JUNE 2018 starting RADIATION

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  • nonomimi5
    nonomimi5 Member Posts: 434
    edited June 2018

    June Rad sisters - I finished my rads today and I am off to the next adventure. Bone density test Friday, road trip with son for baseball showcases on Sunday, and back to meeting MO and getting started on AI early July. Good luck and see you all in another thread!

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  • Kelligirl5
    Kelligirl5 Member Posts: 81
    edited June 2018

    nonomimi5 - Congrats on moving on to the next phase!! That has to be a great feeling!

    Homemadesalsa - over an hour drive everyday would definitely be daunting! The Meal Train? Is that for rides back and forth for you to? If so that will be nice to have a little company!

    As far as bras, I have no choice on wearing one. I was a 40D-DD beforehand and am still filling out the D for now. Plus I have a large seroma on the other breast where they did a biopsy then removed a papilloma(?) Funny that the non-cancer side is having the most issues! I'm required to wear compression style support 24/7. I did find the Playtex 18 hour wireless bras Puzzlewoman recomended and those seem to be working for now. I can see though as I progress through and start to burn that the band is going to irritate. I may try a tank under the bra and see how that works. There is just no way I could walk into work without a bra! But right now I just want to sleep without one!!

    July 12th can't come soon enough!

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  • Puzzlewoman
    Puzzlewoman Member Posts: 171
    edited June 2018

    I know you all will appreciate this: I’m not in pain (yet) but the skin is getting red, and especially underneath. I am large, usually wear D. One of the rad techs recommended I wear a bra as little as possible - and she said, yeah I know, a little difficut for you. Her advice was when I get home to replace the bra with an old 100% cotton t-shirt just underneath. I did that and realized it would fall off when moving. So I’m currently sitting here working from home (with fatigue forcing me to take multiple breaks) with a t-shirt tied around my left boob like a ring/donut. Ha ha ha ha!
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  • Puzzlewoman
    Puzzlewoman Member Posts: 171
    edited June 2018

    Kelligirl - glad I could help! Yes I can see at the end no bra may help. My friend that went through breast cancer radiation beforerecommended a store but now I can’t remember, so I’ve asked her again

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  • PaulaAtlantaGA
    PaulaAtlantaGA Member Posts: 99
    edited June 2018

    Kelligirl5 - Yes, I'm told indoor water exercise is good for me. Ditto what others have said about showering the chlorine off ASAP.

    Today was #11 out of 28, and I'm feeling nauseous. I actually took one of my chemo nausea pills. It just hit out of the blue.

    My skin is still OK. Pink and tender, but no peeling. 17 more to go!

    Anyone else have nausea?

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  • Motherofall6
    Motherofall6 Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2018

    today was 7out of 33 and I had a dermatology appt first as my ro thought when I saw her Monday I had shingles and she was correct . My radiated skin is fine not even pink yet, but my shingles which is out of the radiation field is itching and some nerve burning pain

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  • Puzzlewoman
    Puzzlewoman Member Posts: 171
    edited June 2018

    The store my friend recommended is Cacique, which is part of Lane Bryant. I’m going there Saturday - wish me luck!

    Keeping everyone in my thoughts

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  • Mrsmcg
    Mrsmcg Member Posts: 67
    edited June 2018

    I had two treatments today, and will have my very last treatment tomorrow.

    A person in HR finally okayed my request for vacation at 12:30 today!! I thought that it was strange when my supervisor came up to me, with a serious look on her face, and said... "Can we have a moment of silence, that there was finally a decision on getting your vacation." Weird!!

    I met with my RO yesterday. She thought that my skin was looking good. She didn't want to prescribe me Silvadene for my burns. She said that she typically prescribes that when a person's skin has broken down. She didn't feel that my skin had broken down. She said that sometimes that starts a week or two after treatment ends. I'm not sure what it means for a person's skins to be broken down. My skin has started to peel. Does this constitutes skin breaking down? I am not sure what to do about that. My RO gave me Domeboro wish is for skin irritation. I tried that this afternoon, and it definitely didn't sooth the burns. I will try it again to see if it helps.

    I took some vacation to celebrate, so I am looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. I am also excited about not having to spend my lunches getting radiation treatments.

    We just got a hot tub and I would love to be able to use it, but my RO said that I shouldn't use it for at least a month. Later in our conversation she said that I could possibly at least sit in it. I don't know how that would work. My chest would be covered with water. She did mention the issue with chorline.

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  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited June 2018

    PaulaAtlantaGA--- ME! Nasuea since day 2, finished day 16 today. It has gone from a few hours after to all the time. I even took a prenancy test. It is VERY rare, don't be surprised if your doctor tells you its not possible. Mine said "not possibe" before I started, the first time I told him I don't feel good he brushed it off to something I ate. A week later he wanted to make sure I wasn't pregnant and just shook his head. In almost 20 years I am the first breast radiation patient he has ever had with nausea.

    I got Zoran at first, didn't do much. Just started prochlorperazine tonight and adding a 2nd script of addivan? tomorrow to help wake up ok. Crossing my fingers it works! Feel free to PM...haven't seen anyone else on here with the same.

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  • GreenEyes81
    GreenEyes81 Member Posts: 389
    edited June 2018

    PaulaAtlantaGA- did you have a mx or lumpectomy? Wondering if that has something to do with it? I also had horrible morning sickness with prenancys, you?


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  • ChelseaSculler
    ChelseaSculler Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2018

    11 down, 9 to go. Almost slept through today, and that after a nap yesterday after work, so maybe there is a little fatigue in there! I thought it would be more like 'hit by truck exhaustion,' but it's just more of a 'if I lie down, I happily doze off' thing. I can definitely see the color on my chest now but it feels fine. I'm cheating today with a regular underwire bra (the horror!) because I need to do laundry. Even with all my running bras and shelf bras, I'm running low on tops that work for this situation.

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  • Kelligirl5
    Kelligirl5 Member Posts: 81
    edited June 2018

    ChelseaSculler - I just finished 6 yesterday and the Dr said to expect symptoms to start sometime next week. Good to know your not getting the "hit by a truck" feeling yet and hopefully never! I can deal with just needing a little extra sleep and my sessions are after lunch so my work day isn't to long after at least so I can go home and veg on the couch if need be.

    My RO thought he saw a little pink already but I'm pretty sure its just my normal skin color, I tend to have a reddish tone all year. I haven't been in the sun in weeks but it looks like I'm slightly sunburned if that makes any sense. ! I've got a little irritation from wearing a bra 24/7 to I'm pretty sure that's all he was seeing. I just want to take this bra off! LOL

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  • mwaucker
    mwaucker Member Posts: 19
    edited June 2018

    I had my first treatment today; it was a breeze! Even the tattoos (I got 6 of them...which seems like a lot) were easy. Truthfully, I was more stressed out about those than the rads itself but they didn't hurt at all! When I went in for my scan on Monday my RO reviewed the pathology report from my lumpectomy and decided I would probably only need 16 treatments instead of 20 (no boosts)! WooHoo! He said he reserves the right to change his mind but as of now I only have 15 more to go. I'll finish up on lucky Friday the 13th!

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  • Tess1962
    Tess1962 Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2018

    I live in Louisiana and I am undergoing my rads right now. My RO said deodorant was fine for me because he's staying away from my underarm area with the radiation. My heart is my worry. I know that they say they have ways of going around it and all...still makes me nervous.

    Hope you're doing ok. It is so hot and humid right now.

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  • Pumpkin68
    Pumpkin68 Member Posts: 22
    edited June 2018

    June ladies!! 10 days after completion of radiation I am happy to report I am starting to heal!!! The healing of the boosts were rough...my armpit cut hard!! Keep the girls loose and lots of aloe and lotion ... there is a light at the end of the tunnel - I promise! Still not sure about taking that tamoxifen... TBD!

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  • missmelissa90
    missmelissa90 Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2018

    Ladies-

    I need to share with you an important article that came from another topic thread on this website regarding the use of aloe vera for skin radiation burns. It received a "D" as a means of treatment, which was a shock to me. You can find the article here: http://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.2018.79.2... and the message board for similar postings is: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/73/topics...


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  • Puzzlewoman
    Puzzlewoman Member Posts: 171
    edited June 2018

    Wow, that is strange! I am using aquaphor and aloe and hydrocortisone, which my RO knows. I don't see them making a recommendation of what TO use to prevent or treat skin issues from radiation?

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  • Kelligirl5
    Kelligirl5 Member Posts: 81
    edited June 2018

    Interesting! My RO had not recommended Aloe, he likes CeraVe and MyGirlz. I have the CeraVe and use it but was rotating in the aloe. I did ask him about the aloe on Wednesday and he said it was fine to use, a lot of people like it chilled as it gives a little bit of a cooling affect but he still wants me to use the CeraVe as my main cream. I guess we will see over the next few weeks!

    I'm curious on the tatoos? I'm assuming they are permanent but are they just tiny little dots or do they look like my marker lines where they are + and fairly large? They were never even mentioned for me.

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  • mwaucker
    mwaucker Member Posts: 19
    edited June 2018

    Kelligirl5, my RO also recommends CeraVe. My tattoos (I have 6 of them) are very small, about the size of the tip of a pen. I have a lot of freckles so they just kind of blend in; I think they will probably fade over time. I was nervous about getting them but it didn’t hurt at all

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  • Kelligirl5
    Kelligirl5 Member Posts: 81
    edited June 2018

    So here is one that is throwing me for a loop.. Going into to the treatment I'm fine, happy, full of energy no problems at all. I expect the tiredness, not sure its hitting yet but I have noticed that leaving treatment I feel incredibly emotional?? Like a wave hits when I get to the car. It does not match my actual mood at all? Almost like a flood of PMS hormones hitting all at once or something. It seems to fade over the next hour at least but it's getting progressively stronger. Anyone else? Am I just crazy? Or am I just so freaked out by the treatment and holding it back until I'm back in car? I don't feel stressed out by them? My team is so incredibly nice and friendly. Could it be wreaking havoc on my hormones?

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  • Tess1962
    Tess1962 Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2018

    I completely understand because I'm doing something similar. Every day I wake up feeling fantastic! I go to work...feel great...go to rads...come back and eat lunch...then I feel emotional, get a headache and nauseousness. Later after work at home I'm fine again. I don't get it.

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  • Tess1962
    Tess1962 Member Posts: 29
    edited June 2018

    I completely understand because I'm doing something similar. Every day I wake up feeling fantastic! I go to work...feel great...go to rads...come back and eat lunch...then I feel emotional, get a headache and nauseousness. Later after work at home I'm fine again. I don't get it.

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  • Kelligirl5
    Kelligirl5 Member Posts: 81
    edited June 2018

    That's exactly how I feel! Nausea and headaches to! The emotional fades, the slight nausea shows up and fades and then a full blown headache by the end of the night!

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  • Sweetcaro79
    Sweetcaro79 Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2018

    Hi, I’m new here, diagnosed in April and just started the hypo-fractionated (shorter) radiation last Monday, I will go for 4 weeks. TBH I hate it. I play uplifting music about God during and that helps. The “cacoon” the techs made ahead of time for my arms is not supportive enough. This really bothered me during the set up appointment and the first rad treatment because my arms went numb, I had to remain still (and exposed 😀) for SO LONG and that was actually very terrible. I’m not sure how elderly people put up with it. I really had to focus to make it through. Now the appointments are much shorter, thank God. I feel guilty even complaining because of my early stage diagnosis, the fact my lumpectomy & sentinel node removal & test results, including genetic testing and oncotype score have all been good. Other women have it so much worse! And God has literally surrounded me with amazing physicians & nurses and techs, provided by great insurance and answered all my prayers. I think I hate the radiation because it makes me feel like a cancer patient, which is a frightening truth. And radiation scares me. I worry about my skin and short term side effects, but also increased risk of cancer from the treatments down the line. I worry about tamoxifen, which is my next step after rads, and how it will affect my life. I feel overwhelmed by simultaneous feelings of thankfulnes, fear, guilt, and a deep sadness, which I’m guessing is normal grieving.

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  • Sweetcaro79
    Sweetcaro79 Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2018

    YES. Same as you and Tess92. I feel “teary”. Ifeel like anything can make me cry at random moments. But sometimes I do feel the tears trying to come during the treatment. If I didn’t play the Christian music during the treatments I think it would be harder to not cry. So far I’ve kept it together in that room. I go early in the morning and it is hard to go back to work (I work in the same hospital). My heart was not in it by the end of this week. I just wanted to go home and cry and sleep. And I felt very PMSy - people laughing loud at work was bothering me. I felt short tempered. Theysaid it was too early for fatigue, but I do feel it. I also felt slower mentally. I am running to keep my energy up,trying to eat more healthy, and abstaining from alcohol.

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  • Sweetcaro79
    Sweetcaro79 Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2018

    @Missmelissa That isgood to hear, thank you. We have very similar diagnoses

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  • missmelissa90
    missmelissa90 Member Posts: 46
    edited June 2018

    So I've already done chemo and surgery and I have to say that I feel that radiation has made my brain feel the most loopy. I don't know if it is the fact that I have to go in every day and I'm constantly thinking about traffic issues/being late/missing my appointment or that it is because that I'm stressed out about whether or not my lung is getting scorched (I'm getting zapped in three places on my right side) because I seem to breathe harder when treatment starts and I worry that even that movement is making it hit my lung more or that I keep waiting for my skin to start turning red and peeling and blistering or that the radiation is making my body go nuts and my brain can't keep up. I'm not taking any pain meds, but when I have moments of calm I honestly feel like I've got a bit of a beer buzz. I also have to battle with moments of wanting to not give a f*** and just blow off things that I need to do (mostly go to work). Overall I physically feel OK, but my muscles are achy and when I get up from sitting it feels like I'm in the worst shape ever. The worst part seems to be that even though I am very tired each morning when I wake up, I can't seem to make myself go to sleep earlier (although I did fall asleep at 10 last night while I was reading) and my brain woke myself up at 6am this morning! When I was doing chemo, I was able to go to bed at 9ish and be asleep right away, but now I seem to have too much energy to calm down sooner. I may have to just start forcing myself to go to be earlier, but my brain seems to be too alert when I go to bed to be ready to sign off- we will see. My doctors and physical therapists tell me not to do too much other than walking and that the recovery (particularly for my muscles) is going to have to start happening after rads, so I know that this is mentally bumming me out too...as it is tough knowing that you are deliberately destroying your body for weeks and you don't know how bad it is going to get until the end. Even though this is what I went through with chemo, I think that doing it the second time around is harder. I've struggled with changes to my eyesight throughout my chemo treatment, but I think that it is also happening now...has anyone else had issues with vision?

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  • Sweetcaro79
    Sweetcaro79 Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2018

    No issues with vision here, but I’m only a week into radiation and I never had chemo. I do feel more spaceymentally but its hard for me to discern if its fatigue from rads or just the emotional rollercoaster taking its toll.

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  • Puzzlewoman
    Puzzlewoman Member Posts: 171
    edited June 2018

    Miss Melissa, I’m not having vision issues, but I am having other issues. I didn’t have to go through Chemotherapy, but from the moment I heard I had cancer, I’ve been an emotional mess. I was already dealing with some anxiety, so my pcp prescribed a low-dose antippressant and I’m seeing a therapist. I feel like between the fatigue and the meds I’m relaxed - but TOO relaxed, like my brain is also tired. I’m still working full time, and it’s mentally draining.

    So, I started on a Monday with a schedule of 20 over 4 weeks. Friday of week 1: fatigue stared. Friday of week 2: itching started. Friday of week 3: pain started (now it looks like a rash). I’m not liking Friday’s. This week I only had 4 as their machine wasn’t working on Wednesday. That helped with a fatigue a bit, but it’s disheartening that I won’t be done until Monday July 2 now. Oh well, I’ll get through this and I’m determined!

    I’m so happy we can come here and get and give support

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  • ChelseaSculler
    ChelseaSculler Member Posts: 73
    edited June 2018

    Puzzlewoman, I like the description of your brain being tired—that's what I feel!

    I realized today that I still have two weeks to go. I'm beginning to worry about the fatigue simply because yesterday I slept almost all day. Woke up around 8, up for an hour or so, napped until 2, read a book until 8, slept until midnight, woke up, brushed my teeth and went back to bed. Slept until 8 this morning. It didn't even feel like I was tired, but boy. That's a lot of sleeping! (I had a headache come up around dinnertime which is why I lay down at 8pm...and fell asleep!)(And I did run for a mile, which is my minimum "allowed" under my summer running streak rules)

    But I haven't had any skin issues except for it being a bit red, so I'll make that trade for now...

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