Starting Rads in January 2017

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  • dehalvemaen
    dehalvemaen Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2017

    I just started radiation on 1/23-had my 5th treatment today. One week down 3 more weeks to go. My left breast feels heavier than the right but otherwise I am doing OK. I am lucky to not be working during treatment as I have tons of sick time. My heart goes out to those of you that have to work and manage treatment at the same time.

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  • Lorri70
    Lorri70 Member Posts: 191
    edited January 2017

    I live in Ireland and I'm on sick leave, my radiation clinic is about 80 minutes drive each way so I couldn't fit working in as well as it's office, but having said that I don't know how you can work and do radiation I'm tired and emotional, even if I could work my employers wouldn't allow me to work.

    I like you Kellychamel have young children bit older than yours 6 and 9 it's mad mornings and then evenings with homework etc.

    I'm finished Wednesday I'm really looking forward to that, I'm having boosts for last 5, my skin is little bit pink not sore or itchy yet my clinic recommended no creams and my skin looks good 😊.

    I wear sports bra when I'm out and as soon as I come home I take my bra off seems to all be working

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  • Lorri70
    Lorri70 Member Posts: 191
    edited January 2017

    those of you working through this are fantastic I really couldn't do that

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  • ArtyMom
    ArtyMom Member Posts: 71
    edited January 2017

    23 down, 10 to go!!!! Got a nice massage today too, offered by the hospital, all part of my treatment!

    I'm calling myself itchy and bitchy for the foreseeable future!

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  • Caligirl55
    Caligirl55 Member Posts: 486
    edited January 2017

    Dehalvemaen....welcome ...yay for one week down!

    ArtyMom...yay for 23 down!

    I am 28 down ...5 to go!! Working has made it difficult but we do what we have to do. Had to take all my sick time with chemo and surgery! Having you ladies to encourage helps so much!

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  • RitaR551
    RitaR551 Member Posts: 42
    edited January 2017

    17 down 16 to go. Skin is holding up pretty well. Had some pain in the previous tumor area shortly afterwards. That was new. Anyone else experience this? It was the kind of pain that upsets your stomach, if you can relate

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  • brigid_TO
    brigid_TO Member Posts: 75
    edited January 2017

    Hi to everyone. Yeah to Elizabeth for finishing and hi to all the new posters. Caligirl55 I am very happy that you only have 5 remaining- you will be over the finish line soon now.

    Now 17 days past whole breast and 10 days past finishing my boosts. Outside of the boost area is now a light tan- has healed pretty well. The boost area, which is a horizontal strip right across my breast, is still red and peeling on some of the edges. Swelling is down some and nipple is getting better. My breast is still throwing out quite a bit of heat. I am not exactly sure what causes that?

    I will say my energy has improved- like a fog has lifted. I was so focused on getting through the treatments. Things now feel a little more normal. The low level hum of the fatigue really keeps you from interacting with the world normally.

    I am still using the lavender, lubriderm and aloe. In maybe another week or so I will start to switch to maybe shea butter or coconut oil.

    I did some reading to see what can be done to prevent any of the longer term side effects (eg fibrosis) -not so much-it's a bit of a dice roll. Still exercise, healthy eating, rest will be overall helpful.

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  • SuprSurvivr
    SuprSurvivr Member Posts: 139
    edited January 2017

    Hi, All! I really wanted to start on the rads just to get the ball rolling, so I called them exactly one week after CT scan/tatt apt. They called me in the next day for the dry run, and I got my first two "zaps" last week (whole breast and node field - four zap positions per session). So 2/33! Ha! My apts are at 3:15p, the latest my rad office will do. I'm going to try to work as much as possible, since I want to conserve that sick leave for the future (I will have a future, I will have a future 😉). I've been using Miaderm in the morning and right after, then emu oil in the evening, with aquaphor at night. RO nurse said that's ok for treatments. Since I'm able to work at home, I'm going to try to go braless as much as possible.

    Congrats to those who have finished and howdy to those who are joining! Let's get this stage over with, ladies!

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  • SuprSurvivr
    SuprSurvivr Member Posts: 139
    edited January 2017

    Oh, and funny story - after my first rad, I got a bit of a headache, mild nausea, and a side ache. Since it was Thursday, it was also time for my weekly dr/nurse meeting, so I told the dr about my aches. He replies, people don't have those symptoms. I was dumbfounded - what the heck am I, chopped liver?! 😂

    I thought it may have had something to do with getting my rads on an empty stomach, so I had a snack and some water before the second, and felt much better. Deep breathing in between and after also made me feel calmer.

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  • RitaR551
    RitaR551 Member Posts: 42
    edited January 2017

    DH and I went for an outing yesterday to see some green and living plants 😉. I think he was surprised I suggested it. We went to the arboretum in Ft. Wayne - hour and a half drive. It was good to get out. When I woke up this morning I was surprised to find I had slept 11 hours straight.

    image

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  • Caligirl55
    Caligirl55 Member Posts: 486
    edited January 2017

    Rita ...great picture ...I think you needed that outing look how well you rested after. I have had pain in the incision area lately. It is usually sharp.

    SuprSu... Funny story ...why the RO insist everything we ask about isn't to do with rads. Good to know you aren't a person??!!

    I am just burnt, sore & toasty ....5 more to go!!


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  • SuprSurvivr
    SuprSurvivr Member Posts: 139
    edited January 2017

    You got this, Caligirl55! You are on the home stretch! Thanks for being such an awesome member of this community. ✨🙏🏻

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  • ElizabethAM
    ElizabethAM Member Posts: 245
    edited January 2017

    Go Cali!! Go Cali!!

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  • Lorri70
    Lorri70 Member Posts: 191
    edited January 2017

    I've done 18 radiation sessions today 2 more to go I can't wait to finish as this has been so difficult I'm emotionally drained I hope I return to normal soon after I finish it's awful feeling like I'm In a black hole that I can't crawl out of , I've looked into massage counselling and things will do some things next week.

    Skin is bit spotty but grand so far.

    Very funny suprsuv the radiation therapists are all lovely, I wonder do they not se us as people🙄

    Wish I was there Rita instead of black hole lol looks great.

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  • SuMarie
    SuMarie Member Posts: 37
    edited January 2017

    hello Ladies, today was suppose to be my last radiation, the big 25 but the machine is broke. I'm really disappointed. I saw my MD and he put some medicine and a patch under my arm bit. It's getting very red and raw-ish. The rest of my chest is very red and sunburnt looking. Otherwise I'm ok.

    Congratulations to those of you that are done. Wonderful. :-)

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  • Lorri70
    Lorri70 Member Posts: 191
    edited January 2017

    aah that's very disappointing sumarie dragging on an extr dau

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  • brigid_TO
    brigid_TO Member Posts: 75
    edited January 2017

    alrighty SuMarie, Caligirl and Lorri- you are almost there. I know you are miserable now and it will likely carry on for a few more days post but you will feel *much* better soon.

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  • Caligirl55
    Caligirl55 Member Posts: 486
    edited January 2017

    Well darn ...my armpit split so my RO postponed my rads this week till Thursday so I won't be done till next Wednesday ... Got some silvadene cream ...not sure if I spelled it right ...too lazy to go read the jar. Felt terrible at work today so when I got to my radiation appointment they had me see the RO first.

    SuMarie ...I understand how disappointed you must be but maybe you needed an extra day to heal?


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  • Pamjenn
    Pamjenn Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2017

    Hi there


    Curious how things went for you? I'm starting rads on Monday Feb 6, my anxiety is highly shall we say lol.

    Thanks

    Jennifer

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  • Pamjenn
    Pamjenn Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2017

    Hi there


    Curious how things went for you? I'm starting rads on Monday Feb 6, my anxiety is highly shall we say lol.

    Thanks

    Jennifer

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  • VLH
    VLH Member Posts: 1,258
    edited February 2017

    I'm so sorry, Caligirl. :-(

    Are you having your lymph nodes radiated or can breast radiation alone cause the armpit skin to split? (Forgive my butting in despite not being done with chemo yet. With a history of cellulitis, I'm already freaked out about radiation.)

    Lyn

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  • Orangey
    Orangey Member Posts: 7
    edited February 2017

    SuMarie - hope you are done and resting

    Caligirl - hang in there. Cream on and rest. Chin up girl!! Hope you feel better soon.

    I started having a lot of nerve tingling yesterday and today. Well, it kinda started Sunday. Today I stayed home. Not sure how I'll get through tomorrow at work but I really need to go in to finish some lose ends. At most I've been fine for about 30 straight minutes since I've been awake today. Aside from the burning. I also feel like I am hunching a lot. But the nerve tingling is the worst.

    On another note, my aureola started to discolor. I got scared but, sure enough, I searched this website and someone has asked about it and someone has gone through it before and answered them I guess it's wait and see for now. It doesn't look like it's changing back though. I'm not a tattoo fan but I think I might go that way if it doesn't get its color back. That's so vain, right? I think that the stitches are enough reminder.

    What I couldn't find, and maybe someone here has experienced this, the tip of my nipple is hard, not the whole thing, just like a half a grain of rice in size. It feels like when you have dead skin on a finger, kinda rough. Aside from tender, the whole breast is tender.

    I see the oncologist Monday but am not due back to the RO till the 24th.

    Does anyone have this?

    While I mostly sailed through radiation, these last few days weren't so kind.

    For those of you just starting, we all started from different stages, some had chemo, some didn't, mastectomy, various other health matters that have made our own experiences different. For me, it's been nice reading how every one handles this and just hearing people sound out their frustrations. It has helped me put things in perspective and to pull myself together and get up and going.

    This got to long. Signing off for the night

    Nighty night

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  • Caligirl55
    Caligirl55 Member Posts: 486
    edited February 2017

    Jennifer...welcome ...we will be with you when you have questions. Really at first for me rads were pretty simple it's just lately I feel like a burnt marshmello boob and split armpit.

    VLH...the angle of my radiation has burnt my armpit the most. I hear when they do the boosts it will zero in on the incision area where the tumor was. So maybe my armpit can heal. The problem is I can't raise my one arm to grab the handles over my head because of the open wounds in the armpit..so lovely!

    Orangey....sounds like tomorrow we will both have a tough day at work. I'll keep you in my prayers if that's ok? My whole nipple area is discolored, swollen and so tender and throbs most of the time.

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  • VLH
    VLH Member Posts: 1,258
    edited February 2017

    Owie, Caligirl! I'm hoping I can find an RO who will do prone position, both because of the size of my breast & my shoulder encapsulation. The photos I've seen make that look a bit less punishing. Reaching for the overhead bars would be excruciating for me every day.

    Lyn

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  • SuprSurvivr
    SuprSurvivr Member Posts: 139
    edited February 2017

    Hi, ladies! Well, 5 down - I know I'm in the "honeymoon" phase, and I'm just waiting for the shoe to drop, so to speak. I went for a lymphadema eval today, mainly they took measurements and gave me exercises to do. I'll also get a compression sleeve to wear when flying and doing exercises. I would not have known to ask about getting the eval except for these forums so thank you!! Also, thanks for the heads up on the Jockey Elence camis, the Miaderm, green tea soaks, drinking lots of water, etc. Even my lymph specialist today, who just so happens to have the radiation time slot before me for ovarian, hadn't heard about Miaderm. Good stuff!

    Jennifer - breath thru the anxiety my dear, this too shall pass! I remember reading on here about how someone would think of good/positive things while getting treatment. I do that, say prayers for all those who've been on the table that day, and poof the times up!

    I'm thinking of you all pulling thru those last days. ✨🙏🏻✨

    Linda

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  • SuprSurvivr
    SuprSurvivr Member Posts: 139
    edited February 2017

    Oh, and Orangey, I haven't heard of that specifically, although from other Rad threads I've read, and from what Caligirl55 is going thru, it sounds like nipple issues happen. I've been putting a gauaze pad with aquaphor on mine after treatment and overnight to try and help. We'll see I guess Fingers crossed.

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  • ArtyMom
    ArtyMom Member Posts: 71
    edited February 2017

    OK, the armpit split open tonite, it was fine at 4:30 when the nurse checked me after treatment. I know it might delay treatment but what else should I know? Kind of afraid to moisturizer the area for now. I hVe only 7 treatments left and we start boosts tomorrow so maybe it won't be a problem. Ready for this to be over

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  • Caligirl55
    Caligirl55 Member Posts: 486
    edited February 2017

    suprSurviv....sounds like your doing good...I would of moisturizer my armpit more...I thought I had.

    VLH....my rads have been delayed because of not being able to grab that stupid bar over my head.

    ArtyMom...so sorry ..I feel your pain. Dr gave me Rx of Silvadene to put on open sore. Nothing helps me at this point. I have 5 boosts left to finish this chapter.

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  • Orangey
    Orangey Member Posts: 7
    edited February 2017

    kb870- one of the things with prone is you have to qualify. Your heart can't drop while in this position into the area being radiated. At least that is what I was told. I was checked laying down and face up. Just in case face down didn't work. Not sure if there were handles and/or how they were located. Face down, your armpit still gets radiation coming in from the side. Mine didn't really start getting color till last Friday or so. Now it's brownish on the outside.

    As for my nipple, I've only used Aquaphor and hydrocortisone. I thought it might be the hydrocortisone left lingering and thickening but rinsing it is not working 😠

    Gotta run. Everyone have a good day. Tomorrow will be here soon enough.


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  • ElizabethAM
    ElizabethAM Member Posts: 245
    edited February 2017

    KB970 -- I know how you feel and I asked the question too. I was told they only do prone on large breasted woman... My RO offered to get me into a trial on the prone position, but I just wanted to get it over with. I had had a breast reduction and the doc did not use the usual procedure, so my boobs are in my armpit and my chest is flat... I told the doc it would be better to use the prone position because on my tummy my boobs are like socks with rocks in them...

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