Fall 2015 Rads
Comments
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I recorded one of my radiation treatments. This was #27 of 28.
I cut out some of the boring parts. The original video was about 12 minutes.
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Little blue, I apply silvidene to the open oozing, seeping, deep areas. RO told me twice per day but the pharmacist saw me when I picked it up because I had a tank top on and tolod me three times per day. I put Mepilex dressings on and hold it in place with a pillow. I keep the dressings on all night and a couple hours each day. In between, I try to let it air out so it dries up. I have some areas with nice new skin, and some that are just starting the moist process. Uuugh. I described it to my friend last night as if you have a really bad case of road rash and someone pours alcohol straight into that...the 30 seconds of unbelievable pain...except that it lasts for a week or more. I have been taking 3-4 Ibuprofen and 2 Tylenol in between Ibuprofen doses (always 2 hours before Ibuprofen is set to wear off). That makes it so I can tolerate life. The Silvadene is soothing and helps to prevent infection. You cannot be allergic to Sulfa though, because it contains an antibiotic.
KSusan, Your skin is looking great!
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I have not posted before, but have become so informed with all of your post. I will beginning radiation on Wednesday, 5 days week for 5 weeks. Thank you all for the information you have shared, it certainly has eased my extreme anxiety
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I was beginning to think the boosts were a piece of cake. Things were feeling better, I was feeling less fatigue. The first two treatments weren't bad. Some areas are starting to heal. Then I had my third boost today. I have been on fire in the treatment area since about an hour afterwards!! I am also neon red, this area had stayed pretty normal looking during the WB treatment. Cooling cloths are my friend. Five more to go, just five more. I can do this.
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Hang in there Pamela. You're almost there.
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I had my planning session today. CT scan and all marked up for my schedule to begin next Tuesday. I only have sharpie and stickers until the RO tattoos me next week. I will have 28 wbr and 5 boosts on my scar. The tech was very kind but I felt so depressed by the time I left. I think since I didn't have chemo my only brush with treatment has been surgery. This feels very real.
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Sorry Molly. It's like a slap in the face. I remember all the family and friends support for the surgery. Everyone was there with their congratulations. This part of my journey was anti-climatic.
After the first week, it will become routine. And before you know it you'll be halfway done, then done.
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Another rueful expression of support from me, Molly. For me, the surgery was (almost) the least of the process, and had to explain this to family and friends over and over and over again: for the surgery, I was anesthetized for most of it, then I went home. For the rads, I had to lie on that table, stone cold sober, every weekday.
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Kbee, it's weird. My RO seems reluctant to prescribe me silvedene. And giant road rash is exactly what it looks like. Not a burn any more. I have silversoft and neosporin, guess I'll try to make due with that. I'm gonna try a saline rinse tonight and let it air dry good...see if that will help. Ugh.
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Thank you qmc and Keys-plz. It's good to have people who understand. The tech said my regular sessions will last 20 minutes and the boosts 10. I need to ask him more details next time . It was a lot of information for me to process and his accent is very thick so I had to listen very carefully.
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Qmc my treatments start 10/20 and end 12/7.
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Hang in there Pamela. You can do it!
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Hey everyone...I finished rads on october 2, my underarm is super burned but is getting better. My question is I am having some pain in the underarm area kind of near my node scar. Of course I think of bad things but I also know I have been holding my arm funny for the last week so it does not rub on my burn. Anyone else have pain there?0
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Littleblue, Ask again... The Silvadene is so soothing and really helps it to heal and prevents infection. Or.... Go see your PCP or MO and ask them! I see my MO tomorrow for my first routine follow up after chemo. It will be interesting to see what he has to say when he sees the wounds....
Welcome Elizabeth and Molly!
Pamela, Those last couple boosts are so hard. Praying you do not progress to a moist peel. So close (but I know it feels so far). You can do this!
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I am not red at all, but my breast hurts if you push on it. I tried to read my daughter a story tonight an she usually leans against my non port side. Tonight that hurt
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Ok I gave up and applied two hydragel dressing to my boost area. It looks like raw meat. Anyone ever used those befor? Rinsed with saline befor and applied a layer of colloidal silver OTC stuff. This is for the birds!
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Littleblue, I hope you start to heal soon. My boost area is 2 days behind yours, so it is looking more and more like that as more areas moist peel. thankfully some of the first areas from last week are starting to heal nicely. I see MO today for post chemo check. It'll be interesting to see what he has to say.
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Hope you're getting some relief littleblue! For me, yesterday was horrible pain wise. I hope that was the worst of it!
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Hoping everyone's day is less desquamaceous!
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Thanks ksusan! :-)
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I haven't been posting here but reading daily... I started 8/30 and will finish on 10/19. 1st boost was today. I wanted to comment to Littleblue regarding the Hydrogel... worked wonders for me. I've been fortunate and my skin has held it together. But last week I started to blister and used the hydrogel dressings and the area acutally healed through that last week of whole breast radiation. It looks great today- pink in some areas but all intact skin. I also used Calendula three times a day and Jeans Cream at night faithfully through treatment.
Wish everyone well and speedy healing...gentle hugs...
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Today has been on of those days. Woke up earlier than usual this because of discomfort in my armpit and side of my breast on the side I am getting radiation. Later in the morning I leaned forward to sign a paper and got a muscle spasm in my back. At 1:00 I had the cat scan for my boost. Uncomfortable. However when i was getting up off the table I felt a crunch and my back though still sore but feels a lot better. That was followed by radiation, and a visit with RO. The nurse commented about the nurses note last week regarding dizziness and went into a 5 minute rant about how it was not from rads and why. After she was done I told her about my RO's response: That I should take 2 ibuprofen 1/2 hr to 15 minutes before radiation. She looked it up and got quiet and said "I need to talk to him about this I never heard of taking ibuprofen before the treatment to help with a reaction to radiation that he mentioned. Then she started talking about how lucky I was to have him as my primary RO because in her opinion he is smartest and more in touch with patients than any of the other ROs. Then I saw a different RO who I had not met before. He sarcasticly commented on the ibuprofen and said if it works do it. (Thinking to myself don't worry it has really helped I am not about to stop.) I showed him the swelling under my arm. He said it's not Lymphedema because it is puffy and soft and since it is out side the area of radiation which can be seen because the skin is pink, it is not from the radiation. The swelling started middle of last week and has grown more uncomfortable. Two inches and it would be in the red box.
Thanks for letting me rant. 8 days and counting. I feel like there is a lot of tunnel vision going on.
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Brutersmom: (Is exasperated on your behalf) Aggravating enough when different medical practices don't communicate with each other! But within the same practice? Honestly.
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Brutersmom, that is too much! I am glad you have a good primary RO. I guess I am lucky there is only one RO at my facility and she is beyond enthusiastic. The tech yesterday walked me through possible SE's and one of them was, although uncommon, nausea!
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Okay ladies I need advice about bras once I start rads next week. My bra right now is a bit snug despite being a larger size because of my TE being over filled. I have one bra that's fairly shapeless that I can make do with under some clothes but I don't want to get around work with one saggy side. I need support.
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Only 18 more to go, bleh! I have had some twangs of pain today in my boob anyone have that? It's very quick but has happened a few times today. Definitely feeling more sunburn today. And fatigue hit me hard today but pushed thru and took nap at 5:30 and now to bed at 10.
Welcome newbees, I highly recommend getting the cool towel.
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Molly50: how long before you get your exchanges? (Are you going to be TE'ed for long enough to make buying a new bra or bras worthwhile?) Dunno how you feel about Wally World, but Target does carry some bras. But others in your position may come up with more specific suggestions.
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Qmc, I'm going to be in the TE for at least 6 months after rads. I wouldn't care so much if my natural breast wasn't droopy next to the TE.
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20 of 20. Rang the bell today. And had a good cry. Both a long time coming.
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Molly: (laughs sympathetically) Totally with you on the "I wouldn't care so much if my natural breast weren't...." as are, I expect, the vast majority of ladies on these boards. (Not sure how guys handle the problem.)
Six months between rads and exchange? oof. Were you looking for something specifically for during rads? or did you want something for the gap between rads and exchange? or both? Iif both, it makes a certain weak sense to me to buy a few decent 'after' bras now before you start rads, and holding off on the skooshy-soft ones until you see where you're going to need skooshiness, but still hoping others will help you there. (I wore my own through treatment, but then I only had 15 full-field zaps.)(Edit: rather, the vast majority of the women will be sympathetic to your plight. I don't know the numbers on how many have had a UMX.)
Horsegirl: cheers, and deepest sympathy/understanding! I spent a fair chunk of that first week after rads on the verge of tears, if not weeping outright.
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