Summer Rads 2016

Elaine! I feel for you so much! I am glad you have had a break and hope they will make it a little longer for you. Mine is getting crusty so to,speak where it has peeled and where it is peeling. I still have about a 2 inch red streak across my side going directly to my incision area. That still hurts a lot. It has not hit the peeling stage yet. I cannot Imagine that pain you felt taking your camisole off . Gentle gentle hugs to you!!! I find I get a lot of sharp pains in my breast. Some days worse than others. Anyone else? Also I have quite a hard lump where my incision is.

Kechla, I would be throwing everything at it too and would have chosen chemo. Although it's not enjoyable I sure found it better than what I am going through now.

Still tired during the day and I nap and then I can't sleep at night. Last night I took my pill so I could sleep because my nap was late and long. Trying not to nap today, it is hard when there is not a lot you can do because of being so sore

I still shower as usual, coolish water, use Dove for sensitive skin as I was instructed to use and wash thoroughly my whole body including my breast but I keep my back to the water and only let it hit me when about to wash and when rinsing everything off. Has worked fine for me and I do it daily to get all the cream off my skin and keep it clean. I am very gentle and don't use a cloth at all, just soap and gentle hands. I find the dove makes it easy because it is moisturized.

Thanks so much ladies. Yes I have the Betamethasone Valerate Ointment. It gives relief but I seem to have to apply it so often.

I just hate how the creams peel up This too shall pass. whew.

gardengypsy I'm semi retired and worked from home before this dx. So at least I have that advantage.

Thanks Karen. It was not an easy decision, but it feels like the right one.

Showering..., pretty much just dove soap and no washcloth. I avoid water hitting any area that is raw, but find it soothing on the areas that just itch.

Karen, when was your sugery,compared to when you started rads?

Kechla, can I ask why your MO is using taxotere instead of taxol

You ladies are so great. I appreciate the support. I think part of it is after chemo,surgery I was not mentally ready for radiation side effects.

Kechla sorry you had to make that decision but if it's any consolation, I would have done the same. I think you're doing the right thing, tackling it systemically while you're young and healthy!

Happy Birthday LMF! Valstim and EJ - hope you recover soon. Your experiences sound extremely painful. I have had 12/28, so far can't complain, there is a bit of soreness and twinges of pain, but my skin is holding up. My armpit is definitely swollen though, and slightly pink. I don't think it will hold up for another 16 rounds.

Karen, that was supposed to say when was your surgery. How long did you have between surgery and rads

My MO chose for me. I have been looking at the hair board and I know there is a lawsuit about permanent hair loss from taxotere. While I didn't have the typical allergic reaction that they look for with taxol, I did break out in hives and then a taxane rash a month after starting taxol. The hives went away in 5 days, but the after effects of the rash are still slowly fading. Miserable as the hives were, and ugly as the rash is, I'd still rather risk that than permanent hair loss.

I appreciate the what would you do differently thoughts. Keep them coming. It will help those of us on the fall rads board.

i tried the cabbage leaf-very soothing. Also someone suggested to me that if I wear a bra, to put a washcloth, guaze or something really soft under the bottom of my breast under the bra to absorb any moisture and reduce friction. it has helped a lot

Hi llkkgandm. Good luck with your rads. I would prefer it done accurately as well so daily X-rays would have been fine with me too! No sense going thru it if it's not treating you properly.

LMV I had my surgery December 17th and started chemo the first week of Feb. I did chemo until May 23 and started rads a month later. So it was just over 6 months between surgery and rads. I now do Hercepton until April.

Still raw across one band on my side towards the lumpectomy site. Amazing the warmth that comes off a radiated breast. I am going to see my family doctor this morning so he can see how I am progressing with all this so I may show him.

Things I would do different: After surgery I would have had my doctor ask fo light duties when I went back to work. I was in a pickle because I had booked a vacation to Mexico months before with no cancellation insurance and was to go a month after surgery. Although my doctor wanted me on short term throughout it all, I just could not do it and be going away. So I worked and I do a lot of lifting. I wore myself down and had a breakdown of sorts 2 days before my trip. I went on the trip but was worn out totally. Crying when I need to is another one, I hid it a lot due to my 25 year old. I am the only one he has left and this terrified him. He is better now with it but throughout this whole thing no matter where I go I am the smiling, laughing and acting like I don't have a care in the world. I'm feeling it now, being so rundown from all this and sore. Other than that I did everything I was supposed to. I followed instructions to a T each step of the way. The rad burns could not have been avoided. I used only what I was told on them, but the nurse warned me of this my last visit. Oh ....I know! I would not have eaten so many carbs during chemo. I think I have gained close to 30 lbs and now that it is done, I feel crappy about myself with all this weight and only half an inch of hair! You'd never know tho....keep my smiley face

I'm very happy for you , Carlsoda! Check in w us to let us know how you do w tamoxifen. But my ultimate wish for you and all of us is to move on and be free of the everyday worries we've carried through each of our ordeals. Congrats graduate

Congrats Carlsoda! I like to hear these stories of what you would do differently. I think my family thinks that everything is getting back to "normal" - my hair is growing back, I'm not the space cadet I was on chemo. But today I will only be half way through rads, and I'm definitely getting tired in the afternoon. I say I am going to go lay down and then my bedroom becomes Grand Central Station! It's such a bummer because I was feeling so good after my second surgery, feeling run down again is just tiresome, literally. I work from home, so at least there is that flexibility.

I had my first Lupron injection this week, will start the Letrozole after the second injection in 4 weeks. I've been slightly fatigued this week, so I have no idea if I have side effects. Can't complain.

Glad to hear you are doing better Valstim!