August 2018 Starting Radiation

Life1963

Yes. And the scaps from the nodes surgery scar started to fall off as rest of skins peels off. It is often sore or sensitive under the arm

Now I am 20 days after radiation, skins irritation is mostly gone, new skins are showing but do have two tones. Finally feel I can wear normalish clothing again and start to wear bra without feeling pain or itchy too much.

Hope everyone is doing well

Did anybody out there get a cold during radiation treatment? All my co-workers have been sick and guess who caught it? Ugg

I hope I don't sneeze or cough during one of my treatments!

I just posted on another thread that my rad techs asked me if I could come in early tomorrow--I might be getting my boosts while lying on my side and they need to do another scan/mapping. I'd forgotten about the boosts (I don't think I'd ever heard how many I'll be getting), but for some reason I left feeling cheerier because it occurred to me I only have six regular zaps left. Even though it's the same total number, six regular + seven boosts sounds better to me than 13 more, I guess because I'll have one more thing behind me one week from today! :-D Re: SEs, that breast is getting pretty itchy, but only on the chest area, where I would have had sun exposure my whole life. Haven't really had any fatigue yet--we'll see how these last few weeks go. . .

itchy boob!!!!! As if the redness isn't enough!

Hey everyone! I started my boosts today. Only 4 left. What a long road this has been. The team did notice that a spot has opened up in my armpit. I can't feel it because of my mastectomy, but I am of course worried about infection. They gave me a prescription cream to use. Just wanted to see if anyone had any tips for the armpit area. It seems like a hard place to heal since it rubs a lot.

Also wanted to see if anyone has experienced any pain/tightness in the joints in their hand? I'm meeting with lymphedema therapist next week to make sure I take care of any swelling early, but I almost feel like the pain I'm having it from inflammation in my joints not lymph buildup.

Thanks for any feedback!

Hi everyone. Thank you for posting your experiences. I found them very helpful and used many of the suggestions. I wanted to share my experience in hopes it helps someone.

I started radiation on 8/13 and my last treatment was a week ago 8/18. I had 24 total treatments. 16 whole breast and 8 boosts. The whole breast treatments were face down, boosts face up

I was fortunate to have a few weeks of 4 treatments to start due to holidays and hurricane alerts. By the 10th treatment, I was very red and sore - both the nurse and RO looked worried when they checked my skin. The nurse cautioned that my skin could rip by simply reaching. By the 3rd week, the RO prescribed a narcotic for the pain. Alleve wasn’t cutting it.

From the various postings, my plan was to use aloe immidiarely after treatment and again a couple hours later, aquafor after showering and calendula the next morning. I found aquafor to be slimy (it is very humid here) so I stopped it and used calendula instead. By the last treatment there was no broken skin and RO, nurse and techs were happy that my skin held up. As for the recommended creams, the RO gave a list without any specifics. I remember the surgeon saying that the cream wasn’t as important as just keeping skin moisturized and act of massaging the skin.

I have been in a zip up sports bra since surgery, going without is painful. When my skin was extra red and angry I would unzip to cool off. I had to stay still since movement was extra sore without support. I wore button up tops rather than pullover tops. It was less painful.

The pain during and after have been pretty intense. Sometimes it’s achy others it’s a sharp intense pain. I walk slow to keep my boob still. I am hopeful that the pain will decrease in the next week.

The whole treatment process was exhausting. I altered my work schedule to minimize lost time. I am envious of those who were able to continue their exercise routine. My exercise was walking in supermarkets to get steps in while keeping cool.

My take on my reactions: I had an infection after lumpectomy which could be why I have a lot of pain. I am very pale and don’t do well in the sun which could be why my skin got angry.

I start tamoxifen next week - the next leg of this journey.

I wish you all the best. Take care and keep fighting!

Thanks NVDobie! (A good friend was diagnosed recently, has had her surgery, and will start rads the Monday after I finish. We're going to meet up for a glass of champagne on my last day to celebrate and so I can pass the baton.)

I keep getting told that my skin looks really good but my armpit is hurting too. And my breast has a burning sensation through it. And my arm just feels achy and heavy all the dang time. I've been wearing my sleeve during the day but it wakes me up at night in so much pain. Not really sure what I can do about that I have 18 more treatments to go! Anybody else out there have these Sensations? What did you do to alleviate if you did?

Also did any of you ladies get just totally and completely exhausted period every treatment I have I'm more and more tired

Hi ladies,

Today is my last treatment! Yay!

My skin is bright red and peeling, but no pain except a little tiny spot under the breast that looks like it’s opening up.

I was glad to see I wasn’t the only one with weird feelings in my arm. It’s been achy and just weird feeling. I’m hoping it’s inflammation and not Lymphedema but I’m keeping a close eye to watch for swelling. I’ve also had some achy pains in my breast. From what I’ve read it all seems pretty expected. Hoping so, and hopingwe all start to feel much better soon!!

Colleen - yay you, you're done!!!!! Congrats!

I finished Sep 11. I still have redness and itchiness and apply my lotions 2-3 times a day but every day it's getting better.

I too noticed a tightness and a bit of tenderness in my axilla on the affected arm. I'm stretching and massaging it. I don't have any infection or irritation near the sentinel biopsy scar, it's just deep in the tissue it feels tight.

Life1963, sorry to hear your pain. Hang in there.

In our clinic, rad tech instructed us to use saline water compress. 1.5-2 Tbsp of salt with 1 liter of boiled then cooled down water. cotton towels to cover the area for 10-15 min. I did that for a couple of weeks, 2 times a day. I used aloe plant and calendular salve /cream after.

I also went bra free with loose cotton T shirt on top for the weeks my skin feel most irritated. Including to the treatment. There were days I closed all curtains and just sat there topless for a bit after my saline water compress.

It will get better.

Hey all, Just wanted to share something that has helped me out.

I am a tad larger, so I've got some irritation under my breast and under my arm. It's been pretty uncomfortable and no matter what bra I wear, it makes it worse. And even bra-less there is some irritation.

I found this powder gel by Monistat. https://www.target.com/p/monistat-chafing-relief-powder-gel-1-5-oz/-/A-14774551?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=bing_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Health%2BBeauty%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Health%2BBeauty&LID=700000001230728pbs&network=s&device=c&querystring=monistat%20anti-chafing%20gel&gclid=[*GCLID*]&gclsrc=ds

I found it Meijer, but looks like it's readily available. After letting my lotion soak in, I've put a dime side on my sore axillary area, and another dime under the breast. It's really made things much more comfortable.

Just sharing and hope someone finds this helpful!

XOXO

msvp you’ll probably get an additional five boosts after the regular treatments. The regular ones go through the whole breast; the boosts are a different type of beam that only go as far as the tumor bed. It’s a little extra radiation to the area where the tumor was. I’ve been wearing soft cotton bras and exercise bras that just slip over my head. Don’t spend a lot of money on them—they’ll likely get stained by the markings they draw on your breast.

awesome news!

Yay Ingerp! Congrats!

I'm having increasing tightness in the arm of the affected side. They didn't even radiate my nodes but that arm has suddenly reduced range of motion and pain along one side if I extend in certain ways. It runs down the entire arm to the pinky. I'm going to make an appointment with an RMT to see if they can massage this sucker out. I almost wonder if it's because for almost 4 weeks I was 'stretched' in the position for rads and then I stopped?