Summer Rads 2016

I am to have 13 tx of rads. Had number 11 today. This was done to relieve nerve pain in my right arm, where the tumor is (right axilla). I have been having a sore throat (mostly when swallowing food, not liquids or saliva) for over a week and thought it was the Ibrance, as that can cause a sore throat. Seems the radiologist thinks it's the radiation causing the sore throat. You can see the redness just at the right side of my throat. Has anyone else ever experienced this, when having radiation tx?

Hi everyone,

I am one week out from finishing my rads - 25/25. I have a dark, angry purple area on my upper chest. It is also very red on the side of my chest, and below my mastectomy area. It's all very sore, and the sports bras aren't comfortable at all. There is no broken skin, but I think it will peel.

However, my doc and nurses say it looks good. I have used coconut oil and pure aloe jell throughout the five weeks. Towards the end, a prescription strength steroid has been necessary for the pain and itching. Tylenol is useful when there's pain, and a dusting of cornstarch under the arm pits is excellent for the summer heat and stickiness. I wear a men's tank top around the house.

I got to stay at one of the Hope Lodges for the entire five weeks. Although it is certainly easier than chemo, radiation is a very intense experience for your body, which has probably experienced a lot. I really recommend taking advantage of any and all support you can get so that you can rest and heal for as much as you can throughout this part of your journey.

Blessings to all.

On to 28 in the am- last whole breast then on to my 6 boosts! Unfortunately, the skin opened up in 3 areas under the breast in the fold this morning. I was hopeful, but not to be....but hey- I would rather deal with open skin than recurrence....if I don't stop by tomorrow, I am sure it will be because I am covered in creme and using my hand held fan (and probably popping' another probiotic! good god)

Heal over the weekend ladies.

What a wonderful thing to offer. Someone on a different thread was trying desperately to find lodging while her husband is in a special trial in Texas. I'll post your link in case she might see it and try to find a space. Thanks!

I'm not finding relief in the silvadine. I think it might be allergic to the sulfur. Has anyone used Sonafine? Someone my brother knows that went through this recommended it but it is prescription only. My next session is at 1:00 to day and I was going to ask them for it.

Hi ladies, had 7/25 treatments today. They are very quick-timed at 6 mins once settled in place. I am usung the cream but so far my breast area hasn't changed. I don't feel tired yet but that could be due to my low carb diet and exercise plan started a few weeks ago.

The one thing that worries me is that I'm told to breathe normally even though the left side is being treated. I'm told that treatment will miss my heart and leave about 5-8% scar tissue in my lung. Anyone else getting left side radiated without breathing techniques or apparatus?

Well so far this is much easier than chemo so I'll take it.

Have a great weekend al

ejmann44, are you allergic to sulfa antibiotics? If so, I've read you can not use Silvadene. I have a sulfa allergy, so it is out for me.

hi ladies. Big Woot! to all those almost done! I can say that you sharing is helping.

I have developed this weird tan from my armpit around the outside of my breast to the area underneath it. The RO says this is normal. I have developed a darker redder patch the size of my thumb on the lower breast. My dh is sacrificing an old soft T-shirt for me so I don't chafe there.

He gave me this idea to put an ice pack in my saline soak water that keeps it nice and cold. It feels REAL good after being out in this muggy hot weather.

I also feel tired and overwhelmed. The every day treatment and trying to juggle life is exhausting. And that little niggle of 'will this be enough' doesn't help. All I know is that we are strong, we are survivors, and we will get thru this. Have a good weekend ladies.

Opt4life, I think it depends on how extensive your tumor is and also what they are radiating. My sister is a radiologist and at her center they prefer the breath hold or an apparatus for left side rads, only due to what she calls radiation scatter. But that is them,and she says its a case by case basis.

I have the breath hold because my chest nodes and neck nodes above my clavicle were radiated and my tumor bed was dead cernter in my chest. Additionally with medical professionals in the family and having access to my medical team I think they went with safer than sorry. I can say it did make me feel better with all the calibrations and practice to make sure I could hold my breath.

Kechla, thank you for that piece of information. I am allergic to sulfa

19 or 34 complete, but I'm getting crazy insomnia! I'm exhausted, but can't sleep and if I take anything I get restless leg syndrome. This is new for me. Has anyone else had issues getting sleep? My oncologist thought I was nuts and wanted to give me sleeping pills, but I don't want to start that stuff.

Amie0215 I've had restless leg syndrome off and on since starting rads. I think it's because I'm on that hard table and it's does something to the nerves in my right leg. Ofcourse they say no it's not rads, but um YES it is. I'm so knocked out, that I take a nap and then sleep 10 hours.

I still have no appetite. Before rads it was fine, not great but definitely not like it is now. I have to push to eat just about anything. Strange I think I ate more on chemo. You just never know. I'm afraid when it comes back it will with a vengeance.

I am using prescription Betamethasone ointment twice daily. It worked ok when things first started getting itchy, but not at this point. I may call my nurse on Monday and ask for something different.

Coconut oil with some lavender drops is soothing, so is pure Calendula. Still doing aloe as well

My neck is raw and peeling. Woke up skin scraped off everywhere. Nothing seems to help. I have all of the following

miaderm

calendula

aquaphor

silvadine mixture prescribe(it does stop the pain)

RO says to be expected, along with a sore throat. Oh well only 4 more boost to go.

Welcome DaraB and all the other newbies.