Starting Radiation November 2017

53nancy · December 2017

Good luck, Paulette. Hope it all goes well

Tinapct2018 · February 2018

hello ocdamy and all others

I am new to this board I was diagnosed 9/28/17 DCIS 2.5 cm grade 2 er her +

Age 52

Lumpectomy 10/28/17, lumpectomy 11/7/17

Radiation jan 2018 just finished 19 rads out of 20 Friday 2/9 became very sick several times rushed to er twice after tx severe fatigue pain etc. caught virus last week and diagnosed with severe exhaustion. I can barely get out of bed. I do have immune disorder and Lyme disease as well.

Primary dr said don’t go out in public. It’s been a very difficult rad tx and the center in went to was not professional, I won’t be returning

Any advice shares similar sits?

Thank you and bless you all

T

53nancy · February 2018

Tinapct2018, I am sorry about your getting sick and hope you will be feeling better soon. There are a lot of people in our area with colds and I am coming down with one now, but hopefully no flu!

I hope you will receive good benefit from the RADS. I have just been told by my RO that I am cancer-free and that my MO will be signing me off back to my local doctor and the end of April. This was a little upsetting, but I have been told by a nurse friend that the MO will continue to follow my status, and order regular bloodwork that would include tumor markers, etc., that are usually not checked for at our local lab. I guess I would rather here the words "No Evidence of Disease" which would remind me it is possible to have a recurrence, than to hear "you are cancer-free" and make me tend to think that's the way it will stay.

AngelsGal57 · February 2018

Ok Everyone, I know it has been a while since I have been on line. I have been adjusting to my new image with Curly GRAY HAIR. I decided that I have earned this new look, after last years Chemo, Surgery, and Radiation and I am going to wear it as a badge of courage. Everyone says that I look like Meryl Streep from Devil Wears Prada so I am going with that....I have never had curly hair. Always straight as a pin. So this is a very new path.

On another note. It has now been two months since I finished radiation and I am starting to have a pinched feeling in my nipple area. Is that caused by nerve damage from the radiation. I didn't have any other SE's from the rads and slathered Aloe Vera twice a day.

Would love to hear from others who are a couple of months out from RADS too.

Blessings to all of you still going through your treatments. Be encouraged as there is light at the end of the tunnel.

AngelsGal

AngelaJL · March 2018

Hello AngelsGal!

I, too, am experiencing new symptoms since the end of radiation, though not nerve related.

My treatments finished December 9th, and since about mid- to late-January I’ve had significant tightness and tenderness in my right pectoral muscle (I had radiation only on the right side), and about a month ago I developed severely dry, chapped, itchy skin on that nipple and areola. I’ve tried every moisturizer I can think of, including the ones I used during radiation, and nothing has helped. It just gets worse every day. Fortunately, I have my 6-month post-surgery mammogram on Monday (in two days, and my 3-month post-radiation follow-up on Wednesday, so I’m hoping one of the healthcare people I see this week will be able to help.

klvans · March 2018

Has anyone experienced a firmer, smaller breast from radiation? My breast surgeon has warned me about this and I'm wondering how common it is. I dread not having a matching set of breasts.

AngelaJL · March 2018

Hi Klvans. I haven't had that issue, fortunately. My sister-in-law did, but she had a much longer course of radiation than I did. (I had 16 whole-breast treatments, and I think she had 25-30.) Maybe that makes a difference? Do you know how many radiation sessions you'll need?

klvans · March 2018

Hi Angela. Thank you for responding. I'm having 16 whole breast and 4 boosts for a total of 20. No lymph node involvement. I hope the shorter course makes a difference. I'm currently at number 12 with skin holding up well but I hear that can change quickly. The uncertainty of the long term effects is hard.

53nancy · March 2018

klvans, my breast did shrink some after radiation, and I was glad, because it eas easily half again as big as the other, but I think the cancer caused some if that. It is still larger, and my constant fear us that it will grow larger again and that will mean the cancer is back. So much pain still, and I keep wondering if that is still radiation working (three months since I finished) or something else. Can't find any info on how long radiation keeps working. I don't see my MO until the end of April

klvans · March 2018

Thanks for responding Nancy. My radiated breast is naturally a bit smaller than my untreated breast so I'm the opposite of you. I hope I don't end up too lopsided. I'm sorry you are still in pain. It takes more time than we would like to heal. Is your pain skin related or is it inside the breast? May I ask how many treatments you had and when did you notice your breast getting smaller?

53nancy · March 2018

Hi, klvans. Breast started getting smaller about halfway through treatment. I had 16 treatments form November 24 to December 12. Pain has been in my breast since my first biopsy last May and especially after the surgery in July, and the lymph node surgery in September was just as bad. I have learned that I have to be careful with lifting with my right arm, because that makes pain worse. This Monday we went grocery shopping, and I picked up the bag without thinking and it was really heavy. Now I feel that I really overdid it, because I've got pain from neck to hand. I have been using pain killers but they haven't helped much. Today, I can't even lift a cup of coffee, so hope you won't into that, too. I am right handed so I pick things up without thinking. I hope things will even out for you, pardon the pun.

klvans · March 2018

Thank you Nancy. I really hope your pain improves. It's a hard thing to live with I know.

53nancy · March 2018

Thank YOU, klvans. I think it was just a little bit of depression talking. I am usually more upbeat. Hope things are going well with you. Don't know if you have snow where you are; we have a day today with plus temperatures and the snow is melting. Just came back from a walk and it was a muddy one, but so refreshing.

AngelsGal57 · April 2018

Hi Angela, So good to hear from you...

I will have my final 2 Herceptin infusions in May. I am 4 1/2 months out from my last rad treatment. I did radiation with no outward side effects but do have numbness of the rt breast tissue and soreness where the scar tissue is from the partial mastectomy. I did all of the prescribed treatments EXCEPT pharmaceutical hormone blockers and instead am on a herbal Pueraria Mirifica a plant derived hormone blocker.

The only issues I am having with the Pueraria Mirifica are the typical PMS type symptoms such as hot flashes 2 - 3 times a day and wacky emotions. The down side is that rather than lasting a week during mensturation (When I used to have periods 6 years ago) It now lasts EVERY DAY. Some days are worse that others but because I know what is the cause it is manageable.

I know that not everyone is on the band wagon regarding natural treatments yet I have done my homework and with a strong daily supplement routine am pretty much back to work and a normal life. I have a terrific wellness coach at the Cancer Treatment Center who is assisting me with getting my life back and it makes a huge difference. I have been walking 5 days a week for the last month and never thought that would happen. It is baby steps that are really making a difference.

What are you doing now regarding your treatment?

Starting Radiation November 2017

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