Fall 2015 Rads
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Hi all. I've been reading when I can but haven't been able to post a lot. My partner and I closed on our house at the beginning of October so in addition to being smack in the middle of rads, I've also been moving. But we are so excited and I feel so fortunate.
Tomorrow is my last day of 34 rads!! I had 26 whole breast and 8 boosts. My skin held up remarkably well except for some peeling under my breast and in my armpit. My armpit hurt very bad for about a week but silvadene has worked wonders. Prior to the silvadene I used aquaphor or miaderm atleast 3 times a day. My biggest issue is the fatigue. It really seemed to hit hard last week and like Tresjoli said, I feel like I'm walking through molasses. My body is just so tired and my brain is foggy and slow. My RO said to expect to feel this way for 2-3 weeks after rads.
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Yes, it is nice to come out the other side of treatment.....and I didn't have to deal with chemo. (dunno how much of a difference that makes one way or the other?)
Sloan: driving down early and staying the night afterward makes sense to me. Consider it a treat for finishing rads.
Courtleboo: hurray!
Sprite: hurray for tomorrow! (yes, the fatigue does fade....)
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Yay, Courtney! Congrats!
Today was my first session. (Had the DexaScan a couple of hours before, and that was a bigger deal--had to hike my bra up so the underwires didn’t obscure the spine--and lying there with them poking my upper sternum was a PITA...”A” meaning “anterior”). The radiation session was over before I knew it--the positioning took longer. The therapist told me it does no good to moisturize before skin symptoms appear, but gave me some Aquaphor to use if it makes me feel like I’m being proactive. Think I’ll follow a friend’s suggestion and use aloe cream instead--she said she used it from day one and had practically no irritation. (Although she did the 33-session protocol and I’m doing only 16). The therapist says she’s seen very few people develop side effects from such a short and focused protocol.
One down, 15 to go. Evanston Hospital is my new home-away-from-home. Learning where all the phone-charging outlets are, and where to get free bagels & fruit. Had to plan a different route home to avoid the Hoosier Mama pie shop (though I was ambushed by a bag of nonpareils and asiago foccaccia at Foodstuffs, and a bunch of flavored olive oils & balsamics at Old Town Oil. Unfortunately, Hogeye Music was closed, so I couldn’t get the guitar strings I needed....which was the real reason for the re-route).
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My simulation was yesterday and I now have three freckle sized tattoos. RO said there is a 20% chance I may have rads on my back instead of being in the prone position, but he won't know until he reviews the CT scans. RO just called and said my scans look good and I start rads on Monday in the prone position, M-F for 6 weeks.
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TinyDancer5, that is great news! I had my 9th of 33 yesterday. I think I am done with the bolus because that would have been the day. Instead they did a new angle on my side facing my axilla. It left me with what I am guessing was a bit of scatter? I had a red burn mark on my shoulder that hurt but I but the CVS aloe vera with lidocaine and it basically disappeared except I can press on it and it turns white. I was definitely much pinker yesterday especially on side. I used the aloe vera and then used the aquaphor at bedtime. I have to say the aquaphor really, really works well. It is just so darn GROSS. I am rotating through cami's and pj tops I don't mind ruining.
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I am on 6. of 15 treatments to my lumbar region, I've had very little side effects until today, severe nausea all day and my belly button is starting to ooze, so I guess its time for the dreaded squalor. Hope all have a good day. Marilyn
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I hope the side effects aren't too difficult or long-lasting, Marilyn.
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For those of you feeling frustrated with aquaphor stains on your clothes. I just soaked some of my clothes in hot water and dawn dish detergent. I rinsed them well. Then threw them in with my regular wash and they are again soft and free of stains.
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Had the CT simulation today and will be going for the set-up on Friday the 13th (also have Herceptin/Perjeta that day). First day of rads is the following Monday, which is my birthday. I suppose I could look on it as a kind of gift--that technology is available to knock out the cancer?
Looks as if I'll be limited to whatever cream they give me since I committed to the study that is looking at the effectiveness of Eucerin vs. a topical steroid. Will report back.
Relieved to be getting this show on the road!
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Hugs to you, Marilyn. Happy early birthday, Rainny. I like your perspective. Thanks Brutersmom for the tip on getting the dread aquaphor stains out.
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Molly I have been using Baby Aquafor on my dry skin a few times instead of lotion and I don't understand what the gross part is? It says it's 40% petrolatum. The devil is in the details.
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Marijen,
I don't like anything greasy on me. I never have. I am using it because it works but it disgusts me to have something so greasy and sticky on me.
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did anyone stop working during rads? I worked right after surgery, all through chemo, and through rads up to now, but I finally feel like I hit a physical wall and want to curl up and not move...I can't believe how tired I am.
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Rainnyc: Happy Birthday--you're starting rads. Definitely report back about the study?
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I will absolutely report back about the study. I'm quite curious. And they tell me they're going to be aggressive about the rads because the cancer is/was aggressive. RO's resident: "You will be burned." So.
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11 of 19 today. My breast is swollen and pinkish but not too uncomfortable. I've dutifully been putting calendula cream on it 3x/ day, as recommended by my RO. Yesterday I noticed a patch of bumps an inch or so below my breast that in the middle of the night started itching like crazy. Of course, when I showed it to the nurse today she said ITS NOT RADS. She suggested calendula allergy. I know Ihaven't been getting radiation there (directly, anyway), but I haven't been putting calendula there either. Oh well, I'll switch creams and see what happens. And I'll put cortisone cream on the bumps.
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chisandy - Hosier Mama pie shop -haha!
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Rainnyc, that study sounds interesting.
I had my first "zap" last night! Not so bad. They are using the brass mesh on me, which I guess is called a bolus? All this radiation stuff is new for me! Chemo was less daunting because my mom had it a few years ago so I got to see it firsthand, but radiation is like a foreign planet!
I am using the My Girls calendula cream twice a day, so we'll see how that goes. I am trying not to use Aquaphor because it gives me PTSD from when I had a bad road rash injury years ago...I was admitted at a teaching hospital and this one crazy med student would come in all the time to put Aquaphor on my road rash wound and it would hurt SO bad when he took the bandage off that I just kind of associate Aquaphor with pain now, even though I know it wasn't Aquaphor that was causing the pain, lol.
Thanks and congrats to all you gals who are finishing up, your stories and advice are invaluable!
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I am officially half way through. Woohoo. I had my last bolus today. They use a wet towel on mine.
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4 down....11 to go. The worst part is just having to live away from home while its going on. Rads takes 15 minutes - as you know - and then ---what to do with the rest of my days and nights - alone? I'm going to a gym every day, library alot - trying to keep busy, and be positive. Just getting tired of it all at this point.
So far my skin is holding up, and fatigue hasn't hit - but I'm sure its all coming.
The reality of being at the end of all of this is hitting as well - which is bittersweet. Of course, I want it to be over - but it has been my life since March and it's going to be hard to turn it off and move on, I'm sure.
I'm going to head home this weekend, which will be nice. It's a 3 hr drive and home got 5 inches of snow today - so hopefully the weather will cooperate.
On top of everything else, I'm trying to hold up my parents - in their 80's. They are aging a lot and everyone keeps telling me how worried they are about me even though I've been nothing but positive with them. Sorry for the random comments....I'm a little lost! xoxo
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Tvlr, I get the wet towel too.
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Georgie: ramble away, and don't worry about feeling lost. Not here, not pretty much anywhere on the boards. Others had mentioned here and elsewhere that chemo is physically difficult, but radiation is psychologically difficult. And you've got the 'staying alone, away from home' to compound that.
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Georgie: Hugs, and I know what you mean about having trouble moving on. The whole cancer treatment journey is so involving from a psychological standpoint, that even when it works and we can go back to "normal" life, it's hard to say goodbye. That's weird, isn't it? But there's some truth to it. Glad you get to go home for the weekend.
Hope you find something new to do. Kind of a goofy idea, but does the library have any book discussion groups that might let you drop in?
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Georgie, hang in there! Somebody's usually posting here in the insomnia thread if you need late night company.
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Hello All,
Looks like I will be joining you all in late November. Meet with 2 RO groups next week to get a plan. Have read just a few of the posts on here...trying not to get ahead of myself as I tend to freak a little anyway.
Looking forward to having you gals to talk with though- that really helps.
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Bluedog -- if the bumps are small and clustered into groups, and appear only on one side of you in a rough line that follows your ribs, it may be shingles. That's how mine started, like little clusters of intensely itching tiny bumps which eventually became painful blisters.
If you even suspect shingles, alert your doctor and/or RO right away, because if you catch it within 72 hours of the bumps forming you can start an antiviral medication that can reduce the duration and the symptom severity. Plus, they may want to keep you isolated from other patients who may be vulnerable to chicken pox, use gloves/masks, etc.
I really hope it's not shingles for you though!!! Sending healthy thoughts your way...
Take care,
--Sherri, aka EnigmaticFox
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Welcome, HappyHammer! I love your avatar.
Elphaba taking a beach vacation!Take care,
--Sherri, aka EnigmaticFox
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Welcome HappyHammer! I am now at 10 of 33. Nothing terrible so far. I was quite pink yesterday but I have to say the Aquaphor slathered on before bed is really, really effective for me.
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HappyHammer; welcome to the group, and I hope/expect we (and the other lovely groups) will be able to reassure you through the process.
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Found this today, it has Calendula in it... Noticed that nipple is starting to peel. The nurse said my skin might get worse before it gets better. Under side of my breast is peeling. And my armpit around the lymph node scar is most sensitive. I am hoping this helps to soothe. I've using aquaphor the last week. It seems to work ok.
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