Starting radiation September 2017

MamaOz, I was on arimidex in March until my chemo started in mid May. They stopped it when I did my 6 cycles of chemo I won't be going back on arimidex after my radiation, we are going to use tamoxifen, not sure when, but I can't take arimidex anymore, is raises my BP and my cholesterol.

I finished 13/30 treatment, still no color changes at all, but I do have underarm pain, I think is related to the aspirated seromas, they just aspirated both of them this week on wednesday, under each arm. Both arms are quite painful, quite a bit more pain than when they aspirated them this past august. The worse pain is my left underarm and that is not supposed to be radiated, only the right side. So not sure if the pain is even related to the radiation treatments. Both arms are tight and painful to stretch out, more so than before radiation. I am seeing a PT twice a week for my cording and shoulder issues. I also have a nerve issue with my right scapula since my mastectomies, we are working on in PT and there is some improvement.

I have also decided to do reconstruction in 6 months so that will begin in April. I don't like the prosthetics and I was called a "sir" the other day and well, that sort of helped to push me into doing something. But they must wait for 6 months after radiation. So that is April for me. Fingers still crossed for no skin issues so far, let's hope we all make it with very little issues

Will do MamaOz, I have no expanders they are planning a Diep where they take my belly fat and skin. I get a tummy tuck out of it, and I am 62 so it is a good benefit for me. I will be a B cup, but if I am not happy, 3 months later they can increase it to a C cup with a small implant. I was a DD, but I really don't like wearing a bra, so I think I will be happy with the B cup.

I am thinking there is something wrong with my left under arm. It is quite swollen and even more painful. Not sure I can make it through the weekend, I might have to call after hours. I wonder if I might have gotten an infection when they aspirated it Wednesday, or a blood clot, it is something not right, I had this aspirated before and never had this issue.

Happy Rads free weekend everyone!

bmm, how many treatments total will you be having? I'm in Canada and we usually get around 16 treatmentsand sometimes boosts. Just finished 12 and my RO says I'm reacting a bit more than usual so I will have to take days off before boosts. I hope you continue to do well with your treatments. My skins is definitely looking forward to a break before my final 4 next week

Did any effects (fatigue and or color/size changes) of radiation continue when the sessions were done? And, how soon after did your MOM guide you to start the inhibitor?

Kaso, I actually started my aromatase inhibitor last week as per my MO's instructions, and my RO is fine with it. I got my first Lupron injection a few days after starting rads and MO said to start exemestane two weeks later, that's it's fine to take during rads.

I'm considering joining a clinical trial for a CD4/CD6 inhibitor, and that one I wouldn't be able to start until I'm done with rads.

Hi Northwest. When I was deciding, I was told there was a large reduction of the local recurrence rate if you undergo radiation. (I think 40% reduced chance of local recurrence, but I'm not positive of the number.) It was enough to tip the scales in favor of radiation for me.

Welcome, and sorry you need to be here.

Jennd- I will have 16 treatments and 7 boosts. Northwest- radiation is a tough decision. I really had a tough time deciding; especially since my diagnosis was DCIS. I did allot of research and decided to do it since I am grade 3 and did not get clear margins. It is a very personal decision and once you make it; don't look back. I have been fortunate- so far it has not been too bad. My skin is a bit pink and sensitive. I have allot of fatigue this weekend but I think I have really been overdoing it. Good luck on making your decision and make sure you are comfortable with it- it is your decision. I did go and talk to my personal physician who I trusted the most and he really helped me with my decision.

Hi, I also had mixed feelings about radiation - but I am not taking Arimidex or another med so I decided the radiation treatment would be beneficial.I only have four left (of 20) and have been feeling fine. One or two days I felt a bit tired. My skin looks fine - just a bit like it's tanned - no real issues so far at all.

hi deedledee, try manuka honey (umf rated) on the radiation site, it works! I had external radiation 2x/day for 5 days amd just got a little pink. I only had about 5-6 bumps for 2 days then they were gone. I continued using it 1 week after I finished treatment. Google it, I'm telling you, it works. I put saran wrap on it to keep it from getting on my clothes. ☺

Good luck and take care! Vixen17

mommaerin, im supposed to finish this friday the 6th

And ive been on antibiotics this past week for a UTI

Also had a touch of chest congestion and sore throat and even though i was told it was inflamation from rads the antibiotic helped ease it a bit

Also advil helps inflamation

I hope you get your diagnostic issues resolved soon Kato. I was better yesterday but surely not myself yet. I guess I'm going to have to give myself some patience like we do for others. Don't like the inconsistency...thinking were moving on and back to normal then bam..in your face reminder we don't have all the control and choices we once did.

Hello everyone! I am almost done with my rads, just finished number 21 out of 25. Lots of fatigue and mild skin irritation. Overall it has been pretty manageable! My back story....I'm 38 and was diagnosed with DCIS in May, had BMX in June and they did not get clean margins so am now having radiation. My cancer was large, 8.5 cm and ER/PR negative. This week I noticed an enlarged lymph node in the armpit of my treated side. I'm wondering if it is a side effect of treatment, or if I should bring it up at my next RO visit. I feel self conscious bringing it up, especially to my RO, because lymph nodes were negative after my mastectomy and now the radiation should definitely have killed everything off, but it's so hard not to worry about all these little things after this journey. Thank you!

Hi All - Just discovered this group. I received treatment 11 out of 20 today. I am exhausted; I left "tired" behind in the rearview window yesterday. I am having outright pain in my breast. The RO palpated it extensively last Thursday and can still feel my seroma (that was drained back in June). She is not concerned about it, but I think it must be related to the pain I am experiencing (no fever, no discharge, doesn't seem to be infected). She seems to think it is nerve pain related to the surgery back in March (in her words, the "natural timetable for the nerves to begin firing again.") It is not tingling pain but actual pain. The breast is pink, especially around the nipple. It hurts when I roll over at night, when anything touches it and sometimes for no reason at all. I am using Advil, and I think it helps a little. I just was NOT expecting pain with radiation. The good news is that I am halfway done, although I am not looking forward to the boost week. I certainly wish none of us needed this discussion forum, but it helps to hear from the rest of you out there who are doing the same thing. Thank you for sharing!

viola yes make sure to bring it to drs attention..

Im 25 of 28! Definately getting redder and my right arm feels stiff.. had 29 nodes removed..

and yes ive been in a fog... and its hard to snap out of it, its so hard to explain to anyone .. but Im glad theres some of you experienceing same. So im not nuts ..

Anyone started arimidex yet .. Im just staring down my bottle .. dreading this next phase..but will at lesst wait till after friday and rads are done

Mamaoz

Hi everyone. I am doing ok, my underarm feels like it is burning sometimes, but no discoloration where the pain is. It is intermittent. I do have a small 2 cm circle discoloration under my arm that is being radiated. I have no feeling there, so it doesn't bother me. My surgeon measured it and wants to keep an eye on it, it could be a form of infection in the tissue caused by the radiation. He said nothing to worry about. What I am worried about is my seroma under my other arm. It has been aspirated twice now, 5 weeks ago about (15 ml aspirated) that is a guess, not sure on the amount, it wasn't recorded, but it was 2 syringes, it came back in about 4 days with more pain. I waited 4 weeks then it was aspirated last wednesday (7 ml aspirated) and it was back the same day and the pain was quite substantial. He aspirated it again today, 6 days later (12 ml aspirated). He said he wants to do it again Friday, if it comes back again. It is back already and not even a full day.

Radiation issues seem rather minimal for me. No bad pain, not much skin issues and no more machine breakdowns! I do have a lot more cording in my radiated arm and into my chest area that was not there before. I was doing so well regarding the cording but today, it was all corded up and tight again. Good thing I have a wonderful physical therapist that can break up the developing cording and keep my range of motion doing pretty well. So far I have completed 15 of 30 treatments. Here's to us getting this done and dealing with the most minimal issues!