Summer 2015 Rads

CAMommy, I had the same thing under my breast & it was incredibly painful! I feel for you! The Silvadine cream cleared that part up in a few days. I aired it out as often as I could which helped a lot too. When I had to be up moving around I kept a really soft cloth under my boob to keep skin off skin. No way could I wear a bra till it healed over. I had to take that week off work.

Has anyone tried a "breast sling"? I used one briefly and it was great. http://comfortslings.com.. I am in no way associated with them, just happened to use their product and liked it. It was surprisingly comfortable especially when sleeping or just relaxing.

So sorry ladies, I know it's miserable! Wish I could do more than tell you to hang in there!

oh my goodness this is the most painful than I can remember feeling in quite some time. Under by breast and under my arm, it's so painful. I used a hydrocollidal bandage yesterday since we were on the plane yesterday. Such a long flight. It was comforting since it had some coushioning but today when I took it off to clean the wounds and use the silver stuff it really tore off more skin. I don't recommend using it. Today I am using plain gauze under my breast and my arm. No bra. And am hoping this goes away soon. This is way worse than going to rads every day and the surgery. .

on my last week of rads and my breasts have been sore for two weeks now ( I was expecting my period but has not come). The area above my breasts has gotten really brown and was itchy but have been using hydrocortisone and this has helped me. Cannot wait to switch out my deodorant, I got Tom's of Maine and it did not do a good job. Anyone else have sore breasts

CAMommy, my underarm and under my breast were really sore as well for about 3 days, I used a really soft wash cloth between my bra and arm and it seemed to help along with the cool and smooth cream that the nurse gave me. I'm sorry that you are having so much pain, it will get better, I promise!

Nancdancer, my breast was really sore the last two weeks of radiation, I finished on Friday and my breast is still sore and weird feeling from my nipple down and it hurts like the dickens when one of my dogs bumps into me. I had the dark brown and itchy skin too around my collar bone down but it looks a lot better now, you can hardly tell that I had radiation there. It is amazing how fast my skin has healed since finishing.

When will this pain end? It's not infected just a big area under my breast and arm pit with no skin. So painful. It's been a week since my last rad. Hopefully I should be seeing some healing soon? The RO said I would be sore for awhile because I had the Canadian method and I got more radiation per session although less overall the traditional but it can burn the skin worse.

CAMommy, I am almost 2 weeks out from finishing the Canadian method and my skin is much improved from a week ago, when it was raw and weeping in some areas. I hope yours improves even more quickly.

For me, the most helpful things were 1) a custom compound of 2% lidocaine in an Aquaphor base prescribed by my RO (4 times stronger than the non-prescription strength lidocaine/aloe lotions available over the counter); 2) alternating with silver wound gel; and 3) allowing both to dry for 15-20 minutes before applying Mepilex Lite foam dressings to cushion the worst areas.

CAMommy...I'm so sorry that you are in so much pain. I must admit that I was angry that my RO would not let me do the 3 week thing. But after all the trouble you've had, maybe I should thank her. I hope you recover soon without too much more pain. What has your RO given you? I have the Silver cream and a 2% lidocane. I haven't used it yet, but its comforting to know it's there if I need it.

Today was a very difficult hump day. Two more days until the weekend!! Seems like week #4 is slow and painful.

Keys-Plez, you and I are at the same stage...I just completed 22 of 28. My skin is intact but the underarm is quite red and sore. My chest is pink and has a bit of a pinpoint rash. I know it will get worse before it gets better, but the end is in sight! I use Aquaphor at night and Jergen's aloe lotion or Aveeno during the day. I have a cooling towel too, but have only used it once...it did make it feel better. The rad techs recommended doing saline soaks to the underarm but I haven't tried that yet.

I can't wait to have this over with! While I am having rads my hubby and I are staying with my mom since she lives near the cancer clinic. Our home is an hour's drive away. I really miss being at home! At least we can return on weekends

Andrea

AndreaC Please don't say it will get worse before it gets better. I want to live in my own delusional world and think I only have 5 left of 28. I don't have to do boost. How about you? They did intrabeam radiation during my surgery. Actually that was supposed to be all they did, but my pathology report came back with some unexpected results. So off to radiation I went. Also, my RO insisted that we wait 6 weeks after surgery to start rads. I guess she was looking out for my best interests after all.

I live and work an hour from my home. So I do that drive every day and am, of course, living at home. It is nice to be in your own place at night. I know there is extra incentive for you to get this done so you can be back home.

I use the cooling towel every day. I keep visualizing it pulling the heat out. I don't really know if it works, but it works in my head. Sometimes that's all you need.

I have 3 days off from rads, so maybe I can get some healing in before the last big week.

Don't forget that walking is great exercise (and easier on a person than a lot of other options). If you'd like emotional support for exercise and well-being during chemo and radiation (and beyond), join us at https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69/topic/833450?page=1

Sweethope, I need to get some cami's. What brand name are they? Couldn't wear a bra today, just too painful. One more day and week four will be out of the way...

I'm late to join this thread but I need all the support I can get. Have been having some difficulty with depression and can't seem to snap out of it like before. I've had 28 rads and 4 boosts. Last one scheduled for tomorrow. I've had a pretty severe reaction with painful skin on the breast and under my arm. The skin burnt badly and peeled with the new skin quite pink but not as bad. Fortunately I had planned to be out of town for a few days this past week so I got out of four days worth of tx and gave my skin a chance to start healing before I came back for last two boosts. I'm using a rx burn cream, cortisone cream, aveeno and Lotrimin powder. The burn cream is comforting but any clothing feels like wool...

Just needed to vent. Thank you for the forum