Summer Rads 2016

I was told I could swim in our saltwater pool as long as I rinse off as soon as I get out. Saltwater pools still have chlorine, just not quite as drying. I was told to stay away from public pools like the one at the gym. I had number 7 today and so far things are good. I use Miaderm as much as possible and at night add aloe. The skin under my breast feels hot. I have large breasts so they aren't getting too much air. I do sometimes tuck some fabric under there to absorb moisture. I'm lucky that I am a stay at home mom and can put on a my house coat type of pj and just hang out. It is too hot to be outside in FL.

Singing: "I'm radioactive, radioactive, la la la". Had my first radiation treatment today. 15 more to go

Carlsoda - I love my techs too! They are great! I'm not going to miss radiation, but I will miss them. I will have to think of something special to give to them on my last day.

Ddaisy - I have found the fatigue with rads to be much better than with chemo! There were some days I couldn't even get out of bed with chemo. I've been a bit tired on rads, but nothing a little nap or going to bed early won't cure.

Valstim52 - I had the Red Devil too. I'm thankful that is over! I didn't have an appetite during chemo. I lost 20 pounds. My appetite is back full force with radiation! Good thing, I was down to 103 pounds and my nurses were starting to get worried. It seems to be different for everyone.

I had 19/25 today! Six more to go! I'm starting to get a little worried. I'm dark pink, very itchy and starting to peel a little. I saw my RO on Wednesday and she said my skin irritation is what she expects to see at my stage in radiation, but when I passed by the NP today, she asked if she could take a look. She said I need to start using the Aquaphor at night, maybe even trade off Eucerin, Aquaphor all day, and up my protein. She wants to take another look at me on Monday. She is concerned I might start seeing some skin breakage. I was really hoping to get through radiation without any skin breakage. I'm terrified I'm going to get an infection. I'll do what I'm told and hope for the best! I know a lot of us are itchy and my RO suggested something that I had not heard before. She suggested taking some Benedryl a half hour before bed. It should ease the itch and help you get to sleep. I might give it a try if my itching gets any worse. "Good luck" to the ladies starting rads, "#RadiateTHIS" to the ladies currently going through rads and "congratulations" to the ladies nearing completion! I'm already dreaming about the gigantic margarita I am going to treat myself to when this is all over! Have a great weekend!

I start my radiation Monday. I will be having 32 treatments in all. A bit scared about all of it but wanting to get it done and over. My RO is wonderful and I feel confident with the plan - just all the unknown side effects.

hi. I start rads tomorrow. I have to say I'm feeling nervous. My biggest concern right now is bras/support. I'm a 42d and the idea that things could get tender worries me. What have you ladies done to handle it? I saw some just used t-shirts or tanks but they won't give me any support. Any ideas are welcome. Thanks

Rowmac, I just wear cotton sports bra in a larger size, I still sleep in them too as my incision site is still sore. It helps me.

Good luck tomorrow....it's a piece of cake, no worries

The soreness is just starting now with me. More in my underarm but also some weird pains off and on in my breast. Had number 12 today. 4 more whole breast and then next week 5 boosts and I will be done.

@ Karen - that is great, you are more than half way there! I don't know if your pains are like mine, but I tell my lovely technicians it is like someone is constantly stapling my boob. I did my 14th treatment today- 14 more to go, then 6 boosts. But, half way through whole breast. I told my Rad Dr today I have been using cabbage leafs to relieve some of the "heat" following the treatments and he told me to look into Lindi skin cooling rolls- went and bought one today (they are about $40 bucks - not cheap!) but you leave the roll in the refrigerator and just cut off pieces as you need them. I love it so far. Best of luck to you all through the rest of the week, and the rest of your treatment.

You know, that is actually what bugs me the most Carlsoda, I am doing this on my tummy and letting it swing like a pendulum - ha. Gravity is not on my side! Anyway- I can't see a thing because my face gets placed in this weird head hammock while laying on my tummy - I can't see a thing!

Hi all, today is 22/25 for me and I have found rads to be much easier than chemo for sure. Yes, I am experiencing more fatigue now than when I first started, but nothing like the all-day sleeping I had with chemo. Our bodies are working hard to repair the damage that rads is doing, so sleep is the best remedy. Like many others, my RO has said no swimming in chlorine-based pools, she's said nothing about salt water, but then again, we're land-locked here so there's no salt-water nearby to talk about. Every day I do a saline soak when I get home from rads, followed by aloe from my aloe plants and then Flammazine (silver-based prescription cream) for the blistering. My RO said the blistering is a result of the boosts to the skin I'm getting every other day - my tumour was just below the skin surface so this is just making sure the cancer wasn't in the skin (my MRI showed thickening of the skin). I agreed to this as I figured I wanted to throw everything possible at the cancer now and not have any regrets later. I'm having whole-breast radiation because I have triple negative BC and the tumour was quite large. Due to my ALND, I have no feeling in my armpit so the redness doesn't bother/irritate me. I continue to put Lubriderm on my skin that's not's blistered; hint: I keep my creams in the fridge so it's nice and cool against my warm skin. I do have some tenderness on the rads side, this is due to the irritation from the rads itself, very normal. Sometimes i also experience electrical shocks too, this is from the nerves (cut during surgery) being aggravated by the rads. Apparently this will quiet down once rads is finished. Hope everyone has a wonderful day today, don't forget to keep yourselves hydrated internally by drinking lots of water.

Same here. I opted to go as 'strong" as I could. Some days I regret that, but I never want to look back and think "maybe if I did more.." although, my biopsy was a bit strange. They removed the idc tumor, but in front of the tumor (possibly part of it) was a small patch of DCIS, so they wanted to do 6 1/2 weeks (but who is anyone kidding - 34 treatments is 7 weeks, and the machines do break down, so it is really more like 8 weeks.)

Drum roll.....I am officially half way done! 15/30! It feels great as I can see the end of all this nonsense! :

When did everyone start to get pink or red? I am wondering when I can expect this to happen.

I have a question, how many of you have X-rays taken every 5 or so treatments? Today I had my X-rays and the technician actually came back in the room half way through to re-measure me. I know they do it to make sure the treatments are where they want them, but I was wondering if this is standard? One thing I have learned is it seems everyone's plan is slightly different (which is scary!)

Boston, I had treatment #15 today and I am pink but that's about it. Just putting aloe on twice a day. I think it gets worse closer to the end of treatment but we are so different. I guess we will see!

Jacklin, funny how you mentioned your first treatment. I felt this way too...hello people, I am going through radiation and everyone else is just living their lives. I guess it's the shock of having cancer!

Hello summer rads friends. I start on July 26th. I had to have one breast deflated so it wouldn't be in the way of rads. I am super bummed to be lop sided. I just feel so overwhelmed with this whole process. Good luck to all of you who are just starting, in the middle, or almost finished