Fall 2015 Rads
Comments
-
Thanks everyone. I won't post what's going on underneath my breast, it's even worse and a big piece of skin came off this morning. The nurse gave me gauze and saline to soak it when it happens. So glad I insisted I get the supplies before it happened. I told her I was afraid it would happen during the night or over the weekend. I usually see the RO and nurse on Monday's. I want to ask for something for the pain, Advil is not really helping. So for now it's saline soaks and tons of aquaphor. Only 2 more treatments to go..
0 -
Oh meezers...HUGS! Shaving my head today. I have accepted, albeit three weeks after chemo is done, that I have to let go of the random.clumps left on my head and clean the slate. Cancer sucks.
I have a sulphur allergy...will silvadene not work?
0 -
capippy sending good vibes that your infection clears up quickly and you're feeling better!
0 -
Adding down here so it doesn't get lost.
....but my sympathies to all those who've gone through worse, purely in terms of rads. May you have a sympathetic and proactive team of oncologists!
0 -
Tresjoli2 you cannot use silverdine with a sulphur/sulfa allergy. They asked me before I used it if I was allergic. I guess I've never had anything with it before, but I have spots all over my legs and arms now. My MO told me to tell all my doctors from now on.
0 -
SPOILER ALERT.....Please close your eyes if you don't want to see this. Lord knows, I don't.
OK Ladies....You asked for it. These are not the best pictures, but it's the best I have. This is after 28 rad sessions.
And no, that's not my butt cheeks! The first pic is my boobs. The second is my armpit. It's looks like the right side, but it's actually the left that is reflected in a mirror.
I am Caucasian, Blonde hair, Brown eyed if that makes a difference. I had some painful skin under the boob, but do not have pictures of that. What did I use? Cooling towel and CVS Aftersun Aloe with lidocaine. I only used Aquaphor once. Much too messy and held in the heat.
0 -
This is my underarm 7 days after RADS. There's a little skin breakage. That was due to a skin reaction to adhesive during my lx. There's some shadowing from the light on my arm.
I am still expecting the dark area to peel and am currently treating it with Cetaphil to keep it going as long as possible so the new skin underneath can form. For reference, this is my left armpit but is reversed in a mirror. So it looks like a right armpit. Same thing on the boobs in the previous post.
0 -
Thank you, Keys-Plez! I appreciate the photographs and the nerve in posting them.
0 -
Where can I find one of these magical cooling towels? My RO recommended aloe and the sulfa lotion. I am A very fair redhead that doesn't tan, I maroon, so I am expecting a lot of pink!
I start rads monday. I had my dry run on Friday and it is kinda intimidating to be all alone in that room with all those machines. I was stunned to learn they treat 45 people per day at our radiation center. Wow.
0 -
jctreehugger..I live in the land of no shopping so I ordered my towel from Amazon. Search Polar Pad. You can get something similar in the sports dept of stores. I used it every day after rads. By the end of week one you'll notice your rad boob is warmer than your other. Even if your skin is not red. Heat is damage. Ice is too harsh. The cooling towel is more gentle. If you turn red, use whatever you would normally use for a sunburn plus lidocaine for the pain.
My worst week was the end of week 4 and early week five. That's when the area under my boob was challenging. I stopped wearing a bra during that week and used just my towel and the aloe/lidocaine. I always kept something under my breast to prevent skin to skin contact. Sometimes a bath cloth, sometimes a scarf. Week six was easier.
Just listen to your body. If it's dry, moisturize it. If it stings, use the aloe/lidocaine. If clothing is rubbing you the wrong way, change it. If it's hot, cool it. If it's raw, protect it. Don't glob it with stuff if it doesn't need it, Especially if it's going to trap all the heat inside.
Radiation. It's not like a sunburn, it's like a microwave. It's cooking from the inside out.
0 -
At my center, they gave each BC patient a drawer for our gowns. The first time I went in, one of the drawers had my name on it. I wanted to cry. One day, one name was gone. I was happy to see some one had escaped. And then another. But then one day a new name was added. Again I felt such sadness. I never met any of the women with the name tags, but I shared a special bond with them. When I was finished, I didn't wait for them to remove my name. I removed the tag myself. It's weird the little things that all of a sudden become such an emotional big deal. It was just a stupid piece of masking tape.
Good luck ladies. Before you know it, you'll be the new veterans of the rads group.
0 -
Keys-Plez: (wistfully) I'd almost have appreciated seeing drawers with people's names on them to get a sense of who was going through radiation treatnemt with me.
0 -
qmc...Didn't they give you a locker or something?
0 -
Yes, but not one for myself alone.
0 -
Meezers, ouch! You look about like me. I've seen calves after branding that have less skin break down!
Kbeee, good work on running the race! I haven't run in 6 weeks! Just stairmaster with my arm out. Can't wait to start running again!
My boost area looks and feels like it's been branded. The rest looks worse! Yay! Remind me to order a cake for my rads office for Tuesday. I can't really whine, because one of my rad techs is a BC survivor.
0 -
My place had open cubby holes and the warning to take everything with you, which meant hauling clothing and purse into the radiation room.
0 -
My place had a nice changing and waiting area but no lockers or anything. I carried a small bag each day to tote my stuff around. Gowns were laundered everyday and you took a fresh one from a closet when you got there.
0 -
little blue, 2 left for you? I have 4; I cannot even imagine what my boost area will look like when this is done. Usually I am glad a lot of my nerves have regenerated since BMX 2 years ago. Right now....not so much. I wish my nerves were not so alive in axilla and under my reconstructed breast. I was really excited when I finished full treatment because I thought I was done with the rotten bolus. I was not happy to see them bring it out for the boosts. And while I am on my rant, it's 2015.... Why don't they have something other than sharpies to mark us with? When they mark our broken skin with that, they might as well carve us with a knife. Uugh. I have enjoyed my 2 days off. I do not want to go back. Sorry to be in such a rotten mood. Just so done with this! Looking forward to healing which should come in a couple weeks
0 -
Jctreehugger - Look in the sporting good sections or go to Home Depot or Lowes. People use them when working in the yard so home improvement store carry them. They were on sale at Lowes last week, that may be over. It's a towel made of synthetic material that evaporates quickly. You wet it and it feels very cool.
0 -
I start on Tuesday, October 6th, M-F for five weeks. Left breast and super clavicle.
0 -
KBeee - Sorry you are feeling down. By this time next week it will all be behind you!
I can honestly say I have enjoyed my weekend. I told my RO I needed some pain relief so that I could get some rest. Between the radiation fatigue and no sleep due to pain I was running on empty. He gave me a prescription for pain pills Thursday. I've had three nights of sleep and feel like a new person. I usually avoid pain meds, but I knew something had to give. I am terrified of becoming depended and never even fill prescriptions when they give then to me after surgery, etc. I've even been doing things around the house today!
For anyone that is hurting, tell your RO. Ask for pain meds if you need them. It's what they are intended for.
0 -
Good advice Pamela. What did he give you?
Welcome to the burn parlor, Sugarcakes!
Kbeee, I feel you. 4 more. You can do it! I have 2 and my skin is coming off in sheets. And my stupid sharpie came off over the weekend. They will bitch, buT whatever. I can't force myself to draw on my wrecked skin. It's their job, why they get paid the big bucks. Plus the sharpie ink bleeds in with the lotion and gets all over my skin making it more sore. The only place I've blistered is where they had stickers on me for whole chest radiation and over my drain scars. Really, between work, feeling like I have a cold, and the terror from waiting on the pathology from my husband's moles- Fuck it. I feel really wretched.
On the plus side, because I'm not a total animal, I did get a cheesecake to take on my last day to rads, and a chocolate cake to take to work as a thankyou.
0 -
we can do this little blue. I keep telling myself if it keeps the cancer away this time it will be worth every single bit of but and then some. I just have to get myself geared up for this week since it is my most stressful week of the year. I organize an event Wednesday night that about 1,000 people will attend. I have to organize several smaller events too, so this is always my stress week! I plan to sit down with a nice cold, slushy piña colada Thursday night.
Pamela, good advise on the pain meds. When I do not keep up with ibuprofen, I literally have vomited from the pain. I set my phone alarm now. On nights I do not work, I should take some prescription ones. I have some left from surgery because I never took any then. I think I may keep them close by this week. I agree that if you can sleep well, you feel better.
0 -
SugarCakes: you're on the list now, and welcome to the group.
0 -
8 of 33 down. I have some swelling, but so far that's it. Just found out the center is closed for Columbus day. Three day weekend. Woo hoo!
0 -
Today is the official start day for me only 20 more to go after today. Saw a pic this morning and thought I'd share it.
0 -
Courtleboo: that's pretty much how I felt, though I wouldn't mind having Elizabeth Taylor's eyes.
0 -
Went in for my first zapping today. 1 down, woohoo! Already making use of my cooling towels (so happy that folks in the group mentioned them) -- maybe I'm just being extra sensitive, but it already feels, well....sensitive.
And Aquaphor is sooooo icky-sticky. Blech. I'd heard someone here mention "My Girls" cream, and my PT recommended it too. So I asked about it after my treatment and they gave me some tiny little samples to try, hooray!
Also, I found out some details about my treatments, if it's of interest to anyone:
I am actually getting 25 regular treatments, then 5 boosts, for a total of 30 treatments. The treatments will be 50 grays to my chest wall and lymph nodes (both axillary and supraclavicular), then an extra 10 grays to my mastectomy scar (can't remember if that's the boosts at the end, or every visit. oops).
If all goes well, I should ring the bell on November 17th. *crossing fingers*
It's not quite as inspiring as Liz Taylor, but here's one I liked recently (can you tell I like foxes?):
Take care,
--Sherri, aka EnigmaticFox
0 -
So true cortlebo! Tomorrow is my last treatment!!! Yay!!!
0 -
Meezers, Me Too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Liz is awesome, good quote! Also, cute fox!
0
