JUNE 2018 starting RADIATION

MAC58, that's happening to me too- dark nipple and skin peeling. Thus far that doesn't hurt but is starting to itch. The painful part that is swollen and peeling and raw is up high, almost to my arm pit. Not enjoying it! Wondering how long it will last. My fatigue isn't bad but I have nausea on and off. I'm 9 days since last rads. Ready to be done with this. I'm concerned about the drugs that are my next phase of treatment.

5 boosts and I’ll be done . Can’t wait until Friday and ring the bell.

Is that the SSD cream? I was prescribed that after I had the allergic reaction and lidocaine wasn’t doing enough. Not sure if that helps you though? 😄

Tld2017, no I didn’t, but when I asked about having so many creams (at one point up to 7), he said they could all be mixed together if I wanted. I put the topical antibiotic only on the open sores. The SSD cream said to use no more than twice a day, the lidocaine no more than four times, the hydrocortisone no more than three times. So in the morning I would put aquaphor on as much area as I could, then hydrocortisone, lidocaine, and SSD cream on the painful rashes. At night I would do the same thing but used aloe instead of aquaphor as i find it more relaxing. In the middle of the day I would try to use the udderly smooth cream and the others as I could. But all I used early on was aquaphor and aloe. I don’t see how the SSD cream could hurt though. I did learn a little bit of it went a long way, but a lot of lidocaine went a little way!

on my way for my first of 4 boosts! After 16 full breast treatments I only have slight tenderness of the nipple and daily swelling that goes away overnight. So blessed. Emu oil and calendula has been the answer for me. I am large breasted and it has worked very well.

Hit the wall.

It's 8 days since I finished 28 rads, and for the first time, I feel the kind of exhaustion that is all together too much like chemo, minus nausea. My PT said to expect it, that it's normal. I walked twice today, and now I can't eat, don't want to do a thing.

Anyone else done this? I'm told the only thing to do is keep moving. That'll be tomorrow for me.

I have been having nausea at bedtime for the last 5 days and got out my leftover nausea meds. I had number 16 radiation today and will get 33 doses, some of them boosts to the incision site. My breast is hurting now. I think I will ask for the lidocaine cream. I see the Radiation doc tomorrow and then the next day I will have another CT scan for the planning of the boosts.

3 boosts left and I’m done, very tired, the nausea has not returned.... ro thought it was dehydration from rads plus extreme heat in Ohio we had. I’m very stiff and achy but it could be my rheumatoid arthritis, I’m napping every day and goi g to bed 8:30 😒 still using aquaphor and hydrogel 4 times each day, nurse said after rads I should moisturize once every day for a month

I have 2 full breast/5 boosts to go -part of the 33 group. I am ‘lucky’ I guess and hear from the ro that I am ‘far ahead of the curve’ skin-wise. It has only been in the last couple of days I have felt anything other than mild sunburn on my scar and armpit with soreness ramping up as of yesterday so ro prescribed steroid cream. I have tanned and darker nipple, breast and armpit. My scar is darker reddish too. I feel a little bit of fatigue but nothing compared to chemo! The office asked me what I have done differently so thought I’d detail it here in case it helps.

My treatments have been supine (on my back) with arms overhead daily with the 7/4 holiday break. They don’t require it but I hold my breath during the ‘buzzes’ because I figured it can’t help to stay still to limit the field of treatment. I use a combination of: TriDerma given out by the center, Calendula cream, organic food grade aloe vera, Cell Food (also aloe based) and a combination oil I made at home with coconut & lavender oils Either 2 or 3 times a day I use the cream as a base, all of armpit too, then one of the aloes, then finish with the oil (healing and prevents friction).

I have been very sensitive to heat, getting waves of prickle-itchies on arms and legs anytime I get overheated (not the easiest thing to do in Phoenix with temps over 110! But I just get out of the house errands done before noon if I can. When sitting or laying down have tried to keep my arm propped ‘open ‘ so air can circulate under it. Ditto reclining back so circulation of air under breast. Boy am I glad I kept the recliner we bought for surgery recovery even though I am sick of lounging so much. Sure am getting a lot of reading done in the evening though!

Other than these things I really don’t do anything special or different than normal life. I can’t wait to be done August 3. Since this was the final leg of the triple crown of the big C (chemo poisoned it out, surgery scooped it out & rads just mop up on a molecular level) I am SO looking forward to putting this all behind me and moving forward.

Good luck to everyone!

Rwns. No break for me between the two.

Congratulations to everyone done and almost done

Tomorrow I’m done and so happy

Happy to report that I finished my 30th treatment on Tuesday. It was interesting that they didn't tell me I was getting boosts until the day before they started (my last five were boosts directly on the scar). Even though they were targeted, rather than all over my chest and armpit, I definitely felt the constriction of my muscles more and had the same issue of not being able to take my shirt off over my head without propping my arm on the wall. I saw my PT yesterday and she said "now we can get to work" on my irradiated side and boy did she because I was sore today! But, I also am much more flexible so it was worth it. I'm peeling all over and in various ways, some flaky, some scabby, and I'm very glad that I am mostly numb under my armpit because I think that my raw exposed skin has be doing pretty bad. I got the green light to use anything and everything on my skin (except sunscreen as that might make it worse) and so I started using Avocado Oil right away and I think that it has done wonders to help soften up the really scaley bits.

Now, I'm not one to gush about particularly products, but I had an epiphany moment that I wanted to share with anyone who is concerned about not feeling sexy due to peeling, sensitivity or not having boobs. In my search for something to celebrate my anniversary in a big way with my hubby (if you know what I mean) I found this bodysuit from INC intimates at Macy's and it made be feel sexy like Beyonce! Not only did it cover my scars, scabs and burns, but it feels great on the inside and outside, and not having any cleavage did not stop me from looking sexy (I think my hubby agreed!). I'm kind of shouting this from the mountaintop as I know that I can't be the only one in this predicament and I want anyone who is even thinking that they can't feel good at this point to know otherwise!

For those who are not yet done with treatment, keep on truckin' the end is in sight!

Hi Ladies,

I'm two weeks out since last rad treatment. Finally, yesterday my big wound stopped looking like hamburger meat! It's been raw, red, bumpy, painful, burning, itching, peeling. Now the under boob is having some of that but not as bad. Weird how it moves around, but at least it's moving out. I've been using creams, gels, lotions during the day, aquaphor at night.

I started Arimidex 4 days ago. So far feeling ok. Now the pills for 5 years, and Herceptin every three weeks til March 2019, then remove the port. I'm ready to get back to exercising and some new normal in my life! We are all gettin it done!

Hey all, working on my Leave of Absence papers for my upcoming Rad Medicine appointment. I have 20 weeks of paid sick time, so even though I may not NEED to be off, I'm hoping to work part time through my treatments.

As far as the fatigue goes, how soon does it set in? And how long does it last after the treatment is over? I know not everyone has the fatigue, and I know not everyone has the luxury of using sick time, but I'm going to use some of mine, since I have so much.

HI RobinJ,

Like Diane I didn't suffer much from radiation. Very minimal fatigue. I cut down my workload. And totally agree that you just take more rest, we all deserve it!

I'm back from cruise and wanted to check in! I was totally fine by the time we got on the ship. My skin was dark brown and peeling, some bumps and itchiness but it healed very quickly over the week. I was able to hike, walk and even went to the gym on the ship a few times. I think being more active actually helped it clear up faster if that's possible. I'm now about 19 days out and it just looks like I have an odd tan that's kind of fading. No more pain even which just seems weird that it stopped so quickly. The scars are totally healed over as well. The spot under my arm is almost completely gone and the scar is fading quit a bit. I'm having the most issues with the seroma on the the other side now :-/ It's healing a lot slower than the others but it does seem like its healing at least. Fatigue seems to be non-existent at this point other than me trying to adjust back to my normal time zone!

I hope everyone else is healing just as quickly!