Spring 2016 Rads

First of all--iammags--thanks for the smile! I am totally stealing that picture.

I just got home from my planning meeting. I'll start next Wed (5/18), although if I end up doing the breathing thing (what's that called again??), it might only be a dry run. I'll be getting weekly X-rays. Will meet with RO on Wednesdays. My place sounds a bit different--every Friday I'll get my schedule for the following week. They said it's a little fluid because sometimes they get emergencies, or have to treat someone twice in a day, or a machine might be getting serviced. Thankfully my work schedule is pretty flexible. Getting 15 + 5 boosts. One woman I met with said the fatigue is frequently worst about a week after treatment. As of now my last treatment should be 8-9 days before my son's wedding. :-(

Was anyone told not to put *anything* on the skin until after the first five treatments? They gave me some aloe to get going with when it's time. And does anyone have experience with a comfort sling? I read about it back when I first decided I'd get radiation. It's kind of a holster that loops under your hooter to hold it up in an effort to avoid that ugliness that sometimes happens with the skin-on-skin underneath the breast. I went ahead and ordered one so I guess we'll see. . .

I had 35 RAD treatments in the summer of 2012. I had very few problems with my skin/burns. The first thing I did was buy a big bottle of Aloe Vera juice at Walmart. It is not expensive. I poured some in a Ziplock bag, added a washrag and put it in the fridge. Every morning I would get it and take it with me. When I got back to the car, I would take out the rag and put it under my breast. It was amazing how hot it would be when I removed it. I did this several times on my way home. (My hubby was driving). When I got home, I removed my shirt and let the air get to it. I also used Aquaphor. It is also not expensive at Walmart, but I got my first sample at Texas Oncology. I had very little skin breakage under my breast. My last week of RAD was a little tougher because those 5 treatments were centered on my incisions and the skin broke more that it did earlier. I had a big jar of Silvadene Cream but it did not help the situation at all. I kept putting the Aloe Vera on it and the Aquaphor. The nurses told me that my skin was way better than most taking the same treatments.

If you are experiencing broken skin, it is important to go without a bra and just let air get to it. Then apply the Aloe Vera and Aquaphor religiously and I think you will have a better outcome. I bought a few tops that were loose. I even went to work without a bra until all the spots were healed.

I hope this helps someone get through those treatments.

Thanks for the info, Texasminded. It really is helpful to hear from people who are on the other side of treatment!

Hi everyone, I have done 23 of 33 rad, 5 being boosts. Today after treatment RO looked me over and said I don't need the boosts. I'm so glad. I am so red and sore. I have peeling skin in my arm pit and under, on top and between my breasts. He said it would get worse before it gets better. Well at least it's almost done. I hope you are all coping okay.

Speaking of heart damage, who is doing DIBH? I'm pretty sure I'll be doing that when I start next week, and I'm wondering how long you have to hold your breath? It sounds kind of silly but I am planning on practicing the next few days.

I finished rads with the breath hold device last week. They call it the ABC device where I went. I had to hold my breath for 30 seconds. It was easy. Some tips:

Use a slow steady breath to inhale up to the cutoff point

If you feel anxiety at any point ask to do some practice breaths

Keep an eye out your air leaks in your "snorkle". They had to fidget with mine to get the air seal tight.

Don't be hesitant to talk to your techs if you have any concerns. I started having anxiety/difficulty after about a week. We did some practice breaths the next day and it was a piece of cake after that.

Grazy- you are funny! I don't know about radiant I'm just glad that I'm not radiating.

My bc was on the right so I don't have to hold my breath. Good luck to all of you that do.

Myraknits- how scary for you to be dealing with so much! I'm very sorry to hear it. I do know that in study after study it's been proven that surgery + rads+ hormonal therapy has been shown to be just as effective as mx. But I don't know about adding heart problems into the mix. I would consult with my MO, BS, and maybe even a cardiologist.

LG- is today your last rad? If so, CONGRATS! Onward and upward, as they say! #cancercankissmyass #radiateTHIS

Happy Thursday, BCO sistas!

Iammags - I love your hashtags! T-shirt ideas?

(I swear I'm the only one who notices a typo after I press post and has to go back and edit

Grazy, you are so funny!!!! Mags, love it! I want to make a t-shirt that says "cancer can kiss my ass! radiate this!!!!!!! Maybe can show a butt with lipstick marks on one butt cheek? Lol!!!! Last treatment today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got to ring the bell and get my certificate!!!! I loved my rad crew so much, I will miss them and I got to hug them all. I go back for check up in a month and RO told me it will take 1 to 3 months before my breast will be at its new normal and I will be able to tell if there are any changes, but he said not to worry, that plenty of people will be checking my breasts for a while lol! I said "good!", I'm perfectly fine with that! Lol! Never thought I would be ok with opening my gown for everyone to see my breasts! I remember my very first visit, no one had seen my breasts but the mammographer and ultrasound lady with surgeon in a dark room, so I'm sure when the RO and nurse stood back and motioned for me to open my gown that first day, I'm fairly sure I rolled my eyes up in my head and died a slow death when they started at my chest for a while and said "yep, they are symmetrical" , and I think I responded by saying, " I told you so" Lol! Now, they don't have to ask, I just open my gown and say "want to see it?" Lol!!!

Grazy, you'll do great and it'll be over before you know it. I used the cream they gave me after the first week religiously, and the extra lotrisone on itchy spots worked well along with the corn starch patted under the arm and breast during the last week helped too. I'm pretty swollen and breast looks ugly, intermittent pains and extreme nipple sensitivity, but I made it through. Don't be surprised in lymph node area gets sore again too. Mine had finally gotten over being sore, but the radiation irritated it. The good thing is that I haven't had to shave the hair under my arm for the last week or so, it isn't growing anymore lol! If I only didn't have to shave the other one either, SIGH! Lol!!!!!

I had simulation today and they said I can expect to lose about 25% of the volume of my DIEP flap. Anyone else on here radiating flaps? I have mourned my right breast like crazy because it took 3 surgeries to get it so pretty and now it is already scarred and shrunken due to the lumpectomy. Seems cruel to now radiate and further abuse it but alas cancer rules over beauty sometimes. Plastic surgeon said nothing can be done for minimum of 6 months to 2 years after radiation to see full effects on the breast. Does this sound right? Seems like lots of women go right into reconstruction after radiation but I could be thinking of no previous reconstruction.

Hello Everyone. I joined this forum after my diagnosis of Breast Cancer in March of this year. I had a lumpectomy on April 1st. My surgeon took my case to a tumor board where they recommended chemo and radiation followed by hormonal therapy. Because I had done my research, I requested a CT scan, bone scan, and Oncotype test before I would decide to take chemotherapy, even though every doctor was telling me I would need it. I met with my oncologist today to go over all my results and ... she suggested I do not do chemotherapy since my Oncotype score was low. I am so very happy as this was a huge answer to many, many prayers! I have my simulation for radiation on the 23rd and will start radiation the following Tuesday. I haven't done much research on Radiation, but at least I have some time to educate myself. I'm a little scared, just because of the unknown, and not knowing what side effects I will personally deal with, but I do know God will be with me every step of the way. He has been there for me since Day 1.

Welcome Owens!!!!!!! If you have time, read a few pages of previous posts or winter rads, it helped me a lot!!!! Mags, I'm going to try and keep up this thread to keep up with everyone , I'm not going anywhere so soon! 😄 Ingerp, am I missing something with balloon emojis? Lol! I don't have one I can use on my kindle lol!

Well, day 2 post rads and I have extreme itching and the area under arm pit and sentinel node area that had turned dark brown is now peeling and itchy like crazy! I've been applying cream RO gave me, but think I will pick up some aquafor tomorrow to give more moisture to the areas. They were right when they said I would still have some problems to deal with 2 weeks post rads, but it is all doable- just have to take benadryl something at night to be able to sleep through the extreme itching lol!