CALLING ALL STAGE I SISTERS
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You might need a RX burn cream...i don't remember the name but i was prescribed one because it was so raw....When i was alone i used to hold my right breast as up as possible so wouldn't touch anything...
I tried soft paper towels and put my bras when It was necessary.....I know what you are going through...this will pass....make sure you see the RO as soon as possible.....
Thinking of you...♥
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Thank you. I will be seeing my RO on Tuesday.
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From someone who went through what you are going through.....I had no choice but to go braless....just wore very loose blouses with camisoles underneath to work.
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Hi Lettie, I had the opposite problem - swelling - and after rads were over (last January) my breast quickly went down. Now they are similar in size. I hope that you will find that for the most part you look normal in your regular clothes.
One thing I did for the discomfort near the end was place a silk scarf inside my cami. It felt cool and did not rub, and was not bulky...I would run it up under my arm so clothes wouldn't rub. I wouldn't think synthetic materials would be as good as natural.
Usually after rads, skin issues clear up quickly.
You are almost done!Meece, I didn't know anything about cording in the abdomen - I couldn't believe it - but I did know right away - I had a little "banding" post surgery under my arm. As you said, I just kept stretching and massaging all the way down my arm. This will pass, I hope. I do have an appointment soon but if it flares up I'll try to get in sooner.
Wishing everyone a good Labor Day holiday and hope you don't have to work!
Joan0 -
Lettie, the rx cream is silver sulfadiazine and it is very effective if messy.
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Lettiegonz, my affected breast is pretty swollen right now but I hear it will end up smaller. Did the doc tell you to use aloe and specific creams to help with the the burn. I apply them 3 times per day. Just think about the treatment killing any leftover cells. Short term it may be uncomfortable but it's the long term you have to thinking about. You can also consider reconstruction if you don't like the end result. I have not decided on that yet.
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Lettiegonz, when I underwent radiation on my L breast that had a lumpectomy done to it, my rad onc told me to soak a washcloth in a solution of 1/2 water, 1/2 peroxide-lay the cloth on my burned areas for about 5 minutes & then let it air dry after taking the cloth off. It was soothing & it (the burned skin) healed fairly quickly.
3 years out, my left breast is probably a full cup size & 1/2 smaller than my right breast. I think that is mostly from the lumpectomy, although it could partially be the radiation.
If you aren't hooked up to a thread about radiation for your time frame (ie "Rads in August/Sept 2012" or something along those lines), you should try to find one & join it...usually lots of helpful info on those.
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Mimi hope you get to feeling better
Joan happy cancerversary.
Meece I had the Mondors cording during my TE expansion. From everything I read it happens in about 10% of all breast surgeries. The good news is it goes away with time. Mine lasted a couple of months. My PS told me just to keep it massages which I did. Also to take asprin which I was already on.
Laurie I can relate your meeting with your MO. My first MO never gave me any info. After three times of seeing him and always leaving feeling frustration and he never did breast exams I decided to find another MO. So glad I did. I love the one I have now. The first visit with him was 1 1/2 hours long and he went over everything in such detail with me. You do not have to settle find one you click with.
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lettie I burned also during rads, I had to go braless. Luckily it was winter so it was easy to hide. My rads breast ended up smaller and pulled higher than my other breast.
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Only 4 more rads treatments. Then on to Tamoxifen. Do you guys thinking about BC less once the treatments stop or does taking a pill everyday remind you? Mentally, I do feel better but wonder if things will get more back to normal soon? Thanks.
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Belinda, I went through a very uncharacteristic bout of depression after I finished treatment. BC was all I could think about. It was surprising to me because I was ecstatic about finishing and really felt that I was ready to move on. I have since learned that this is not at all uncommon. At any rate, I did get past it and life feels much more normal. I wish I could tell you that I don't still think about it every single day but I do. However, it's not the same paralyzing feeling as before more like something I am learning to live with.
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I think Auntie expressed how so very many of us feel very well. It is two years ago this week that I finished radiation treatments and started hormonal treatment a couple of weeks later. I've been lucky enough to have minimal side effects but they are enough to remind me of cancer every day.
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Hi chabba i guess we do feel well and look well. But inside we are still having bad days. Bad day for me today. My neighbour is terminal with breast cancer, i rearly feel for her . having ambulances coming and going daily is such a reminder to me how serious this disease is. It is wonderfull to have all our friends here to share and care for each other. I keep thinking it is nearly 3years for me since dx i am positive most of the time i guess some things just remind us of what we have actually been throughxxxx
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Thanks for sharing your wisdom! I also need to stop looking at the other boards (III and IV). I am drawn to them but decided I need to stop looking.
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Silvadeen cream helped me quite a bit, and a lidocaine gel helped as well.
I have to respectfully disagree that the SE's are easily managed for some of us. Mine were horrible and left me pretty much unable to function both mentally and physically. There is a quality of life factor involved and I had none. I am thrilled for those of you that have few if any SE's, but please don't write off SE's as just a willingness or ability to endure hot flashes or joint pain; some are serious- blood clots, heart issues, etc. For some of us it's not just a matter of sucking it up and enduring annoying SE's; it's enduring life threatening SE's. Some of us are put in the untenable position of having to make very difficult treatment decisions.
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Mini, you are right. I think people think if they don't get SEs that others don't. I don't think they realize that's the way it seems. everyone has to remember that we are all different, and if we don't get bad SEs, we are lucky. But we don't want to scare people either by telling hem all the things that can go wrong, as not every one gets those either. So, plan for a rough time, and be grateful if you never need those plans. that's what I call the umbrella defense, so when you lug the umbrella, you usually don't need it. LOL much love
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Mini,
You are so right....I know many ladies have had such a tough time - and I know that the SEs from AIs can be unhealthy. Decisions are so difficult. I had some health-threatening SEs and painful SEs...fortunately the pain came and went (several times.)
I did change my drug to deal with heart issues. So far, OK. But I was really worried sick over it all.
And it all happend right after rads - agreed that after rads I really crashed.
Sherryc, thanks for the info on the cording. I called my BS's office and the NP had never seen this type....I do not know if they want to see me....I can't take aspirin right now, but I can see where that would be part of it. I may get some PT - there is a LE PT person in the next town....she may be able to help me through.
Nite all,Joan
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Hi everyone: I don't usually post here very often but just wanted to say that after rads, I totally crashed.....severe meltdown, anxiety and depression. I am back on my old anti-depressant from menopause many years ago, plus an anti-anxiety med. I am back at school now teaching and feeling a million times better. Between my meds and my rewarding job, life is so different for me now.
Where I'm going with all of this is that don't put off getting help, I did for sometime, struggling nd trying to cope on my own. Sometimes you just need a little help "from your friends".0 -
The rads cream I used was Biafine which is an Rx. It really helped. I wore bras, but spent most of the time with my hand on my hip to keep my arm from touching the tender skin towards my side. I had a segmetal mx, and after radiation that side was soooooo much smaller. I have had two recon surgeries, each which appear to make the sides even, but after a year or so, the rads side has become smaller again. I think the rads does a lot of damage to the tissue, and in my experience, the tissue hasn't forgotten.
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YES, Mini IS right. If you went into this whole thing healthy with decent bones , you can consider yourself fortunate to be able to take the Als.
My bones wouldnt last 6 mos on arimidex. I cant GIVE myself osteoporosis any more than I would intentionally plan to get BC.
Lets just agree it is more challenging for some that others- for various reasons.
~Peace and Blessings to all.0 -
Yes, continued good luck to those with no or few SE's and prayers for those of us that are struggling to find a treatment that doesn't make a bad situation even worse.
HAPPY FRIDAY!
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After rads I crashed as well but I was in alot of pain from nerve damage with rads. Meds helped but nothing took the pain away. After another BC scar I decided to have a BMX. It took away the pain and I am thrilled with my reconstruction and I find myself no longer thinking about BC all the time. My two year anniversary is coming up the end of this month.
Meece you are right that our tissue does not forget rads. Rads made my breast lift as well. Even with my BMX and reconstruction my PS could not get my nipples to match. I was able to keep my nipples (yeah). PS said over time my left (rads) breast could continue to lift. We will just have to wait and see and do lots of massaging.
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Update on "Mondor's disease" - I got a call back from the BS's office and she knew what it is and doesn't seem concerned. It should resolve in 4 weeks or less. I can take over the counter stuff for pain. I don't need anything right now. I do not think about it much....went bargain shopping today and tried on a dozen things - never thought about the veins. Let's hear it for retail therapy....
Hugs & good thoughts,
Joan0 -
Happy Week end everyone!
Lettie - you are about to graduate from rads! Time for a party....Best wishes!
Joan0 -
Hi everyone,
I have been on this site for a little over a month or so but just saw this posting today. I just wanted to stop by and say hello.
My name is Justine and I was diagnosed on 7-30-12 at age 23. Originally was diagnosed with DCIS but IDC could not be ruled out. After a BMX with SNB on 8-8-12, it was discovered I did have a small amount of IDC and isolated tumor cells in 2 of my sentinel lymphnodes.
Right now I am waiting for my next course of treatment. I am working on the process to get my eggs frozen and am waiting for the oncotype dx test to come back. If I fall into the low-risk group then all I will need is hormonal therapy, otherwise I will need a combination of hormonal therapy/chemo. All I can hope for is low-risk results!
Hugs!0 -
Welcome, justegan!
Here's hoping you get great results ...low risk in every sense of the word!
~Peace0 -
OK, at the risk of sounding stupid since I've been here a few months, what is BMX?
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Mini1, No stupid questions. BMX is a double mastectomy. Maybe the B stands for bilateral? Somewhere there's a thread that lists a lot of abbreviations. We tend to sound like NASA with our short versions for everything.
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Wren44 - Thanks. I've figured out most of them, but that one had me stumped.
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Joan---this is the first time i ever heaard of that crap you got..im sorry.I know you will be good as new in a very short time.
Im lookin at surgery at the beg.of oct.sooo if that reunion is gonna happen its gotta be this month.
Hello everyone!!!!!
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