Starting Radiation November 2019

Hello, folks. Just started post-lumpectomy radiation... basically 1st week in December 2019. I *think* 2 treatments (out of a total of 25 planned) have happened while the staff was also measuring, positioning, marking, etc., after a get-acquainted visit in November. I gotta make time to talk to one of the techs to figure out where we are -- everything moves so fast! But they're busy, and talking during procedures is not advisable.

I'm just suddenly feeling the need to connect with other people going through similar. This is NOT that rare. Yet none of my (living) friends has been through it. I gather from reading that no two rad experiences are the same... and there are so many possibilities w/r/t side effects.

It feels... unsettling to have the part of my body I MOST want to protect right now so exposed during these procedures. Guess that'll fade, right? But it's kinda the big psychological deal for me at this point. I'm wary that someone in the treatment room is gonna wave their hand and accidentally thwack my poor right boob, y'know? It's just so OUT there. Today there were 6 people in the room -- including an observer (young gal, adorbs, asked permission). None of whom I minded being there. But it's a little intimidating, especially when your arm is basically behind your head to maximally expose your surgically mangled boobage. (Not that I'm not 100% grateful for those surgeries.)

Tonight, after what I *think* was a 2nd treatment, that boob's a little cranky. Slightly angry/irritated/tetchy. A couple of the tattoo marks sting; I've STILL got crazy ink trails staining parts of my chest from the initial Sharpie mapping (do they *have* to use red Sharpies?); and I used an armpit ice-pack for the first time in like 3 weeks. I'm not even entirely sure what exact area is being treated -- there's a question for the staff. Doesn't seem like it'd be my armpit, since my SNB was clear. But there's a tattoo in the fold of my 'pit that feels like a little bee-sting, and plenty of leftover red ink there, so who knows. (I'm also trying to ward off the usual skin-fold yeast infections that a DDD-cup is prone to, and that gets more complicated now.)

I'm still working out things like the best clothes to wear to pop in and out for regular treatments, how to care for the skin involved; how to avoid screwing my already trashed lower back while lying on a hard table at a weird angle with my legs basically flat; and how to remember the names of all these kind people who treat me so gently while they read out numbers to each other.

There's so many more issues, but that's for later.

Hello Mimikyu

I've just had one initial visit with the radiation oncologist and have another scheduled Dec 16. The actual radiation might not start til Jan.

I had my original surgery Oct 24 (right lumpectomy and SNB) but then developed a large hematoma/seroma so they re-operated Nov 14. The surgical report said they drained 800 cc of fluid and removed old clotted blood too. Now it is healing up nicely (for the most part) I've been doing the stretching exercises prescribed so my range of motion in my arm is getting good again.

I'm also a DDD. At the first surgery the compression bra they gave me was too small (3x but no cup size) so for the second they gave me a 4x which worked better. For radiation I tried looking for a cotton front-closure bra but although I found some with large cup sizes https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ET3PETU/ they don't provide the shoulder support I need. Even shortly after surgery with more limited I was able to put on a stretchy over-the-head cotton bra https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PRFK48S/ which has a racer-type back so it provides enough shoulder support and more support under the boobs -so I just put that on over the compression bra. Fortunately the weather is such that I can wear thick and lumpy tops and it doesn't much matter. I also bought a bunch of cotton gauze to stuff inside to achieve inter-boob separation since I read here the importance of avoiding skin-to-skin contact during radiation. Which I already knew from getting heat rash etc. under my boobs in the past.

When I had my 1st visit with the RO I told him I was concerned about lying on my back due to lower back issues and he said they'd be able to give me some support under my knees so I wouldn't be lying totally flat - you might ask about that. I had some micromets in my sentinel lymph node and slight lymphovascular invasion so I'll get the whole breast radiation plus lymph nodes in both my armpit and clavicle areas.

So far I've bought some aquaphor to apply at night and am looking for a good brand of aloe vera - I read not to apply either heat or ice packs during radiation. My RO didn't have any preferences for lotions though he said those were good and he could prescribe something if needed. I had to fly to Seattle for surgery (twice) but the radiation center is local and only 15 minutes from my house.

Yikes! You've had a time of it!! And I thought reopening the first lumpectomy slice was a drag. You're also getting a lot more area radiated than I am.



Bras have been weird. It turns out that my favorites are old, too-small Cacique bras (with an extender in back, heh heh) because they're soft, laundered all to hell, and cut small enough to stay away from my armpit scar. Initially my rad onc told me to buy a couple of sports bras before the first positioning appointment; he was afraid I'd be too floppy to place properly for treatment. Apparently sometimes they have you wear a sports bra with holes cut in it during treatment. Turns out it wasn't necessary -- but the darn things are cut too high in the armpit to be comfortable as regular bras now, so they'll get worn in a YEAR or so maybe.



BTW, something that's helped me manage that rash for years is strips of bamboo velour. I get it underboob -- and when it's evil, I'm using clotrimazole cream and/or Zeasorb powder, and tucking long strips of the velour folded under the entire underboob, which is where I get it worst. It's very soft and wick-y and absorbent, and bleaches clean. Oddly, I haven't gotten the rash much since awhile before surgery -- maybe because I've limited activity that overheats me and provokes it. (Which is tough because I'm in Florida.)



My RO team has been putting a TEENY bolster under my knees, but it's so low, it has no effect. I'm probably gonna push the issue shortly, like, bringing my own bigger bolster to see if it'll interfere with what they want. Nobody needs a sciatica/piriformis flare-up while this mess is going on! A dose of ibuprofen plus a little acetaminophen, about an hour before the appointment, seems to ease the back issues a bit and make it less painful to lie there and to get up, at least in my so far very limited experience.



I haven't noticed anything burny yet. I'll ask about the icepack (using enough cloth layers to keep it barely cooling). Found a spray-on Aquaphor (on Amazon) that's VERY cool as it goes on and easy to apply lightly to a whole boob, and I'm looking for a good, clean aloe to use. Hoping that'll be enough to stave off any skin weirdness. (I'm not allowed to post a link to it.)



Here's hoping things go well for you. Once we got started with the positioning and whatnot, I was surprised at how fast appointments for treatments got scheduled... yours might start before January.

Today was my last treatment. Yeh. My armpit looks sunburned and I have a mild rash between my foob&boob. Happy to be done with this treatment. I had a great group of women on my radiation team. I was able to work during my 25 sessions with my time slot which alleviated stress. Feeling a bit fatigued. I don't think I will hang my congrats you've completed radiation certificate on the refrigerator. Ready to sail down river denial for awhile. I want to get back to juicing and adding some supplements to my diet. At the moment I have reduced meat and dairy, started eating walnuts and want to add more cruciferous vegetables to my diet. I have matcha tea, curcumin and ginger but don't take these daily. I think ginger tea gives me blurry vision, not sure why.

Hi everybody, thought I'd add my experience, not too different from others described. I am 65 yrs old and C cup, if you want to compare. Tomorrow is my last of 19 sessions, yay!! No fatigue at all. The 1.5-2 hr round trip drive (usually in rain or snow and heavy traffic) has been bothering me more than the rads. But, by now the breast and armpit look fairly bad. Areola is dark brown and leathery. Doc saw the site today and expects skin to get redder and probably peel. However, the area doesn't hurt or itch very much, so I have not used the cortisone cream. I did Aquaphor only at night (spray sounds like a great idea) and the Fruit of the Earth aloe in the mornings and sometimes after rads. I let the aloe dry, and air out the site, about 5 mins before putting on clothes. I feel like letting everything air out (including under the breast) as much as possible would be a good idea, but that's hard to do in winter. I've had two ROs and one said "air is the best healer". Good things about winter include: puffy coat keeps seat belt from rubbing, can get away with no bra, and you don't miss sunbathing/swimming outside. Have been doing fairly rigorous gym training 3x a week as usual. That may be helping with avoiding pain and fatigue. Regardless, I guess most of us November starters will have an itchy Christmas.

Hi AnnC2019,

Just found you have 25 rounds, while I only have 20 rounds. Today is my 15 out of 20, and doctor said my skin is okay now, but the worse time is the one or two weeks after completion. Mine has almost same color as yours, especially the armpit is reddened. So far, no much itch, not sure what will happen in the coming two weeks. Still 5 to go, that is the whole week, I am tired of getting in and out there. My last round will be Christmas Eve, that is my hope.

Guess most November starters already finished.

This might sound odd but I worked in a hospital and we used Maalox for skin irritation. Apply with a cotton ball and let air dry. I have seen it heal some pretty nasty skin problems. I start rads middle of Jan. scheduled for 16 Tx.

I have 4 boosts in addition to standard 16 whole breasts. Today I did my second boosts, which means armpit had two days off so far, yes, it is getting darker, and itchy. .. sounds like I shall go to pharmacy to fill out my prescription.

Enjoy the weekend.

Hi,

I am two weeks from my last whole breast radiation, one week from last boost radiation. Armpit skin is peeling off, yes, a bit bumps on the upper right back. Still itchy, but getting better.