Radiation recovery

Can anyone give me any idea how long the breast swelling lasts after completion of radiation? When does the shrinking/perking up start? I had to get a new bra my cancer boob has swollen so much (or I wasn't wearing the correct size to begin with). Just wondering how long I will be wearing bigger size so I know how many to invest in. Don't want to have to do laundry every day to have a clean bra, but also don't want to waste money. If this bloody thing gets any bigger I will hit people walking down the street!

Hi arabiansrock, I finished radiation the first week in March and couldn't wear my regular bra until Aug/Sept. I wore my post surgical cotton bra all through radiation and after for comfort.

arabiansrock, My daughter is a horse lover too!! She said Arabians are a challenge, but she loves them. Maybe you could get a more supportive bra for when you ride and another for comfort? Aveeno skin relief intense moisturizing cream in a jar for extra dry skin worked for me. What cream or lotion are you using? Some mixed in aloe vera gel at bedtime. I only used that after the boost.

flashlight - arabians are definitely a challenge if you are not used to them. They are more sensitive - responsive than other breeds, and you have to work very tactfully with them. They have a reputation for being spooky idiots, which is undeserved. There are a few spooky ones, but mostly they are extremely level headed if exposed to the world, and they LOVE children, and go out of their way to take care of the little ones. I am using Jean's cream (aloe vera and Vit E main ingredients), CeraVe moisturizing cream, and CeraVe Healing Ointment. 3x a day. I do have supportive bras for riding, RO keeps saying "lift" If I lift any higher they will be bumping my chin! She won't let me wear any comfy bras except for sleep.

ctmbsikia - that sounds horrible - a weight dropping on your breast! I think I would have shrieked from pain! Sorry to hear things are showing up, hopefully it is all just damaged tissue trying to clear itself out and get replaced with healthy tissue. I wore a bra 24/7 for 3 weeks after surgery, the supportive kind. BS insisted. Also she would not let me do anything for 3 weeks. She looked straight at my husband when she said "no lifting anything heavier than a glass of water for 3 weeks".

thank you for the warning to be careful, I am, the horses are actually very careful around me right now, I kind of wonder if they know. My dog, however, keeps trying to walk on my chest, ugh.

RO yesterday did skin check and said I have cracking in my IMF. So now she is giving me mepilex to put on it, but it has to come off during treatment. I asked about using it from the get go for protection and she said no. we wait until you have a problem. I prefer to be proactive but... She also said I am really swollen. I was like yes I told you that last week and you weren't impressed. I guess now she is, I have to ice the swollen one. 2 weeks down, 2 to go.

So happy to see you! I rarely check back these days, but just passed the nine-year mark and it brought me right here. I'm a golfer now too. For years, I avoided it like the plague but, surprise--it's fun! Of course, I am too much of a beginner to have to worry about my score.

I'm retired, but have doing taxes every March and half of April, and this year started doing a little bookkeeping. Absolutely love this stuff!

There is a lot of snow outside and a feral cat is trapped under the el (a shed attached to the house). I've been pouring food down through a hole in the floor. I also maneuvered a shallow dish through the 2-inch opening and can pour water down there too. Poor cat. Tonight, my youngest is coming up to go skiing. He'll be able, I hope, to open a very heavy trap door and maybe the cat can come upstairs, maybe even sleep in the laundry room, which is heated.

Feeling good here. Looking forward to hearing from you again.