Spring 2015 Radiation Sisters

Had my last session today--all done! It is a good feeling. Congrats to all of you out there who just finished or will finish very soon. I am one of the lucky ones who had few side effects. Used only cornstarch and a bit of cortisone (last week only) and my skin did okay. Pretty red but not very sore or itchy. I'm sorry some of you had it so much worse! I have been sleepier than usual but feel SO much better than I did when I finished chemo. Was able to take a 5 mile hike on Sunday without feeling completely wiped out. That's progress! Hoping that once I start the aromasin I won't suffer too much from joint pain. Guess that will be another chapter...

Marksgirl - I excerised the whole time except for the last week when I couldn't bring myself to have any friction on my side under my armpit. Perhaps I lasted longer than others as I had my radiation on the mastectomy side where I don't have reconstruction yet. The exercising regularly helped me not have any fatigue at all which I'm grateful for.

I'm now 11 days since I finished and it was a couple of days ago that my skin finally stopped being sore. It has peeled (still a bit more peeling to go) but the itchiness has subsided and the skin is not sore to the touch anymore. For a while I was exercising with just my old sports bra and going flat on one side because it was too tender to have anything on that part of my chest but the last few days I've had a bathing/shower puff in my Handful bra and now my swimming form and the pressure on the chest doesn't bother me at all. Progress! It just takes some time and I'm looking forward to going out and buying another sports bra that will get me through the summer and fall that I can wear a form in.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Congratulations to the finishers!

I have 2 left. Very ready to be done, as is everyone, I know. I have nasty red skin on my upper chest, but it does seem to be starting to heal now that I'm into the boosts.

My arm has had varying degrees of tenderness all throughout this. I noticed some more possible signs of lymphedema this morning, so I'm elevating the arm more and will be asking for a referral to a PT next week, I guess.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend, everyone!

Lisa

Congrats on everyone just finishing! I'm a little over three weeks out and the fatigue has improved immensely. I still have some discoloration and mottled looking skin at the boost site. But everything else is looking back to normal.

Thank you for the hope I can stay active Tapanga!   All the way to the end!   Congrats on finishing!!!!!    I am so mad about the sudden weight gain with my last chemo.    My liver enzymes tripled and I puffed up with hives so I hope it all comes back down.   But I am so thankful that activity helped your fatigue and that you did it!!!     Keep healing!

Jenny

I finished my 15 rads a week ago. In New Zealand, I have never heard of anyone getting Boosts - mine were all the same.

After the first week, I noticed I was getting a good crop of freckles on areas which had never seen the sun! (My remaining boob remains pasty-white). Then the itchies hit after about half way through. I was given Hydrocortisone cream and moisturiser. Towards the end, my underarm scar was starting to widen/stretch, and is now about half an inch wide (but still intact). It started to sting and ache, so I was given some Flamazine silver cream for when it starts to open up. It is by far the darkest area, and definitely the one to watch.

I was told that for the 2 weeks after treatment finished I would continue to burn with skin breakdown etc, so it's going to get worse before it gets better. I'm not looking forward to the next few weeks.The cream is good for the itchies, but the ache under my arm is starting to ramp up, possibly partly from having that arm up at full stretch above my head for every session. I will probably start to hunt out some pain relief soon.

Unfortunately any bra would grip me there, so I am going bra-less at the moment. Does anyone have any advise on how to support the other boob, which is suffering from "hanging about" loose? No running for this girl! Thankfully, the Southern hemisphere is heading into winter, so lots of bulky jumpers to hide under - not too good for the Tamoxifen hot flashes though!

I have been done with rads for 5 weeks, and I my breast is still a little warm. I did not get any warmth until about 10 days after the rads, but I did get a skin infection, which they are not sure if it was related to the rads, or just my immune system.( I have Crohns disease and have been on Imuran ( chemo drug) for 13 years,and I went right back on it right after chemo.) So, I am wondering if anyone still has warmth in their breast after being done with rads for 5 weeks? I didn't have any warmth during the rads, only had a little bit of pink skin. I did 21, and 5 boosts, laying on my stomach. Thanks, so glad to be done with all of the treatments.

I am over 4 weeks out and sill a bit warm and occasionally tender. Skin is fine. Love, Jean

Florida, since I've had skin cancer in the past, I have a dermatologist appointment scheduled for a full body skin check. Love, Jean

Radiation goes by fast- the first few times are a little scary , it does not hurt but it's looking at the machines and etc.. once you do simulation and do one treatment, I promise you will be fine! It has become a daily routine for me and it is not scary anymore- you are not on the table for long, I am for 3 minutes- stay positive and think good thoughts while you are on the table and you will be fine!!! Good Luck and best wishes- before you blink it will be over!

lmoore4, stay strong, and please let us know how you are doing! You've got a huge group here who knows how you feel!

Dear MamaBearMO,

Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry to hear about the symptoms/side effects you are having but glad that you reached out here. We hope you will keep us posted and stay connected. Here is some information on our website about Insomnia. We know that others will have support and information to share as well. The Mods

I am in the Summer Rads group and go in for my simulation tomorrow. I'm wondering if most of you ladies are experiencing serious fatigue. I'm seeing most of the complaints are about skin issues rather than the fatigue part, but my chemo nurse went on and on today about how terrible it can be.

Molly,

I had some fatigue from rads, but it wasn't "serious fatigue." I see you also had Taxol; I don't think the fatigue was any worse from rads than what I experienced while doing Taxol.