Winter 2015-16 RADS

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited May 2016

    I am going to get my area checked tomorrow, but to ease my mind...has anyone bled in the raw area? Are we really supposed to keep the area damp with antibiotic creams? Seems like it needs to dry up.

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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited May 2016

    Barbe, personally I would let it dry up. Hopefully you can get some medical advice tomorrow! Good luck!

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited May 2016

    Thanks Moondust. Keeping it damp just seems to keep everything weepy. I didn't wear a nightie last night and tried to expose the area to air. I do have some spots, the blackest ones, go figure, that have beautiful pink skin showing where the black has sloughed off. Am I supposed to be rubbing the area with a washcloth or anything???

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  • edwsmom
    edwsmom Member Posts: 346
    edited May 2016

    I'm glad you're having someone take a look at it Barbe!

    Tomorrow is my LAST radiation day! YAY! I'm bringing in cupcakes for the staff. They have been wonderful!

    I can't wait to have my mornings back again! It's been really hard juggling radiation, work and other doctor appointments. One less thing on my plate makes me very happy!

    I started Tamoxifen yesterday....bracing to see how I tolerate it.

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  • JuniperCat
    JuniperCat Member Posts: 658
    edited May 2016

    Barbe, I also had a horrible radiation rash on my chest (it was so bad that it took my mind off of what was going on with my fried breast). My RO prescribed something called Elocon which helped. The nurse gave me an antiseptic spray to clean the area before I applied the cream. I then covered the area with nonadhesive pads that she gave me which helped to keep the cream on and also to prevent it from getting on my t-shirt. That worked for a while but not completely. The nurse mixed up a compound of acquafor, lidocaine and silverdeen, which helped. I alternated the two different creams which was effective. After showering I'd gently pat the area dry before slathering on the creams. I hope you will get your rash taken care of soon.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited May 2016

    Juniper, it's not a rash, it's raw bleeding, pussing areas of my chest where the skin has blackened and sloughed off. I just got another antibiotic cream and dressings from my RO. He wants to see me in a month. He's mostly worried about where the surgery site has opened up.

    edwsmom, congrats! I gained 2 hours of my day back. I'm sleeping 12-16 hours a day but feel my body needs the healing time right now. This is all around my work schedule...LOL

    I didn't have the same staff every time so I never really bonded with anyone. They were all nice, but I was surprised on my last day when they acknowledged my final zap, but didn't step over to watch me ring the bell! Glad I didn't go out of my way..........or maybe that's why they didn't come over???? It was right outside the treatment room for heavens sake.


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  • JuniperCat
    JuniperCat Member Posts: 658
    edited May 2016

    yikes, Barbe, I hope your skin heals up...

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited May 2016

    Me too!!!

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  • Brimton
    Brimton Member Posts: 87
    edited May 2016
    Hi everyone
    I will be two months out 4/17. TWNK I agree with the stealing of time. but it is done you survived. I have just come back from a month trip. if you can get away. it really helped with moving beyond the cancer diagnosis. While away I really didn't think much about it. Now that I'm home I am thinking about it more. I hope things get better. Don't let the cancer steal away any more of your life. I have my follow up mammogram 5/21 which makes me nervous...

    I do Have a question. Does anyone have a fullness in their radiated chest? thanks everyone. Skin totally healed up it is a tiny bit darker than the rest.
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  • 1957-2057
    1957-2057 Member Posts: 35
    edited May 2016

    Hello all,

    I have not posted in so long. Finished my RADS the end of February. 25 whole breast and 8 boosts. Geeze I was a mess there for about 3 weeks. Skin under arm broke down and the entire side of my breast where I had the boosts. I was lucky, no infections or bleeding just lost layers of skin. I walked around in a scarecrow pose for about a week and a half trying to let the area dry out. I now have all new skin so that part is great, still feels like the new skin is so thin, makes me afraid I will scratch it and rip it. No underarm hair yet, I think this is the one good SE. I have had quite a bit of itching in the side of my breast and figure that is from the healing so I rub that lightly. Excuse my bluntness but the skin on my nipple feels tough/thick. No problems with it. I am noticing soreness now in my breast that I did not have before, I assume healing as well but it seems like the tissue (not skin) inside is getting dense in areas. Not a lump or anything just kind of a firmness. Is anyone else experiencing this 2 months out from Radiation?

    I am so proud of all you ladies and yes myself too. I can't believe that I made it through surgery & radiation. I am about 8 weeks into the Arimidex, this past week the hot flashes at night have been horrible. Not too bad through the day but I am up like 4 times a night with them. I do have a bit of soreness in my knees and shoulders but nothing I can't live with. I am glad our weather is getting nice as I am getting back in to walking. I have gained 10 pounds since starting the meds. That needs to stop right now...

    I worked all through radiation, am proud to say I never missed. That was somehow important to me that this not disrupt my "normal" daily life. Fatigue was awful near the end. I was in bed by 7 pm most nights, now I can make it till about 8:30.

    Mother's Day was great, I made it through without a tear..... Proud of me.

    Sorry to drone on, glad everyone is managing. Please let me know if you are experiencing the dense breast tissue.

    Helen








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  • Twnkltoz
    Twnkltoz Member Posts: 215
    edited May 2016

    just a quick post to report I had an amazing vacation! I hope everyone is doing well and healing. I still have a big weird tan spot on my chest. My shoulders are still really bad, so I guess I'd better get checked out. Sigh.

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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited May 2016

    Twinkl, what a great picture of you! Glad your vacation was good. My shoulder has returned to normal and I'm doing pushups again! I am still very tan on the radiated side. I have my follow up with the RO today.

    Barbe, how is your skin doing?

    Helen, the skin on my radiated breast is very tan and feels a little tougher. Let's see how it is a year from now. Glad you are recovering and feeling better! I have new lumps inside the breast but I think it is scar tissue.


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  • Twnkltoz
    Twnkltoz Member Posts: 215
    edited May 2016

    Thank you, moondust! I had it taken on the ship, plus a couple with my honey.

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  • Sunnyone22
    Sunnyone22 Member Posts: 191
    edited May 2016

    Moondust - what did you finally decide about chemo? If you posted your decision, I"m sorry I missed it.

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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited May 2016

    Sunnyone, I get my second opinion next Tuesday the 17th at UCSF. I'll post an update once it's done and I have the recommendation. My MO will not give me chemo unless the second opinion agrees with me that I would benefit.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited May 2016

    Almost all the burn has sloughed off. I have one high on my clavicle that is still black but is finally breaking up. My skin is smooth and pink underneath. I'm amazed at my body's capacity for healing!! There are a couple of areas of scabbing but they are dry with no pus or bleeding so I'm very optimistic.

    Let the records show that you CAN get through this!

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  • Sunnyone22
    Sunnyone22 Member Posts: 191
    edited May 2016

    Thanks Moondust. I look forward to reading your update.

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited May 2016

    Twinkltoz- great photo...looking great- hope you are feeling well, also!

    Barbe 1958- wow....you have had a rough, rough time of rads and still- you are so positive.  Glad it is getting so much better!  Hugs!


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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited May 2016

    Sunnyone and whoever else was curious: I had my second opinion at UCSF yesterday with Dr. Mark Moasser. He was very nice and straightforward, which I always appreciate. Yes, chemo will benefit me. If he was in my shoes he would do chemo. It will reduce my recurrence risk by 7 to 10 percent. As far as my pathology, he thought the high Ki67 was more concerning than my 40% PR+. My local MO would not even factor in the Ki67, because "we don't look at that any more". But basically, this doctor's viewpoint is that the Onco score is what you go by, and anyone above 25 should consider chemo except if there are health reasons to not have it. He talked about the TailorX study and pointed out that for purposes of that study, anyone over 25 was considered high risk and automatically got chemo instead of being randomized. I felt very good about the visit. Tomorrow I'll see my local MO to formulate a plan. She said she would give me chemo if the second opinion agreed with me, and I hope she has not changed her mind. Dr. Moasser recommended the common regimen of cyclophosphamide and taxotere, 4 infusions 3 weeks apart.

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  • Sunnyone22
    Sunnyone22 Member Posts: 191
    edited May 2016

    Moondust - thanks for the update. Assuming you go forward with chemo, I wish you the best for smooth treatments and no issues.

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  • DisneyGirl16
    DisneyGirl16 Member Posts: 121
    edited May 2016

    Moondust, so glad you got the confirmation you were looking for. Best of luck with your chemo treatment. I think you'll do great!

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  • VickiRides
    VickiRides Member Posts: 211
    edited May 2016

    Moondust, wishing you the best with chemo. I am probably abnormal, but I thought chemo was easier than radiation.

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  • barbe1958
    barbe1958 Member Posts: 19,757
    edited May 2016

    What a relief that must be for you Moondust!!! Please keep us posted.

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  • Kkubsky
    Kkubsky Member Posts: 231
    edited May 2016

    Haven't been on here too much lately. I am trying to put this chapter of my life in the past! (not always successfully). It's been a month since finishing up rads and everything has healed nicely. I too have noticed new lumps and bumps which freak me out a bit since I have no idea what they are.

    I actually FORGOT my follow up appt with my RO this past Monday! Talk about putting this in the past....lol. But I did reschedule as I absolutely want to be followed closely for a while. And I will double check about the weird lumps and bumps. I already had a crazy scare during radiation.....found a little round hard lump....freaked out....had imaging....it disappeared...conclusion was it was a surgical clip! I guess that will be part of the new normal....getting really scared when feeling new things!!!


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  • mdoc524
    mdoc524 Member Posts: 336
    edited July 2016

    Hello All... It has been too long for me & so sorry I dropped for such a long while.. I worked 12 hour days during the Verizon Strike for 7 weeks & then on June 7th had double surgery - ovary removal plus breast reconstruction.. I requested the surgeries together & was able to get OBGYN & Plastic Surgeon to do them at same time. Glad it is done but probably not the best idea from recovery perspective - has not been fun!! Infection in right non-radiated breast & acute lymph swelling in left radiated armpit - hoping it does not turn into lymphedema!!

    Big High Fives & Congrats to everyone who finished in April & May!

    Moondust - good for you on pushing & being your own advocate! Glad you are getting chemo & best of luck it goes easy on you!

    Hope everyone is doing well & have a great summer!

    Mary

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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited July 2016

    Hi Mary! Thanks for checking in and glad to hear your surgeries are over. I hope your infection and swelling clear up soon. It is hard to stop worrying about any swelling we have.

    I'm done with the second of four chemo infusions. So far things are going pretty well. I am very lucky that my part time job ended just a few days before my hair fell out :) Now I am fully retired.

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  • HappyHammer
    HappyHammer Member Posts: 1,247
    edited July 2016

    Mary- Glad to hear from you!  Sending healing mercies your way. So sorry about the swelling- hoping you start to feel better soon!

    Moondust- congrats on your retirement- think I missed that.

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  • MissV123
    MissV123 Member Posts: 79
    edited July 2016

    Morning Ladies, I have been done with radiation since March,and now all of a sudden Im getting sharp pains in my left side ,under arm and under where the surgery was, I sort of remember my surgeon telling me that the nerve endings will start to come back around August and I might experience some sharp stabbing pains, and not to worry.......well let me tell you....it started yesterday and I thought I was having a heart attack.....only a couple of times at work , but I was up all night saying.....what if this is my heart.....now....late morning they have stopped....of course I stayed home today. Anyone else experience this......

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  • VickiRides
    VickiRides Member Posts: 211
    edited July 2016

    MissV, I finished rads April 1st. About three weeks ago I started having intense pain in my right chest. It was painful just to pick up a water bottle. My BS and MO both said that it was caused by radiation scarring. I am supposed to do lots of stretching. It did get better after a week or so.

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  • MissV123
    MissV123 Member Posts: 79
    edited July 2016

    Thank you VickiRides..., I think I better start doing moe exercise....!!!!

    ..

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