No one mentioned this!

jucaha
jucaha Member Posts: 3
edited July 2015 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I am 1/2 way thru my radiation ... I haven't seen anyone post exactly how they feel. My arm pit and under my breast feel like a piece of steel wool is under each!! IT is not the most comfortable thing...it is an itchy, hurt!! I was glad to see that others walk around with their hands on the hips (like a mean teacher). I think I look crazy walking like that...but I have too!!! I am also very cautious of someone running into me...especially hitting my breast. The treatment has gone well....I have no complaints with the technicians and Dr. ...all are very compassionate. I am in and out - usually in 15 min!

About the bra situation...I purchased ones that the surgeons office suggested...high dollar ones...but truthfully - the soft $5.00 bra at walmart is the best!!! My incision is on the lower part of my breast...and it doesn't "bind" me.


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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited July 2015

    Hi jucaha, and welcome to BCO!

    This topic is indeed being discussed elsewhere. Take a look here for example: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/70/topic/831191?page=16#post_4437919.

    Thanks for sharing, and please let us know how things are going!

    The Mods

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  • tgtg
    tgtg Member Posts: 266
    edited July 2015

    I"ll pass this on to help you be comfortable with the hands-on-hips, "mean teacher" position--my radiation oncologist insists that her patients use it to prevent chafing and discomfort! I did it faithfully and never had a soreness issue during the 35 treatments or the two weeks following them. Dr. Weiss also recommends sitting with the radiated-side arm draped over a neighboring chair or sitting with it propped up on a pile of books when eating or working at a table or desk. As the Nike ad says, "just do it" and forget about how you think you may look to people.

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  • jucaha
    jucaha Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2015

    Thank you for your advice! I never heard of the hands-on-hips position...I just automatically did it for my own comfort! They are suspending my treatment today because of severe burns under my breast.

    One other issue...not sure anyone else is having...when I had the surgery...all my family and friends rallied around....but they have all fallen to the side. No one calls...or stops by...unless I initiate the meeting! My husband says they are giving me my space. Other than my adult daughter and mother, I feel abandoned.

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  • BrooksideVT
    BrooksideVT Member Posts: 2,211
    edited July 2015

    Maybe it would help to think of the hands-on-hips position as runway model, not mean teacher. Or to alternate between them, according to your mood.

    Your RO will watch your skin closely, but if it gets too uncomfortable, there is no reason you can't ask whether you could maybe have a day off.

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