Fall 2015 Rads
Comments
-
Not for me, Princess. But my deductible was met a long time ago.
0 -
Well, here's something for you gals to chew on. My RO does not mind me wearing the dreaded aluminum-containing deodorant while I am in active treatment. He said I could even wear it during a radiation treatment, as long as it wasn't all globbed up in my armpit. He said when and if I started having skin reactions to the rads then I might want to forgo it due to the possibility of irritation. He said there are so many conflicting studies out there with arguments for & against, but he personally doesn't view it as a problem. I will probably refrain from wearing it during a session, but not gonna worry about using it beyond that.
0 -
Wildflower - mine says the same thing - she says just about anything is fine, unless it bothers me, then stop. Pretty much no rules against anything, just use some lotion after - tell her if I have issues?
0 -
My RO told me I could wear it but not during treatment. I put it on after. But I don't even see that on the ingredient list. Is that what they call it?
0 -
Where are you Keys-Plez? I'm getting my polar cool towels today. Got two. If I don't need the second I'm sure my son will love it.
Come back soon!
0 -
Does anyone know why they would use a warm tower on my chest during part of my treatment today? The techs were so busy I couldn't ask why.
0 -
Marines - my RO gave me all the risks too. I figured I had to do what was best now and hope for the best in the future. She sai the risk was very small and the secondary cancer would only show in a place that received radiation and not anywhere else. I also have very fair and sensitive skin. I did very well thru rads. I got quite pink. The area under my breasts peeled on the next to last day. My nipple started peeling on the last day. No open sores though. My biggest complaint was extreme itching!
Princess - I finished over a month ago and have yet to see a bill. I had no copays. I met my deductible a ways back, so I don't expect to see charges. I did request a copy of my charges for a cancer policy I have, and my mouth fell open at the cost!
0 -
Wildflower et. al.: that was pretty much my RO's take during treatment. "Anything goes as long as you don't have skin breaks. Just don't wear antiperspirant with aluminum during the rads."
But then I got up in his face slightly. I'm like that. I wonder how many simply never think to ask for specifics?
0 -
Hi Molly,
Do you mean a warm towel? Might it have been a bolus (which concentrates the intensity of the radiation in a certain spot, usually over surgery sites)?
For me, they use a bolus every other day, which is like a piece of warm thick heavy flexible plastic. Well, it's warm when they warm it up ahead of time. They didn't warm it up for me tonight.
For a few days, I've been moved to the last slot of the day so that there's no chance I can infect anyone with chicken pox from my shingles. I had no idea that the folks there worked such long days! I asked, and the tech tonight said that they work 10 hour shifts!
I'm working on a project to do something nice for them when it's my last day...shh, don't tell anyone
Take care,
--Sherri, aka EnigmaticFox, trying ever so hard not to scratch and looking for distractions!
0 -
My RO took a look at the recently sutured (had been steri-stripped, and the strips removed before it ruptured) SNB incision and said radiation is a GO! Not only that, I’m starting a week earlier than anticipated--not only does that get me out of jury duty 11/4, but I’ll be done before Thanksgiving!
0 -
I'm behind... Here's what I remember to comment on.
Warm towels are a form of a bolus. Protocols vary. I had the darn bolus every day
CVS blue aloe with lidocaine is only available in the summer in northern states. I asked, but the local stores had packed it away. They had other green cvs aloe with lidocaine in the burns section, but that one is different and contains alcohol.
My neck was part of the radiation field. I had a sore throat early on for a few weeks. I started chewing a lot of ice and it really helped.
0 -
ChiSandy: I suppose there are some small blessings in starting radiation, then?
Kbee: now I'm curious if the non-alcohol aloe/lidocaine is available in the more temperate states throughout the year....
0 -
Karen, thank you so much for making me not feel paranoid about my throat. EF, yes auto-correct strikes again lol. Thanks both of you for explaining the towel thing. I will ask my regular tech tomorrow how often they are.
0 -
Karen, I wonder if it's available on cvs.com? Otherwise I would be happy to mail some to you.
0 -
Looks like it is available on the web site? Well, there's something that's a rather vivid shade of blue, which does not have alcohol listed in the ingredients list.....
0 -
So, do you actually get more zingers in your arms and legs with radiation, or am I just hypersensitive to the thought of radiation affecting my nerves?
0 -
I looked a few weeks ago on cvs.com and could not find it, but I did not try too hard. I thankfully am 90% healed so I no longer need anything with lidocaine, but sure appreciate the kind offer!
0 -
If anyone has trouble finding the blue lidocaine gel, ask them to check their inventory and pull it for you. I live in the South, but I think they pack it up regardless of geographic location. I went to two CVS stores in my town today and they had packed away the blue aloe gel with lidocaine as it is a summer item. I explained what I needed it for, and in both cases, the clerk went into the back and pulled it from storage and sold it to me. I now have a regular size tube and a large economy size bottle of the stuff. Hope it's more than I'll need.
0 -
Wildflowers: thank you for letting us know what worked for you! I honestly had no idea which items the stores might send back or simply shift to storage--depends on the store, I suppose, and the perishability of the item.....but I can't imagine that lidocaine gel has a short shelf life.
0 -
KBEE!!! OH NO MORE ICE!! ;-) After chewing ice for AC then icing for taxol I cannot bear the thought of MORE ICE.
0 -
I think I am going to have a hard time with rads. Maybe it is that aquaphor. It is almost like putting that on draws attention to the itching and irritation. Does that make sense? Does anyone use any Keihls products? I just don't think I can put that goop on me another time. It never dries and you stick to everything. My doctor said I could use anything I wanted. But I am scared to try anything.
0 -
Trvler: don't be afraid to try something else! Aquaphor's not for everyone, not by a long shot, and for pretty much exactly the same reason you mention here--it sticks to EVERYTHING and feels weird. If your oncologist says you can use other things, then use them.
For me, Aquaphor shone (figuratively speaking) when I went swimming; I put a very thin layer over the radiation field and that very non-absorption protected me. Still felt slippery as bleep in my swimsuit, though. See if I ever bother swimming the Channel!
0 -
I wonder if coconut oil would be good?
0 -
Trvler, so far Udderly Smooth is nice and it absorbs well. It is very affordable, too. I also highly recommend Earth's Best Baby Calendula if you are not allergic to Marigolds. The other product my Rads onc uses is Miaderm but it is PRICEY!
0 -
I only use the Aquaphor at bed time. It doesn't bother me over night and it is pretty much gone by morning. By the way, thank you all for the recommendation of the CVS Aloe Vera with lidocaine. I burned my hand while cooking dinner yesterday. (yes cancer side stupid me) and I slathered it on my hand 3 x's over a couple hours. My redness and the blister is GONE!!!
0 -
if you've read from the beginning of the thread, you know I have posted weekly pictures from week 3 or 4 to give others a frame of reference. Everyone is different, but it will give a general idea. This is 2 weeks post rads. Just 2 sore spots remain, with the scabby, bloody teenyone the most Sore. My pain level is down 95% from 2 weeks ago. Unless something presses on it (like seatbelt) it does not hurt at all. As you can see, most areas have healed nicely.
0 -
That is a huge improvement from last picture!
0 -
Tralee - my RO gave me a prescription for Biafine. It was wonderful. Cool going on and absorbs so no yucky feeling. It was the only thing I used and I only got red. It helped my skin hold up really well. I hated aquaphor too - way too sticky.
0 -
Delet
0 -
Hello all - I had my simulation yesterday and am starting radiation on Nov. 4th. I keep thinking that this is going to be easy compared to chemo but I guess it is not easy for all. Whatever it is, it is as it gets me one step closer to being finished with treatment. That is going to be a happy day!
0
