Starting Radiation August 2017

Met with RO yesterday and was told no tea. Only Aquaphor and/or 100% Aloe. I hope it does the trick.

Interesting though, that the doc's think it (its antioxidants) offer enough cell protection to possibly reduce the effectiveness of radiation. Once radiation is over, I'll add green tea to my diet and hopefully harness these benefits to protect against further progression, couldn't hurt.

I am going for my second treatment today. Everything was ok yesterday, I felt a few twinges last night but this morning my breast felt was normal. I did bring the baggie with cotton pads soaked in green tea and I will try that after treatment today. I am glad that for the last couple of years I have purchased bras without underwire when I could find them as it is much more comfortable for me. Thinking of you and wish you all speedy healing.

well 10 out of 30 (or 29) done.

I feel my body temp is up. Feeling more tired and yucky. Glad tomorrw is Friday and I just have PT.

Gonna crash very early tonight.

Mimi

Day 1 done and I didn't realize it started until it was almost over, I thought they were just trying to get the position right still. Had PT after, I've got a lot of work to do. My drain was in so long it delayed my recovery, oh well, I'm just happy to move forward.

Thanks for all the updates rebamacfan123, I'm using them as a guide of what's to come, it's so helpful.

7 down 17 to go. So far so good. Skin is good. Advanced Lubriderm immediately after treatments in dressing room and Aquaphor at night. Met with RO today and she said skin is great! Have been able to run every morning and did two miles today which is the first time I've done that distance since last chemo treatment so I was pleased today with myself. Finding radiation almost a reprieve after chemo if that makes any sense.

Someone had mentioned the Pallas trial. My cancer center is participating in that trial. My MO mentioned it to me at one of our earliest meetings and said I might be eligible if it's not filled up by the time I compete radiation. I've seen a thread or two on here dedicated to it so if you need more info do a search for it and it will come up. I think more than a few members of this forum are participating in it.

HapB: I also spoke to my RO about pain where my bra hits under my arm and he thinks it's entirely unrelated to radiation treatment even though it only happens when I get treatments. He said it's probably an injury from when I had surgery. I don't believe him either.

I am on my sixth treatment and my nipple pain started after my fifth treatment. It was horrible at work today, it feels like I have rope burn on my nipple. My lumpectomy scar is around the aeorele, perhaps that's contributing to the irritation. My breast is swollen and red but not painful. I am afraid that it will become unbearable since I have 9 more sessions. This is an odd question I want to ask. I had to immediately stop taking my birth control pills after my diagnosis. After that my nipples have stayed erect and have become sensitive to touch. I thought maybe I was pregnant and took a test and it was negative. Has anyone experienced this? It is quite odd and I believe has also contributed to my soreness during radiation

bareclaws- Wow 4:30?! Good for YOU!! That's awesome! I'm same way with getting the exercise in before treatment every day. It definitely sets me up mentally for the day!

Just finished my second week, 10 of 33 maybe 35 to go. So far so good. Slightly tanned still and it didn't get any worse this week. I finally asked today why they put a warm damp towel over the treated area and they said it's a bolous(sp) and it brings the radiation closer to the skin. I have expanders so that's probably why. She said I will have more skin irritation because of the bolous, great! I asked the Dr again about wiping down with green tea and he said it was ok. He looked at me as if to say "been on the internet huh?" He said it takes lead to block radiation. He reminded me to keep moisturized, especially on the collar bone. I think all of the things we are using can help, however, we're talking about radiation here so probably only helps minimally. I'll take it though. I'm using calendula ointment on the weekends, just don't feel like I can get that stuff off with one shower so I don't use it during the week.

Wishing everyone good luck and healing!!

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Went for the trial run today. It seemed to go well. Officially start Monday. Still nervous but handling it a little bit better. I have my aveeno eczema and calendula cream ready to go. My SNB site is not happy with the positioning of my arm and I am still somewhat sore and numb from that surgery which was May 30! I certainly hope that pain goes away at some point. Patients at the office were all so nice to me. It was kind of like a club...a radiation club. I was very relieved to see such nice ppl before I went in. Hoping Monday morning goes well. Nervous.

I second power of Aloe!! I am only using aloe and Eucerin lotion.

Panicked briefly bc I ran out of aloe gel. Debated reordering the same bc of price. Decided I should go w proven product. Amazon is delivering it within 36 hrs from my order! And I found out there is Aloe plant in my front yard!

Anyway, more tired. Sudden sleep comes over. No appetite. Lymphedema is slightly worse.

Mimi

Started my radiation on Aug 8th and have had 4 treatments so far. No skin effects or fatigue. Since 20 days (4 wks) of tmt- that means I am 1/5 of the way done!

My rad onc suggested using a cream called Udder cream 2-3 times a day. Works fine.

I was supposed to start on Aug 2nd but had to wait a week because I got a very itchy and red rash on my L breast- which no one knew what it was. Punch biopsy was negative, some skin discoloration as it has gone away- so will see if going into radiation with that issue confounds side effects. Has anyone else gotten a mystery rash (before radiation of all things!).

I go in for a 7:15am appt each day- which gets me up and out of the house early- and to work just in time! They also valet park- and my most therapeutic thing in my whole journey is this smiling and positive valet guy! What a gift!

CTJ - I have a jar of udder cream that is great for the dry skin on my legs. I didn't tell my RO but I used it on my breast and it felt great!

MJ

I have finished 7 days of radiation and I noticed my incision was getting redder. I have noticed a sharp edge that I thought was a scab forming but I looked at it and it appears to be a stitch. I know I had two layers of stiches for my SNB but I thought they were dissolvable. Should I try to pull it out? I don't want any open area to be exposed to radiation

Hello and thanks to all of you for posting your experiences and advice. I start 7 weeks of radiation tomorrow. I have my green tea and emu oil (thank you llama lady) and as several of you have mentioned, I'm glad to be getting this show on the road. Tomorrow, I've been told will be a longer day and I'm a little concerned about discomfort due to remaining cording in my left arm. But itsbetter than it was, so hopefully it won't be too bad.

Have any of you used the green tea through 7 or more weeks of radiation? We're the results still as good as llama lady described?

battled warm upper body as well as general uncomfortable feeling all wknd. Did absolutely nothing yesterday.

On a diff note, I got pissed off at my neighbor yesterday. Their teenager borrowed pool key at least two wks ago. My hubby asked for it in front of her mother. Mother only shook her head. No return. Few days ago, hubby mentioned "returning your plate for the pool key" nothing. We face each other's townhome btw. I rang the bell three times patiently. Father answered. I said" hello , Can I have my pool key back?" He must felt something bc he said i forgot to tell her. I just walked away by saying you know where to ask. We dogsat their dog for a week even during chemo. Hubby said bad upbringing on parents part and they probably thought I am not able to the pool anyway. Anyway I see it it was wrong.

Mimi

p.s. I used to swim for hrs at a time. I really miss it