Spring 2016 Rads

Hootowl - For anxiety, I did a cognitive behavioral modification (self help) program a few years back that helped me immensely. www.stresscenter.com Also, I find that meditation and guided relaxation tapes are very helpful. I use an app on my phone called 'Calm'.

Grazy- I think re: fatigue you were pretty lucky. I know a couple of gals who did breast radiation (no chemo first) and had fairly significant fatigue. I did chemo first and wasn't back to my usual self by the time rads started. I Have noticed on top ofof

Hi! Happy to meet you all. Radiation treatment to begin soon. Meeting my radiation oncologist this Tuesday. Not sure yet which type of radiation will be recommended, external or brachytherapy, and which one I will choose assuming patient-choice is always an option. I know I shouldn't worry beforehand but I am concerned about the skin side-effects. I burn really easily & have sensitive skin (blistered bad with that surgical tape). The surgical wound is healing better than the blister ones.

I've just started to read this thread and already have some good advice .. cortisone cream, aloe & lanolin, Miaderm cream?? Thank you so much for taking the time to post your journeys!

Ingerp,

Thank you!

To ease up on the driving, I am thinking about doing a night or two at the Hope House. I've heard it's lovely. If there is anyone else out there doing long trips, there may be one in your area

Jill- I use the cortisone cream when I start to itch. If I have aquafor or aloe on I just put it on over it and it seems to work. I typically have something on except before tx.

Grazy- love the songs! I was a big fan of The TV show Ally McBeal. In that the therapist played by Tracy Ulman had her clients pick a theme song. I'm a social worker and found that hysterical! My husband who did not really like the show would just sort of look at me as if I was slightly off! Which I probably am!

I have also started to use those oval makeup remover pads(no chemicals) over my irritated nipple to prevent rubbing on clothes

I'm in radiation testament now. My skin has gotten very bad and Rad. Onc. Is having me skip 7 regular radiation treatments and do the 5 boosts then go back and finish the last treatments. Nothing helps with the pain from the burns. I'm allergic to coconut oil and the vitamin E oil. She got me silvadene Cream and aquaphor. Didn't do anything fir me. Help Amy suggestions

Brea I've heard aloe with lidocaine can help? Also cold cucumber (umm, I mean cabbage leaves?

Ingerp, oops I meant cabbage. Chemobrain is real lol!

I was told to use glaxol base 3 times a day, otc cortisone for itching, and polysporin (instead of lotion) for anything that opens and that beyond that, they would tell me if problems arose. So far my skin is a little pink, and the skin around my collarbone is getting itchy and that's it. So I've been given no further directions, and I was just wondering if I should put the cortisone on before or after the glaxol base ( has it started getting really itchy yesterday, I will ask them at the radiation clinic today)

Brea1. I'm sorry your in pain. I was pretty messed up also. Red as a lobster with peeling skin all under my breast and arm. I was miserable. I ordered miaderm L from amazon. It has I believe 4% lidocaine. I also used domboro astringent soaks while I had a fan blowing on the area. It was very soothing. My RO prescribed Norco, which helped a lot.

Hi all - Haven't posted anything here for a bit....I am on radiation #15 out of 34 today. My skin is breaking down but dealing with it with the tips the RO gave me and its ok.

wondering though: has anyone had any increase in heart burn or any difficulty swallowing? i read that at times the rads gets close to the esophagus and this can happen. I asked the RO about it as the heart burn started when the rads did but she didn't think she was getting close enough to the esophagus for this to happen....but a week or so ago I started to feel like I was having a bit of trouble swallowing....so I plan to ask her about it this week when i see her again but wondered if anyone else had this.

thank you for any input!

Sawyer

Sawyer, I haven't had trouble swallowing but my RO does ask about it as a known SE.

My skin is definitely red throughout the radiation field now, but it doesn't hurt, just itches. I'd say I've ruined at least five shirts now thanks to the emu oil and Aquaphor. I have 15 more treatments left--on Thursday I'll be 2/3 through. So tired of having to wear separates all the time and gamble with staining.

LTF - thanks for the cream info - I'm going to give it a go - cortisone surrounded by Glaxal. I find today that draping my "Cool Canuck" cooling towel on my chest (have you seen those?) helps reduce the itching, but of course I can't go out in public with that draped around my neck and tucked into my shirt. It's pretty nice for the hot flashes that I'm experiencing with my AI though (can't believe I'm going through those again; thought they were pretty much over with after being in menopause for five years) - I wear it around my neck and it cools me down nicely. It's a look, I tell ya

Paxton - when you say you are getting tired of wearing separates, do you mean you like to wear two pieces to rads so that you just have to remove your top for the appointment? I assume that's the reason; it occurred to me mid-way through my treatment that I could actually still wear a dress and just throw on some light yoga pants to wear with my hospital gown - I just kept them rolled up in my bag.

Yes, I meant separates as in top + bottom. I thought about bringing shorts but shoes I wear with dresses won't usually work and I don't want to bring extra shoes too. Yes, I am overly vain and clothes-obsessed, why do you ask? Also, do y'all all get honest to goodness cloth gowns? Mine are paper, are too big and don't exactly close.

I wear two fabric gowns, one on the front and one on the back. They take off the back one to put down on the bed. I agree my shoes do not work well with the shorts, I felt pretty awkward walking around in yoga shorts, a hospital gown, and heels! Honestly, even if I am wearing a short skirt, you cannot see it below the hospital down so it didn't really make a difference. I've only worn dresses a couple times, but I like having the option.

Yes it's interesting how they all give different advice. I was told to start using the lotion in advance, to prepare my skin. I actually use my strive for every day anyway, so it wasn't really much of a change for me, I just switched to unscented lubriderm (I use that at home and have glaxol base in my purse for after treatment, RO recommended either of them.

I was realizing today that through all of this, I haven't seen anybody in a waiting room or treatment room my age. I know young women like me get cancer obviously, but we are still the minority even if it doesn't always seem like it. I was feeling quite old before I got diagnosed, but these days I'm feeling pretty young! Today a young woman in the waiting room smiled at me and I felt a bit of kinship with her, then her father came over.

Jojo I just looked for it on Amazon, found plenty that were in the $40 range. Unfortunately for me, none of them ship to Canada

Chiming in as the only other Ontario gal on here, just to let you know that I got some Miaderm but only because my husband ordered it and had it shipped to his US office where he works Monday - Friday; it's soooo much cheaper in the States; I can't get over the difference in price to be shipped here. I had ordered it before I even started radiation and then my RO gave explicit instructions not to put anything on my skin until she advised me to do so, which was right before my last week, so the end of week #3. I've tried it twice now, but I find it quite watery and prefer the soothing thickness of Glaxal. Honestly, I'd just give one of you my tube of Miaderm if you lived close enough (I'm in KW) because it's sitting here unused!! )