Fall 2015 Rads
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Same here on the likely permanent tan. Darn, and I was hoping to break out those midriff bearing crop tops (not).
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I don't think I ever looked good in midriff-baring tops.....but still, a chick can dream.
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I am waaaay past ever looking good in anything midriff. My youngest child ruined my belly lol. Even when I was in shape I had stretched out skin from his 9lb 12 oz baby bump.
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Long time no post ladies... anyone else suffer swelling and intermittent tenderness on the radiated side? I'm not too concerned about it as I've read somewhere that you can expect swelling and tenderness long after rads, and sometimes in relation to rads after SNB = lymphedema. If I have it, it's mild truncal because my hand and arm are fine.
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yes Molliefish. I have been treated for lymphedema of the breast. I saw a lymphedema specialist that taught me how to do massage and I wear a bellisse compression bra and special pad. At night I wear a tribute vest. If I fly I need a sleeve and gauntlet. I now believe I had mild lymphedema after radiation but when I had the mammogram in February it really exacerbated it. I was in tears due to discomfort and pain when I finally went to RO and surgeon.My breast was hard, heavy, hot to touch, and so swollen. The massage helped tremendously. Also my insurance covered 85% cost of the compression garments. And I didn't know but my insurance also covers 4 bras a year with a prescription. Being fit at a place that specialized in cancer patients made a huge difference. I was able to find better selection of wire free supportive bras. i only wish i knew before surgery and radiation
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Alas, since I’m on Medicare the only bras they’ll cover are mastectomy bras--and that does me no good because radiation made my lumpectomy breast bigger (and they don’t make mx bras bigger than D or at most DD cups anyway). I asked both my RO and the LE specialist doc whether the bulge in my breast is LE and they said no--just wear whatever bra fits and is comfortable. (No problem stuffing these 40 Is into Goddess and Elomi underwires--but I do notice that due to wearing a Swell Spot in a sleep bra at night, as well as the passage of time, I’m getting closer to being able to return to my 38 I or even H bras). I do have that “nuclear tan” at the incision site, but since it’s the only tan I’ve ever successfully gotten I don’t mind it being permanent. After all, there are no pole dances in my future. And midriff tops? What’s a “midriff?” Ever since menopause it seems that my bustline melts seamlessly into my belly, even more so on letrozole. Upside is that I’m finally getting a bit of a booty again. Oh, if only I could lose the gut and keep the butt!
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Finished rads today, what a relief! It actually wasn't too bad-slight redness to skin but that's it, chemo was the worse. Here's to not looking back and keep moving forward 😀0
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Molliefish, no to swelling, but yes to extreme tenderness across much of the radiation field. It definitely feels as if it has a ways to go to finish healing. The RO told me 6-9 months before everything settles down, and I'm just short of four months. I noticed that when I started wearing spring clothes after hiding under turtlenecks and sweaters all winter, the increased play of air on the skin on my upper chest made everything feel irritated again. But on the positive side, it's better than it was a couple of months ago. I'm still wearing very soft cotton tanks or camisoles over bra and under shirt and probably will for quite a while.
Lottemarine, congratulations on finishing rads!
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Ruefully, 6-9 months sounds about right for recovery time. Sigh.
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I am 4 months out and have some swelling and tenderness in the axillary area. I have no feeling where my breast once was so can't speak to that but do still get the occasional deep throbbing pain like I did during rads.
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I still get pain, especially to my boost area, and my shoulder blade area is often sore. My range of motion is decreased a little and my implant is hard as a rock. All in all though, if it keeps the cancer away, it's worth it.
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PUFFY STRETCH MARKS-HELP!
Hi everyone, I'm 6 months post rads and just started noticing that the stretch marks on my radiated breast are puffy. Has anyone experienced that? Any suggestions of what to do to minimize the look of the very visable stretch marks? I've always had stretch marks (since giving birth 17 yes ago) but they have been barely noticeable.
A little history, since I finished rads, I have been going to PT for swelling and stretching. It has helped with my range of motion quite a bit. I do still have pain on my left side when I lay on that side but I've been told it's due to scar tissue. I've been going to a massage therapist that specialized in lymphatic and scar tissue massage.
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I finished my rads the day before Thanksgiving and I am just finally at the point where I don't think much about that skin anymore. I thought the sensitively would never go away.
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I was just thinking about this thread. I still see very clearly my tan from the field of radiation even though my skin looks very nice. Today I noticed that I can see the boost area as well. Anyway, if you are concerned call your RO. Hugs
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My dermatologist said that all kinds of skin things can develop in the radiated area. He wants to see me every 6-12 months. Call your RO or a dermatologist.
My skin is just tan, but my implant is hard as a rock; it feels like a tissue expander again. It has risen about an inch higher than the other side.
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My skin and my side is a weird combination of tender and numb. I'm finally able to lay on that side for more than just a minute. I think rads is another gift that keeps giving!!
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Still attending, in sympathy, though there's not much I can add in terms of medical advice at this point....just nightmares and anxiety dreams for me.
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Kbeee sounds like you might have CC.
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Molly, I think I do. PS said he would not touch it with a 10 foot pole though. He said it likely would not heal. I am not a candidate for DIEP though because I am so thin. I could choose to have other side lifted so they match. For now, I can wear a supportive sports bra and they match.
My other issue is that my routine work pulmonary function test which dropped from 105% of expected to 78%. When I had my radiation follow up, I asked about it because it said that it was likely caused by something restricting lung inflation (not a problem with bronchi or alveoli). All docs said it is probably from radiation. RO said "highly unlikely". He said it is probably from chemo. MO said absolutely not; likely from radiation. They will likely do a CT after next MO visit to assess damage
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Isn't always "not rads"? There's a couple of women on here somewhere that got their insurance to pay for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for their CC. I can understand your situation in not being able to do diep. I am taking the gamble and am going to have implants as well. I told my PS that I am willing to take the risk.
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Kbee (winces) 105% to 78%? Yeah, that's impaired lung function all right; I was rather wondering about my lung function, but hadn't had a "before".
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I know this board is not very active (understandably) but since many of us are just hitting our "one-year since diagnosis" anniversary/cancerversary, I wondered how all of the one-year mammograms are going for those of us still involved in that fun activity.
I was diagnosed right before my May birthday last year, so I elected to wait until June (2nd) for my annual mammogram. My RadOnc had asked to have a diagnostic one done at the end of radiation "as my new baseline" so I had that in January. All was said to be fine.
Monday I got the call to come back for additional images on the "bad boob" side based on Thursday's images. They saw new microcalcification growths in a cluster, since January.
That made me so angry. Are you kidding me. New calcifications so quickly ? I have lost 40 pounds since January 25th and so I would l think my body would be slowing its cell growth patterns all over, but nope.
Yesterday I had magnified images and the radiologist showed me the cluster - it was there a year ago but not removed (not as suspicious as the fine linear branching area that was removed and I was not even aware of this cluster but knew I had other kinds of calcifications in other areas that were not suspicious); the cluster was there in January (no change) and now there are more microcalcs in this one cluster. I saw my BS last night and have the stereotactic core needle biopsy on the 15th (earliest available). Of course, to quote my BS, if it is more DCIS (or IDC), it means "I have failed conservative treatment and need to have a mastectomy".
How is radiation "conservative treatment" ?! Seriously.
Anyway, hope everyone else is having a better time with their follow-up imaging and I will post the results when I get them either the 18th or 21st. My BS said she had 6 biopsy results in front of her right now for others and all of them were positive. Her evening of callbacks was not going to be fun but it makes me feel like maybe they don't do wasteful biopsies either.
Cheers and good wishes to all !
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Ugh GoofyFoot--not sure why I decided to take a peek at this forum. I'm currently going through rads (am on the "Spring 2016" forum) and was curious how people are doing at this point post-treatment. I'm so sorry about your news. I see we have similar tumors. Early on I felt a little sorry for my left hooter with all the poking and prodding and cutting and needles and zapping, but, really, it has been misbehaving. I had ALH about seven years ago in the same breast, and now the DCIS. I'm sure if something does come back it'll be mastectomy time.
All I can say is hang in there, and trust your medical team. And keep your wonderful sense of humor and outlook. Staying mentally on top of this is important. (FWIW, we have a bit of a "theme music" thing going on over on the Spring forum. For one woman it's gone from "Radioactive" to "U Can't Touch This." We've referenced Tracey Ullman as Ally McBeal's therapist. Maybe a theme song for you will help? "Back in the Saddle"?)
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A theme song is a great idea. She Hates Me comes to mind (my boob being the she) but that song is a tad offensive so maybe Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again".
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GoofyFoot: oof. I'm so sorry to hear your news. (my first post-diagnosis mammogram was "You're fine--we're suggesting screening mammograms from here on in. Run along now.")
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(((Goofy foot))) let us know how your biopsy goes.
My Dx anniversary is today. I had my diagnostic mammogram almost two weeks ago. Everything was fine is fortunately.
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GoofyFoot- love your sense of humor- hate that you are where you are though! I also am a year in...diag. mammo was ok this time around. Luck of the draw, I suspect. Please keep us posted....in your pocket for your meeting with the doc to make the next round of decisions.
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"today/yesterday was my anniversary of my lumpectomy. Can't believe a year has gone by already but the anniversary I'm looking toward is the end of active tx 23 Dec.
I had a follow up mammo on May 29 however I've been out of the province all week and haven't received a call so I'm hopeful all is good. We switched to all cell phones at our house and my daughter has or old home phone number of course she doesn't tell me about messages so if I don't hear by Fri I'll check her phone.
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Today is the one year of my surgery. I had a new baseline mammo in Dec. all was fine. Next Friday is my first MRI since diagnosis. Have to say I'm a bit nervous about it. I developed frozen shoulder after treatment and am still battling that but all else has gone well.
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My first post treatment mammo is in late August. My RO said: be prepared for a six month follow up to monitor post treatment changes in one or both breasts. He told me that this is pretty standard and not to freak out. So, I'm prepared!!
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