After Radiation
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Im here!!!!yeah in NJ.Not near any h2o thank you God.AND my bldg.has its own generator so i think ill be ok.I live in Old Bridge.
My GS engagement party which was supposed to be Sat.in Brooklyn was cancelled.I was gonna go today because low and behold i would not have missed that for anything.My GDs were gonna go with me even in the storm.So all is well...just need prayers as MOST of my family is in Brooklyn and NJ.3 in PA and are expecting nothing AND one daughter is on vacation in the Hamptons in L.I....I cannot get throu to her....L.I. is supposed to get hit hard....
so i need some prayers for my family to be safe.I think im ok.gonna stay in this lill apt.till this damn thing passes...
hope everyone who is effected is safe.I think we need a group huggggggggggggg
this thing is HUGE AND SCARY.......
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Fitz33 - Thanks for letting me know this ongoing changes are to be expected. The pain I have could best be described a muscle tightness. It's from the middle of my chest to under my armpit. This area had been tight all through radiation, but then it seemed to have gone back to normal. Then the tightness came back along with the swelling. The excision cavity has it's own sensation of tightness when I stretch. Sort of burning. Hope you're doing well. Did you get a temporary prothesis? Seems there should be something that could be done to tide you through this healing process?
East Coasters - I'll be thinking of you as Irene blows through and hoping you all stay safe.
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Granny - Here is a group for everyone.
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Hello Everyone!
It has been quite a while since I have checked in (I have spent the last couple days catching up on posts!) I have had a very tough summer. My brother passed away in his sleep at the age of 37 while we were away on our European vacation, so there has been so much sadness in my family, but I have to say things are getting better here. I am 3 months post-rads and feeling great as far as fatigue, but my breast and armpit have been hurting for about the last 3 weeks. I am in physical therapy, so it seems the pain started around the time we started working the pecs area again. Called my RO PA and she said to take a couple days off from weights and cut down on reps when I get back to it. Keep worrying I am getting another infection (I had two bouts of cellulits after surgery and during rads) but after reading about some of you having problems with pain and tightness, I am starting to realize that this is pretty normal. Actually, after reading about those of you who are getting lymphatic massages, I am thinking of looking into this. One question: How did you find this kind of massage therapist? Is it a specialist through a cancer clinic, or can any massage therapist do this? I start grad school on Monday, so keeping my fingers crossed that this problem does not get worse! I need my health and sanity now more than ever to get through until May when I will be done. Hoping also that keeping my brain occupied will keep my mind off dwelling on cancer. I did not hear about the author of Anti-cancer dying, but it is quite a shock to me because he has been my inspiration the last few months. But, he did survive brain cancer I think 19 years, so I guess that is pretty amazing itself. May he rest in peace and give us all the strength we need in our own fight. You all continue to be my inspiration and so glad to be back in touch!
Susan
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Susan HG insurance will cover the lymphatic massage if performed by a LE PT specialist. You could ask your PT therapist about it and if there is someone in your area. I live in a rural area so for me to go to a LE specialist I would have to drive one hour and 15 minutes so I called my regulare massage therapist and asked her if she knew anything about lymphatic massages and she said yes she use to do them when she worked in a PT clinic and have taken classes but was not certified. So I decided to just use her. she only charges me $70 for an hour of full body lymphatic massage. If I had used my insurance it would have been $30 but the gas to drive and time would not have been worth it for me. So sorry to hear about your brother, he was so young I know your mom must be devistated. Good Luck on grad school
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GattyCal: Mine is getting more muscle pulling pain than before as the feeling is coming back on my underarm and under breast. It's really getting uncomfortable sometimes. I think I need some PT and that should help. Have you had any PT? When you say the excision cavity I assume you are talking about the node removal excision? Yes, mine's tight there too. The actual breast incision looks good but is also tight. This too shall pass.
Hope everyone is safe and secure from Irene.
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IMO massages should be part of after rads.And yes that means insurance covered....0
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Juanita- I used eucerin after rads....used up two huge tubes of it and then went back to scented poducts once the redness calmed. My breast (9 months later) is definitely smaller than its twin but the swelling is gone (YAY) and so is the tenderness....and it is almost back to normal colour!
Susan- I got a referal from my doctor for a lymphodema assessment...then called the cancer clinic and was referred. She also gave me the name of a massage therapist that most breast cancer survivors go to and I called and got on her waiting list. I have gone for three sessions and have one booked for late in Sepember. She has realllllllly helped get my shoulder moving again and lymphatic fluid moving in my breast. I credit her to the swelling decreasing...and I felt a lot better too!
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Thank you Sherry and Sandee! I will be calling up the breast clinic and asking my PT for referrals. Would be great if it could be covered by insurance. I think another reason I am having pain is becasue I have been giving myself too many self exams everytime my breast area hurts. Seems to make the pain worse when you touch it too much. Feeling loads better now though
Just impatient always having to take things slowly after BC. Getting frustrated!Susan
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I hope all the East Coast ladies road the storm out well!!! Still praying for you all...
I need to ask you all a question.... I went to try on all my old bras to see if I could actually wear one to work... (I know I'm only 7wks post rads) I have also lost close to 8 lbs just recently so I figured they would have room... BUT what I found was that they were so constricting under my breast that I couldn't breathe
.. Its like my ribs have expanded???? My DH says he can see swelling in the rib cage on the rad side... Will this go away??? I also did a silly... I thought my breast hasn't been hurting so I will back down on the neurontin.... WRONG.... pain is still there so the neurontin must be doing a good job.
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GmaFoley - I did not have any swelling during or after rads. In fact, I wore my same old bra right through everything so I can not help you on that. It may not be a bad idea to bring this up with your RO and see what kind of an answer you get. I can't imagine still having swelling 7 weeks out.
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Well, it is a long haul, isn't it. I know I was so worried when I knew my radiation was going to end. Who was going to tak care of me. You know the drill, doctors, doctors, doctors, radiation, and then no one. But do not despair. It will all come around. I saw the radiation oncologist and medical oncologists after 3 months and it was all o.k. I kept using the cream that was recommended to me - Wellspring Glaxo cream as it as no lanolin in it and no preservatives, to use during radiation and still use it. Kinda of just get used to it. As far as exercise, I was going to class prior to radiation and kept going all the way through. Everyone understood and if I couldn't do the exercise, oh well! Same goes for now - can't do it, oh well! Life does go on but at a different speed. I know I used to think about the "Big C" every day and now it is dwindling. I usually have to remembered to take my pill. People forget that you had "C" and everyone moves on so you try and go with the flow. Remember, we never forget that we had it. I'm hoping that I'll be like the lady I just heard about. She had breast cancer when she was 57 and, at 87, her family has to make an appointment to see her as she is so busy. Words of wisdom I received and I try to live by is that we can't let "cancer paralyze you". I know it is hard but for me this seems to work. Here's to 87!
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Hi, I'm from Canada so my prayers are with those who may be in Irene's path. Anyways, I know what you are saying about your bras not fitting. Mine didn't either. But I think it was because of the medication I was taking during my radiation treatment. On Letrozole and so I have the weight gain. Went and bought new bras. But I went to a speciality store and got fitted properly. It's been 6 months since I had radiation and my breasts are just starting to feel and look like they did before. I don't know - some women want big boobs and would be glad to have them. When we get them we don't want them but only because of how we got them. Good luck!
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Hi GMAFoley,
I had swelling for nearly 10 months after radiation. Only then did the breast start to shrink and was I able to go back to wearing my usual bras without discomfort. I suspect I had some truncal lymphedema, although my doctors did not agree. The bra would leave marks all along the seams, but only on the radiated breast (and I had lost nearly 15 pounds, but it STILL was too tight). It did eventually get better, but it took a long time.
Karen
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gmafoley i am 7 months post rads and my bra leaves imprinted creases when I take it off. My bras do not hurt but I do still have swelling. When my swelling was worse and hurting I used freezer paks of peas a couple of times a day. It did help.
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Gmafoley, I am so glad you talked about the bra! I thought it was just me...I can't breathe in my old bras, it's like I'm wearing a corset (I can only imagine....but that must be what it felt like). I'm in a soft cotton bra and like Sherry, even this one leaves deep creases when I take it off. I"m almost three months out of rads and still have pain and swelling. My upper chest under clavicle is the worst.
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GmaFoley - Before I even saw the radiologist my BS told me my breast had been "sliced open and was already a little swollen and feeling abused and now they're going to shoot radiation at you 30 or more times" (actually 35). He warned me my breast would get "lumpy and bumpy" and even more swollen and that it could take a year or more to get back to normal. I finished rads over 11 months ago. My breast is finally almost back to normal size, been wearing my regular bras for 4 months now. My BC breast does feel heavier and denser than the normal one--by quite a bit. He tells me it could be another year to "normal".
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Thank you all for your comments... I guess I have to learn to go with the flow and just use my tank top/shelf bras... AND be OK with that... At least I know I'm not crazy and something isn't wrong with me... You all are soooooooo understanding and helpful!!! LOVE YA!!!
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I hear all of your comments. My bra leaves its mark on the treated breast and that breast is still somewhat hard. I started using Mederma scar gel on the scar and it has helped. The scar was still hard 8 months after my surgery but the gel is softening up the scar. My doctor told me as well that it could be up to a year before the breast returns to "normal".
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I'm 16 months out from the end of rads, and my bra still leaves a mark on my treated breast. I've been told that my treated breast may always be more tender and easily irritated than my non-treated breast.
Mary
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I just heard from granny and she is doing just fine. She survived Hurricane Irene. She has no internet or phone service right now. She called on someone's cell phone - will post as soon as her service is restored.
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I also have problems with swelling and feeling comfortable in a bra. Usually, when I want to look nice, I will wear my underwire bra for part of the day, but return to my shelf camisoles when I just can't take it anymore. I also notice that I have a painful area where the underwire digs into my swollen armpit. I was having problems with pain from working out, but they have subsided. What I am left with is a breast like a water ballon again an my nipple swollen and misshapen. I guess feeling normal again was too good to be true
. I am three months out. Skin and scar are great, but insides, not so great. Also, my armpit looks really weird and wrinkly now. I guess I will have to start wearing sleeves all the time.Susan
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I finished 33 rads treatments on Dec 3rd 2010, and just last week I had an appointment to see my breast surgeon for my yearly follow up, the first thing he said to me was, "your breast is really red and swollen", I said "yeah that's from the radiation". I am one of those that burned, peeled, blistered and oozed, my breast was red as a beet, here it is 8 1/2 months later and it's still a different color than my non-radiated breast. And it's still tender whenever I go without a bra, he said I should be back to normal by the time a year and a half have passed. I also have soreness closer to my armpit too. My boob feels very heavy compared to the other one.
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chiefswife - We finished rads on the same day and I did burn and had to deal with a topical infection. I have to say that I must be one of the unusual ones in that I did not have any swelling and I feel like my breast is really pretty much back to normal - of course, other than being smaller than the other side. I no longer see my RO or BS. After what seemed like neverending appts - I am down to seeing my GP every 3 months (been doing that for years), MO every six months and gyn once a year.
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Hi Jo1955, at the time I hated going to radiation, my husband would drive me everyday and I would cry on the way over there, now I look back and think, "awwww it wasn't so bad and I'd do it again if I ever have to." Today I have my hair back and I take the Tamoxifen, I'm lucky I'm not having any side effects from it at all. I just turned 52 and I pray this will never happen again. I pray for all of us to be cancer free forever.
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chiefswife - Amen to that sister.
I would do rads again if I had to - just not with the same doctor. I couldn't stand the thought of crying everyday on the drive home. Looking back, rads was the worst part of all this. Otherwise, I really shouldn't complain, my was found early and I did not have to do chemo.
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For me, radiation was worse than chemo. Chemo caused me physical pain, but rads caused emotional pain and that was more difficult to deal with than the chemo SE's. Of course, I would still do rads again if I had to, but I would definitely choose a different rads center. The less I see of my RO, the better I will feel.
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Is anyone still having numbness? My surgery was April 19th and I only had 2 nodes removed but the back of my shoulder is still numb. Is this normal? Will it go away? I didn't have radiation in that area.
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rohanna - I had surgery one year ago today and the back of my arm is still numb - not as bad as in the beginning. I really don't notice anymore.
Good Morning Ladies - This is my one year cancerversary - not doing anything special. Just another day.
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I am over 4 years out from rads and when being examined by my onc or BS it still is very tender. I asked my BS why? She stated, 'It's the SE from Rads."
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