice to get back into a normal routine again. I would love to hear people's experiences.

knittingPT,

I'm a college professor; I worked through chemo and rads. I should note, though, that I have a very flexible schedule (work at home three days) and can decide when I want to work and what I want to wear. I also reduced my workload after my diagnosis (gave up some committee work). Starting in the Fall Semester, I will be going back to my full workload.

Hi KnittingPT,

I teach ESL at a local university. I taught part-time through the chemo, and now that I'm "just" on rads (and herceptin every three weeks), I find it's a lot easier. I was especially tired and draggy the first week or so, and I needed to sit down fairly often, but I think a lot of that was because I was still recovering from the chemo. Now that I'm in my fifth week of radiation, I feel ok, and I'm grateful to have work to take my mind off of things. I don't even need naps anymore. My skin is a little pink and sensitive, so I always wear a soft, thin t-shirt under anything scratchy. Being a PT is more active than teaching college students, though, even though I'm always standing or walking around the class....any chance your workplace would let you ease back in and work half-time or have more flexible mini-breaks if you just need to sit for a few minutes?

DaisyQ--Thanks, I'm glad you like the poem. I have felt anger too. It surprised me. I found a short article that helped me. I'm going to try to post it here. http://copingmag.com/cwc/index.php/article_review/...

I'm lousy at posting links. Let me know if it worked. Otherwise, if you are interested, I can direct you to my facebook and you can read it there. It's called "The Grief and Mourning of Cancer". It's brief, but it's eyeopening.

Peggy, My RO told me that the Canadian Protocol is a higher dose of radiation in a lesser amount of time.  My BS had told me that I would have 6 1/2 weeks, a total of 33 treatments.  When I met with the RO she said that she would like to do the shorter version.  I was completely on board with her recommendation.  I have to say that I have burned terribly, am extremely itchy and my breast is super sensitive.  I met with her this morning and she prescribed lidocaine cream which I will mix with aquaphor for two specific areas.  After 3 cat scans, they have decided to give me the boosts, but it will be photon boosts (I think because of the large seroma) not the electron ones they were originally planning.   I am so ready to be done with this part of the treatment and am looking forward to my breast finally having a chance to heal. 

I also finish on Friday, God willing. Just boosts to the tumor site this week. Love, Jean

I have my last of 33 (28 regular and 5 boost) radiation treatments tomorrow. I was just a little more tired than normal, but at the start of everything my radiologist encouraged me to continue with my normal routine. He said that he has found over the years that people who continued with their routine did better. My skin started to break down last week in the armpit area and around the nipple. The Dr. recommended aquaphor, that I use at night and during the day while I am working he gave me some mepilex which helps with things rubbing against the tender spots. I continued to work at least 40 hours a week the whole entire time of treatment.

Does anyone know of a retail store I can go buy the Calendula cream or does it have to be ordered online?