Starting Rads in January 2017

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

    Yay, Cali and DIV!

    Lyn

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  • Tunegrrl
    Tunegrrl Member Posts: 196
    edited February 2017

    Congrats, Kattis!

    I had the last of my whole-breast rads today, beginning the five boosts tomorrow. Skin doing amazingy well. Emu oil and sea buckthorn oil worked well, it seems.

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  • Kattis894
    Kattis894 Member Posts: 218
    edited February 2017

    Hi Tunegrrl,

    I love oils for my skin but they told me I was not suppose to use oils but a thin lotion for the radiation...missing my olive oil..did they not tell you the same thing? I have not heard anything about any boosts either, have to ask tomorrow. Two weeks left. Then I am checking my kidneys to get Zoledron Acid (twice every year for 3 years) to protect the bones since I started Femara and heard it is also good to prevent metastasis in the bones. I am suppose to have my healthy breast made smaller as well, would love to have this done and healed before summer. It never ends and that depresses me.


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  • SuprSurvivr
    SuprSurvivr Member Posts: 139
    edited February 2017

    Katiss894, I have a friend who is going thru radiation too, who started 7 days before me. She got a mastectomy and I got a lumpectomy. She is not getting the boosts which are five last, somewhat higher doses just to my breast that had the tumor. I would suspect that is why you haven't heard of the "boosts." Glad your lump ending up not being a big concern!

    My drs seemed to prefer the emu oil and aquaphor, although I'm throwing in Miaderm right after treatment.

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  • Caligirl55
    Caligirl55 Member Posts: 486
    edited February 2017

    Good luck DiV and ArtyMom ...tomorrow is a great day for you both.

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  • Elem
    Elem Member Posts: 327
    edited February 2017

    How is it going ElizabethAm?

    How many tx's are you getting ? Hope it is going well without sny sides.

    Take care

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  • ElizabethAM
    ElizabethAM Member Posts: 245
    edited February 2017

    Elem -- Happily, I finished on the 25th of January. Thank you for asking.

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  • Elem
    Elem Member Posts: 327
    edited February 2017

    Glad hear that . I will getting the radiation 20 total of them over 4 weeks . Once a day 5 days a week.

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  • Tunegrrl
    Tunegrrl Member Posts: 196
    edited February 2017

    Kattis, my RO said i could use whatever i like, as long as there is no oil on my skin during treatment sessions. I usually wash the area before i go, to be careful, but a couple of times i haven't and there was no oily residue just supple skin. The techicians checked me out and agreed it seemed fine. I am super happy to have no skin troubles. Whether it is by chance or due to the emu oil and (when that ran out) sea buckthorn oil, i do not know. They really are lovely to use, though.

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  • brigid_TO
    brigid_TO Member Posts: 75
    edited February 2017

    Well well well congrats to CaliGirl, Arty,and DiV for finishing treatment!!!

    Hello and welcome to all the new posters this week and everyone else still making it through...

    Checking in now 3.5 weeks past finishing radiation my treatment. My breast looks pretty much/mostly matching the untreated breast. The extra colour has significantly faded and the swelling is way down. Too early to say how the size will match up yet between the lumpectomy and radiation. My nipple is still sensitive and I get a few tweaks of pain here and there. My energy is good- still get a moment or two of radiation fatigue but it passes. So all in all I would say recovery has been pretty good.

    I have moved on from all of my lotions and potions to switching between coconut oil (organic, virgin, cold press) and shea butter (raw with lavender) a few times a day.

    Between 4-12 weeks past completing treatment is the danger zone for radiation pneumonitis. There is not much to be done to avoid although I am taking some Milk Thistle based on one mouse study. Google:The ameliorative effect of silibinin against radiation-induced lung injury: protection of normal tissue without decreasing therapeutic efficacy in lung cancer


    Avoiding fibrosis is trickier-it is most likely to surface within 24 months but can be a problem for up to 10 years. Stretching, massage and aerobic exercise can be helpful.

    Other than that I am turning my mind to anti-hormone therapy and have an upcoming MO appointment to make a decision on how to proceed.

    Hang in there everyone. I read all the posts and send best wishes every day.





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  • Germangirl16
    Germangirl16 Member Posts: 97
    edited February 2017

    Tomorrow will be rads 23 of 33. Have minor dermatitis area, but otherwise looks and feels pretty good. Hope everyone has a good week of treatment!

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  • Tunegrrl
    Tunegrrl Member Posts: 196
    edited February 2017

    Give'r, Germangirl! Congrats on doing well with your skin so far.

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  • Elem
    Elem Member Posts: 327
    edited February 2017

    Do you all just drive yourselves to and from radiation tx's? Do you feel normal afterwards ? Just starting to stress a little over starting rads . Thank yo

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  • kshorten
    kshorten Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2017

    Elem - I drive myself everyday, My DH isn't a morning person and I have to be there at 8:30. I feel perfectly fine after my radiation.

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  • SuprSurvivr
    SuprSurvivr Member Posts: 139
    edited February 2017

    I drive myself, too. No issues. In fact, I run by the gym for an hour of cardio before I go home.

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  • kellychameleon
    kellychameleon Member Posts: 100
    edited February 2017

    Congrats to those that have finished! I just finished 15 of 33. I still feel completely normal as far as energy level is concerned, but I woke up this morning with a pretty bad rash all over my armpit and breast. My doctor prescribed me a steroid cream, so hopefully that will help. I'm heading to Breckenridge on Friday and going skiing (which I haven't done in a LONG time). Hopefully I'll still be feeling okay and don't kill myself!

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  • Tunegrrl
    Tunegrrl Member Posts: 196
    edited February 2017

    Elem, rads are a walk in the park. Really the most relaxing and pleasant part of the whole breast cancer circuit. I leave the treatment room with a big smile and a spring in my step each time, because i fist bump a tech on the way out and it is a silly bit of fun that lightens the mood.

    If you can find some sort of happy ritual to add to your treatment, so much the better. Might as well enjoy the ride!

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  • Caligirl55
    Caligirl55 Member Posts: 486
    edited February 2017

    Elem....I drove myself to all rads ...sometimes on the way home I would treat myself to an iced chai tea. I figured I deserved it.

    Kellychameleon ....hope that rash clears up so you can have a great time at Brekenridge and please don't have any accidents ...you have been through enough.

    Katiss....the boost is to hit the exact spot of your lumpectomy incision. I felt a lump and got a bit worried then realized it was right below my lymph noids incision so I'm sure it's some swelling from the 2 removed.

    Hope y'all are having a good week.

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  • Elvin
    Elvin Member Posts: 13
    edited February 2017

    Starting on Monday (20th). I'm so sick and tired to go to the hospital. To go now every day for 30 sessions is frightening me.... during weekly taxol I was always a mess.

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  • brigid_TO
    brigid_TO Member Posts: 75
    edited February 2017

    Hi I don't have a car and was able to walk or take public transit to my treatments each day. There is not much to the treatments themselves-they really just take a few minutes and you don't feel anything. Early on the treatments are easier-later treatments may be less so with possible skin effects and fatigue. You can read back to see the range of what people have dealt with. Myself? I just gritted my teeth and got through without too many difficult moments. Before you know it you are on the other side of them. It is important to take care of yourself, rest, drink lots of water and exercise the best way you can. Treats are good! I was a fan of popsicles (mango, cherry, strawberry)- the fancy ones. I had a calendar I drew and marked off each day after treatment.

    Sounds cheesy but -one day at a time- you got this.

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  • SuprSurvivr
    SuprSurvivr Member Posts: 139
    edited February 2017

    I have that same marked up calendar, Brigid_TO! Very satisfying to make those X's every day! I'm on #14/33 today. I'm definitely tanner and a smidge pinkish but not painful. Take care, ladies

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  • Caligirl55
    Caligirl55 Member Posts: 486
    edited February 2017

    brigid...not cheesy at all...I got joy out of checking off each date on my printed off schedule they gave me.

    Elvin ...we will be here to help encourage you. Hopefully the radiation department runs smooth.

    SuprSurvivr....yay your getting there

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  • SuMarie
    SuMarie Member Posts: 37
    edited February 2017

    hello everyone,


    I'm 2 weeks since my last rad. I'm getting my energy back. Thr. biggest side effect I'm dealing with is the neuropathy from the chemo,,but that's another subject.

    I had 25 rads and my skin was fine until the last 5. Then it start getting 'sun' burnt, red and rashly. Right after my last rad I developed blisters and very red burnt skin. The skin on my chest ( i had a mascetomy) starting to peel a few days ago. My arm bit , which was already a tender spot due to a lymph node dissection, is very burn and blisters GP or MD treated the burns twice. He told me you can put anything on the blistery burnt skin it needs to dry on its own. After the scabs fall off I can use lotions and creams to help my skin recuperate. I'd like to post a picture of my arm pit but it's pretty gross. What do you gals think? Should I post the photo?


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  • RitaR551
    RitaR551 Member Posts: 42
    edited February 2017

    SuMarie- I vote yes. I have 4 rads left and am getting pretty red. I'd like to see what to expect if the skin blisters

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  • ArtyMom
    ArtyMom Member Posts: 71
    edited February 2017

    The skin in my armpit split open with about 10 treatments left, my skin was really red and raw. My doctor said to keep putting aquaphor on it and also the Miaderm patches which really help with the friction of everyday movement. There were a couple of days where I didn't sleep well because anytime I would move the pain would wake me up. I then stayed home to rest. As fast as my armpit got red, it healed and. It is now very tan. My boost site is now very red and angry but I keep slathering on the moisturizer every chance I get. Don't worry, it will all get better


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  • Caligirl55
    Caligirl55 Member Posts: 486
    edited February 2017

    Yikes ...y'all wouldn't want to see my split armpit pictures... My RO gave me Silvadene cream to help dry out and heal it. It does all get better that's why these posts help you get through it ..together

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  • kshorten
    kshorten Member Posts: 102
    edited February 2017

    Hit my halfway mark this morning. 11 more and 6 boosts and I'll be DONE!

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  • SuMarie
    SuMarie Member Posts: 37
    edited February 2017

    yes, it does all get better. My skin is peeling like a snake shedding its skin. I wasn't prepared for the burns.

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  • RitaR551
    RitaR551 Member Posts: 42
    edited February 2017

    I'm wondering what a couple of you gals mean by your skin is splitting. Is it blisters that are more intense than normal or like dry skin cracks

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  • Ruby3813
    Ruby3813 Member Posts: 96
    edited February 2017

    Mind if I join you ladies? Just got my official diagnosis yesterday. I had my lumpectomy last Monday, 2/13 and will be having lymph node removal/testing this Monday. Sometime after that, I'll be starting rads. Don't know all the ins and outs yet, or even who my rads dr will be, but I'm ready to get this show on the road!

    God Bless us everyone! :-)


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