August 2018 Starting Radiation

Happy weekend, everyone! Sounds like most people are doing fairly well, which is great to hear. I'm almost halfway through (9 out of 20 done - last 4 will be boosts), and so far, so good. Getting a bit pinkish, but actually felt better week two than week one - the nerve "zaps" settled down, and my skin seems overall less sensitized. I'm using Miaderm in the dressing room after treatment, and midday and night either more Miaderm or Cerave Baby Cream. My treatments are in the prone position, which is going well; somehow I feel less vulnerable that way - maybe because the machine doesn't loom over me - well, it does, but I can't see it!

Enjoy the rest of your weekends - the break is certainly nice. And next weekend, for those of us in the US, will be a 3-day break!

Hello, all, I'm starting radiation tomorrow, with 30 days through the second Monday in October (if all goes according to plan). It's really interesting how different the instructions are for lotions and preparation from one clinic to the next in different locations! My RO recommends aloe vera, vitamin E oil or lotion, or Colonial Dames, an aloe vera and vitamin E cream sold in the cancer clinic pharmacy or some local stores. I work full time, so I'm concerned about staining clothing with lotion, visible irritation on my neck since I'm having right whole breast and supraclavicular radiation, and irritation wearing a bra. Fingers crossed! Thanks for the tips everyone has posted

Hi, all. So I have 3, yes 3 treatments to go, today I had a regular radiation treatment, and the sets of x rays to prepare for the boosts starting tomorrow. I see my onco Dr Thursday and I hope that's it. Apparently, the boosts require great prescision, and the measurements are different than reg rad treatments. They take x rays each boost .
So, I'm very very fair, blue eyes blond
although I think my hair is growing in from chemo in pure white. IV had radiation since July 24.

My skin is not bad as of yet, although IV been warned the 2 weeks following the last treatment the skin continues to be affected. I thought I could share my personal favorite SE reduction ideas IV used
1. From day 1, i used pure (as possible) aloe.
2. Baby pure cornstarch powder.
3. I bring ice packs to my clinic, apply
immediate after treatment, 45 to 1 hr.
4. When skin beginning to redden, apply Skin-
tegrity gel.( dr. Supplied this)
5. My bra and radiation irritated underarm area at lymph node surgical scar, Dr, office supplied me with- Mepilex, an adhesive compression pad that you can cut to shape for under breast or armpit area.

I know we are all different in our reactions and side effects, but these are what are getting me through my treatment. It's been so terribly hot and humid that the cornstarch is so helpful in absorbing moisture.

Others told me they were fatigued and exhausted terribly during radiation, but I don't find that to be my case too much. I do go to bed tired and early, but have way more energy than I did during chemo.

Best to all going through radiation.

thank you, Ingerp! How did your first full week go, how are you feeling?

Djt--I guess if I really think about it, occasionally the breast feels a little heavy or warm or something but really nothing noticeable. I keep forgetting to put the cream on (except at night) but am trying to be better about it. I know I'll be reminded when the skin starts to get pink. (I keep meaning to stick a tube of calendula cream in my purse to put on after tx but that's another thing I keep forgetting!). So far I've been pretty good about heading across the street to the gym right after rads. My appts tend to be 11:30-12:00-ish, so I'm considering it an extra long lunch. As cranky as I've been about not enough hair growth and slogging through these rads appts, at least you can check them off quickly. I try to keep in mind that after this week I'll be <almost> a third done.

It is beastly hot in Central Virginia this week. Summer's last hurrah and it is making me miserable. Another reason I'm looking forward to ditching the baseball caps!!

Robin I think most MOs would say Miaderm is okay but save it for after treatment. They just don’t want stuff on your skin while you’re getting zapped that could interfere with the stuff getting through. My MO also said there’s no evidence that a little deodorant interferes with anything.My first day was late too, but they always schedule the first appt late in the day. I know they take longer and the techs don’t want to mess up their schedule. Since then my appts have been 11:30-12:00-ish and right on time. I know sometimes things come up, though, and they’ll put up a sign saying “We are running late today. We appreciate your patience.”

If I can swap out a daiquiri for the margarita I’m on board. . .

Finished 16+4 sessions on Monday. Phew!

Didnt see my RO throughout the whole time, was seen by Radiation Oncology GP once a week. The tech team was super nice, so I bought some chocolate for the tech team and GP on my last day after finishing the treatments. They were smiling ears to ears. Radiation therapy team has been the most pleasant in this journey.

Skin is very red now, has peeled off a layer last week, some blisters from the irritation from my massage on Monday (lying facing down). No pain yet. just itchy for a while after applying any cream, imagine it is from friction.

RO GP keep recommending cortisol cream for the burns but i had allergy to the steriod cream prescribed so I am sticking to the Calendula creams i have and polysporin on the blisters. and applying salt water 1-2 times a day as he suggested.

He said "what is cooking will continue to cook" but it should not get worse and should see improvement in 10 days or so.

i have gone bra less for the last week or so, so reduce my outings quite a bit because of that. doing walks early morning or later evening.

Hope everyone is doing well, counting down your sessions to completion.

Next up: tamoxifen. :-)

Hi all,

Robin, I'm very fair as well and was really worried about some horrendous burns, but my last session is tomorrow, and I'm reddish but no painful burns at all. I know it will continue to 'cook' for about 2 weeks, but I really rely on ice aloe and cornstarch.

Ingerp, hope it's going fast and easy.

Funny convo of daquaris and margaritas, because after my last treatment I'm going to have one or the other at a nice lunch with my honey who has gotten me to each appointment! The boosts have been A bit different, today was 3, with the machine moving to a different spot for each, and a different noise than regular zaps. The first boost they put wires with some kind of meter on my skin. Little by little the big blue x marks are coming off.

After last zap tomorrow, i see the Dr. And hope no more to come. You know the weird thing....When I'm done, where does the mind go? Do I just forget it all and live my life, and if so, how? After daily appoints, zaps, pills, infusion s and multiple surgeries for the past 8 months, what gear do I put myself IN? Huge changes, transition period.

Blessings all.

Hi All,

Any ladies have their exchange pre-rads? I'm doing my exchange surgery tomorrow and radiation towards end of September/start of October and was told by my PS that there's a 70% chance of extracapsular contraction. I wanted to ask those of you how your implants fared after radiation. Thank you!!

Hi all, just reached my 1/2 way point and so far my experience has been pretty typical. I've gotten a little pinker, and I have irritation in the crease under my breast. I think this may be due to my stubborness and wearing an underwire for the first 2 weeks - I've stopped now and use the Mepilex pads, which are definitely helping. My nurse if very flexible about creams etc, he gives me a bottle of aloe cream every week, and because of the added irritation he gave me a tube of aquafor to use where needed only. The rads treatments have been going really well, my center has a great team of technicians, the two main ones have a running competition on who is faster - which of course doesn't bother me at all.... I've gotten to the point now that I know exactly how long to hold my breath for each zap (they vary slightly)... I've also gotten used to the ABC (Active Breathing Coordinator) Breathing tube,and although its not exactly comfortable, at least I don't have a minor panic attack each time. I've also thought a lot about what will happen after the 19th (my last treatment). It will feel so odd not to have a dr's appointment at some point during a week. Since January, my longest time between appointments has been 2 weeks (after chemo-before radiation)... It will feel nice though to be back to a regular routine and hopefully the fatigue etc will start to fade quickly.

Good luck to you all!

Ingerp, thank you, maybe I just needed to hear that. Yes, a long weekend in mid Sept in 1000 islands with motorcycles is coming. And I want to bring my grandson to school on the first day, next week.

Hi All,

I sounds like everyone is doing (fairly) well with radiation treatment. I finished 15 sessions, no boosts, on August 17th. I then took a family trip to Lake Tahoe in California. It was a nice getaway, up in the mountains, above the smoke and haze from the wild fires.

My breast heldup pretty well during rads. Slightly pink, but no other irritation. I guess my biggest complaint is the fatigue I felt, and still feel. I’m hoping to push through that and ramp my excercise routine up a notch or two.

I’m also feeling a little bit of “what now?” Being triple negative, my active treatment is basically over. I see a NP next week for a “survivorship care plan” appointment and have a 3 month visit with my MO in October. It just feels strange because I have had daily or weekly trips to the center since February. I should be happy that treatment is finally over. And I AM happy. Just feeling a little lost I guess.

Thanks, Ingerp. I needed to hear that today. ;

I finished 16 of 33 treatments today. Sometimes I feel like it will never end! I keep lots of lotion on, but I'm starting to feel very itchy and I've noticed a change in my skin texture. My tissue expander is also very tight. Overall though it's not so bad. How is everyone else doing?

hi moth! I was told the boosts are the same strength, just added “protection” on the incision site (for me). I will have 5 of those at the end.