Winter 2015-16 RADS

Thank you is spades to whomever mentioned weeks ago that our clothing, stained by Aquaphor and other topical creams, can be completely cleaned by soaking in a tub of hot sudsy dish detergent water. I chose not to wear mens t-shirts due to their bulk and my preference for soft, loose, feminine undergarments. I have several $20-25 polyester/rayon tanks and camisoles that I sacrificed for the sake of comfort and coverage during radiation that I assumed would be thrown out after treatment. I soaked them in a tub of Dawn dish detergent and hot water for several hours today and washed with a load of towels. They are now spotless, soft again and look like new!

This forum has been an invaluable resource, full of a vast variety of tips for daily living that should be provided routinely by our treatment centers!

It's the little things in life that can make all the difference. I'm now considering what I can do with the money I would have spent on replacing my undergarments...LOL

KateB79 So happy to hear how well you are doing and such perfect timing coinciding with the beginning of Spring, renewal and awakening!

Thanks Jersey Girl. I plan to be where you are and am hoping for similarly successful SE outcome in about 5 weeks. Good to hear a success story!

barbe1958 - you are in my prayers as you battle your recurrence. I certainly never intended to offend you or anyone by using the word 'cured' in my previous post. I put the word in italics but in hindsight, it would have been more grammatically correct to put it in parentheses. My intent was to indicate "cured" in a relative sense.

Interestingly, my BS was the one who first used that word with me. Her exact statement was "a vast majority of women with similar breast cancer to yours go on to be cured". Of course, I knew what she meant. I hope you know I mean no disrespect.

Please know that everyone here, especially me, wishes you strength, hope and health as you face your challenge.

Moondust Although research on high protein diets, in healthy adults with healthy kidneys, has not shown a relationship to kidney damage, I do not believe breast cancer patients currently fall under the category of healthy adults. Those of us who have had various treatments, chemotherapy etc. may have compromised kidneys. I still believe a discussion with one's physician, oncology nurse or dietician is warranted if one is to make any dietary changes, including to a high protein diet, during treatment.

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2013/126929/

http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/breast-cancer/chemotherapy.html

Birdysmom, you crack me up in the very best way. Thank you!

I finished by 16 treatments of radiation on March 10th! Woo Woo! Ten days later I'm dragging. It's much worse than when I was in treatment. I can do some things,things that don't require a lot of energy, like type, read, and watch television. Some days I can grocery shop, some days not. I've needed to do laundry for days and just can't get up the energy to do it. I'm sleeping a lot, 9,10 even 11 hours a night but it doesn't seem to make much difference. How long will this last? I know everyone's different but this is such a drag! I want to feel better.

Friday put me halfway through--17 out of 33. The fatigue just keeps getting worse. I have slept so much, and when I am up I am dreaming about going back to bed. I would give up and ride this out unconscience if I didn't have a birthday party next weekend--my oldest is turning 11. I really tried to get him to go out with a few friends and do an activity (daddy chaparoning)--trampoline park, lasertag, movie, etc.--but no! He wants the usual big party with all his grandparents too. Seriously?! What young boy turns down play time with friends to make sure he can see his grandparents?! Gosh, I love him! But I am going out of mind trying to figure out how to clean house, get a cookie cake, have some sort of activity to corral all those bodies... My husband keeps reassuring me he has this--but I know better! At least he is trying. Gosh, I love him!

Pain has kicked in too. Tightness in the skin, but tenderness in the lumpectomy area too. I have that red/brown box on my chest and it burns, and DH commented on the heat tonight, but its the pain/tightness I need to deal with. All of the incisions are angry and protesting. No peeling or chaffing, yet.

Someone said earlier rads is hard because you think of cancer everyday. It's true. I thought this would go by much quicker because it would be a busy time of treatment. These 33 days are dragging by. It seems like I have been walking that long hallway for years now. 16 left.

I finished my first week 5 doses weekend off. I have 5 more weeks to go. I keep thinking that something is bothering me. Worried about a headache that comes and goes not too tired.

Had my first session today and as we walked into the cancer centre my husband got a text to say he was laid off work! Talk about stress!!!! Well, at least he's available to drive me to and fro.....LOL. I have an hour and a half there, then an hour back to work and after work the other half hour home. A lot of highway driving in one day. My hospital is in Windsor, just across the river from Detroit, so if anyone is having rads in Detroit, wave! I'm the one wearing the "modesty gown".....

I started my rads today. I am going to guess it gets worse before it gets better.

Welcome Kkubsky, this is a great group to ask questions and get information.

Had a lot of fun at my party. SO MUCH FOOD!

Two weeks out now and I see/feel improvement every day. Still peeling, and I'm mostly brown instead of pink.

Kkubsky - wishing you minimal SE's during your treatment. This is a good place to be to discover how others managed their way through this journey.

Today was #5 of 28 for me. Two more treatments and I get my first glass of champagne!

Mary, I'm an IU alumnae and am pulling for them too! Hope they help your bracket picks.

Question for those who are done or nearly so: When did you start using Aquaphor? From the start or only after redness/burning started? Did you use it after using other creams? I use Miaderm cream 3X a day right now. Third application is before bed. Should I put Aquaphor on top of it before going to bed? I have no burning yet.

Thanks!

Sunnyone

My RO said today we will probably take a break after the 28 days. She said my skin is really red and she thinks we should wait a week or so before doing the boosts. She also told me to take a B complex vitamin for the fatigue and is ordering a steroid cream for the redness.

Mary, I am an IU gal too. Let's all meet at the final 4!

I'm 25 days post radiation now. Yesterday, I ditched the white t-shirt. My skin is so much better now. I've kept up the special care cream am pleased with healing.

Hang in there ladies. We've got this!

I might see you again in a Hair, tamoxifen, or reconstruction thread