Fall 2015 Rads
Comments
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I would let your Techs know today. They will probably tell you it is not from the rads. There is something call radiation syndrome that causes our bodies autoimmune system to over react according to my one RO but not most of the other staff in the RO department. Did you change anything else soap deodorant diet? Could it be something related to Chemotherapy? I had a delayed allergic reaction to the dye used during my surgery. It showed up on my skin about a week after my initial surgery.
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I tend to think it would be the rads. Oral benedryl should helps with a systemic allergic reaction like that.
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Yes, someone posted the symptoms start showing up about day 10.
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I took a benadryl and slept like a baby! I'll ask the RO on Tues about rad syndrome. Thank you!
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I am on Day 11. Starting to turn red and itch.
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Well I am still at 6 of 33. My son's nurse called off yesterday. Normally I would get home from rads in time to let the other nurse go. Yesterday the computer was down and by the time they got it back up it was after the time my nurse has to leave. They had one person ahead of me so I told them I couldn't stay. I really can't say I am too sad. I wasn't feeling well anyway.
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Sloan did you change anything else for this. Different soap or lotion you are using on other parts of you? If you've used the Dove some recommend that could be it. Dove Sensitive makes me itch. I'm very deliberately using the calendula cream on other parts so if I start to itch I know if it is the cream or the rads.
In general doing well. 6 of 19 down. Just a tad swollen and pink in the nipple area.
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outrunnung - good point. i started using Dove sensitive for the first time 8 days ago.
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sloan - try Cetaphil it is one of the only things I can use. And although no one has mentioned it I'm using it during rads. I figure I'm so sensitive that the thing I know won't bother me is most important.
Article about Dovehttp://whatallergy.com/2012-03/allergic-to-dove-sensitive-skin-soap
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Hi Ladies
I am looking ahead to rads in February (16 sessions), and also planning a big trip in May.
I am wondering how all of you feel after rads are finished, and how long it took you to feel "normal" again. My RO said that fatigue and side effects could continue for up to 6 weeks after finishing rads. So I wonder if I will be able to travel and feel good 2 months post rads. Thanks for the info!
Kim
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I start rads in a few hours and I came down with a terrible cold yesterday. I hope I don't sneeze in the middle... I guess we will find out. Any tips on holding your breath ? They kept telling yesterday that I was barely breathing deep enough. I was counting as I inhaled.
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Kimmer: probably-almost certainly you'll be able to travel two months after rads, and even enjoy it for the most part. (I'd ended up traveling to Chicago twice and Vermont once in the month since I finished mine, and managed quite well despite a virulent case of erysipelas and multiple antibiotics on top of rads.)
But I'm sure others will chime in as well!
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Espanola: small comfort that the machine does shut down if you breathe out during the active phase. I assume sneezing does fall under that aegis!
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I am interested to hear, too. I am most worried about the skin issues. I found that working out during chemo kept most of the fatigue at bay. I am hoping the same is true for rads but if I can't wear a workout bra due to skin issues, I might not be able to go. I could go braless on my home ellipitical though.
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Best wishes to you Espanola.
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I'm 2 months out. My energy level isn't quite as great as it could be, and I have some chest muscle stiffness, but I traveled shortly after the post-radiation peeling finished (it finished at ~2 weeks after; I flew at 3 or 4 weeks after) and was fine. I think 2 months will probably be okay.
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Trvler, I agree that keeping active helps with the energy level. I did accelerated Rads. I worked out during Radiation and did really well until the end of week three. (did slow it down some.) Then I crashed. Rested the weekend and felt much better. I am still tired but able to function quite well. Getting back into my old routine slowly. I started Arimidex on Monday and had my last treatment. I think that that is also making me a little tired. I did get discharge instructions that said the fatigue may continue to worsen for up to 2 weeks and then I should slowly start to feel better. I was also told that skin irritation could worsen before it starts to get better. I did notice that the itchy rash and pain continued to get worse this week but today I actually have less itching and I haven't notice the shooting pains like I did earlier this week.
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That's good, Brutersmom.
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Had my sim session today, and confirmed that my SNB site is outside the PBI field. So I can use normal antiperspirant (although I did use Tom’s non-metal deodorant on my right ‘pit today), No tats needed--just another Sharpie'd X covered with clear tape. But the field, marked beforehand with washable marker (which I can wash off), included the part of the side of my breast over which the side of my underwire passes, as well as a small portion of the back. So I expect that at some point during the 16 zaps or soon after treatment ends I might have to put away the underwires again if irritation occurs (which, due to the fewer number of sessions, the therapist says it might not). In that case I would probably switch to spandex seamless shelf-bra camis. I have decided that immediately after each treatment I will aloe up and put on coconut oil at bedtime. I peeked downstairs at the pharmacy in the Kellogg Cancer Center, and noticed that they carry the usual array of Aquaphor and Eucerin, as well as Udderly Smooth, a different brand of aloe cream, and the same brand of no-alcohol lidocaine burn gel I bought at CVS (I also have Alocane, but it has twice the lidocaine). Udderly Smooth has urea--is that likely to be an irritant? I use a urea cream to soften foot calluses.
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Thank you ladies!!
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Hi Chisandy, are you still planning on your cruise in December? I hope so! What is the brand of the no-alcohol lidocaine? I ordered Lidocaine plus from Amazon, it is 4%. Don't have a CVS pharmacy close by. But we do have a cancer clinic close so I will remember to check if they have the counter items. It's not really a store phcy. thx. I also have Baby Aquaphor and it has alcohol. Don't understand why they don't give the percentage. And Coconut oil. Let us know how your assortment of creams are working. I hope you have cornstart or something to put under your breasts. I once had a prescription for nystatin powder that worked really great.
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ChiSandy: Which Kellogg are you getting treatment at? I was at GB but I switched to Lutheran General.
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Has anyone ever tried that Blue Emu stuff they advertise all the time? It has cortisone along with emu oil, I think.
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Elishebajoy - How did your first treatment go? I remember in the beginning that it was harder emotionally than I had expected or prepared for. Hope you are doing well.
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Definitely going forward with the cruise; we also booked three days at a resort in Tuscany (outside Pisa) as a timeshare exchange in July. We’ll spend the rest of that week in Florence. Haven’t booked the air & rail for it, nor the hotel in Florence (we’ll use hotel loyalty points). DH will be following up on a small asymptomatic lung nodule they found in May on the CT they took when his colon got perforated during a colonoscopy at a different facility. (Didn’t show up on a subsequent scan, so surgeon is calling it an “incidentaloma”). If it’s grown any, he’ll have it biopsied and treated after New Year’s, and if necessary we’ll just cancel that Tuscany res and put the points back into our timeshare account. If there’s anything we’ve learned by now it’s that nothing in life (including life itself) is guaranteed, so if a once-in-a-lifetime chance comes along and you can afford it without consequence, you should take it--you might never get the opportunity again.
I go to the Evanston Hosp. branch of Kellogg--20 minutes away if I make all the traffic lights, 1/2 hr. if not.
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I should take it, and it would be nice if I still had a DH to go with. I do get the Viking brochures in the mail and I have a travel website that sends me email updates everyday. Set that up right before my life went off the track (March) and haven't the time to read it, but it's a reminder when I have some space. DH and I traveled around the world in the 70s, it was the most fantastic time of our lives, having my two sons is the best thing that ever happened to me. One year trip the second best thing.
Never heard of incidentaloma, I do hope it's benign. Too bad he can't have it done now? To have a free mind when you're both traveling.
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I would definitely not hesitate to travel after rads. I burns terribly, but 3 weeks later and I am working about 60 hours this week. And I am a firefighter. I did work hard to maintain range of motion during rads, but I feel good and am pretty close to full strength. So travel away. You'll have earned it!!!
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Marijen did you have more nodes removed than your sentinel? I had only my sentinel node removed and I am 8 days into accelerated radiation treatment
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I had lumpectomy and axillary - most of them removed because at least one or two were malignant. Not sure about sentinel but I think the cancer cells have to go through the sentinel to get to the axillary. But doctor didn't say anything about Sentinel, so I have to wait for the pathology report and when I see the doctor at follow-up in a week and a half. I was worried about bleeding but only a little blood that has dried up on the napkin like bandage. All seems to be well, except for pain. I did feel a little pain to my elbow about an hour ago, as I'm already spreading out the pain pills.
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thanks, travel we will - planning a trip to Italy in May!
Kim
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