Spring 2016 Rads

I am a "straddler" between the Winter and the Spring group.... I am 1 1/2 weeks out of radiation and my skin is healing sooooo quickly. I am pleasantly surprised. I used a cream that my RO provided through most of my treatment and switched to Aquaphor plus Silvadene the last week as my skin started to have side effects at that point. Still using it now. I was told that the cream wouldn't prevent side effects but would help keep your skin better able to handle any SEs. However the silvadene is an antibiotic/antifungal cream that is helping with my skin "burns". Also started using some cortisone cream to help with itching.

Artista928 - thanks!

tomorrow is number 8 for me. I have used nothing so far but pure aloe Vera. Skin looks good except nipple and aereola area is hardened and turned brown. My cancer was at 12 oclock so I guess some of it is concentrated there. I think that will be the biggest hurdle for me. I haven't changed bras yet, so far so good ! Good luck with everyone this week. Maybe some of my energy will come back and I won't come home every day and pass out in a 2 hour nap like I did all last week, it makes it hard to sleep later in the night lol!! Anyone else having extreme fatigue? Are you all still working full time like me and having to drive a lot every day? Maybe it's just the driving 2 1/2 hours a day plus trying to work the same hours that has me this way?

5 out of 36 done today, this train is moving and I hope it goes fast.  I want to be done with this don't like going to the center everyday it stresses me out.

Artista928 I know what you mean.  I am only on day 5 of my rads and I stressed everyday.  I just switched to going before work today, I was going in the late afternoon and then I had to come back to work.  I was nevous all day just worrying about going. I think I will like mornings better, then I am done for the day.  I am not a morning person but it isn't for ever, glad it's not winter.

By about week 2 I was at the point where I hated going near or along the route to the cancer center. It just sucked going every day.

But the techs are awesome and because other people are also in for daily radiation at the same time, I finally got to know some of them. And now we are finishing this week and it's a little sad that I won't see my "friends" again.

iammags - Enjoy!! Over the weekend, we booked Punta Cana for October. Thoughts are with you for this first treatment but you'll be fine

So I started 1 of 33 today. It was a little terrifying with the machine going all around and making all that noise. They tell you to breathe normally but when the anxiety comes you need to grab a deep breathe. You realize you are being radiated and you try to think about the RO saying you are bringing reacurance down from 40% to 5% but you still feel that the road you are going down is never the way you wanted your life to be.

I am going for my mapping on Wednesday and will start the week of May 9for 6 weeks.Leaving Thursday with my husband for a week on the beach before this all kicks in to gear. I too am a little freaked out about all of this! Can't really believe it. Hope everyone has a great week. These posts have really helped!

I had number 11 of 33 today. 1/3 done! My skin is a slightly different color, but doesn't feel any different. They told me to use aquaphor 2 to 3 times a day. They said the more moisturized your skin is, the better to prevent severe side effects. I'm tired still, but I think that is still more from months and months of treatments, surgery and then tough chemo. I'm still taking hot showers and baths, the booklet they gave me said not to, but the nurse said it's fine. I just put lots of aquaphor on after. My area of radiation seems huge. Below my ribcage and up to my neck, from the center of my chest to under my arm. Big area. But I had 17 lymph nodes involved, so they want to radiate the whole chest area and some other lymph node areas.

On my way to my first day of radiation. I know everything will be just fine, I know it's not painful and the medical staff couldn't be nicer and more knowledgeable. I have to say, though, that walking into that big room with that big machine really brings it home that in fact I do have cancer. I still have a hard time wrapping my head around this. Thankfully my first time at a support group will be this week, too. I'm so thankful for this group, it helps to know I have a community with me that understands without having to speak any words (although words are always helpful!). Thinking of all of you, too, on your journey and wishing you all the best. Off I go...

I had day 8 of 28 today. Electricity went out yesterday, so had a 3 day break. Was glad for it. My skin looks ok, but my nipple and areola area has turned dark brown, is hard as a rock, and alternates between some pain and severe itching. They told me not to use anything, but am using aloe. Was wondering about trying the aquafor, can you buy it over the counter at Wal- mart or somewhere like that? Anyone else still wearing a regular bra? I have been so far

So true. Never was part of the plan, but here we are. Positive thoughts and one foot in front of the other, day by day.

August57 - my surgery site was hard and red during rads. I pointed it out to RO but she said it was normal. I'm 4 days post-rads now, 28 daily rads and I find that although swelling and hardness diminished, if I push myself too hard, the swelling/hardness comes back. This is a gradual journey and I'm an impatient patient! I want it to be better NOW!!!!

I too am a carry-over from the Winter rads board. I was lucky in that my skin didn't have any side effects other than the deep tan. No open sores, no itching, nothing. The FATIGUE is another story. It's pretty profound this week. It started about 4 weeks out (mildly, mostly a nap-in-the-afternoon kind of fatigue) but it hit me big time this week. I'm riding it out but look forward to getting my energy back.

Thanks all for the advice! I HATE feeling so crappy! I started feeling better Sunday and felt GREAT Monday and Tuesday, but I figure thats because I went 3 days without the rads. I barely got out of bed and fought the feeling that I wanted to pass out and sleep for 12 hours all day. Left work early and came straight home and slept for an hour and a half. I really thought I would breeze through rads. We just have to take it one day at a time, ill be glad to see the light at the end of the tunnel!