November 2018 Starting Radiation

mLghtn, yes the soreness around the incision has gone away. My breast has actually shrunk, I am estimating one size...from DD to D. My bras still fit but the radiated breast is definitely smaller. I am not doing any special exercises although I do notice some tightness in my arm pit area at times. I do have some stabbing pains occasionally but they are fleeting.

At this time in my treatments I feel like I am gaining momentum. I feared I would burn, I feared I would be anxious in there with the big scary machine, I feared the fatigue would kick my butt. At this point, even if I do burn and I am tired, I know I am going to come out on the other side of this with a significant benefit from having had these treatments. So stay strong, you are going to get through this one day at a time.

I would also like to share with you all that my grandmother had breast cancer in the late 1940's or early 50's. She had a radical mastectomy and radiation. She lived a long and full life from Jan 1903 - Dec 2002. Yes, that's right, she was one month from her 100th birthday when she passed. Be inspired by her, she would love that so much. She was an amazing woman.

Lucyred, dont u have to shower before radiation to get everything off skin 2 hours prior to rads?

I went today and my above comments was part of recommendations. Plus not to use deodorant with Aluminum. And absolutely none two hours prior to rads than dove soap for cleaning the skin. Im also not suppose to shave the arm pits..

Has anyone had any other recommendation that we should consider during rads???

I go tomorrow for Mapping/CT and than I'm ready to start 6 weeks --> 25days than 5 boost.

Happy Fall with Winter around the corner.. 49 days til Christmas..

Lucyred, sore ?? Is it something u can take ibuprofen for or is it best to ice? I feel like Im not prepared for rads yet..

{Raises hand} Hi there, I'm joining the November rads group!

Had my mapping/scans last Friday and will have simulation and first treatment on 11/15. 30 total planned and I was given a set schedule on Friday. I get a 4 day break for Thanksgiving but they're open the Sunday before to make up for the holiday. I'll be done 12/28 so I can start 2019 with no active treatment - YAY!

Met with nurse on Friday and she gave me the list of do's and don'ts. Asked about starting with the boob lube now would help, and she said it would. Have started using Aquafor daily and am hoping my fair skin will survive without major SEs.

Thanks for sharing all your tips!

Kim

urdrago,

The tattoos as SO small. Not even freckle size.

I too have my trial run 11/12 and start 11/13. 15/5 boosts as well. I was lucky enough to get prone as treatments are on the left. Initially RO didn't thought my breast was too small and firm to have enough hang but decided it would work after mapping. Im ready with the aquaphor and hoping that the fatigue won't be too bad as im working full time. It all seems very doable. Good luck ladies!

Britspeech, I start on same day but end Jan 4th. When's ur last scheduled day?

Lucyred, has the soreness subsided ?

I was in my mapping today, got 3 new tattoos and all ready to start. Ive begun to start slathering skin now since I need somewhat of a schedule. Also at my clinic I meet with Doc every Thursday for quick Q/A he likes to check in frequently.

CarolAnnoelumplump, glad to know ur feel some relief and good tip. I see your from Michigan as well.Im in southwest side looks like we might see some snow Friday. Brrr, this year has flew by.

Hope everyone has a kind week, sending good vibes.

Hi, I was supposed to start mapping, etc. this week, but I had a huge hematoma which opened my incision at the bottom, so I'm going to try again next week. Thanks for all of these posts so I know more what to expect. I did not have a good surgery experience so I'm super nervous about rads.

CarolAnnie--Thank you for your positive inspiring post about your grandma! I am glad to hear you are doing better, my skin also seems to be having more tanned than burning look. Always slightly pink for a few hours each day but overall getting darker tan rather then red. Positive since I am blonde and fair though I do tan pretty dark if i am in the sun a lot.

Lucyred--- I try to go topless for a bit to let lotions and oil absorb before I put a top on, and I'm using oil at night, put on light loose cotton tank under my other tops. It seems to be working cause in the am breast is still slightly oily. I don't use anything super thick like aquaphor though. I take shower in am before rads. They told me ibuprofen ok, ice not. I would be careful with plastic wrap since you don't want to trap too much moisture on the skin either (sweating can make it worse) as that can cause a moisture related breakdown ( I am an RN and have done a lot of wound care). Sometimes moisture is good like if you have a wound already, just ask your team to make sure...

I am actually doing better than the first week! I started using emu oil (ok'd by RO and has anti-inflammatory properties) at night over the weekend, in the am breast is always calmed down again. Also using "my girls like 3x/day and making sure to wear a bra when I am active. I think having the weekend off definitely helped too, but this week my breast is not significantly pinker or more irritated. They also reassured me I could have extra days off if I really need it (even emotionally). I just don't want inflammatory process to get out of control since that is often what causes tissue damage. They have had to really convince me to go through with this rads, I really didn't want it, and so they seem to be pretty accommodating to make sure I finish total tx plan. I was told couple extra days off here and there won't affect outcome. Now more than halfway done with whole breast rads, so far so good

count me in for rads

3 of 25 down... no boosts...

any recommendations would be great ..supplements and creams to counter act things

PebblesV, great advise and yes I will bath my gut in water again..lol. just when I thought I was past it..I like the information u shared about aloe, which I'm going to buy me some as well.I don't normally burn but thos body has not seen any sun all sun since I was going thru chemo.

Sending good vibes

Hi sillyoldrab - I didn't realize there were 2 different ones available! I just went with this one - had really good reviews with it. And as mentioned, I seem to be OK so far with no side effects and I've started to use it more as a preventative measure. I'm not using it 3-4 times a day like it says though, just once after the radiation treatment for now, since it's expensive. But if I really feel I start to need it more, I'll use it more.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TB9SFE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

urdrago71 - at least water is not a bad thing! I'm using the restroom all the time LOL. I hope the non-sticky aloe works well for you! It's more soothing than the sticky one, I've tried both.

For sillyoldrab, here's a pic of the Miaderm that I bought and am using:

I just finished my second week this morning, so it's 10 down and 23 to go. I'm disturbed by something I learned yesterday. Since I have to lay with my head turned to one side, I can't see all that is happening. When I asked about the zap directions I couldn't see, the technician said one of them is from below the table, so through my back. What the hell? It's going through my lung to get to my breast? I've got a huge question for the RO next week, and unfortunately, he gets pissy when questioned. Ugh.

Finally starting radiation - simulation is the 15th, first treatment is the 29th.

Not thrilled that it pretty much wipes out the month of December, which is a rough time for me anyway with seasonal affective disorder and holiday stress. But being healthy is good too.

Family is being very supportive and nobody expects much for Christmas this year. I did get a couple of things for the grandchildren and that will have to be enough.

My affected breast is the left one, so they have me turn my head to the right. The machine aims at an angle from the right, then from overhead, then somewhere I can't see to the left and another coming from what I thought was behind me (I assumed over-the-shoulder since the tumor was upper outer quadrant). Now I'm confused on what exactly is getting zapped. Hope I'll find out Tuesday without the RO having a hissy fit.