Spring 2015 Radiation Sisters

Molly, some of us have serious fatigue and some have worked right through rads. Same with skin issues. Reaction to rads is very individual. Try not to anticipate and take one day at a time. Once you start the time goes by quickly. Remember, this is saving your life. Keep posting as the gals on this site have many good suggestions. Love, Jean

Molly,

I have completed 22 of 31 treatments and am tired, but wouldn't call it "serious fatigue." Generally, I am working just a little less than full time to allow time to drive to treatments. Just the past few days as my skin gets worse, it has been getting harder to sleep comfortably, so I am more tired. Last Thursday I did nod off while on the treatment table (on a longer visit with x-rays) and even today was nodding off on a quick one. So maybe I am more tired than I realize! I believe the fatigue is largely from the running around to treatments every single day and the stress of it all. My radiation oncology nurse recommended trying melatonin if I had trouble with sleep.

It is funny how a nurse's comment can make an impression - and that it was the chemo nurse. My radiation nurse was saying she used to be a chemo nurse, and she is so much happier in radiation because it is so much better tolerated and doesn't wipe people out like chemo. Good luck to you (and all of us).

If anything, it's good you're going into it anticipating some fatigue. I think I wasn't expecting it and it really took me by surprise. It is by no means debilitating, just annoying when I want to move on and be done with all this. And I'm probably not getting enough sleep and being as kind to my body as I should be. I think in my head I thought that since chemo is done, I should be able to go right back to chasing after the kids and running on little sleep. Guess not.

Thanks for the hope on the sore throat getting better. I haven't found the prescribed medications helping much anyway, so I've just got to push through and try not to lose too much weight (which has already become a concern). My skin is starting to get pink and peel a tiny bit. Finished treatment #20 today, so hopefully I will get through the rest without too much more skin deterioration. My armpit is probably what tweaks me the most. My RO told me to start using Aquaphor on it. I was surprised by her directive from the beginning to not put anything on my skin until I had problems, but I guess so far it has proven to be right.

Hey there GoldenpawsKim!  It looks you are a couple weeks ahead of me now. Congrats on being done. :-) I finished my TCx4 in mid-March and I'm now about half way through rads.  Seeing you finish has given me a burst of adrenalin as I approach that finish line.  I'm glad your side effects were minimal and tolerable all the way through. 

Hello to all the other ladies too.  Hope your treatment is going well.

Looking forward to beautiful spring days, as I feel like I completely missed out on autumn with the timing of my diagnosis, and it was a long slow trudge through winter with chemo. 

Good luck and good health to all of us!

Just started RADS yesterday, 32 days to go. Was told not to expect to notice much for a few weeks in terms of redness or anything, but last night I got swollen again, almost like right after surgery. Definitely feel heavy and swollen after just one treatment, is that possible? I will ask today.

YES I got swollen after the 4th one and have stayed swollen- I have 5 more boost to go- something that helped me was a steroid creme once you start to get itchy and if your skin starts to rub off under your breast, ask for mepilex transfer they should have it in the office- it helps a lot-

It does go by fast after the 3rd week- I feel like it has gone by very very fast!

Hey everyone! I had treatment 18 of 33 today. My skin is getting hot, red and stings. Do any of you use anything other than the Aquaphor? Anything to draw the heat out? Also I've seen some of you mention "boost" treatments. What is that? Thanks for being so helpful to a newbie.

U4 and Jean, keepingo posy t boughs for you, KEEPING POSITIVE THOUGHTS--stupid auto correct. If you want a laugh/distraction,that reminds me, try damnyouautocorrect.com

I finished on the 27th. The upper chest is peeling but looking and feeling much better. The boost area is red, but not too horribly itchy most of the time. The nurse said to expect it to be better in 2 weeks. I still use Aquaphor at night, Miaderm sometimes, aloe sometimes, and the DH got me some Vitamin E cream.

Also, I've used Cool Magic hydrogel wound dressings that I kept in the fridge. They feel great.

I did take an afternoon nap every day for the last 2 1/2 weeks and went to bed early, too.

I see my MO next week and a PT for some arm issues.

Lisa

i have my first RO appointment next week. I am very nervous about having to apply all this cream. I work and plan to work through rads, and i have to dress up for work. How am I going to manage creams at work and the mess on dry clean only clothes?

I too have been working through my radiation treatment. Mine is at 8:45 in the morning so when I get home I slather on calendula gel which dries clean and not as messy as the cream. Sometimes I put a little extra on of the gel during the mid day but usually not. As soon as I get home at 5 o'clock I again slather on a heavy dose of creams. Then I put it on again using even thicker creams like aquafor at night when I go to bed and sleep in an old T-shirt. So far I haven't ruined any clothes but I have stayed away from blouses that are made of a silkier material. The worst part for me was actually putting on my bra after one of my treatments and I forgot to wipe off their marks made with black and then a green marker and it stained my white bra! Now I go to treatment braless And wipe off the marks as soon as I get home and before I go to work.

hi everybody, goodness I'm jealous of you ladies who are done. I'm just about to have my sim tmw and don't know what to expect. I really like my radiologist in that he has such a great, upbeat, encouraging spirit. On the other hand he's somewhat used car salesman. He says this is gonna be a walk in the park compared to chemo and will feel like I'm going to the tanning salon lol. Meanwhile he does say I'll be fatigued and also encourages exercise which I already do. He said of able to do so before and after each treatment.

So can anyone school me on the sim? Also I got the impression exercise reduces the fatigue but not sure. Thanks. MJ

It's been a week and a half since my last rads! I'm happy to say that the burning and itching is getting much, much better! I love my Emu Oil. Fatigue seems to be getting a little better as well. I'm still taking a nap every day but overall feeling better.

U4 - I also found a lump in the same place - and my RO said not to worry - was just swelling. And it has disappeared now.

Congrats to all who are finishing up. Good luck to everyone just starting. You will get through this!

MJ, my initial CT scan and first rads were both long - 45 minutes or so. I wasn't prepared for that, and it was uncomfortable. I didn't realize I'd by laying there with my arms up over my head and while I had decent range of motion, I wish I'd worked on that more diligently prior to rads (after my MX). After that, the sessions went by very quickly and I was in and out within 10 minutes most days. I tried to exercise as I could, while working full-time too.

FINALLY finished! Reality of the treatment being over after 8-9 months is sinking in. And I am loving it

ElaineT, You are a month ahead of me. I started my herceptin / perjeta at the beginning of Nivember. Finish hopefully 11/15. Weare both more than halfway. Long journey for sure. Love, Jean