Starting Radiation August 2017

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  • Legomaster225
    Legomaster225 Member Posts: 672
    edited October 2017

    Glad the hydrocortisone worked. Can't say I have experienced chest pain similar to what you describe. Could it be heartburn perhaps?

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  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited October 2017

    i had pressure feeling like I was getting a chest cold was told its inflamation between ribs but definately get it checked out

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  • Mimie
    Mimie Member Posts: 42
    edited October 2017

    Chest pressure got so intense last night and I couldn’t get comfortable or sleep. Spent 6 hours in the ER late last night. They ran a bunch of tests, no heart or lung issues, sent me home with instructions to take Motrin. DH and are sleepy but grateful nothing more serious

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  • Legomaster225
    Legomaster225 Member Posts: 672
    edited October 2017

    Good news that there are no heart or lung issues were eliminated. Frustrating if you don't have a definitive answer fir the pain though. Did they think it was radiation related? Gastro? Hopefully the Motrin will help and you will sleep well tonight. Sorry, you're not feeling well.

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  • elootz
    elootz Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2017

    So today was supposed to be my last regular session and then I have 5 boosts, but my blisters have started oozing so they told me to take the next 2 days off. I've had 27 sessions and it just started hurting and it is so painful under my arm. I've been prescribed Sivadene cream, has anyone else used this? I'll pick it up after work tonight so I'm hoping using it tonight and tomorrow will get me back on track for Wednesday but the doc said he'd have to see how it looks. He has decided to forgo the last regular session and just start the boosts so I'm so close to the finish line I just want to get there.

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  • Legomaster225
    Legomaster225 Member Posts: 672
    edited October 2017

    I'm so sorry Elootz. I have used that cream before for an allergic rash on my son but not for radiation. It did work really well so hopefully it will for you as well. I am having issues with angry, red peeling as well. Under the arm is the worst!! They checked my skin again today and it is not oozing so they don't want me to put any lotion on at all because they don't want it moist. I literally cried on the radiation table today. Not good because you can't wipe your tears away when you can't move your arms. I have one more boost to go and I'll be donetomorrow. I so understand you not wanting a delay. They let me decide last week I wanted a delay but I just want to get this over with so I can heal. Hang in there. You're almost done.

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited October 2017

    Sorry ladies, the peeling, oozing and pain sucks but it does get better after about a week or so.

    I'm peeling a lot under my arm too but I don't have all the feeling back yet after surgery, so at least that worked in my favor :)

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  • inccmd
    inccmd Member Posts: 69
    edited October 2017

    So sorry to hear about the peeling and oozing. Although I still have discoloration and some swelling one month out, most of it is healed, and I feel so much better. It does get better; my hope is you heal quickly.

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  • Legomaster225
    Legomaster225 Member Posts: 672
    edited October 2017

    Thanks ladies. Sometimes I just need to whine a little. I know it will get better just need to hold up another week or so.

    Illimae, I can only feel the part under my arm and a little below my foob too. While the peeling red nipple looks painful, I can't feel it at all.

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  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited October 2017

    Lego. hope it heals quickley.. I have 4 more to go starting to feel the burn

    Mimie so glad it wasnt heart or lungs! Ask RO about inflamation..that is what I was told it was and to take ibuprophen for it. I use advil


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  • Annbee
    Annbee Member Posts: 208
    edited October 2017

    elootz - I was given the sivadene cream for radiation. The doc said not to use before radiation. I used it after and then in the morning. I had radiation at 4:30 in the afternoon. It helped but did dry out the skin a bit. I only used it for 4 or 5 days. I finished 32 rounds a week ago Tuesday. The doc gave me something (samples) last week for the dry skin and it helped. My skin is doing much better. I still get tired though. Hang in there

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  • Legomaster225
    Legomaster225 Member Posts: 672
    edited October 2017

    Radiation is complete! This bitmoji cracks me up. I earned all these beads lifting up my shirt so much the past 11 months.

    image

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  • DodgersGirl
    DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
    edited October 2017

    legomaster- congrats!! And lol regarding the bitmoji. So true.... so funn

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  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited October 2017

    congats lego!!

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited October 2017

    image

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  • vixxyn
    vixxyn Member Posts: 45
    edited October 2017

    Woohoo Lego!

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  • Legomaster225
    Legomaster225 Member Posts: 672
    edited October 2017

    Thanks everyone! It is a nice but scary feeling. My cancer center has a Survivor consultation meeting that we go to after we have completed "active" treatment. I'll start tamoxifen in two weeks. I was unaware of this meeting until today but it it is intended to help with the transition to not being monitored so much. It is run by my nurse care coordinator and has nutrition, social worker, holistic medicine doc, and exercise/rehab representatives. I also get a copy of my case notes/labs/ path reports/surgical procedures. I have all that but it will be nice to have clean copies it in a more organized manner for future use. I think it's a great idea.

    I still have to go back to my RO's office a few more times over the next week for skin checks because it is so raw and irritated. Hope I can just heal quickly. It is so tender. I'm praying for the rest of us who are finishing up in the next week or two. Hang in there ladies!
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  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited October 2017

    hey lego! My mentor warned me its very scary at the end of active treatment.. especially when everyone(family, friends ) think its totally over.. and we dont really feel like celebrating. But its been such an emotional roller coaster so allow yourself time to regroup..

    my center also has the survivor program .. I have an appt at end of month when I see my MO again.. I live 2 hrs away ( and the everyday for rads is exhausting) so I figured Id just do it then rather than make another trip

    I should be done rads on friday!

    Well all the best! Im starting with arimidex so we will most likely be on different threads going forward

    Mamaoz

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  • Goofycat
    Goofycat Member Posts: 39
    edited October 2017

    Congratulations legomaster!!!

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited October 2017

    I think an end of treatment group sounds like a great idea. It's weird though because this is all new to me too but I have no group and despite my appearance and activity level, I am not considered a survivor. I'm sure MDA has a group but us late stagers aren't expected to "survive" :(

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  • elootz
    elootz Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2017

    Congrats Lego!

    I on the other hand was just told to take the rest of the week off and we'll try to start again on Monday. 5 stupid sessions left and I just can't get to the finish line. I've been using the silvadene but my skin looks the same if not worse. I really hope this week off is the only time off I'll need. Had planned vacation days next week for a celebration of being done, and my wedding anniversary, but now I'll (hopefully) have 7:00 AM rads those days. Boo. Good news, after chemo yesterday, only 4 herceptin treatments left. Hoping for a merry Christmas.

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  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited October 2017

    elootz

    I know its frustrating I had a 3 week lag due to hurricane and them throwing out my mold! But in your case its best to let some healing happen ... sorry your having to go through it.

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  • Legomaster225
    Legomaster225 Member Posts: 672
    edited October 2017

    Illimae, I want you in any support group that I'm in!! I think you and I think about things the same way and have a kind of sarcastic and tell it like it is personality. I also think that we are all "living with breast cancer". Call it surviving or whatever you want but we are all vulnerable. It's hard to even try to tell people that there really is no cure yet. There were several stage IV women in the couple support activities that I have done so don't let that stop you from participating. We can all be there for each other regardless of what Roman numeral we are currently branded with.

    Elootz, I'm sorry for the delay. I know how hard it must be when you have your heart and mind set on being done. It is so hard to tell whose skin is going to react to radiation. I usually tan really easy so I thought it would be a breeze but I'm all red, raw and peeled. Some of my "radiation friends" are very light skinned and had no issues at all. Is your open skin weeping? I think that is what they are concerned about as they don't want infection starting. Hopefully, this weekend will heal you up enough that you can fly through next week. Plan something good for next weekend!!

    Mama Oz, how many more treatments

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  • Castigame
    Castigame Member Posts: 752
    edited October 2017

    sisters,

    I was and am in a funk from time to time due to bilateral stage 3A and 1A. I threw omg I can't spell the entire kitchen sink as form of DMX, 8DD chemo, 30 rads. I am about to throw more since I am scheduled for prophylactic total hyst.

    I had a very humble experience a few days ago. Me and my hubby stopped by at this guy's house. He is the only son of DHs late step father. I did hear he had stage IV cancer a few yrs ago I say about 5 at least. He was a big burly guy last time I met. He was skinny. He said he lost 40%of his body weight at his lowest. He looks about at least 25% lighter than his prev weight now. He told me that he had a big jar of morphine for a while. He lost good percentage of jaw bone. Still works a lot of hrs. Yes he has a very good job as an engineer but still living w cancer aint easy at all. Maintains a beautiful house. His youngest daughter is about 20 so I think he will make sure to live another 10 yrs to see the daughter get married.

    Another example is one of my co-worker who is about in his early 60s. He went home early bc he did not feel good. He tried work from home but his wife found him in front of his laptop. He had a heart attack. This case it amazed me he passed away at home instead of on his way home.

    Yea and there is my mother for whom I bought no question asked funeral expense life insurance 20 plus yrs ago. The surgeon told 6 mos to a yr. She was DXd w BC about 10 yrs ago. Still alive and kicking. She is about half of what she was before Ovarian and BC.

    Honestly, I believe only our maker decides when it is time for us and lets us know.



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  • MamaOz
    MamaOz Member Posts: 432
    edited October 2017

    illimae! As one gal in your situation said she is a thriver there is a thread for stageIV and some of the gals are several years along!! Dont you dare give in to this nasty stuff!!

    It was ''Are you a survivor? in forum for mestastic stage IV only''

    Its a thread about how they dont feel they fit in as survivors but you know what? I dont like the term either .. we all will live in some form of fear of recurrance .. and the one gal got it right

    we will continue to thrive! One day at a time

    Im done my rads on friday, ive done chemo, BMX, radiation and then Ill take some nasty arimidex for years and pray it keeps me going but will I dare say Im a survivor? No ...I will just do the best I can to continue to live

    And THRIVE. Keep your chin up!! Illimae💕

    Mamaoz

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited October 2017

    Lego, you're right about me and that we're all in this together and at risk at some point.

    Mimi, thanks for sharing, I appreciate it :)

    I do feel good, not at all like I'm going anytime soon, I'm just beginning to see some situations where some people get a cheery "good for you!" and some get an "I'm sorry, take care" kind of thing. It can feel a bit dismissive unfortunately.

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited October 2017

    Well, I might be having more radiation soon. What I had hoped was just an extra long migraine was actually 5 tiny lesions to the cerebellum. So, brain mets now :( but new plan, new motivation.

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  • Wiegp22
    Wiegp22 Member Posts: 268
    edited October 2017

    hi, I will wait I week for my MRI but I am sure I will join you dizzy headaches


    Paul

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  • Legomaster225
    Legomaster225 Member Posts: 672
    edited October 2017

    That sucks Illimae. I'm really sorry. I wish I could fix it for you. - for all of us I'm glad that there is a new plan for you. I'm praying the new rads do what they are supposed to do and you can calm this stupid beast. I'm struggling with words to write that are “appropriate". Everyday our emotions are on a damn roller coaster. Thinking we are in control one minute then learning something different the next. I don't know much about brain mets yet but I know you have good doctors at MDA that will continue to try everything they can. Glad you new motivation

    Paul, I'm sorry to hear you need more testing too. Keeping you in my prayers.

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  • Goofycat
    Goofycat Member Posts: 39
    edited October 2017

    Prayers for you illimae.

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