Fall 2015 Rads
Comments
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My team was very empathetic and sweet. You would think after seeing patients go through this over and over it would be routine but they treat you like you are the only concern they have. My RO really saved me for skin breakdown with her willingness to see how bad I was getting.
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I stayed quiet because I was afraid they would make a mistake while doing my adjusting to the right position. My people acted like it was no big deal. They would be like what did you do this weekend and I would say itched. lol
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Ok 24 of 25 done and then 5 tumor aimed boosts. Skin is just a tiny pink, mostly tan? No blisters and only a tiny bit of itching so far, nothing I need any cream for.
Enjoy your weekend ladies!
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Glad to hear you're doing so well, Princess!
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My team was definitely in the do-whatever-feels-better camp. They even gave me Aquaphor. Packed a little tube, plus aloe, in my luggage. Don't need it any more but it'll be good for my feet.
One nasty little secret I didn't know till I read the LR Research & Education site: though the LE risk for SNLB of 4 or fewer nodes is only 2-6%, rads raises it to 15-25%, same as for full axillary dissection! So that explains the forearm tightness & soreness when I stretch & torque my right arm. Though my SNLB site was outside the radiation field, there was likely some scatter; and my radiated mammary seroma may have tried to send lymph past my four missing nodes😒
Sitting in Air France lounge, kicking back and my enjoying a cappuccino and Mumm's Cordon Rouge (free!). In a bit less than an hour, will don the sleeve & gauntlet. Had to take off the Medic-Alert bracelet, but all the gory details are in my wallet card ( one in regular wallet, one in neck pouch). It's a bear to try to reattach the bracelet, and I might not be able to roll it back over my hand with the compression stuff on.
Internet will be pricy & spotty once in Europe, so this may be the last you'll hear from me till the 22d. Don't do anything I wouldn't do, unless it's worth it
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So long, fare thee well Chisandy.
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Have a blast, chisandy!
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Flying with you in spirit. And the champagne.
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pennsy, my RO asked about my throat and stuff and if it felt like it was harder to swallow or if ut felt like food was "stuck". Guess he sees it a lot. Luckily I'm a week in so no symptoms yet
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ChiSandy- play on in every sense of the phrase. En.Joy!!!
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Question: For those of us who allegedly had 'whole breast' rads with no axillary radiation, did any of you have any reaction in the axilla???? I swear that my RO doesn't know what the techs are doing. As you all know, at this point in radiation 12 of 21, you can see exactly where you are being radiated and my entire left axilla shows evidence of radiation. I'm pretty disappointed. You might as well have drawn a straight line down the posterior of the axilla from the redness of the reaction.
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keepwalking--my RO said not to put on anything 6 hours prior to rads treatment. I started putting pure aloe vera right from the plant leaves twice a day from day one on the treated breast after treatments. I didn't apply any to my underarm because I was told it would not be treated. I didn't have any skin issues until about the 25th treatment and then it was only the underarm area that started to darken, get sore, and peel. When I asked my RO about supposedly not treating this area, he said it wasn't directly treated, but was indirectly hit. ???? If I had known that that would have happened, I would have started applying aloe vera to that area on the first day. Maybe it would have helped, maybe not. I also took aloe vera supplements which RO okayed. Some people say pre-treating doesn't help, but I only know that my RO seems surprised that my breast is not red or irritated (yet). I have had 30/33 treatments so far. Good luck with whatever you decide!
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I am pretty sure that it's the Radiation going through to your axilla. Believe me you would KNOW if you're getting rads to your axilla because the machine is pointing right at the area. If you look at the picture I posted of my shoulder that's what went through me. Not directly radiated. My nurse told me ahead of time to put cream on. I am so sorry your team isn't being very forthcoming about the bleed through.
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Bon Voyage, ChiSandy!
For all who are dealing with LE, I happened to find a great video on how to do massage/drainage yourself. I had a vaccine on my non-radiated but had lx and node bx side, and my arm got tight and felt like the cording was returning…but i also had a birthday, drank more red wine, ate more salt and exercised less for a few days;) anyhow, it went away, but I did try the massage. Not going to hurt!
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Molly, I wonder if they will radiate my axilla area, since all of the nodes are gone? I sure hope not but I'm not that far yet. One more reincision to go.
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Marijen, I wouldn't be surprised if they radiate your axilla since you had a positive node.
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Molly, I don't do pain well. Will they give me something for pain?
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Yes if you need it. I did fine using EMLA cream my RO prescribed.
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Molliefish, ask to see the computer model of your radiation tangents. It will clearly show your fields, including entrance and exits
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KBeee....thanks for mentioning the computer model of the radiation field...never thought of that. Hope I remember to ask about that tomorrow.
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Had #19 today. RO told me that I will have six more whole-breast treatments, and then eight boosts. I kinda can't believe I'm this close to being done!
Something I hadn't thought of before: Is there imaging done post rads?
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Pennysgal, I had imaging done between WBR and boosts. Nothing after I finished.
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what kind of imaging? My team takes pictures once a week during. Today is day 14. 2 whole and 5 boosts to go. The skin is pretty angry now and hot. Anyone heard of these saline soaks? I have been advised to give them a try
I was show the radiation field today. Right across the underarm in line with the breast to cover all the tissue. I didn't know my breast tissue went all the way around to my flank. 👿
Well there isn't too much I can do about it now. The damage is done. The skin is fried. I have a fitness test on wed am. I'm sure I'll be in great shape after that.0 -
Today was first boost - happy that it takes 1/2 the time and hopefully the pink will go away quick from the WBR area!
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Gals, I just had a core biopsy fora new lump that appeared a few weeks ago. We are hoping beyond hope that it is just scar tissue from rads. I would appreciate any and all thouhgts and prayers for good news. I should hear tomorrow morning, or Thursday at the latest.
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I am praying for you, Karen!! You have been through so much!
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Last radiation was today! I have graduated. My skin held up very well. It looks like I have a mild sunburn but not broken skin or rash. I am just glad to be done. Now on to tamoxifen and scheduling my tissue expander swap which I hear I won't be able to do for a few months. Seeing my Dr. Plastic on Thursday.
Karen - hoping your lump is nothing! Good thoughts and positive prayers sent your way!
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Karen, hoping and hoping that it's nothing--just scar tissue. Let us all know.
20 of 25 sessions done. One more week.
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Congratulations, Suzanne50!!!
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Finished 33 of 33 today. No redness or irritation on breast, just slightly darker than other breast and some dark freckled spots. Underarm area (which received indirect rays that I wasn't aware would happen) had an area about 3 inches that got darker and peeled, but wasn't real bad. I am more nervous about starting Tamoxifen than I was about doing rads, since reading about the SE and small chance of uterine cancer/problems. RO told me I could start it last week, but still haven't worked up the nerve! Then again, I never did like taking prescribed meds....am more of a self-researching/medicating supplement gal.
Sending good thoughts to all of you finishing up fall rads and to those starting or have started this winter, and thanks to all your wonderful Fall rads ladies that listened and contributed to this thread!!
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