JUNE 2018 starting RADIATION

Hello Kelligirl5,

My ro didn't seem to be concerned about what I used. She said that as long as she could see that my skin was getting red she knew that the radiation was working and, she didn't care what I used on my skin. I even asked about if I should stop taking Tamoxifen and vitamins as I heard it could have an effect on the effectiveness of the radiation treatments. She said that wasn't something she was concerned about.

Those headed for Tamoxifin I feel for you! I'm 46 so not yet menopausal but I was hormone negative so I have nothing after rads, no real way to fight against it. It's a weird thought not to be doing something KWIM? I've nothing in my arsenal but healthy eating and exercise and that kind of freaks me out! I find myself having little panic moments thinking about the end of treatment, you would think I'd be thrilled right? While the daily thing is a pain its also a bit of mental security I think.

I was told the extra twinges/aches are normal. My RO warned me up front that I would feel them as things woke up from surgery and were then hit with the radiation. This morning was extra achy along the scar line where they did the boost with a bolus yesterday for instance. Happy to have 2 days off to give the entire area a break! That last whole breast treatment was rough by the evening for some reason! My skin hurt, my underarm ached like crazy, the spot underneath where my bra hits was miserable and I was absolutely exhausted and weepy feeling! I took a warm shower, put hydro-cortisone on and went to bed extra early. Woke up yesterday feeling better but dreading the boost In the end I felt fine all day thankfully. My rough areas feel much better today already so I'm hoping that was my lowest point in the whole thing.

I started June 28th. I just had treatment 6 of 20. So far no skin issues or fatigue. I lube my boob at the clinic with calendula and then emu oil mid day and bedtime. Sorry to hear you are having issues.

RPHOUSE,

Yes, similar sore/achy feeling. I guess the radiation is doubg its job in there. The worst is when my little son elbows me in my left side I try and remember to have him sit on my right!

Mine went down on the 5th also.

Happy Monday everyone! Here's to one day to be closer to completing treatment (even though looking ahead to this 5 day week feels daunting) I appreciate hearing what everyone else has to say and feeling like other people "get" you.

I think I feel the discomfort the most when I'm sleeping. I have to be careful when I roll over and have been waking up a lot at night. I assume as the skin irritation worsens (unless I get lucky there) sleeping will be even more interrupted. I will see oncologist today after my treatment so I will visit with her. Maybe taking an ant-inflammatory or ibuprofen before bed would help?

Puzzlewoman - I have some pretty irritated spots but nothing has broken open at all, that sounds horrible! Glad you are getting into the doctor today! I feel like I might slowly be turning the corner as far as things getting worse now that I'm just onto boosts and had the weekend. Angry and purple/red but not getting worse for the moment! Try eating lots of berries and green tea for the antioxidants maybe to speed up healing? I've noticed that I could polish off an entire 2 lbs box of blueberries in a sitting they are tasting so good to me right now? I'm assuming its my bodies way of getting what it needs to heal!

rphouse - yes, the ibuprofen has helped me on a few nights! I'm typically a back sleeper but anytime I roll over to my side it hurts! The ibuprofen keeps me from waking up when I roll over.

I have 3 boosts left! I can't believe this is my last week trekking across town everyday for lunch! Feeling more energetic yesterday to. No waves of exhaustion hitting, packed my work out clothes in the hopes I can muster up the energy to hit the gym after work again! I need to get moving more to get this weight loss moving a little faster again!

Kelligirl - thanks! I love berries, but I’ve hardly eaten over the last week, at least not as much fruit/veggies as I normally would. Vicious cycle I didn’t realize I was in I guess! Pain, less exercise and less eating due to pain, making healing take longer. I will get some berries tonight. I already have tea!

Pattimills - that must happen a lot! I ended up being happy it happened to me one day as it helped with my fatigue, lol. I was disheartened that it meant mine wouldn’t end on June 30 like the original plan.

All, I am so happy I was able to see the dr today. He said I looked normal and saw no sign of infection, which was one of my worries. He was concerned about how much pain I was in and that it was causing me to not be able to do things, so he called in two more prescriptions for me, which the pharmacy didn’t have yet when I stopped by, so I’ll get them tonight. The nurse helped me get all bandaged up, get rid of the rest of the stickers without causing more issues, and get gauze on the areas that need it without any tape. My bra is holding them in. Her advice in my situation was to start wearing a bra more often, hopefully a more comfy one, so I’ll be wearing my lounge ones most of the time and sleeping in them. She said she usually sees people that say 10 days after treatment ends is when they start feeling better. That’s Thursday for me. I already feel like I can start functioning again! ☺️

MAC58 - that’s the cream the dr prescribed for me today, in addition to stronger pain medication. I asked about using all 3 creams together -hydrocortisone, lidocaine, and the SSD - and he said sure, it’s fine to use them all. I still have the aquaphor, udderly smooth cream and aloe, which I use in that order throughout the day on the whole area.

The ironic thing here is with my issues (can’t put any tape like substance on my radiated skin or I’ll have a reaction, but I have open wounds that are bleeding so they need gauze), so I’m currently wearing a bra to bed to hold the gauze in! I had been wearing them as little as possible, but I’m a DD or DDD cup, so I can’t go out in public with no bra without hurting myself.

I’m just so happy I will finally be able to get back to walking, and I loaded and ran the dishwasher this evening (not being sarcastic - with how I’ve been feeling, that was a big accomplishment). My poor husband has crazy work hours in the summer and has been doing the best he can, but isn’t home much.

Hi,

I am on day 12 of 16 radiation treatments. I wear a tank 24/7, and put a bra on over the tank if I'm going to be in public and not comfortable with the girls just hanging out. My RO said that anything that is gel like must be followed up with a moisturizer. I put on either 100% aloe or calendula, then Eucerin repair creme, right after rads. At night I am doing Aquaphor. I was told not to use anything 3 hours prior to rads, so might put on a light moisturizer if it is early morning since I go mid-day. Thus far my skin is fine, just getting discolored, as if that area has a tan. I do feel paid deep inside on some days, but not all the time.

I am tired and nauseous. I am sleeping long hours and staying in bed until late morning. After that, I pitter around as much as I can before I need to rest. I'm not sleepy, just tired, which is really weird for me since a nap will usually do the trick, but I guess fatigue doesn't work that way.

I understand that it is typical for things to get worse for 2-3 weeks after rads are over. My RO said it has something to do with the body trying to heal. The healing gets interrupted every day that I go back to radiation, then when it stops, the immune system goes full on, which can cause swelling, skin irritation, fatigue, etc.

Hang in there ladies!

MAC58, Yes I tooam going sans bra. But I have kids so I’m keeping my shirt on for now.

Kelligirl5, Congrats on almost being done! My Rad doctor said to actually avoid eating loads of antioxidants right away because you want the cancer cells to die off and not be helping them with antioxidants. He said a little is fine but theyworry when patients are taking in loads and loads -during radiation-. He also said exercize is great for energy and for increasing oxygenation and helping kill off weakened cancer cells.

Sweetcaro79 - I think they are all over the place on what they recommend. My RO said I could eat anything I wanted and as much as I wanted. I had asked because others here had said they were told no. He didn't want me taking high doses of vitamins/supplements and was very specific on creams. Food he asks me about weekly as I'm purposely losing weight and knows I'm loading up on tons of fresh fruits and veggies daily along with matcha tea. The only thing he ever says is I should enjoy some of the bad stuff once in a while to LOL!

I wish I could go sans bra!! No way can I get away with it in public. Plus I have a seroma on the other side that hurts if I don't have one on(is that thing ever gonna go away??). I've tried that last two nights at bedtime as that's where my skin is the most irritated. Two more to go!

Hey ladies-

Keep up the good work with creams and diets and exercise. It will make a difference in the long run.

I am 11 down on 33 total, so a third done. Got some skin darkening and tight tissue, but still good to go. These days I am have one lonely little 36A boob, so am sticking to the lightweight cotton tank tops, no bra.

My office gives me all the cremes I am supposed to use. I start with aloe, and then they have Aquaphor and Silvidene if necessary, but recommend nothing else. You'd think there might be agreement among the ROs on this, but no....

My rad techs are really personable and funny. Too bad it's a 1.5 hour drive one way. But my Meal Train for rides has been full for weeks, and it means that I get to spend that time with a wonderful assortment of friends.

We got this.

MAC58 - I was told 10 days after last treatment is pretty normal. That is this Thursday for me. I will report back here for you all!