Summer Rads 2016

Hello All

Last radiation is today. Whew hoo wee.. Congrats to all nearly done, and those in the beginning or middle, in your pocket.

Congratulations Val & Carlsoda .... 🎉🎉🎉

Can't wait till I can claim that milestone 12 more to go!!!!

Jenniferjo - I got my first Lupron shot this week, I'm halfway through rads. I'm starting to get tired, and achy. Almost like a heaviness trying to move. I don't know if it's the rads or the meds. I think it's the fatigue from radiation.

I have just finished week 4 and it was a real bear. Itching and redness and soreness - OUCH. I have one more week of full breast and then 8 boosts. Hoping and praying my skin will hold up - it is close to blistering especially on the chest area. Uncomfortable to move and sleeping is difficult. Doesn't matter that I am tired - just rolling over wakes me up. Praying these next 13 go well and I can say I am done. Praying I never have to go through this again.

That's good to hear, Karen. Which cream did you use? ( too lazy to go back and find it)

Hi everyone, today was my 15th session and as I was getting ready for bed, I noticed that my lumpectomy incision was bleeding. My skin is slightly tan, in fact it's under my arm that is a little swollen and irritated. Did anyone experience bleeding? It's not gushing or anything, but it's startling to see. I'm afraid to touch it.

Hi there. Started radiation treatments on July 20th. Treatment plans consists of 30 rounds in total. This is due to having 5 positive lymph nodes. Now I have to complete radiation to the whole breast, lymph node area in my arm pit, lymph nodes near collarbone and the mammory lymph nodes. Have 13 treatments completed to date. So far the side effects are not too bad. A bit of pinkness in my skin colour. The biggest complaint I have would be the soreness and stiffness in my arm and armpit area. I'm thinking this would have to do with the fact I had an axillary dissection done at the end of June so when my radiation started I had only been in my 5th week of recovery therefore my body wasstill trying to heal. One thing I am struggling with is anxiety while receiving the radiation treatment. Anyone else experiencing this and if so what are you doing to help relieve the anxiety. I have 17 more treatments to go. I thought that radiation would be a walk in the park after having my lumpectomy with sentinel node removal, 6 rounds of TAC chemo, axillary dissection. But that's not the case. 😁. Any suggestions would be most welcomed

Hello, anyone else notice soreness in knees/legs after completing rads? It's like I can't walk long without my legs being tired. It started during the later part of rads. They said it's expected, between surgery, chemo etc to have leg aches? Not pain but like a tiredness?

HI BlackRockPB, yes they say it's a result of the chemo and that more walking will help. Here is hoping it gets better.

I also found something to soothe my burning broken skin. Domeboro packets. You dilute them in warm water, soak a cotton cloth and lay it on the areas, it gets the dead skin off and helps dry it. someone may have mentioned this and i missed it. wanted to pass it on

....and I am done. It was pretty underwhelming. I am so glad to be done though- I will miss my rad therapists, but not the doc so much. After I was done I had my weekly meeting with him and I made the mistake of saying," well, I guess I can call myself cancer free now." His response- "well, we won't know about that until after your mammogram in 6 months"

I am calling myself cancer free now.

My RO said I have no evidence of disease. So I'll take it. Sounds like cancer free to me.

I was finally able to start back today. My skin is still pretty raw under my breast so we decided to do the 8 boosters now and then finish up with the remaining 4 whole breast sessions. So we did the first of the boosters today and that leaves 7 boosters and 4 whole breast.

I am feeling a lot better. I can't wait to finish this up.

Anyone else have swelling towards the end of treatment? I saw my RO today and she is concerned about swelling in my breast (possibly lymphadema). I'm hoping this is just minor swelling due to skin issues. I was pretty raw under my arm for almost two weeks. Also, I have an implant so not sure how that may be affecting it. Keeping fingers crossed.

I started boosts Monday and just have 6 to go! Counting down the days!! Plus, enjoying the relief under my arm. Skin is already healing!

Also, made my appt today for my first round of chemo. That will start in 2 weeks. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the thought of that...

Thanks Valstim. Mine is more all encompassing. The whole breast looks larger. The RO did say though if it continued to swell to where the skin was tight, she would drain it. So not exactly sure how that works...

Kechla, I did not have swelling so can't help you there. I was so scared of chemo just because of all the people who I saw go through it years ago. It is quite different now and I found it surprisingly doable. In fact, rads were more bothersome to me than chemo was since the side effects lasted so long and it was so sore.

I had 3 of FEC and then had Taxotere with my Hercepton for 3. If you get the neulasta shot be sure to take clariton starting the day before for 5 days or more if needed. Neulasta gives bone pain and some find it quite hard. I followed all instructions to a t and didn't have any nausea during any of my chemo because I took pills preventativly rather than waiting to feel nauseated because it is too hard to control after the fact. I took stool softener starting the day of for a few days until I knew I was okay and immodium the next week only once as i seemed to be one then the other. I did get mouth sores that were rally in the back of my throat and made my throat feel like knives were in it. Eventually I kept the mouth rinse premixed and by me all the time to use instead of just when I went to the washroom. I actually was usually fine and waiting for my next treatments a lot sooner then I expected! They should get you to ice your hands and feet too during Taxotere .

Good luck and any questions you can message me. Don't worry too much about the chemo. I know it is the fear of the unknown but I am hoping you do not find it too difficult!