Starting Radiation October 2017

DogersGirl: I guess there’s just as much controversy around radiation as there is around chemo. Makes me wonder will all the billions of $ raised every year for cancer where is all that money going? I wonder how much that Canadian study cost.

Too much to think about!

Like you say there could be a difference in the strength of the radiation. Not all facilities have the same equipment either.

Hello,

I will have #7 today. (total of 20) Skin is fine, but I am tired. I didn't think the fatigue would start until later. Appointments are super fast so that is a plus.

All is well DodgersGirl. I’m sure you won’t need an RO after this rad treatment.

I’ve had 2 rads already, and started feeling some tightness on my right arm. Isn’t it too early? Anyway, I see the RO tomorrow for my weekly visit. I’ll report all that I felt to her. I’ll also ask her about the use of kador, Aquaphor after treatment.

Hi!

I just started radiation yesterday as well. I haven't heard about Mioderm, anyone enlighten me about it.

Hi all,

Just figured out how to get the diagnoses stuff at the end of my email, hopefully it works, started radiation yesterday.

ibclub, this is Miaderm. I use it 3x a day. I also use emu oil at night. My husband is a Pharmacist and he recommends it.

LoJo, you sound wonderful, I'm so happy things are well, I have my last Taxol in 10 days and my RO appointment in a week. Excited to move on to the next part of this mess. Thanks for the encouraging update, was feeling down this morning but you've picked me back up. Thanks

Theresa

I'm part of the September group, with two boosts to go [WOOT!!!] but thought I'd weigh in - I had a mastectomy, and have kept a close eye on my the entire radiation field, because I have numb spots too. I developed a dime-sized blister on my lower rib cage that eventually resolved itself - but I never felt any soreness or pain [good news/bad news]. There was also a cluster of much smaller blisters that developed around the same time along the same rib [this was last Thursday, which was #22/30] that the nurse thought could be shingles, but they ruled that out. So yes, watch your skin carefully. The techs were concerned, but my RO wasn't - Just told me to load up on Silvadene.

sisters,

I am part of flat and fabulous in Facebook. This young lady posted pic of her recent recurrence, they looked like tiny pink and reddish lightly protruding dots scattered near her surgery scars. The pattern was different from typical shingle scars which tend to be concentrated clusters. There are many forms of recurrences per experts btw. My best guess re to self exam is just slowly go over your breasts regularly. Anything does not go away after a few days may need to be investigated. ROs tell you even in the middle of radiation, gently massaging surgery scars is highly recommended.

During and after rads, you may see lots of freckles appear. Your radiated area may be literally filled with these freckles. These will disappear when you heal by skin being peeled off in dry manner. Only really small portion of these freckle covering would be painful.

I had a silly scare which was I had three pink dots appeared. I could not sleep that night at all. Next morning, those were gone. I have sensitive skin and I somehow picked those dots which probably were skin impurities.

Happy Friday and try to get some rest.

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Dodgersgirl, I can't feel much on my breast either. I could not feel anything in that area (and that was a good thing). I could feel the middle of my chest and under my arm towards the back. I had a pretty bad reaction to radiation but I think is so much better now and it is less than two weeks out. I looked in the mirror daily, and when I used the aquaphor. I even took pictures. I was very red and raw. Don't forget that the techs that are lining you up every day will be looking at you as well. In fact it was my tech that first asked me if my underarm hurt. I could not feel where it had rubbed raw. Mine never looked blistered like a blister on you foot but just red,black and angry as it peeled. I think the numbness in this case is a blessing. Good luck with your treatments.

Teese - All I can say is that, so far (knock on wood), is that Radiation is much easier than chemo. I still feel better every day, as I continue to come off the chemo SE's. I went to a concert last night, and didn't get to bed until 12:30AM, and made it to my Radiation appointment at 9:30AM, on-time! This NEVER would have happened during chemo!

I'm also getting more taste back every day, which then means I want to eat all the things, so I'm watching myself. I generally eat healthy, but the experience of losing my taste and getting it back has made my brain go into good food overdrive and I have caught myself over eating a couple times. Not too bad, but an interesting turn of events.

I do find that keeping my daily walks going really helps everything feel better. I'm walking about 3-5 miles every day (mostly in the 3-4 range with some 5 mile days in there). It feels great and my RO said this will help with my fatigue and skin issues, so I'll keep it up!

I don't know that I put this in any of my updates, but I am getting radiation with my port still in place (and it is on the side that is getting radiated). They were going to have it removed, but then were worried that it wouldn't heal and might cause other issues during radiation. So it has stayed in. The only skin irritation I've experienced has been around the port. It is very mild, but is a bit itchy. I just plaster on the lotion in that area and it helps a lot. Thought I'd add this, in case anyone else is going to be going into radiation with a similar set-up.

Oh, and yesterday, I finally did a full head shave at the barber in my neighborhood. He was awesome (and has helped many woman through this moment). I had already clipped it to about 1-1.5", but it was getting unruly, still falling out, and the pieces that were growing were not even. So, I decided it was time to just do a major reset to let it all have the same starting place. It is strange, and actually kind of cool! I almost wore it bald to the concert last night, except it was a cooler night and my head would have been frozen!

That's the update from here. I hope everyone has a good weekend and mild SE's.

I did the mapping last week and I saw my surgeon after that he did a filing to my expander and another filling yesterday than he told me that he did a big mistake he cannot fill after mapping so I have to do another ct scan

I fill like I will never have radiation