boosts

Hi Gramof4,

I finished 9 boosts and 24 regular rad treatments a week ago Monday. I had a lumpectomy for Stage 1, Grade 2, IDC. I was also red, itchy, sore, and with some blistering. I was told to use Aquaphor daily, which I did. The area that become more red and sore was the area around my nipple during and after the boosts, as well as the area under my left arm. It just seemed to keep cooking. I also experienced some intermittent sharp shooting pains in the area around my nipple, similar to when I began the treatments in the area of my lumpectomy site, and the doctor told me it was the nerve endings being agitated by the radiation. What I wasn't prepared for was the intense fatigue at this stage of the game. I naively or hoped when treatment ended I'd have my energy back! My breast is still healing and I'm not yet able to wear a bra due to the tenderness in the nipple area. For me, the fatigue is the worst side effect. My rad oncologist and surgeon have suggested it may take weeks for my energy to return.

Everyone is different and heals differently. Congratulations on almost being done!! You're on the home stretch now. The time will pass quickly, and one day at a time, we'll get there.

You're in my thoughts and prayers.
Brenda

Hi - I haven't started rads yet - had one tx planning session with tattoos and markings and have the next one this Friday. I am scheduled for 34 rads with the final 6 being boosts. I had planned to work throughout radiation since my leave from work only covered the time of chemo which I finished on 6/15. Is working full-time an unreasonable expectation? I am worried since I don't really have a choice...my preference would be to be off work until all the tx is done. But I will lose my job if I don't go back....

Nervous in LA!!

The boosts gave my skin a chance to heal up but then most of my raw areas were under the arms (both breasts done same time) and under my breasts. I had no problems with the boost areas, in face two months after finishing rads I have a tanned area on one breast yet where the boosts were done and nothing showing on the other.

Hi HollyHopes,

I was fortunate not to have to undergo chemo and also that I work from home. I had 34 rad treatments, 9 were boosts. My commute to the hospital was about 20 minutes and my appointments were first thing in the morning, then I could do errands before I returned home to work.

I've read that so many of the ladies worked full time and also took care of their families while going through radiation. I experienced a great deal of tiredness in the beginning, which I attributed to adjusting to the daily routine and anxiety about radiation and treatment in general. That passed once I adjusted, and then towards the end, about the time of the boosts, is when the fatigue hit me. Personally, after about 2:00 p.m. every day I was dead on my feet. This passed 2 1/2 weeks after treatment ended. Also, I was unable to wear a bra after the first couple of weeks until about 2 - 3 weeks post treatment.

If you check the threads under those who started radiation in April, May or even June you'll find lots of information about how they did every step of the way.

Good luck to you. I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Brenda

Just check that your boosts are not being combined with hypo-fractionated radiotherapy (3 gys a day), its one or the other, not both. If you are having boosts your radiotherapy regime should not be 3 gys a day.

My RO didn't care, didn't notice, wanted to go on holiday . . . .