Starting Radiation April 2017

Bravepoint, thank you for letting me know, I've learned something new today 😊

Bdagal and Whirlaway,

I was very sore for about 2 weeks after the end of rads. Was disappointed because I felt hardly anything during treatment. I think this is common, especially with the shorter, more concentrated doses.

However, if you don't gradually start feeling better, I would follow up with my MD, just to make sure nothing else is going on.

Regina

nayda, mine oozed too. Buy some men's soft white t-shirts. They helped immensely to keep the oozing under control and the open sore spot from becoming infected. I got larger t-shirts than I needed so I could stuff some of the side material up into my arm pit. I was amazed how fast the skin healed after treatments ended but the t-shirts were a life saver!

Nayda, I had some major redness and peeling over the collar bone area and I was starting to get concerned about it. But then, almost overnight, it started healing and the new skin showed up. Now, not even three weeks after the end of treatment, you'd never know it was ever damaged. I still have some light peeling going on over the boost area. I am still using Miaderm, athough I'm about out of it, so I'll have to just use another moisturizer for a while. My RO told me to be sure to use sunscreen on the radiation treated areas.

I am amazed at how quickly the body can heal itself!

Nayda, yes, you can't even tell that I had rads. Within a few weeks my skin was back to normal. It is amazing how such things can heal as Siciliana mentioned 🙂

6cats - I'm 2 weeks out from my whole breast rads and most of my skin is returning to normal. Where I had my 4 boosts though is still red, itchy and peeling. I am only 8 days out from that. My RO doesn't see me for 3 months.

I saw RO one month after rads ended and then go back in another 6 mos. Yet again - we see examples of how the various docs do things differently. Go figure.

nayda985 - I will be too! My skin around my scar is still super red and peeling off. Not sure how I'll get a bra on tomorrow but I have to.... maybe some kind of non stick pad underneath it.

I went for a one week check and now have another check in 2 weeks. Peeling but doc said it looks good. No sores but some swelling

Have had a lot of palpitations. I'm told that's somewhat normal. I don't have shortness of breath really. But the palpitations are annoying. Anyone else have this

ty bravepoint...so your bra didn't aggravate your burn area right?

6cats Why was part of your back radiated, what did they tell you about that

Scaredashell07 Can you talk more about the palpitations, and what you were told about them?

(I'm trying to decide whether to do rads or not and looking for info on these kinds of side effects.

Scared, I didn't have any palpitations at all during treatments. I've gone over the list of possible SEs with radiation that I was given and didn't see it mentioned. It's odd how so many of us have a wide range of SEs and others have none. In your pocket and praying it's not serious.

Epic, is your RO recommending rads? It's such a difficult decision to make. I had 2 positive nodes so it was much easier for me to do rads. I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to kill the beast!

I'm finally get my port removed in a few hours. I think I may actually miss the little guy. NOT!

Gentle healing hugs to everyone 🤗

Congratulations on your port removal Lori!😎

Hi Epicsquirrel... I have a similar history of dense breasts, multiple aspirations, etc. I know the whole thought of radiation is scary... but with a grade 2, I would be afraid not to. With mine at a grade 1, they still said it cut the chance of recurrence In half.

I've had both brachytherapy and whole breast radiation. If you are eligible for brachytherapy, I found it to be much easier on my body - 2x daily for 5 days.

Whole breast radiation made me more tired. In order to cover the entire breast (and avoid major organs), they did the radiation from two different angles. The part of my "back" that got radiated is just a little farther back than my armpit... almost as if I was wearing a tank top and got a bad sunburn. I was surprised that no one told me. At almost 3 weeks out I am no longer red but the skin is peeling in some spots.

Feel free to ask if you have any other questions

lohoff, your skin should return to normal 🤞 Mine still looks a tad darker but it's gotten soft again.