Starting radiation September 2017

Great news glasglowgirl. Welcome to this side of the journey. My decision was mild from Rads. It was the start of the second week after that I'm having rash at the Lymph site. It's tolerable though. Hot onto LYMPHEDEMA specialist this am. Have sleeve, gauntlet and compression bra on order. If we don't get them before the trip she'll loan me something. Got medical alert bracelet delivered last night. Lymphedema specialist confirmed I will need to watch for LYMPHEDEMA the rest of my life. MO needed in this arm or bp tests. Have a wonderful weekend warriors!!🍀💐

thanks glasgowgirl and congrats to you as well! I had a 4 hr round trip each day but my husband drove me most days and a friend on the days he had work.. so it was grueling

Glad your back home!

Good to hear so many are near the end! I have 1 more full breast and 7 boosts. So happy to be seeing the end. Skin still pretty good. Still just so tired. I seem to feel better if I keep pushing through. Have a great weekend everyone

I will start my boost radiation mid next week. My skin is tender, sort of brownish/reddish with funky indentations at the incision site. I am not looking forward to the boosts and concerned that my incision may open up at that time. It took four months for it to heal originally related to a seroma that wouldn't stop draining. I am still battling fatigue. My RO strongly recommended Wisconsin Ginseng for the fatigue. I finally ordered some, and it is due to arrive today. Has anyone else taken it for radiation fatigue? I am willing to try, but I don't have a lot of faith that it is going to help.

Also way to go Glasgow Girl! I am so happy for you that you are done and can be back home for good. I see that you have already been on the Arimidex for 2 months now. Have you noticed any weight gain or had any trouble with your BP? I am concerned about taking it because I have heard from many about increased weight, BP and cholesterol.

Thanks again to each of you that post and share your stories. It helps to remember I am not alone.

yeah🎉🎉🎉🎉shelabella!!

But admit it felt good to cry and get it out!! Its just amazing how strong we are holding it all in.just trying to get thru it all ... . but its good to have a little release ...

Enjoy the weekend and hope you heal quickly

Congrats to mamaoz and shelabela!

Congratulations to those finishing their radiation treatments. Yay for you!

I'm a little more than one week past my final treatment. Initially, I just had the appearance of a typical mild sunburn across my treated breast and upper chest with a little more reddening at the sentinel node biopsy site and along my reduction scars. Now, I have many small brown elevated dots that look a bit like moles and numerous reddish, rather irritated looking "freckles." My nipple is swollen while the areola looks somewhat shriveled. The skin on my upper chest is intermittently itchy and I'm extremely tired, but I feel like I've gotten off easy in terms of short-term side effects.

I felt a little emotional at my final treatment, too, but with the lymphedema and neuropathy issues, completing radiation didn't provide the feeling of triumph I'd expected. If I use a lymphedema pump for an hour daily, It will be an unpleasant reminder of the disease so the constant worry can't fade over time as some survivors have mentioned. Hopefully, however, as my endurance improves & my life becomes busy and active again, cancer won't be as intrusive in my thoughts.

Hoping your side effects are minimal or non-existent in the week ahead,

Lyn

We're "aware"...

We need a CURE!!!

If not for the permanent side effects, I think I would have at least felt a sense of relief at completing all cancer-fighting treatments and moving to just quarterly follow-up appointments, MamaOz. As is, it was slogging through one more thing in the 17 months since I found the lump in my breast. I'm sorry to sounds like a Debbie Downer, ladies. It really is nice to put the daily zapping behind me. :-)

Lyn

yes girls we need to keep positive!

My husband is glad its 'over'... and he thinks I need to focus on other things instead of what side effects the arimidex may cause... ( I took my first pill today)

Well easy for him to say.. he has been by my side thru this whole ordeal cheering me on , driving etc but after 11 months I guess he wants the ordeal to be behind us..

Im so glad I have you all to lean on.. as others... our family and friends just dont understand the limbo we are left in...sorry just one of those days..

Wishing Sunshine ☀️🌞☀️To all

I'm with you. Red bumps and itch starting to become freckles at lymph site and now under the breast. Got a little blister under the breast now opened. Owie. Wasn't sure if it was a blister or not but found out the next day! My husband who has been great through this all is also ready for me to move on. He thinks I spend too much time researching and on the site. I explain how I need to because I keep finding more important information like learning the lymphedema risk and unfortunately we are not "cured " with this disease. I know he's right to a point as well though. Will be trying to find a balance. I'm so sorry we find ourselves here but am also so thankful to find others who understand this crazy journey and the real need we have for information. One day at a time my warrior friends.

Update: I am 10 days out from finishing radiation treatment, and I am experiencing some rawness and minor weeping around my nipple. I'm still using the calendula cream. There's not much pain, but I have noticed more twinges later in the day. I have an appointment with my breast surgeon this week. I hope this all clears up soon. BTW, I've also started on Tamoxifen and knock on wood, so far so good.

First day on this forum and learning so much. I'm scheduled for my lumpectomy later this week so probably won't start radiation until later this month. I was told I had to heal first and then I would start. Interesting to read about everyone's appointment times. I assumed I'd go the same time every day. I have no idea what the simulation, tats and mapping are that you are talking about here. Guess I'll be learning soon. Have a nice day.

Clarify - I joined here a few months back. Today is my first day to post anything.

Thank you so much lovepugs77. I'll definitely look into that.

Question for all - what do you wear to your radiation appt? I keep hearing about how sore I will be. I kinda did some retail therapy and bought a few loose fitting black tops in case I'm uncomfortable in a bra. I'm large on top and not loving that idea though. Just wondering. Thanks

Sheila, I was just told to use a cortisone creme..havent had to use any even tho I was itchy. I have used 100% aloe so far which was soothing and now that im done ive been using aquaphor because its a heavier cream to help lubricate my fried tight skin . Tired is still an understatement which nurse said could last several weeks after being done

Welcome ellyn!

On day 2 of arimidex!

Mamao

Ugggh with the fatigue. Thought I made it through Rads well. Now two weeks today. I have been tired all weekend. I rested and went out today. Thankful it is a holiday for me. Picked up my AI ( will stare at the bottle until about Nov 15th) had a nice lunch with DH and went to Ross to look for a small bag for the trip in a couple of weeks. I am done in. Taking a nap now. DH promised to take me out later after I rest to look more-didn't find what I'm looking for. Glad to see what you wrote mamaoz. I thought I was just being a wimp. Catch up with everyone soon.