Starting Radiation in May 2017

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  • Nancy618
    Nancy618 Member Posts: 374
    edited June 2017

    ML1209: Hope the meeting with the RO goes well. My suggestion would be to go back in this thread and read. A lot of information to be had! And if you have any specific questions to ask away!


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  • ML1209
    ML1209 Member Posts: 241
    edited June 2017

    Nancy618 - ignore my post on the LX lounge lol!

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  • CeliaC
    CeliaC Member Posts: 1,320
    edited June 2017

    ML1209 - Welcome to this topic! You may want to take a look at a rather lengthy post I did on 5/3/17 on pg 2 of this topic - lots of various info about rads, gathered from my experience and that of others. Ask your questions here or feel free to PM me if you wish - remember, knowledge is power.

    Healing thoughts and gentle hugs to all!

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  • Peetie1
    Peetie1 Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2017

    Nancy-Just FYI I used Cortisone 10 yesterday and overnight and the rash is so much better! Good luck to you!

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  • Nancy618
    Nancy618 Member Posts: 374
    edited June 2017

    Peetie: I think I'll have to look for that one tomorrow. I used a generic one from Publix that I got in Florida when I broke out from some sunscreen. It felt better until I took a shower today and now it's back to itching and looking really red again. I also take hydroxizine at night for sleep and it's an antihistamine, so that may have helped overnight too.

    ML1209: TOO LATE!

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  • Nancy618
    Nancy618 Member Posts: 374
    edited June 2017

    I forgot to mention that today, after treatment 19 of 20, I noticed the radiated breast is noticeably smaller, firmer and my nipple is at least an inch higher than the other one, which I assume means that it is perkier. 😀

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  • RoseRN1
    RoseRN1 Member Posts: 153
    edited June 2017

    Have to laugh about the one perky breast. I have that too! I think my burn is starting to turn tan! I never tan. I can even burn with an SPF of 30

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  • Connie1230
    Connie1230 Member Posts: 192
    edited June 2017

    I find it interesting that some of you have noticed differences in breast size with radiation (and that perky breast Nancy 618). I can't tell a difference at all. Now I wonder why. Mine definitely looked and actually still does more tan than the other

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  • amw5
    amw5 Member Posts: 189
    edited June 2017

    I started radiation therapy treatment in May 2017, and I have 4 treatments left. My skin has been holding up great. I mixed up my own (natural) skin moisturizer (same thing I used during chemotherapy). I have not experienced the dreadful fatigue that is expected (thank God). I hope everyone is doing ok.

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  • Goincrzy8
    Goincrzy8 Member Posts: 387
    edited June 2017

    Home from todays radiation appointment, and glad to have an 8:30 am appointment. Coming home today the car said it was 92 degrees at 9:15 am......gonna be a scorcher here in SO CA. So my chest is pink and it is too hot to go outside today. I am going to keep my chest lathered in good ol aquaphor all day and see if helps applying more often today. I am almost done....15 more.

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  • Tappermom383
    Tappermom383 Member Posts: 643
    edited June 2017

    I dragged my way through strength training class today - think it was a combination of the heat and the fatigue from rads (I've done 21/33). My instructor came to me at a water break to see how I was doing. Told me to just do what felt comfortable and not to feel like a failure. Why do I always feel on the verge of tears when someone is kind to me?

    I'm really glad I lined up friends to drive me down and back; I couldn't do it myself today.

    MJ

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  • bravepoint
    bravepoint Member Posts: 404
    edited June 2017

    Tappermom383 - I think we're all over emotional during rads. I know I sure was! It took nothing to make me cry. You're doing great! Stay strong. Almost done!!

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  • Nancy618
    Nancy618 Member Posts: 374
    edited June 2017

    LAST radiation treatment today!!! YAY! Although, I had a great experience where I went for treatment and all the people wonderful. I brought them a tray of homemade cookies today and they were so appreciative. It was kind of like saying goodbye to friends and I left with a tear in my eye. I'm still broken out on the inside edge. I have a tan only in the area that was tan in Florida in February, which is rather odd! Rest of the breast is only mildly pink. I was told that the fatigue and skin reaction will peak 1-2 weeks after the end of radiation. We're going to our cottage for 3 weeks, so I'll be sure to relax and let myself heal.

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  • Tappermom383
    Tappermom383 Member Posts: 643
    edited June 2017

    Yay, Nancy! I'm sure they loved those cookies. I guess rads are the gift that keeps on giving!

    MJ

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  • Peetie1
    Peetie1 Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2017

    Congratulations Nancy!!! I also finished up today! I am glad that you posted information on the fatigue and skin issues peaking in one to two weeks, I did not hear that, so that will alleviate some worry in the next couple of weeks.


    For everybody still going through rads, I am sending prayers that it goes smoothly for all of you.

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  • bravepoint
    bravepoint Member Posts: 404
    edited June 2017

    Yeah, Peetie and Nancy! It feels so good to be finished. My skin reaction peeked about 1 week post rads. Now, 3 weeks out it's pretty much back to normal.

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  • Tappermom383
    Tappermom383 Member Posts: 643
    edited June 2017

    I'm feeling a bit apprehensive now as I booked a flight to go to my daughter's a week after my rads end. Guess I'll ask the RO what I should take with me for skin care. I've done really well so far (22/33) - just some pinkness and some soreness.

    MJ


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  • MexicoHeather
    MexicoHeather Member Posts: 365
    edited June 2017

    Nancy618: Thanks for mentioning rashes and even the acne from the hair follicles. I am glad the link posted the photo. Awesome.

    Yesterday was a really hard day, and I had the rash. ARNP was trying to say it was stress. I have that, too, but this is from the rads. She did apologize for making me cry.

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  • Goincrzy8
    Goincrzy8 Member Posts: 387
    edited June 2017

    Nancy and Peetie congrats on being done. I am down to 13 more treatments till I am done. Tapper I may run into you on Monday, they changed my appointment to 3:45 as I am going out town this weekend. I made reservations for Las Vegas on the last day of treatment. My daughter and her Oregon BFF are coming and my son and daughter in law with my 2 grands to celebrate the end of this chapter in my life.

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  • SJI
    SJI Member Posts: 69
    edited June 2017

    Congrats to those who finished radiation. I'm down to the last three boosts. My infection cleared up with the antibiotics. Ended up missing only one session due to the infection. Luckily it was a Friday so ended up having three days in a row off which I think helped.

    Been using aquaphor and aloe vera and my skin is in good shape.

    Only problem is a large lump in area of lx. Surgeon drained a seranoma a week ago. This lump didn't go down. He mentioned it might be tissue that folded over. I am hoping it is something related to radiation and will go away once radiation ends. Might be wishful thinking on my part.


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  • ML1209
    ML1209 Member Posts: 241
    edited June 2017

    Tappermom - yes, when my son went through radiation his RO told us that radiation is the gift that keeps on giving .... not always gifts we want either.

    Nancy618 - yay .... celebrate!

    amws- would you be willing to share you recipe for moisturizer?

    CeliacC - thank you .... great info!

    RO appt went well. I will have mapping next Tuesday, then start radiation 5 to 7 days later. They said they will give me deodorant and cream to use. Thank you all!

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  • Nancy618
    Nancy618 Member Posts: 374
    edited June 2017

    Thanks for the congratulations on being DONE! Yes, the gift that keeps on giving. I am so fatigued and no stamina. I just wish everyone around me understood that. Along with the fatigue comes depression, I guess. I am extra sensitive to comments both good and bad. I went to Zumba yesterday which totally kicked my butt. Came home so exhausted and my hips so sore could barely waddle. I spent the rest of the day in bed because of an insensitive comment made to me about it. Ugh. I just can't deal with more stress or negativity right now.

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  • Peetie1
    Peetie1 Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2017

    Nancy-Your comments are again so interesting to me!! I have also been so sensitive. I wonder if the fatigue has anything to do with the sensitivity? I find myself crying over the smallest things right now. I also find myself worrying about cancer spread with every ache and pain, common sense tells me that I am wrong, but I can't help it...

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  • Nancy618
    Nancy618 Member Posts: 374
    edited June 2017

    Peetie: I think you just gave me a complement. I am sure it's everything rolled into one. Fatigue, new medication, and I thought of one today while taking a 2 miles walk. (I'm not really fatigued, I'm just using it as an excuse not to do things!) For 3 months, I've been BUSY, and various health professionals have been watching over me, have had lots of appointments, friends have been extra attentive and kind, always asking how I'm doing. Now that rads are done....all of that is pretty much over. It's sort of like "letdown" after a big event. Now we have to figure out what the new norrmal is and get on with our lives. Sound crazy???

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  • Tappermom383
    Tappermom383 Member Posts: 643
    edited June 2017

    Not crazy at all, Nancy. On one of the threads here, in fact, that was a topic of discussion (don't ask me where - my brain doesn't remember anything anymore). I think we feel protected by all these professionals, that as long as we're in their care, we're OK. Once we're just out there, we feel abandoned.

    Peetie - I told Nancy yesterday that I told my RO nurse how I felt on the verge of tears all the time. And it doesn't have to be something negative that someone says to me. Even kindness sets me off. She said it's from the fatigue.

    Imagine if we were all able to get together in person - what a sight that would be! A group of exhausted blubbering women!

    MJ

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  • Nancy618
    Nancy618 Member Posts: 374
    edited June 2017

    MJ: Abandoned. That's a good word. And now I've been abandoned on a much more personal level. I'm not going to go into details. Private messages are ok though. just use some prayers. Thanks.

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  • Tappermom383
    Tappermom383 Member Posts: 643
    edited June 2017

    I just had #24 - only nine more to go - single digits! The therapist gave me three new tattoos to define my radiation borders. She said this is so, in the unlikely event I have to have the left breast radiated, they'll know the line not to cross. I sure would love to make something interesting of these tiny dots!

    MJ

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  • RoseRN1
    RoseRN1 Member Posts: 153
    edited June 2017

    Finished today! I'm so glad this is over and done with!

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  • Tappermom383
    Tappermom383 Member Posts: 643
    edited June 2017

    Congratulations, Rose!!!

    MJ


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  • Peetie1
    Peetie1 Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2017

    Congrats Rose! Let the healing begin!!

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