Summer Rads 2016

Hello there - glad to have found you ladies here.  I am supposed to start some time next week.  Went in for the initial CT and setup and was shocked at the tattoo process (thanks Doc for telling me the details).  Very glad to have found this so that I know more of what to expect going in instead of "Surprise!!  Jailhouse tats for you today".  I am scheduled for 30 rounds.  I am post-chemo and post-bilateral mastectomy.  Hoping that this is the easy part and trying to wrap my head around exposing myself to repeated burning for the 1.5 months.

15/34 done today. I'm grateful for the three day break. I hadn't noticed until the techs started looking but my breast incision has started to blister. It's where the suture needle closed the incision at several spots. It's felt uncomfortable and itchy but hadn't noticed the small blisters. It kind of threw me a bit. I don't know, I guess since my skin has been pretty much maintains a"sunburned" appearance and that I was Lubriderming it up (I call it Boobriderm) three times a day, that this wouldn't happen. I feel foolish now for even considering that. It just made me sad. Silly, right?

FGodmother - same boat for me regarding the no more bra. I haven't worn an underwire since Sx but even a wireless bra is too much now. Camis and tank tops, here I come!

Carlsoda - I hope you are feeling better.

Take care, everyone.

9/30 done!

Polka...at least yours are black, mine are blue . The RO didn't tell me about the tats either but I read in online beforehand!

In reference to bras, I have been wearing fruit of the loom cotton sports bras I picked up at Walmart 3/$10.98. I love them and still sleep in them because it keeps everything in place and doesn't hurt as much since I sleep on my surgery side

I started feeling better yesterday, I just made sure to get extra sleep and drank extra water. But boy, I am sure more tired than usual!

Welcome to all the new summer girls....we will get through this together!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend....and Happy 4th

I was so tired yesterday I could not think. Today I feel so much more awake. I took another lady's advice and bought some Propel water to replace electrolytes and also increased the protein intake. Maybe that helped a little. I'm also nuts because I'm doing the Lupron shots and the Arimedex at the same time.

The RN talked to me about skin care. Here is the advice she gave:

1) Stay out of the sun from 12-3. OK to swim as long as I cover the area with a shirt, rinse off immediately after swimming, no sunscreen on the treated area (I guess it is an irritant). Public pools are discouraged. We have a pool with a salt chlorination system so it is easier on our skin.

2) Make sure to put cream on 4x/day. Morning or 4 hours before radiation, just after radiation, after dinner and before bed.

3) No deodorant on the side being zapped. You can use a crystal mineral rock one that you can find at GNC but I'm not going to bother.

4) Tepid showers, no hot tubs, saunas, etc. Wash the treated area with hands, no washcloths or other washing items.

5) If large breasted like me, need to lie down every once in a while and pick up the breasts to make sure they are getting some air flow and they are dry. She suggested rolling up an old t-shirt to absorb moisture or wearing a cloth between the bra and chest.

6) Electric shave only. It says no pre-shave lotion permitted.

7) No heating pads, or cold packs.

I splurged and bought Miaderm. It seems to take the heat out pretty well. I also purchased some other products. She warned me I would probably get a rash on my upper chest area because we live in FL and I've probably burned that in the past. She told me they once had a patient that never told them she used to tan in a tanning bed in the nude and she had a wicked reaction to the radiation. If you ever used a tanning bed you need to tell them.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Well the fatigue is still affecting me, we went hiking yesterday and could only hike 3 miles then my legs felt so heavy. Went to bed and slept 11 hours and still feel tired! (Mind you the coffee is helping!) Since I am used to exercising a lot, I honestly didn't think the fatigue would really hit me much. But I am pushing myself a bit to keep it up. My MO wants me to lose a little weight before I start tamoxifen and I am now two pounds away from my healthy BMI (the high end hehe). I think she for warns everyone because of the weight gain SE!

My skin has been just fine so far, just red but not sore. I just keep applying my sticky aloe

Elaine, thanks for all the tips. I will remember them if/when things start to get worse!

Valstim, how are you feeling. Fatigue better

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!!!

Hi Carlsoda, my fatigue is with me, but better as they cancelled fridays rads due to machine issues, so today I'm really feeling better. I also do a lot, and just a month out from surgery and that may be the culprit.

Boston 2015 my sim was close to 45 minutes, but then they have to do breath hold on me as it's on my left. That also makes my actual rads closer to the 45 minutes, as i'm getting chest, neck, whole breast etc. 7 out of 33 done.

aloe is working so far as is aquaphor but i'm stalking this thread and keeping all the other remedies on standby, as my skin has a little heat to it now.

Hello all! Wishing my Canadian friends a Happy Canada Day (I know I'm a little late) and my fellow Americans a Happy 4th of July!! 🇺🇸

Welcome Allie! I see we have traveled a similar path. Although, I had chemo before surgery. I was anxious to start radiation as well, but it is a lot easier than chemo. To say I had a hard time with AC would be an understatement. I hope your simulation went well!

Kechla - My RO didn't mention coconut oil, but I have heard that women have had great results with it keeping their skin moisturized. My RO suggested Cetaphil, Eucerin and 100% aloe vera. I have been using a combination of the three and so far, so good.

I had 15/25 on Friday. I am a little pink and itchy. I'm also feeling a bit tired and warm to the touch. RO said no more swimming. Great, just in time for the 4th of July! Lol! She said my skin is actually holding up pretty well, so continue what I'm doing. I also had an appointment with my plastic surgeon (I have expanders) and he agreed I'm looking pretty good. Hopefully, I'll continue down this path.

Wishing all of you a great week ahead!

Is it only me, but i have tats, x's, tape x's, I look like someone went mad with a magic marker on my chest.

Ddaisy, hate we are in the chemo comparison club, but it's so true so far for me, nothing is like that red devil and taxol I had. Just me saying

When they twist me wrong, or that table feels so hard, and I'm sick of holding my breath, I just think back to the chemo chair and suddenly it's not so bad. hee

10/30 done....a third of the way done yay!! I didn't have chemo, so I can't compare but I have noticed when I get myself over tired everything is harder to do...thinking and even my legs feel super heavy when walking. Skin is good still!

eJennifer, find something with cortisone for the itch.

Day 5 done. Met with my RO and he seems to think everything looks good. He is a very nice guy, easy to talk to. The don't have a bell or gong at the end but he said I could bring a bell in so my girls can ring it if they want. He said lots of people have done different things over the year.

I told DH I will be treating myself to a personal yoga class every 5 or so classes. I am too overweight to do it in public but I do have a yoga instructor that will come to our house. Today she came and it really helped me relax. I slept for a long time after she left. I needed it.

I hope everyone is doing well.

Has anyone experienced loss of appetite on rads? I had a better appetite on chemo.

Valstim I lost appetite however I had only 3 rads. The only thing I want to eat is fruits. Its good though but I always had good appetite and I am not keen on cooking either... Nurse said it can happen but after few days it should be ok. Will see..

Yes it is odd, we are told different things. I was told absolutely no chlorine or salt water. I know from experience that radiation works from the inside out. So the burns are there.