Spring 2015 Radiation Sisters

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  • NY2TXbaby
    NY2TXbaby Member Posts: 171
    edited May 2015

    Hi ladies. Finished my 9th out of 30 treatments. Had BMX and getting rads to left breast area, clavicle and back. Started getting a sore throat over the weekend - actually it feels like a lump when I try and swallow. Was wondering if anyone else experienced problems with swallowing. My rad tech said my field is up close to my throat and it happens sometimes. But he said it wouldn't cause any permanent damage (really??) He said that he would get my RO to call in some prescription for some type of gargle solutions? Any thoughts. Thanks

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  • MombieZombie
    MombieZombie Member Posts: 509
    edited May 2015

    NY2TXbaby--Yeah, that happened to me. I finished rads on April 2. I still get a scratchy throat that comes and goes, but it never got real drastic, and it has steadily improved. It worried me for a while because I haven't been able to sing. But that's finally getting better too. Staying super hydrated has helped me. I just gargle with non-iodized salt. Gargling only helps a little because it's really down low in the throat. Hope you are able to find relief in some way. Take care. :)


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  • JJOntario
    JJOntario Member Posts: 356
    edited May 2015

    Lands End has some great UV swim tops

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  • Janiner
    Janiner Member Posts: 58
    edited May 2015

    I AM DONE!!!! Last boost was today. Very emotional to ring the bell. My dh, dd, and dd via face time was there. I rang and cried. It's such a relief to have all surgeries, chemo, and rads done. Only tamoxifen now. YIPPEE! Congrats to all completed and those on their way. Now its healing time.


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  • Tapanga
    Tapanga Member Posts: 39
    edited May 2015

    I am done! 28 treatments in the bag. I felt a little emotional on the table for the last time. The radiation technicians have been so nice and everything was as comfortable as possible. My skin is very red, dark in some places, and my armpit is sore and the skin is sloughing off and revealing some nice new skin underneath. I'm itchy and when I stretch the skin too much using my arm it is quite uncomfortable. But it will get better. I use Miaderm and pure aloe gel. I have a prescription for stronger itch cream that I never got filled, the itching is there but tolerable. I never had any fatigue and the skin didn't start to get uncomfortable until about 10 days from the end. Now I just have to remember to take the Tamoxifen when I start it in a couple weeks.

    Janier: congratulations on being done! And congrats to anyone else who finished up recently or is about to!

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  • amylsp
    amylsp Member Posts: 188
    edited May 2015

    JJOntario, thanks for the heads up about Lands End. I just ordered two really pretty swim tops, and they are having a 30% off/ free shipping sale right now.

    Congrats to Janiner and Tapanga for finishing Rads! Step by step, we're putting all these treatments behind us.

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  • kathy7
    kathy7 Member Posts: 241
    edited May 2015


    did not have sore throat, but horrible dry mouth.  Damaged saliva glands.  I don't know.  Is this a problem for anyone else.  When do they kick back in?

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  • JJOntario
    JJOntario Member Posts: 356
    edited May 2015

    I seen my RA today. Tomorrow is my last boost. He was great with writing me off work for the next month. The burns on my aerola are now white and bleeding....I'm a little jealous of some of you. I'm so done with being bbq'ed. He also gave me a prescription for antibiotics and a cream (which I can't use as I'm allergic to sulpha) so they will prescribe something else. Our plane awaits us and we will leave on Friday to our vacation home in sunny Costa Rica where the official greeting is "Pura Vida" which means good life. We bought this place 9 months before dx and I just want to relax and enjoy my DH...no appts, phones, ...Armed with a floppy hat and my sun shirt I hope to walk the beach each morning and just breath!!!

    Good luck to all!

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  • merdeka10
    merdeka10 Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2015

    Okay, sorry to take so long to do an update. I came through the radiation just great! I was a little tired but now - 2 1/2 weeks after the last treatment, I'm well on my way back to normal! YES! I still have a little discoloration but no discomfort.

    My doctor gave me some Triamcinolone 0.1% cream for the rash I was developing. Used it right after the rad and also at night (before moisturizing). Stopped using that a week after rads.

    I used Cetaphil moisturizing cream very often, too. Maybe three or four times a day.

    Each night I put on thick Vitamin E oil (it is sticky but worth it). I only washed my breast twice a day. Morning before treatment and in the evening and I was very gentle. Not too hot on the showers seemed to help, too.

    I am still going to be taking Anastrozole every day for a few years. Checking with mammograms and keeping an eye on my bone density will be important, but it feels great to be getting on with my life.

    Thanks for your support here!

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  • kathy7
    kathy7 Member Posts: 241
    edited May 2015


    congrats merdeka - that is a liberating feeling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • florida2015
    florida2015 Member Posts: 186
    edited May 2015

    ugh sounds uncomfortable and this is week 3 for me. I have 5 more days and starting to feel like a sunburn and some itchiness. So far I have been doing just Euricin and cocoa butter. But guess I will need to use neosporin or something RO prescribes. I see her tomorrow

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  • Iowawoman
    Iowawoman Member Posts: 28
    edited May 2015

    Congrats to Janiner and Tapanga!

    10 more days to go for me. I'm getting some relief from the itching with steroid cream.

    DH is driving me crazy right this minute. Wonderful man. But right this minute. ..grr! Just needed to vent there.

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  • Iowawoman
    Iowawoman Member Posts: 28
    edited May 2015

    JJOntario, early congrats and safe travels. I'm going to live vicariously and imagine sea breezes. Have a restful time!

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  • florida2015
    florida2015 Member Posts: 186
    edited May 2015

    keep us posted on the drug since I will be starting it also

    What has been most effective for everyone in dealing with burning. Aloe?

    Has anyone developed brown spots from this. I seem to have more on my chest and one is a bit raised. Can you get skin cancer from radiation?

    Next question. I wear contacts and it seems like my vision is not as sharp as it was. Hoping that is my imagination!

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  • goldenpawsKim
    goldenpawsKim Member Posts: 165
    edited May 2015

    Congrats to Janiner and Tapanga! That is great! I have two more weeks and then I'm done. Can't wait to get on with my normal life. I'll need to take tamoxifen but I guess that will be nothing compared to what we've all been through, right? Again, congrats to everyone that is done! YAY!! -Kim

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  • Curlykat
    Curlykat Member Posts: 85
    edited May 2015

    Yesterday was day 10 of 34-37. I was so excited because I work an underwire bra for the first time since my biopsy! I just didn't think that was going to happen with the location of my LX, but than goodness for a good, expensive bra! My Rad Techs told me that it probably won't stay comfortable for long, as my skin starts to relax, but if I can wear it for a few hours for an upcoming wedding, I'll happily go back to my Warner no-underwire bras and sports bras.

    Have been feeling swollen and sore on the arm side of my breast - other side doesn't have much tissue left to get sore. Skin seems pink for a bit after Rads, but I haven't been having any other side effects yet. I'll get a few days off after next Wednesday (day 16) as we're going out of state for a wedding Thursday thru Tuesday. That should give me a chance to recover a little bit.

    Hope everyone else is doing well!

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited May 2015

    Congrats to all the ladies finishing up!

    JJ Ontario and amyslp,

    I just ordered two of those Lands End swim tops as well. Thanks for the tip! Even though I'm three weeks out from rads, my skin is still in the repair process. I don't need the sun to make it worse.

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  • BC2015
    BC2015 Member Posts: 86
    edited May 2015

    Great to read that others are done and moving on!  Tomorrow is the last of the full treatments and then I have 5 boosts.  Thank g-d this is almost over!  I look like an over ripe tomato.  It feels as bad as it looks.  The aloe really helped in stopping the horrible itching and I also started to use over-the-counter hydrocortisone.  Anything greasy seemed to make the itching worse.  Looking forward to the end of this chapter!

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  • Tobycc
    Tobycc Member Posts: 789
    edited May 2015

    BC- almost there! I have 3 more boosts and then 7 more regular: I think hes wrong (RO)- I hear you on all sides!!!

    Going to look at Lands End: right now I have a long sleeve SPF 50 shirt but thats all

    K

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  • Janiner
    Janiner Member Posts: 58
    edited May 2015

    Keep going everyone. Healing takes awhile. I can't wait fir the tiredness to fade. I'm also really achy in my joints, hips, feet. Etc. Maybe just fro not moving enough?

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  • zjrosenthal
    zjrosenthal Member Posts: 2,026
    edited May 2015

    Janier, I am 3 weeks out from rads and also very stiff and achy. I get tired easily and have to lie down after just 15 minutes of slow paced walking. I thought I'd be stronger by now. Thanks for sharing that this is normal and recovery is slow. Guess I really need to pace myself. Love, Jean

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  • DaisyQ
    DaisyQ Member Posts: 123
    edited May 2015

    This is interesting! I am 3 weeks out too and very tight, stiff, and achy in my neck, back and hips. At first I thought it was from the rads positioning, but I thought I'd feel better by now. I'm trying gentle stretches and some core strengthening exercises. I am frustrated and disheartenedthat I'm not feeling better..

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  • BC2015
    BC2015 Member Posts: 86
    edited May 2015

    I have really only had 1 day of sheer exhaustion and last weekend of feeling too tired to move much. I have continued to make myself do at least 30 mins of some type of exercise most days. I wonder if the difference is that I did not do chemo? I think that has to make a big difference. I am impressed and in awe of what many of you have / are going thru. Outsiders can't understand how much this sucks! I am going to vacation more and stress less in the future. Hats off to you all

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  • dancingdiva
    dancingdiva Member Posts: 475
    edited May 2015

    hello ladies,

    I'm new here. I had a BMX. if u've had a BMX, would you get any rad boosts? My MO has said that boosts are to the tumor bed. If Uve had a mastectomy, there is no Tumor bed so u wouldn't get boosts. has anybody had boosts even though they had a BMX?

    Also, want to add that my arm would go numb while it was up for rads. I started taking 2 advils before appt and it stopped going numb. It really helped

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  • Marksgirl
    Marksgirl Member Posts: 65
    edited May 2015


    Hi Rads Group

    I will be starting Rads in about a month.    I have been exercising daily with chemo (in my home T25 and Zumba).   But I am wondering how to handle exercise with rads.    Is it possible to do any exercise (besides walking) with friction/bra issues?    I am so glad something was possible BC2015.    What were you able to do?       Thanks!

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  • NY2TXbaby
    NY2TXbaby Member Posts: 171
    edited May 2015

    Dancing Diva - I too had BMX and will get 5 boosts after 25 treatments. Never thought to question this - just assumed it was standard treatment protocol. I may inquire now as to what the boosts are meant to accplish versus regular treatments.

    JJOntariot - so happy for you and hope you enjoy your vacation. I too purchased a condo in naples FL 2 months before diagnosis and am looking forward to a trip there this September. Have a beach trip planned to visit with brother and family in NC 3 weeks after I am done with treatment - and I too am looking forward to a week of no hospitals, dr appts, treatment or thought of cancer. Grateful to those ladies who gave tips on lands End UV swim tops. I too bought 2 and think I will love them. I am such a water baby and hope my skin will be healthy enough to go swimming. I decided at the beginning of this journey that cancer will not keep me from planning for anything in the future. Before cancer - I always had at least 2-3 trips planned and I will continue doing this. The only change is that I moved up my planned retirment date so I can have even more free time! Love my job - but love my friends and family more.

    Congrats to everyone who have finished rads.....and hugs to those still going through them.

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  • kathy7
    kathy7 Member Posts: 241
    edited May 2015


    marksgirl

    I am very active and was able to do strenuous activities.

    You would want to wear loose fitting clothes.  It really is like a bad sunburn - you know the first day you are at the beach and it is so delightfully cool you put no sun screen on only one place and that night the particular area  it is beet red?  Yes it is uncomfortable, but you can function, but must adjust clothing and exposure.

    That was the case for me, and I hope for others!

     

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  • JJOntario
    JJOntario Member Posts: 356
    edited May 2015

    I made it through the 5 hr flight. This boob is getting worse by the day which they said was normal as rads are cumulative. My nipple is actually bleeding and open. No pool for me but they said the ocean was okay. I just think not yet. Glad so many of you like the swim shirts. This so sucks for me as I had breast augumentation 10 months prior to dx so I could wear a swim suit with confidence and now I'm back to covering up. Stupid BC...sometimes it's the little things it robs you from

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  • BC2015
    BC2015 Member Posts: 86
    edited May 2015

    hi Marksgirl - I had to give up wearing a bra at about week 3. Camisoles were too hot for work so I have given them up for now. I did wear a loose sports bra to the gym and then camis under my sport shirt. I definitely couldn't do any high impact but elliptical and walking on treadmill and weights were ok.

    I am done with my 25 and will start 5 boosts Mon. If they can get the set up figured out. Today I had to go twice as they were struggling with my incision site. I am happy to wait. My skin is sloughing off underneath the Breast and hurts like heck.

    I hope it goes well for you

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  • CassieCat
    CassieCat Member Posts: 1,257
    edited May 2015

    Dancingdiva, I had boosts to the scar tissue/incision area after my MX.

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