Starting Radiation April 2017
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tappermom38....that's interesting! I've never noticed this before!! It's good to know...I won't get freaked out now, cuz I do love beets!
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FightingTheFight - Your post has helped me so much. Thank you for being so honest. I find the whole radiotherapy experience cold and that I am not being treated like a whole person with individual needs, just a boob that needs to be radiated at an angle of 94.6 degrees (or something like that!). I didn't realise you didn't have to have both boobs on show? I'm doing the breath hold technique and was good to start with but now I'm so stressed I'm making a mess out of it.
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I only get a blanket, which is warm. It is either folded up and barely covers anything or unfolded and I am stepping on it as i walk to the table. The things we go through!
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I'm sorry to hear that so many of you had such a hard time. I'm starting tomorrow so I guess I should go find the May group. Just out of curiosity, what was everyone told about deodorant? My RO said to avoid metal but the nurse said studies show it makes no difference to the skin, and that is what I found from googling and from the packet I was given at the radiation dry run last week.
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I was told that as long the deodorant was unscented it was fine to wear it during radiation.
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I was told not to use deodorant with aluminum. They suggested Tom's of Maine or Arm & Hammer. No deodorant before radiation each day.
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I was also old those deodorants and also cornstarch. Nothing prior to treatments.
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My RO told me that it didn't matter what deodorant I used, and that the no aluminum info was not current. Based on my reading here I've been using Toms of Maine though (which I think doesn't work very well, so I can't wait to use my normal stuff!
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hi all!
I was wondering if anybody else is having trouble with armpit burning? I have an oozing patch in my armpit and can't figure out how to keep it covered properly so it can start to heal. My RO said to keep my skin in an environment that is conducive to new skin forming. The mepilex and hydrogel pads won't stick and tried somebody's suggestion of sticking a washcloth in my armpit to push against the mepilex and keep it in place but then my arm falls asleep! Maybe just a thick layer of aquaphore will do the trick? I'm going to call my RO tomorrow and ask because I'm sure I'm not the first to have this problem! Just wanted have a comfortable night:
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Dear BCinGA? I am starting 33 treatments tomorrow or Tuesday. How are you doing since you started in early April? I am very worried and scared.
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LAW193, I start tomorrow (or Tuesday), too.Me too. I'm so scared. Is there a May forum yet? Hoping we can get through this together. : ) I was approved for the 10 day Accuboost, but my surgical clips are too far apart, so they had to switch me to whole breast -- 33 visits. (25 + 8 boosts). I have Miaderm, Miaderm with lidocaine, giant Aquaphor and fresh aloe vera. Sending positive thoughts to those who are going through this, and those of us about to start ... so thankful for this board.
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Good luck tomorrow, Get busy. I see my RO for the first time tomorrow. I started a May radiation thread so come on over!
MJ
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Norcalteach, my RO gave me a prescription for silvadene and it worked for my armpit. I had no skin left there by the time I finished radiation. Have you tried the Curad pads? I put my cream on the pad then stuck the pad up under my arm, it worked better than the folded wash cloth. How much pressure are you putting on the folded wash cloth to make your arm go numb? I didn't have that problem when I did it but we are all built differently.
As for the deodorant, I was also told no aluminum. I used Arm & Hammer and I'm still using it as it works great for me.
I wore my gown with the opening to the front and it was only opened far enough for them to see my markers. They even tucked the ends of the gown into the top of my geans to keep it closed.
Good luck to all of you starting your radiation treatments soon!I can't believe it's May already.
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Thank you all for the suggestions. I bought Toms of Maine deoderant yesterday. Luckily today is cold and rainy - not sure how well it will do on a hot sticky day...
My first treatment is today at 4
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LAW193 - good luck with your first rad!
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Law193, good luck with your first treatment. You got this
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I had my first treatment today. It was much easier than I expected and they were very good about the privacy issue.
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Connie - so glad it went well for you!
Gentle hugs to all
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Connie, I'm glad you had an easy time and that your team listened to your request for your privacy. Way to go! You've got this! We are here for you!
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I didn't have to ask. They were just good about privacy. There were 2 women and 1 man who either stayed back due to the privacy thing or was in training....which is really what I thought
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I was told no deodorant on radiated (left) side. After rads done, using my "regular" one, which is propylene glycol & aluminum free - Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil - this seems to work well.
Bdagal - About those beets - I also freaked out when I had the interesting "color", until did some research & found out that not an issue. Who knew, indeed? Not as interesting a color as the "smurf" blue related to SNB, though.
Good to hear that you ladies who want privacy are having your wishes respected. I was offered gowns, but never used them as they needed to bare both breasts for my treatments. My rad techs were women up until the last week, when there was one male, who was very professional & had been doing treatments longer than the women, so probably had seen a multitude of breasts. At age 62,not an issue for me, but 30 years ago, it would have been.
Sending inspirational and healing thoughts to everyone continuing on into May. In prior "months" have shared a number of tidbits about rads, and would be happy to share.
Hope everyone continues to ask questions - Someone who has been there is always at hand with info to share. Gentle hugs to all.
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I have two more "all-over" rads treatments then I will start 9 boosts. I am so ready to check this off my list. The worse area on me is near my collar bone but I do have a rash on most of the top breast tissue, under my arm and breast.
I was told I could use non-metallic deodorant. So, I have Alra which contains Aloe Vera gel and Oil of Cypress. It works pretty well. It was available at a local medical supply store. I've also been using TriDerma radiation cream which has aloe too as well as Allantoin.
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ILSunrise - Had a scrip of Mometasone Furoate cream that helped with the rash. Maybe you can ask the Rad Nurse or the RO for it? Also had a scrip for Lidocaine ointment that helped as well, when certain areas like nipple & SNB scar became ouchy.
Healing thoughts & gentle hugs to all.
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I rang the bell today for my last rad! I was given a certificate:
This bell rings for all who walk this path. It celebrates the courage, hope, triumph, strength, faith, and love that gives resonance to its chime.
I share these sentiments because I rang this bell not just for me but also for each and every one of you in this forum.You touch my heart every day and you are my lifelines. And for this I am mostgrateful.
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CeliaC - thanks for the info. I do have an RX (leftover from when I got a rash with chemo) for Triamcinolone Acetonide which is a steroid cream for rashes. My RO said I could use it for the rash from rads. I'm going to try it first and then if it doesn't help I'll ask my MO about the two you suggested.
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Day 5 of rads... I'm exhausted! Is it the rads, the femara, or my fibromyalgia flaring up... don't know... but feel lousy!
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Congratulations, Butterfly!! As you end the radiation journey, I am about to begin mine. I take such strength from all of you on this thread. Your suggestions and support mean so much to me and everyone else here! Went to the RO yesterday and the MO today - I, too, will be taking Arimidex post-radiation. I'll be curious to know how that leg of your adventure goes.
MJ
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I will keep checking in on all of you and sending good thoughts that you experience minimum SEs.
Tappersmom - Thank you. I'm thinking of starting a new topic callled "Starting Anastrozole Inhibitors in May" since the other thread is so long.
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Congratulations Butterfly! I'll be praying the nextstep in your journey goes well. Maybe we should start a thread for all of us girls from this thread?? So we can keep up with each other and lend support as we move along on our journeys. We'd have to think of a catchy name 😊
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Wench - Thank you. Dont want to lose touch with you all.
6cats - you have a lot going on which may all be factors in your fatigue. I was really fatigued after my first full 5 days but then things got much better. Don't push it, do only what's necessary. I hope things get better for you.
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