Radiation October 2018

Big hugs to Dreamers and Inna for finishing the rads! Make sure to celebrate in some way!

I'm 7 days out. Trying to wait patiently for my radiated skin to peel off but it ain't happening as quickly as I'd like. Most of my nipple has peeled but the rest has not budged. Maybe it won't, who knows. Still using My Girls cream and Aquaphor which are soothing. Swelling is down maybe a little but hasn't really changed in the past week and I'm still pretty sore inside. Any other lumpectomy sisters feeling residual soreness in their affected breast?

Thanks, Spoonie! That is good to know. I'd love to get a massage but there's no way I could lay on my stomach!

Glad to hear it gets better!

mwlimelite, I’m 2 weeks out from the end of treatments. During treatment, I had random twinges in my breast. The radiation nurse said it could be from surgery (nerve endings reconnecting), or from the radiation. I still get them occasionally, but less often and less painful. I was able to lie on my stomach at my yoga class last night. I haven’t tried an underwire bra on in a month or so; I may try this weekend and see. I have a seroma that’s shrunk a lot too. Everything has to heal. It’s hard to be patient, I know!

Congratulations Dreamers and Inns!!

Yay, Domzie!! Wishing us all healing skin and more energy! Gentle hugs to all....

Congrats Domzie!

.... and congrats Domzie!!!

Dreamers, I was lucky enough to have manageable physical side effects. I found radiation much harder emotionally. My daily routine was totally disrupted and each treatment was one more reminder that yes, I really do have breast cancer. What helped was getting back to my regular routine as soon as I felt like it, and plenty of rest. I’ve tried to view surgery, radiation and anastrazole as necessary tools to treat cancer, and to be grateful that I have them. Truthfully, that’s easier some days than others. Although, when I just typed “anastrazole”, I just had to type “ana” before auto fill took care of the rest. I think I’ll choose to view that as an LOL...

Dreamers - happy for you that you finished your radiation. I have heard from others that the couple of weeks after rads can be rough for side effects as the body tries to return to normal.

Do you have hormone treatment coming up? Or are you finished with your treatment plan?

Gentle hug to you and to all who need encouragement.

Dreamers, I agree with you... It seems like we should be further along in our evolution of cancer care than this slash/burn/poison tx. It's hard bc we realize that the tx affects EVERYTHING in order to kill a few rogue cells.

thanks for the responses ladies ❤️

Egregious: yes ! Tamox starts week after next best wishes to you during your rads. I did not experience any side effects until my 17th of 20 treatments then boom suddenly the skin looked super upset

Currently using generous amounts of pro shield with non stick pads under my moms ultra comfy genie bras from the shopping channel haha. Got the salt water soaks twice a day also. They said the first two weeks it gets worse before better. Hope so cause I have a killer post breast cancer trip planned for December 15 haha

Love and warm hugs for you all

Dwiseley-I’m going to Anguilla - a slice of heaven in the Caribbean

At night after I shower my partner soaks a soft cloth in saline solution and I lie back with some towels around me and she’ll rest the cloth on my chest and then do maybe like 3-4 rounds of fresh soaks. In the morning I’ll use the pre soaked gauze and place it on my breast. Very soothing. Few minutes. Then pat dry and slap on a boat load of pro shield

Thank you Ladies! It feels great to be done! Now here’s hoping the skin recovers soon. I’m peeling and blistering where they did my boosts, which happens to be at my mastectomy incision scars. I’ll start Tamoxifen on December 1st. Hoping to resume a normal life again. Hugs to you all

Green Harbor,

Thank you for your post! I too felt Thanksgiving was extra special this year. I feel like I dodged a bullet and am very grateful. I agree 100% about this thread - you and all our October rads sisters really helped keep me going. Through the miracle of the interwebs, this intercontinental group of strong beautiful women all going through the same thing were able to connect. Thank you all for being out there and posting! Hugs back! Enjoy the holidays to the fullest this year!

Hi everyone, so good to hear from you all. A month out of radiation and I'm finding it strange to not be on active treatment. I'm very grateful and not complaining at all! Just very strange to be carrying on with 'normal' life. Went for a swim today with the kids and had so much fun. On both tamoxifen and Zoladex now. So far so good. Skin also healed just a bit of discoloration and stiffness. I'm considering physiotherapy.

Hugs to you all!