Radiation February 2019

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  • Vivian4
    Vivian4 Member Posts: 32
    edited March 2019

    HPFULL, How are you? Have you started the boosts yet--if you don't mind me asking?. How are they going? Are they any different than the regular sessions? I have 8 more to go and I'll start the boosts as well. A little nervous. I hope you are doing well.

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    Just discovered a wonderful product-- CamWell Herb to Soothe. A lady in rads waiting room told me about it and I ordered some and used it last night. My redness went down by HALF overnight. Passing it on for anyone who is red, rashy and itchy. Or doesnt want to get that way. It's on Amazon. Developed by a RO. Wonderfully soothing.

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  • HPFULL
    HPFULL Member Posts: 247
    edited March 2019

    Hi. Checking in. 3 more boosts to go and I am done. I am told the boosts are electrons so they do not go too far in the skin, and don’t pass through like whole breast photon radiation. I am a bit red in the boost area but it doesn’t hurt. It’s weird some days you have to wear a silk cami under my bra and some days I am fine without it. Today I feel really tired but good. It’s nice that the boosts allote he rest of my radiation areas time to heal. My skin has held up better than anticipated. I get super itchy at times but it passes. I use 1% hydrocortisone and wait an hour and then I use spray on Aquafor. It spray sure put super cold so it feels good. I am so excited to be almost done. Hoping you are all holding up well. And in case no one told you today you are all amazing, strong women. 😘😘

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  • HPFULL
    HPFULL Member Posts: 247
    edited March 2019

    Hi. How's everyone holding up?  Hope you are all doing well and not getting too crispy. Tomorrow is my last day yay!

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  • Misha13
    Misha13 Member Posts: 240
    edited March 2019

    HPFULL-YAY!! That’s awesome!!! I’m so glad you are almost done! It’s been a long road and you made it!! I will think of you ringing the bell tomorrow

    My last day is Monday! I’m red and sore under my arm and my foob is tight and weird, but it’s nothing bad. I’m grateful for that!!

    How’s everyone else?

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  • Rav
    Rav Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2019

    Hey @HPFULL my last day is tomorrow as well! Can’t wait! My RO said that the skin might look worse next week before it get’s better. I hope it holds in one piece and don’t brake! RO also recommended absolutely no sun on the area during the next 2 years.

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    I still have 2 more weeks but I am hanging in there... 28 treatments total. My boob is still reddened, slightly itchy, but no pain. I'll take it!

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  • Prissy
    Prissy Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2019

    Hello everyone! Congrats to those who have recently finished!! Woo hoo! It sounds like everyone is doing pretty well. Glad to hear it! I am exactly 4 weeks post rads and wanted to check in. I did pretty well the first 3 weeks of treatment, but that 4th week I had the itchy rash, my breast was extremely sensitive and sore and became more red. The week after rads was by far my hardest week. The boost area (mine was just under my left nipple) burned pretty badly and my whole breast became even more sensitive, especially the nipple and sentinel node area. But I turned a corner the 11th day post rads, and am now making rapid improvement - much less red and the soreness has greatly improved! I'm still wearing a cami under my bra, but I think in another couple of days I will be able to shed that! I know everyone's story is different, but just wanted to let you know that though your SE might worsen after you finish, just remember that you are finished and IT WILL GET BETTER SOON!

    Happy weekend!

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  • Mymomsgirl
    Mymomsgirl Member Posts: 174
    edited March 2019

    Hpfull, Misha and Rav congratulations on making it! It is so rewarding to check something else off the list.

    I just wanted to post a little update. I'm almost 4 weeks post radiation and finally wore a normal bra since surgery for a few hours yesterday. I agree with Prissy the first week after things did get a little worse. I got more red, more itchy and my nipple was really sensitive. Also during radiation my breast was feeling really heavy, that subsided about 2 weeks after. I actually am starting to feel a little normal. I still have my radiation tan so I'm still using Cerave and Aquaphor at night, it has helped with the scaring since I had reconstruction at the same time. On Friday I met with a new MO whom I really like and it looks like my next step will be tamoxifen, but she told me to take the weekend to think about what we chatted about. I guess it is time for the next chapter of this journey.

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  • HPFULL
    HPFULL Member Posts: 247
    edited March 2019

    HappyCongrats Misha and Rav on finishing RADS. I was feeling pretty good last week. Saturday my energy level totally plummeted and Sunday I went for a long walk and the rest of the day I was napping on the couch. I am so fatigued today, so weird. My skin is red but did not get worse with the boosts and is really holding up nicely. I really think the PT saved me and helped with se from RADS. It seems that most surgeons and doctors don't mention this. I asked my PS if there was anything to help with healing and tightness and he said point blank...no. It was a Nurse Navigator who suggested PT. If anyone is hurting or not healing I highly recommend it. They used as laser on my that increased blood flow to help with healing and break up scar tissue. My boob was so painful and rock hard prior to PT; it now is more like  a normal boob. I go back to work next Monday :)which will be a since I have be off 3 months. Happy Monday :)

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  • Misha13
    Misha13 Member Posts: 240
    edited March 2019

    Happy Monday indeed!!

    I rang the bell!! So relieved to be finished!

    HPFULL-congrats on finishing and getting ready to go back to work! I know I felt a lot better when I returned to work and I hope you will as well.

    Rav-Congrats to you as well!!

    I’m doing the happy dance today!! Plus it’s spring break and my birthday is on Wednesday! I’ve got a lot to celebrate and feel very thankful for!

    Hugs to all!!!


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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    Yay Misha!!!! I can't wait to be where you are! (8 more treatments for me. My boob is a tomato that itches but still not in pain.) It has to be surreal to be on a forced march for 7 months, and then be DONE!!!

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  • Misha13
    Misha13 Member Posts: 240
    edited March 2019

    Santabarbarian-Yes! It does! And you will know too! Noticing you and I have been near the same thing at the same time these past few months! July until March has seemed like FOREVER! Hang in there!

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  • egregious
    egregious Member Posts: 240
    edited March 2019

    Misha, Rav, and HPFULL,

    HOORAY!!!!!

    YOU DID IT!!!!!

    Hope the next couple of weeks are gentle on body and soul as you begin to recover from rads. I'm two months out and everything is completely back to normal, if you don't count my funny looking one sided suntan.


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  • Prissy
    Prissy Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2019

    Congrats HPFULL, Rav, and Misha! Being finished is truly something to celebrate!!

    Santabarbarian - you aren't far behind! The end is in sight so hang in there!

    egregious - Do you have any idea how long the "sunburn" lasts? Mine is the same way and I am assuming it will go away at some point.

    Have any of you talked to your RO or ONC about sun exposure, especially since bathing suit season is right around the corner? I am going to talk to mine, but would be curious if any of you have info.

    Happy Hump Day! :0)

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  • Prissy
    Prissy Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2019

    And Misha - Happy Birthday to you!! :0)

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    I heard to keep the radiated area out of the sun for a year.

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  • HPFULL
    HPFULL Member Posts: 247
    edited March 2019

    congrats Misha! I am doing the happy end of RADS and Happy Birthday dance for you!

    Santabarbarian you are almost there!

    Prissy my RO said no sun for a year.

    My skin itches but the color is fading with the exception of the boost area. I think I am getting a cold so I feel pretty wiped out, but so grateful to be done for a bit. I am also so very grateful for all of you on this site

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    Thanks for the encouragement. I think I can bite the bullet for 6 more-- and I appreciate the support!

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    This puts an inflamed boob into perspective... I took it walking down the into the rads center the other day....

    image

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  • Naesha
    Naesha Member Posts: 62
    edited March 2019

    hello ladies, my last day of radiation is on March 20th. I started from Feb 12th. So far i don't have much side effects except the skin rashes around my left breast and neck area. I haven't use any cream yet to these rashes. I use the coconut cream to these area. Is there any cream that will help these rashes to go away.

    Also, I am not sure its because of these tissue expander or radiation lately i am experiencing neck and lower back pain. Is there any ladies out there who might have experienced such issue.

    -Take care ladies

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  • Wereflyn
    Wereflyn Member Posts: 37
    edited March 2019

    Hello Ladies,

    I begin radiation on Monday and had nipple sparring mastectomy on my left side in August 2018 with tissue expander. I'm quite concerned how best to lessen the side effects on the nipple as my RO did not give any guidance except to treat it the same as the breast. He recommends making a strong green tea solution and using a spray bottle spritz it all over the treatment area 4 times a day. In addition to a prescription steroid cream immediately after treatment and at night.

    I've heard I should use vitamin e, aloe vera or coconut oil. Then I've been told I don't need to use anything else.

    Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

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  • Rav
    Rav Member Posts: 14
    edited March 2019

    Happy belated birthday Misha!

    @Prissy, I will be traveling to a sunny island in a few days and I asked about sunny exposure to my RO. He said “absolutely no sun on the radiated area during the next TWO years”. Ough

    He said to apply sunscreen and have the area covered ALL THE TIME, even when swimming (I asked that too).

    I bought two shirts from Patagonia (one is long sleeved, the other is short sleeved). Both are labeled “UV 50”. Can’t wait to check they really work! 😎

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  • loricstein
    loricstein Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2019

    Thank you all for sharing. I'm starting radiation April 1, 2019! Yeah, I know, April Fool's! Anyone out there doing radiation in April?

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  • PiperKay
    PiperKay Member Posts: 173
    edited March 2019

    Rav, I've used SPF/UV 50 clothing in the past and it really does work! Apparently, it begins to lose effectiveness eventually after it's been washed a lot, but your new stuff should be great. Just don't think the sun protection will last forever. A company I've gotten a lot of cute stuff from is Mott 50. Their website is https://mott50.com/ . Have an awesome time!

    Anne

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    Hey sisters, anyone else who had a lumpectomy, then rads, who is having nerve twinges in the breast possibly due to radiation? I suppose it might also be post-surgical healing twinges, but they seem to be stronger lately.



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  • HPFULL
    HPFULL Member Posts: 247
    edited March 2019

    image

    Probably TMI but that whole area in the pic was radiated and red. This is one week post rads. I can’t believe how fast it healed

    Yes Santabarbarian :) I had the twinges. The nurses called them zap and zinger.

    Naesha and Wereflyn- I went to a presentation at the hospital that this Dermatologist put on and he said to put on 1% hydrocortisone cream frequently. He said it prevents the skin from breaking down. He said to use the ointment, but I used the cream as I felt the ointment kind of trapped the skin from breathing and made me more rashy. I can't believe how well my skin held up. My skin is almost not even showing any red from RADS with the exception of the bust area and I just finished last week! I would use the cream then wait and hour and use the spray on Aquaphor which worked really well. Hope you all have a nice weekend

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  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited March 2019

    HPFULL your skin looks amazing. Thanks for your reply!

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  • Vivian4
    Vivian4 Member Posts: 32
    edited March 2019

    Hope everyone is doing well. Just checking in... I am starting my boosts on Monday. My skin is a little pink tonight but it's been holding up well so far. My under arm area is tender.

    For those who are asking about moisturizers.... Aquaphore and aloe vera have been the only products I've used so far. They both work wonders (for me). I had bought Miaderm before I began my radiation but the product did not match the good old Aquaphore in performance. I used Miaderm the first week of my rads and it did nothing for me. My skin got red and dry and sensitive. Then I settled into my Aloe vera right after the treatment and Aquaphore 30 min after that routine. I continued to put on more Aquaphore (2 or 3 times more) throughout the day. It was oily, but my skin calmed down, my rashes went away, I gradually developed a light tan in the treatment area--instead of rash and blisters.

    I've had a serious arm pain that started with rads. I've been seeing a PT about that. She said that I've developed cording. This is surprising for both of us since I only had a single lymph node removed during surgery. We been working to break the cording and treatment has provided a great relief so far. I thank HPFULL for her great suggestion to consult a PT for that. :)

    Can't wait to be done.

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  • Wereflyn
    Wereflyn Member Posts: 37
    edited March 2019

    HPFULL and Vivan4

    Thank you very much for your help. What kind of Aloe Vera did you buy? I bought a combo cream from Amazon that has aloe as the first ingredient and some oils I have seen mentioned in this forum.

    When the RO saw that I still had my nipple after my mastectomy he seemed shocked. I think it might be rare to have 1/3 nodes affected with a breast tumor so small that it doesn't go near the skin. Now I'm worried about my nipple too. Tomorrow is my day 1/33 and I'm a bit worried. Ugh.

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