A rad onc weighs in on radiation "burns"
Comments
-
bump! Spring Rads 2014!
0 -
Numbersinger - I'm two days past radiation and am dealing with the dermatitis and peeling under my breast. Domboro powder mixed with water is a drying astringent that the nurse recommended for the itchy dermatitis that really helped. It is designed for poison ivy. She did say it sounds weird to be both moisturizing and using a drying agent but both needs in different places I guess. I hope mine doesn't get as bad as yours has, but you have helped me know what I might expect. I am planning to travel by air to visit friends on Monday so am hoping for the best. If you are still itching, hope Domboro helps. I won't have much internet next week. But I'll check back when I can. Thelma aka Miminiemi
0 -
Bump for Spring Rads 2014
0 -
This is so helpful. Thank you for posting!!
0 -
bump...Spring Rads 2014...great info!
0 -
I'm wondering if anyone can give me some insight into what to expect from radiation therapy. My 87 year old mother will be having her first of 30 sessions on Monday. As her caregiver, I can honestly say that I believe I'm more nervous of the side effects then she is. She'll be having the treatment at Creditvalley Hospital - Ontario. Her RO is suggesting that 30 treatments are necessary in order to properly treat the aggressive strain of cancer she has (Non- estrogen receptive). Being 87 she already has her natural aches and pains and fatigue of old age to deal with - I cannot image what we have to look forward. Any words of experience and lessons learned and basically anything you'd like to share that you feel might help us through this journey - is greatly appreciated.
0 -
Mirka-I am no expert, but I have had radiation and have been caregiver for my mom when she was 87. She lived to be 94, but did not experience radiation. The actual radiation does not feel like anything. They may want to do several tattoos ( tiny pinpoint marks) to be sure of the radiation accuracy every day. Three of mine did not hurt at all, one was close to my rib and stung a bit. She will be placed in the exact same position for each treatment. Most of us seem fairly comfortable, but some have found the position with arms above head uncomfortable. You won't know until the simulation before treatment. the main side effects people seem to notice during the last half of treatment are skin conditions which differ widely from person to person. Itch or rawness beneath the breast are the biggest complaints as I see it. Also redness, tenderness. A nurse will help with all that and have good suggestions. People here can help too. Fatigue varies too, but she will have your support and you may not notice much difference if she already naps. I napped lots because I'm retired and had that luxury. Also because of M-F appointments I couldn't schedule much else to do.
Will you be the person to take her daily? If I was doing that with my mom now, I would try to make each day a "just us girls together" kind of time. Try to enjoy the opportunity to share the time. Believe me, I have experienced caregiver exhaustion so I don't offer that suggestion blindly. Sometimes I felt just plain cranky and impatient. You can complain here and not be judged. We all have those feelings. It may be harder for you than her. I hope they will let you be present for the consultation/simulation. Maybe even watch on camera the treatments. Also hoping you can be present during visits with nurse and radiation oncologist (RO). They will help know how to deal with any side effects. You did not mention surgery, so that has to be factored in if she has had any.
Don't be afraid to ask questions here. I found lots of answers here. Others feel free to add to or disagree with what I've posted, thanks
0 -
Mirka - what a fortunate mom to have you as a caregiver. Breathe, you both will be fine.
Radiation treatments are very fast. You will spend more time getting there, undressing, and redressing and going home than on the table, but that said it is mental...the daily grind...of showing up!
Hydration is key...10-14 glasses of liquid a day...fights fatigue and low BP. Wear something comfortable...yoga pants, hoody, Skechers, gym clothes. She will need to climb up on the table and they will maneuver her into position. My team was very sensitive to my needs and modesty. Have them show her how they can turn off beam, communicate with her, and any other questions she may have. If possible arrive early so she can relax deep breathe and get in her zone.
Beam itself is fast. I had 2 areas...machine would rotate into position and then in 20-30 seconds cross over the area then turn off and rotate to the other field and then another 20-30 seconds as it zapped that area. So healing light for about a minute. Her team will be able to discuss fields of treatment. Some get so relax they zone out...zzz...I just thought healing light.
RO gave preferred cream to apply to skin after treatment 3-4x a day...do her back. If she is willing, free breast to air...a cami with the breast out...feels best. Everyone is different. Avoid skin on skin contact, no deorderant , dove soap. Eat extra protein, Greek organic yogurt with fresh pineapple and ask about take vitamins
I think the biggest thing is knowing that the light is fast...there's time to breathe, and help is outside the door. Make it fun...a countdown board, daily treats, and hydrate! Do show and ask at the beginning of the week and on Fridays...at 15/33 2.5% hydrocortisone with emu oil gave relief to itch. Im fair skin and had no problems with rads... But I must say you hear horror stories so I made my team check my skin faithfully. She is in charge of her care so ask if any questions!
Join the Spring 2014 Rad thread and join others!
Wishing all the best to your mom and you!
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
0 -
Thank you...this is exactly what my radiation onc says...
0 -
KSB - best wishes too you! Rest up and you will do well in rads!
0 -
I have not been able to get back to the post since I finished radiation. I finished radiaiton on March 13, 2014. I went for three weeks. On March 19th, I had to fly home. My nephew was killed. Something bit the stew out of me while I was at home and I'm fighting bites. In an effort to clean my clothes and luggage, I kept the door open and didn't realize how cold it was in Los Angeles. It wasn't cold in NC. On April 1, I woke up and my breast was so heavy and in pain, I couldn't get up off the couch. I see my doctor on Thurs. April 10th. My breast went down, but now it is swollen again. I may have extended myself too much. I will get back after I see my doctor.
0 -
Simplypoised - Congrats on rads done! Sorry on your families lost.
Hope your appt 4/10 brings answers and relief. Watch your arm and don't over extend. Ask about LE and if you need PT. After rads, flying, and overdoing LE may settled into trunk and arm. Be proactive. Ice the girl, wear a comfy cami with some coompression for support....control top and sleeve. Breathe, give yourself time to heal:)
(((Hugs)))
Cindy
0 -
That swollen breast burst and all this fluid filled my bed. I went to the emergency room. They put me on antibiotics. They say I had cellulits.
0 -
simplypoised
My heart goes out ot you. You have been through so much.
0 -
(((Simplypoised))) sending calm healing thoughts&prayers. Ouch,hoping your team takes good care of you and you recover quickly...let us know how you are doing.
0 -
simplypoise, all I can say is "ow !". I'm sorry you had a tragedy in the family. I hope you're feeling physically a little better today with the antibiotics and all.
I had something burst in my under arm the last week of radiation (just had five weeks of rads, final treatment on april 30), combined with chemotherapy at the same time. A "fold" in the armpit cracked and crevassed, and was purulent. I thought it was because I had put cream there, but the "cream" I noticed (stinky) was actually pus. (sorry... tmi). It helped to read the opening article about "missing skin". Anyhow, they're having me put Eosin on it three times a day to keep it dried out. It's painful at night, and in the morning. I think I'll live.
0 -
I can't say I know from experience about these types of wounds. I don't have breast cancer myself. My friend is going through radiation though and says that she feels much better when uses a cream than when she doesn't. Probably the soothing effect rather than a healing like the info above said. It was called Rescue from a company named Skinagain. I'm just glad something made her comfortable and while her body did the healing.0 -
Bump for Summer Rads 2014
0 -
Thank you for sharing that great information, I have 8 more radiation treatments left out of 29 and it was helpful to read.
Shary
0 -
gavinsgrandma - congrats on 21/29! Ooo who more behind then ahead...a great relief and the end is in sight:) info is great and so helps to understand what is going on with rads.
Hydrate, free girl boobing, and emu oil...did a lot of show and ask...was so concerned about skin reaction...did very well...you got this laser tag warrior...start planning your Im Done Celebration! And then take a relaxing vacation...don't let some PTSD surprise you...you've been in the trenches so long...so breathe, and be kind to yourself and give you time...grandma hugs help!
Take care
Cindy
0 -
Nine years ago I had radiation therapy at a major, highly awarded cancer center. They were the only place where I could get the type I got. My tumors were close to the sternum and close to my chest muscles, and I had large breasts. So, to get to the tumors and to give them as much radiation as was considered optimal, my breast--a lot of tissue--would have likely had to be exposed to much higher doses of radiation and would have likely been much more damaged. The treatment I had gave more radiation to the tumor sites and caused less damage to the healthy tissue. I ended up with a light tan on the radiated tissue, but it's so light that I never bother to try to cover the tan line, and no one mentions it or asks about it. I did use heavy cream for a while, and eventually I just used heavy lotion like I always have on all parts of my body. I do notice that if I use a lotion that has exfoliant qualities or that I've mixed alpha lipoic acid into (as I sometimes do to diminish little clogged pores), this makes that breast reddish while it doesn't do that to my other skin. So, it's still more sensitive than other skin, but otherwise I don't notice.
By now, I can't tell you what that method was called. But, I can say that my tissue looked so much healthier than the tissue of others who showed me their breasts after standard radiation treatment. Now, I tend to heal well and was and am otherwise very healthy, and I was a little younger than average at the time (45/46) for radiation for breast cancer. I ate a lot of veggies, exercised a lot, and so on. So, that might have helped.
I'm just throwing this out there so that if appropriate some might ask their doctors if there is a type of radiation treatment that might be less damaging for the healthy tissue while still giving the tumor areas good doses. I have no idea what the current standard of care is.
0 -
Welsaid. It is good to hear from someone who is nine years out. Women tend to not come back here after treatment is finished.
0 -
Lol infobabe you are so right. I finished treatment and haven't checked back, that was April 2013. So, just checking in to say like I've said before to new patients: never be afraid of asking too many questions. Bottom line is, understand what it is the rad onc wants to do and why, and do whatever you need to do - research, second opinion, more questions - to feel confident. Not every doc is ethical, unfortunately, and mistakes do happen. It's your body and you have the right to make the final treatment decisions. Your decision may be based on your doc's advice and that is ok too, as long as you have trust and confidence.
I have a lot of tough tissue from the rads, but now I am going to have DIEP flap surgery and the PS will just remove it all and replace it with the nice, soft skin and fat from my tummy. I wish I had known about this option from the start, never would have gone with the implants.
Broken record time: Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Before, during and after. My skin on the surface stayed nice and soft, although after the electron radiation I did have skin breakdown. Pure aloe gel right after treatment each day, Vitamin E cream and Aquaphor every night.
Best wishes my bosom buddies!
0 -
MsW - good to hear from you. Sorry you are facing more BC challenges. Best Wishes on DIEP and soft breasts.
Yes, ask questions, visit all potential BC team members and then keep asking.
We make the best choices with the information we have at that time....there is some uncertainty...and our bodies don't follow a flow chart matrix...so trust your gut. This choice is right for today.
And the chant! Moisturize, Hydrate, Moisturize!
0 -
Good to hear from you too, RMLulu. The DIEP surgery went, well,... pretty well. You're right, there's no chart to predict exactly how any of these major procedures will turn out. Each case is truly unique. I am thrilled to have that troublesome silicone implant out, and I am healing nicely. Not sure I'll ever look as normal as I had hoped but at least I remain cancer free.
0 -
So question to those that are post rad, does this skin "tan" go away or stay permanently? I thought it went away.
0 -
Mripp - I'm peaches and cream just a slight darker cream on the lx boost area. Give it time...Vit E helps skin.
Focus on getting through the grind of rads! You got this
0 -
On the subject of "tanning," I too have an area of darker skin from the rads, even now a year after last dose. I had 28 days of X-radiation plus five days of electron radiation. The electron part is the part that left the really dark area. The slight tan I got from the X-radiation faded completely away within I think several months.
0 -
MsW2012 - hey Elizabeth! Great new avatar
)) hope your reconstruction is going well!0 -
Hey there 'lulu! Thanks, yes, I am well. This DIEP flap surgery is a long process but feels so much better than my previous giant implant. (504 grams=about 18 oz of silicone!) My surgeon did a good job although her bedside manner is awful. I will probably find someone else for the remaining touch-ups. How are you doing?
0
