Fall 2015 Rads
Comments
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Neither my MO nor my ND wanted me to use natural aloe for this because of potential decreased immune functioning and broken skin. Both raised the issue of potential infection.
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That's interesting ksusan. Makes you wonder how much stuff we put on our skin isn't sterlised. Another question for the radiologist. Thank you. How are you doing
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Okay, I have to admit that I bought a cooling hoodie and I'm going to try cooling my boob inside the hoodie part and cover my chest with the rest of the towel. I told my husband that if it doesn't work, he can have the hoodie to cool off after working in the yard. He said, "...and it'll make me think happy thoughts!"
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What is cooling hoodie?
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A cooling hoodie is a cooling towel, but is not square. It's a big hat. You can buy it online or at any sporting goods store. For the record, my boob is not THAT big. haha I start radiation on Monday, so it will be a little while before I try it.
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Anyone with sensitive skin be careful with the Dove and the Aquaphor. I can't use either, ever.
Aquaphor has lanolin so if you get horribly itching wearing wool use something else.Also it took me years to figure out that my hands itched due to a sensitivity to something in Dove Sensitive Soap (also in my kids shampoo). And that the itching was unrelated to the metal allergy to my Apple products.
I've got to check out the ingredients on the Calendula cream. One company that was recommended is California Baby which were recommended to me by the RO's nurse. (Apparently also on the hand out I was given, if I actually too the time to read it.
That's the problem with such a long wait. When I was given it, actually treatment was 3 weeks away so reading it didn't seem urgent.)0 -
thanks Sloan 15! We've got to keep a sense of humor
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Wildflower I think I've got your entry updated correctly now?
Potential allergens: mamy people do fine with Dove and Aquaphor....but if you have NOT used them before, trying them ahead of time is a grand idea. Travel-sized stuff, if your RO hasn't any samples. (avid hand-knitter here, so I was 99.44% sure that I wasn't going to react to the lanolin)
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Went for treatment # 15 today. One more and then the boost. My skin was still hot this morning and pink. (Just started noticing changes Wed). Had some red dots on my breast last night that burned. Tech was concerned. The nurse evaluated and said they were nothing. Stopped at Bed Bath and Beyond and found a cooling towel. That thing is wonderful. Pulled the heat right out of my breast and it feels good in my swollen armpit. Thanks for sharing that great idea.
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I had my redo of my SIM this morning. I found out why I had to do it again. The computer didn't like my position because it exposed too much of my lungs. Ironically this flat position is more comfortable for me. The last one I was dreading doing because my neck was killing me. I love my rads tech. He took his time and answered my questions this morning about why's and what's of my treatment. He said RO will give me specifics after the computer makes my plan. He had to move one of my sharpie marks (I have 3 that need to stay until I am tattooed) and when he took the sticker off he asked me if my skin is sensitive. I have quite a red mark which is no surprise to me. Anyway he gave me samples of Udderly Smooth cream. I guess that is what they use.
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Keys-plez! Fruit of the Loom sports bras came today, so comfortable fit great! $19 for a three pack, white, black and red! Ooh lala
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I will be starting rads to most of my spine and sacrum 10/26, feeling a bit anxious about "possible" reflux and diarrhea, "might" also have some bladder issues. RO stated would not effect the heart but may have increased bronchial secretions. I have scattered tumors from t4 all the way down. Bone scan Monday, Sims on Wednesday. I will be getting a total of 15 treatments and probably have a liquid or soft Thanksgiving dinner.
Marilyn
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513: updated your start date and number of treatments. Bronchial secretions, diarrhea and bladder issues, oh joy. Have they suggested any possible ways to minimize those? And my sympathies on the soft/liquid Thanksgiving dinner--can you have turkey if it's mushed up really well? how about mashed potatoes/gravy and pumpkin pie filling with ice cream? Though not much you can do if it's the green bean and bacon casserole or brussels sprouts that are the pivot and keystone of your holiday meal.
But ask around (or I will): there are a couple of food threads, and some freewheeling enough to consider food part of their ouevre.
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513, Sorry you have to go through that. I hope it brings you pain relief, zaps those spots, and brings minimal side effects.
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Had my initial RO consult 10/14/15, scheduled for sim 10/21/15. Unfortunately, my sentinel node incisional seroma popped (uh, more like “exploded") along the incision line today, and the sutures may need to stay in for a couple of weeks. Surgeon says I can still have the sim, but start date of RT (3D ext. partial breast, excised-tumor cavity only) might have to be delayed even though the sentinel node incision is outside the area to be irradiated. Worried because I have a Mediterranean cruise booked the week before Christmas (leaving 12/12) and I want to be sufficiently recovered before I embark. (RO told me that the type of RT I’ll be getting causes minimal fatigue and the skin irritation is limited to the skin over the small area of the breast where the excised-tumor cavity is located). No seroma (knock wood) at the lumpectomy or tracer-injection sites.
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ChiSandy: welcome to the group--you'll make it in eventually! How long might the actual rads be delayed?
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Hi all - I thought I'd give a progress report for those coming behind me, as I've had a remarkably easy time. Today I had my 14th treatment - only two more to go. (In Canada - doing 16, no boosts). I'm slightly tender and pretty itchy, but other than that, no pain, burns or skin issues. I'm still wearing a regular bra during work without issue. My RO said the week after I finish may be worse before I'm out of the woods, but honestly, I've had it so easy. I was tired the first week but not since - and that may even have been the tamoxifen as I started it a few days before rads. Just wanted to share that so others just starting know what a wide range of experiences are possible.
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Thank you for checking in, capippy. Glad to know I'm not the only one who had an easy time with rads. And hoping we give a little hope to those coming up behind us.
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Marijen...I glad you like the Fruit of the Loom bras. Three should be fine. You can rinse them out and rotate as needed. If they get stained, it's no big deal. Just toss them when you're done with RADS.
Sloan15…On the cooling towel/hoodiie. You say "it will be a little while before I try it". I suggest you start using the cooling towel right away. I'm a self-proclaimed GEEK. I had an infrared, no-touch, surface thermometer. I started measuring the surface temp of my boobs. In the first week, my radiated boob was 1-2 degrees warmer than the other. Week 2 it was 2-3 degrees more. Week 3-6 it peaked out at 6-7 degrees and stayed around there. In other words, the heat build-up starts on day one. What is happening on your skin surface is also happening deep in your breast tissue. Your breast/tissue is like a giant heat sink. The more you can draw down that heat, the better. Don't wait until you're visibly burned on the outside. That's only the tip of the iceberg.
On Soap…My rad tech and RO said don't use any soap. They said just let water run over your breast. Do not wash it or rub it. Pat it dry with a towel. I can't emphasize enough about the rubbing. I "rubbed" an area that was beginning to peel and some of the dried skin came off pre-maturely. The skin underneath wasn't quite ready for prime time. So it was sensitive in that area for a few days while the new skin "toughened up".
QMC…Interesting about the Aquaphor allergy. I wonder how many women have suffered thinking it was the rads and not an allergic reaction. Good info.
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Regarding Aloe...
On Natural Aloe…I have no opinion on the aloe.The key for me on the CVS was the aloe + lidocaine.The lidocaine soothed any minor pain and calmed the itching.Aloe alone won't do that.
KBeee…You are so right about the alcohol.Check out the difference in the CVS vs Walgreens Aloe w/lidocaine.These two products look exactly the same, but the Walgreens brand has water and alcohol as its #1 and #2 ingredients.
I advocate the CVS brand because that was what my rad techs advised. And, it worked for me. They said it did not interfere with the radiation beam. Make sure you get the blue not green. The blue has lidocaine. The green does not.
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Hi, queenmomcat. I have no idea how long my RT will be delayed, as I just had my ruptured seroma sutured today and am not optimistic as to its healing. (Everything I've read on these and other boards indicates repeated seromas &/or infections are the norm for those seromas that ruptured instead of being resorbed. My husband, OTOH, had a huge seroma after hernia surgery and it resorbed after a month). I'm especially pessimistic because I even developed a small seroma after my core-needle biopsy (!); and I am allergic to penicillin, sulfa and the quinolones (e.g., Cipro)--I hope I don't see a PICC line in my future. Here I was riding high because I could skip chemo, conserve my breast, and get accelerated partial RT for half the length of time...and now this. The sutures must remain in for a week, maybe two--assuming the incision closes. The type of RT I'm getting will be aimed only at the tumor cavity, which doesn't seem affected--but I notice that the whole breast, even the nipple, feels sensitive again (even though the tumor was in the “10:00" position on the outside toward the rear). So I'm hoping the markings will be precise and they can avoid the seroma area. I'll find out more at my sim session next week and my surgical followup the day after. I hope I can be done in time to go on the Mediterranean cruise (Rome to Barcelona) we booked for the week before Christmas (fly to Rome 12/12, sail 12/15-22). Naturally, this seroma exploded after we booked our shore excursions and shipboard dining reservations. Wanna make G-d laugh? Tell Him your plans.
I'm prepared with aloe cream (not gel) for the irradiated area and cornstarch to dust on from a filled clean soft white sock. Also looking for nonmetallic deodorant (e.g., Tom's) and some Pears or Neutrogena unscented clear soap. And it looks like I'll be back in my saggy, jiggly cotton-knit stretch leisure bras for awhile. (Marijen, they don't make the Fruit of the Loom ones for my size 38I--the only ones that fit are Leading Lady (40F/G/H was the closest), and they have a vertical dart right next to the nipple). I'm concerned that the inadequate support that non-wired bras (especially these) provide may have helped cause the seroma to burst--the surgeon who saw me today says that the weight of my very large breast (I cup US/G cup UK) may have been partly or mostly to blame--even though the rupture occurred when I was wearing a supportive and comfy underwire bra. (The wire doesn't touch either the lumpectomy or sentinel node incision site). Meanwhile, the surgical nurse sent me home with a raft of gauze pads and paper tape for dressing changes. I might try to use an Ace wrap as a binder over my bra. I might try wearing the shelf-bra camis I bought in anticipation of needing full-breast radiation.
Toughest thing, though, will be to keep my cats from walking on my chest (“no, kitty, stay off Mommy's boobie with the boo-boo").
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keyes-plez what about this? At Amazon
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from TOPICAINE 142 customer reviews
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- Recommended application time 30 minutes to 1 hr for maximum effect
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welp, I finished my 27 whole breast treatments today. The tech says my skin fared exceptionally well. It's a bit pink on my breast but I do have a redder, bruised looking area under my arm. I didn't know they were hitting there and wasn't even putting any cream there. Also my breast has a weird texture to it on the bottom half.
As far as pain, it has felt very sore inside like someone beat me with a bat. My nipple and areola are dark and very sensitive. Anything rubbing against them hurt...like especially the seatbelt! I get random stabbing pains every now and then, in the whole area, some worse than others.
Im looking forward to the end of this. I have 7 boost starting Monday. The tech showed me a template they use to just hit the tumor bed.
I'm stalling making the appointment with my MO to start lupron and the AI. I will Monday, I promised myself.
Fun stuff....not.
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Cooling towels -I'm going to buy now, how many do I need? I might use after surgery? What size microfiber cloths? I have spent a whole week just reading up in my spare time. This whole deal of BC is so complicated and frustrating. Everyon'e treatments and experiences different multiplied by 230,000 per year. Something wrong with this. Am I right? Breastcancer.org has an amazing website but still there are things not yet covered. Somebody wanted to write a book, I think it should be about the confusion in medicine
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Marijen....Good morning insomnia sister. You only need one towel. My towel size is appx 28 x 12 inches. You can get it in the sports department of stores. Or maybe in the outdoor section. Search amazon for "polar pad" to get a better description. I don't know about the lidocaine cream you mentioned above. You have to check anything you use with your rad techs or RO. I subscribe to the philosophy that "more is not always better". If 1% works for you, why take the jump up to the max right away? There's comfort in knowing that you can move to something more intense if you need to. If you start with the maximum overkill and it doesn't work, where do you go from there?
I'm confused about the 5%. My RO wrote me a prescription for 2%. It was not an over-the-counter product. I never used it. I just kept it as a standby, in case. It was my security blanket if I needed it. The instructions for the 2% say to wear gloves because it can make your fingers go numb while applying it. 5% sounds crazy. But it's nice to know it's there.....if you need it.
BTW...If you do ever use it, let everyone know how it works. And remember....keep the receipt. lol
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Regarding the cooling towel.....Again, I, the GEEK, did some experimenting. I found two effective methods for chilling the cooling towel. #1) Grasp one end of the towel and then crack it like a whip. Do this several times. Then do the same thing while holding the other end. This will cool the towel down to 64 degrees. Method #2) Grasp one end of the towel and twirl it round and round and round above your head or out to your side. I wet the towel down with warm water (just for the experiment). Both methods cooled the towel down to 64 degrees. So you don't have to refrigerate the towel or use ice cold water. Just get it wet.
You can put the towel over a light weight t-shirt or directly on your skin. I draped the towel over the whole radiation area, but I always made sure I tucked it under my boob. That is a super heat area. After five minutes I rearranged the towel to keep a cool area under the boob. You'll feel the hot spot on the towel. That means it is working. When you don't have any more cool spots on the towel then just refresh it by whipping it or twirling it in the air. You don't have to keep rinsing it with water. The area under the arm gets warm too. So don't forget it. Use the towel before you apply lotion or gel. The lotion or gel impedes the heat transfer process. When you are done with your cooling process, apply your lotions or gels.
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You are amazing
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Mira - my breast was the same way after whole breast - about a week after boosts that strage feeling area peeled - kind of just rubbed off and under it was nice smooth skin. My nipple area was also dark and sensitive. It started peeling by the end of boosts. Not painful though. Small pieces of the brown would come off and the smooth pink would be under it. I'm a month out and have just a few freckle like areas of the brown left. It hurts if you force them off, so I'm just letting them peel in their own time. Good luck finishing up your boosts.
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Found out yesterday they are waiting to start rads for me on October 28 instead of 19th. Guess I jumped the gun or misunderstood before! I didn't realize all the pre-plan stuff that had to be done....learn as you go, I guess. Thanks for what you do for us Fall rad ladies!
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ChiSandy: we'll be here for you when you do start. I'd guess there's more than a slight "wait and see" element to radiation treatment (how tired will I be? how bad will my skin reaction be?) but for the cruise--how much obligatory activity will there be? If you are totally poleaxed by the fatigue, would it be possible for you to return early to the ship from shore excursions? or remain on board to amuse yourself quietly?
Elisheba: easy enough to change a date, and I wanted to pass along the kindness given to me.
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