Summer Rads 2016

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  • Novor1
    Novor1 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2016

    Hello everyone!

    I am totally new to this site and just beginning to get my bearings how to navigate it. I go today for my initial consultation with my Radiation Oncologist and have found this forum helpful in preparing me for what is likely to come next. Once today's appointment is over, I should know how many treatments I will undergo.

    Thank you all for being an inspiration and a wealth of knowledge while trying to navigate through this nervous time.

  • Kali44
    Kali44 Member Posts: 65
    edited August 2016

    Hi everyone 😊

    I am not new to this site but this is my first time posting in this thread. However, I have been reading your posts for weeks trying to gather information to help me on my journey. Today was day 11/25 for me and I started to feel tired today. My skin has changed a little in color. I still have sensitivity from my surgery (mastectomy) and a little itching here and there but not too bad. I was told that because I did not have recon that I would have skin issues where the skin has folded 😐

    Am I one of the few who has had chemo, surgery (with delayed recon) rads and recon in a few months? I also have a bolus put on my radiated side (left) during treatment. I so appreciate all the info shared here by all of you. I am using eucerine now for my skin but started with calendula first and changed recently because I find eucerine has more body to it and my thinking, which is probably way off, is that it will protect me more 😆

    I am already tired of the daily grind and cannot wait for the time to past. It is going by quickly but it never seems fast enough lol

    Congrats to all who have completed their treatment. Wishing you all a good night 😊

  • ejmann44
    ejmann44 Member Posts: 89
    edited August 2016

    For skin folds, buy hydrogel products that you can put between the folds to absorb the heat. Also just plan on holding the folds up a few times a day to make sure they air out and stay dry. My mom even bought me a handheld fan that I held under my boob to cool it off. It really helped with healing.

    I am done today. Because my skin got really bad a while back I had to take a 10 day break. I'm all healed. We ended with 4 whole breasts so I expect a little irritation but my RO said the worst is past. Now to live my life and do all my follow-ups and continue with Arimidex. I wish everyone the best.

  • buttaflydiva
    buttaflydiva Member Posts: 88
    edited August 2016

    I finished radiation yesterday. it went by a lot faster than I thought it would. My skin is looking better, just a few rough spots now. One week there I was hurting all over, but some silvadene finally cleared it up.

  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited August 2016

    kali44, Aquaphor is a good one to use especially before the skin gets red. I had a lot of breaks, but they say it would have been worse if I had not used the aquaphor and pure aloe (i have a plant).

    my skin is finally healing and only the neck sores are still healing but better each day. i leave for vacation tomorrow and am so happy to be doing something other than the hospital or dr visits or port flushes.

  • 040716stillme
    040716stillme Member Posts: 8
    edited August 2016

    Hi Ladies, Today will be 24 of 33 treatments for me. I am having shooting pains "zingers". The doc told me that its the nerves re building themselves but the pains are now on the right side of my breast and my surgery site is on the left. I am going to ask her again today if this is normal. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

  • 2016CancerDX
    2016CancerDX Member Posts: 6
    edited August 2016

    I finished my rads Wednesday August 24 and am already feeling so much better. The soreness and redness is going away daily and hoping that by nest weekend I will be healed enough to swim. We will just wait and see. Then in September I start with anastrozole - anyone else out there taking it ? I think week 4 through 6 were awful and so glad it is done.

  • Amie0215
    Amie0215 Member Posts: 37
    edited August 2016

    I just finished my 34 proton treatments last week - 8 of which were boosts. My skin didn't start to really hurt until the last 4. It is now flaking off and is super sore. I'm using the vasaline with aloe in a spray can (it's green). This doesn't burn when I put it on and I don't have to touch my skin instead I just let it soak in. So far so good. The insisions under my arm and on my breast hurt the worst.

    Having aches were the tumor once was. I felt this pain before my cancer was discovered. I'm hoping it is just my body healing from everything it has been through.

    Valstim52, try putting a damp washcloth in the freezer. It will help soothe your burns at home. I sleep with mine on and have a back up for the middle of the night.

  • Isshin1heart
    Isshin1heart Member Posts: 8
    edited August 2016

    I had 5/20 on Friday. Burning started after 3rd tx. I am also having sharp pains. I knew i would probabIyou burn since I am fair but did not know about pain. have tall cell variant invasive papillary carcinoma. Had partial masectomy. No chemo. I am lucky. Tumor was small and stage 1. Left side so holding breath.

  • Isshin1heart
    Isshin1heart Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2016

    I had 5/20 on Friday. Burning started after 3rd tx. I am also having sharp pains. I knew i would probabIy burn since I am fair but did not know about pain. have tall cell variant invasive papillary carcinoma. Had partial masectomy. No chemo. I am lucky. Tumor was small and stage 1. Left side so holding breath.

  • Isshin1heart
    Isshin1heart Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2016

    I am getting the short protocol. 16 TX and 4 boosts. Started burning after 3 TX but the pain was a surprise. Fatigue set in after 4 tx. Only 11 tx and 4 boosts left. Not my idea of fun.

  • 33triple
    33triple Member Posts: 51
    edited September 2016

    Hanley I started the same day as you! 9 down 21 to go for me! I can't wait to catch up to the rest of you ladies who have finished!

    Starting to feel the fatigue and pain in my arm... But no burns yet!

    When does the burning typically start?

    I've been using the mometasone they prescribed.

    Hope you guys have a great Labor Day weekend


  • Kechla
    Kechla Member Posts: 231
    edited September 2016

    I am 2 1/2 weeks done with rads and now onto chemo. My 8 boosts (with bolus) did a number on my skin. It is finally mostly healed except for an area about the size of a nickel. It will not dry over and heal. It is not painful or infected, but is weepy and sticky (like a rugburn before it heals). Occasionally it bleeds a little bit (if it gets stuck to my shirt). Anyone else have this issue? It was this way before I started chemo too (everything else had dried over except this area.) I need to give my RO a call, but just thought I'd check in here.

  • sarahrae
    sarahrae Member Posts: 86
    edited September 2016

    33~ my skin didn't break or blister until my 24th off 33. My last 5 were boosts, since my tumor bed was around 10-11 o'clock the fold under my breast as well as most of my nipple were out of the rad field, which helped a lot. I had my chemo before rad instead of after which I think helped my healing time. Honestly, my skin turned around in 4 days. Of course, I am/was on a comprehensive supplement and creams regimen, which helped tons.

    best of luck!!

  • Opt4Life
    Opt4Life Member Posts: 191
    edited September 2016

    Fightergirl, apparently they had requested the 8 boosts originally but my insurance co turned them down without a medical neccessity form. Once that form was completed, insurance approved the boosts which are supposed to lower the recurrence risk in the same breast since I had a lumpy.

    I'm half way through the boosts and so at this point am just praying my skin continues to hold up. I am getting mild headaches sometimes too but MO says that is from the Aromasin

    Otherwise, I really do feel pretty good (praise HIM) and have resumed normal activity level to pre-diagnosis (with the added chemo weight at that).

  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited September 2016

    Hello all

    Though I suffered a mild stroke last week, my rad burns are completely healed. DD is still typing for me, but soon I'll be able to do so. Physical therapy is grueling but worth it. Hopefully I'll get back to a place of doing things soon. I'm trying to walk a lot

  • Kechla
    Kechla Member Posts: 231
    edited September 2016

    valstim, what??? Oh, I am so sorry! I hope you are ok.

  • Carlsoda
    Carlsoda Member Posts: 249
    edited September 2016

    Valstim.....oh no I am so sorry! Did it happen when you were on vacation? What is your prognosis? Praying for you!

  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited September 2016

    it happened the early morning hours before we were to leave. had to go by ambulance, was slurring my speech off balance, woke up with awful pain in my arm and hand. horrible.

    so i'm recovering. still not able to type but DD is helping me with it.

    they think my body has been through so much. no hypertension, except during episode. no heart issues. normal weight. i'm thinner now than i was at dx.

  • KarenInCanada
    KarenInCanada Member Posts: 271
    edited September 2016

    Valstim, so sorry to hear you have gone through that now too! I can only imagine how tough this has been and continues to be having to have physical therapy. My thoughts are with you and wishing you a speedy recovery from this

  • kittysister
    kittysister Member Posts: 212
    edited September 2016

    I'm so sorry Valstim .. so glad your DD is helping you. Prayers for a complete recovery.

  • hanley50
    hanley50 Member Posts: 146
    edited September 2016

    Hi Everyone - about half way through as of today #12/25 done! So far just a little redness. Using Aquaphor and Remedy Cream.

    Congrats to all those finishing and moving on with life! For those that are facing more treatment after RADS...I will be thinking about you!

    Valstim52 - {{{Hugs!!!}}}

  • hanley50
    hanley50 Member Posts: 146
    edited September 2016

    33Triple - I'm really tired too! I don't know if it's the RADS or if it is the fact that I have to physically go to RADS everyday? The blood work I had last week showed my WBC count was low and that has never happen before (I used Neulasta during chemo so it was always where it needed to be.) Maybe that's the culprit? Who knows! Maybe we are just tired from the entire process!! We should be!!

    Maryann


  • ejmann44
    ejmann44 Member Posts: 89
    edited September 2016

    RADS made me very tired. I was told by a lady in the office to drink Propel every day and it did help.

  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited September 2016

    I was very tired and the Propel helped me too. Now time has helped. Since my mild stroke I'm sleeping more though. 2 steps forward and 10 back.

    Hi hanley50. thanks for thinking about me. i saw your post on another thread.

  • Blinkie
    Blinkie Member Posts: 169
    edited September 2016

    I finished radiation four weeks ago. No matter how much I slept, I was fatigued. It has gotten better, and I am managing to get a few things done in the mornings. By afternoon, though, I'm knocked off my feet again.

    My skin has healed well, but there is one spot in the underarm that still itches. I have plenty of creme to put on it and when that doesn't help I use a super soft cloth soaked in cold water to calm down the sensations.

    Valstim52 - Sending you these flowers from the field behind our house.

    image

  • Valstim52
    Valstim52 Member Posts: 1,324
    edited September 2016

    They are beautiful. Thanks so much Blinkie

  • hanley50
    hanley50 Member Posts: 146
    edited September 2016

    Still plugging along here in the summer RADS...15/25 done today! Almost in the single digits!

    So today was the first time I had a male tech...2 of them! I was like, "Who the heck are these guys?" Oh, well, at this point I feel like everyone's seen my bare chest, what's a couple more guys thrown into the mix!

    Maryann

  • Kechla
    Kechla Member Posts: 231
    edited September 2016

    hang in there Maryann. Almost done. How is your skin holding up? I had a male tech almost every day. Not sure why, but had absolutely no embarrassment. I think at this point so many people have seen my boobs that it just doesn't even phase me.

  • hanley50
    hanley50 Member Posts: 146
    edited September 2016

    Hi Kechla! My skin is "pink" and "hot" and "tingly" - only way I can describe it! Overall not too bad. Hope it stays this way. I gotta believe there is one treatment that I can get through with no major issues (a girl can hope!)

    Maryann

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