Starting Radiation April 2017
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I finished on 5/5 and my skin is looking pretty good. It still has a bit of a tan but has essentially recovered otherwise. The first 2 weeks it was sore but then really started healing.
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hello. My palpitation have subsided a lot. I had an existing issue before around 7 years ago. So not sure if that made it worse. My shortness of breath and palpitations are much less now a few weeks after stopping rads
talk to your Doc. My said that the radiation can cause heartburn because some rays hit other areas and damage healthy tissue but that tissue heals and side effects go away
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Sorry that I didn't come back and follow up after my emotional posts about being angry at not being covered up during treatment. Thank you to all of the ladies that commented that they understood, or had gone through something similar. And thanks for the prayers.
For any who asked how I was doing, my RO took my concerns seriously and talked to the techs. Everyone was much more careful to make sure I was always as covered as possible. And I completed all of my scheduled treatments. Though my skin did get really bad at the very end. I'm glad it's done. I still have fatigue hit me every now and then, and I there's still an outline where the skin peeled away and grew back (which is not yet the same color as the rest of my skin).
Now I have my survivorship meeting tomorrow, along with my next Herceptin. I've also started on Tamoxifen. I'll be glad when the full year of Herceptin is done in September and I can get my port out. It won't feel like everything is over until that's out.
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Fightingthefight, hi I'm glad to hear everything turned out well for you. We've got enough to deal with without the techs making things worse for us. I was able to have my port removed about 2.5 weeks ago and it is a wonderful feeling! It's nice to be able to sleep on my right side again! Please keep us posted on how you are doing. I love hearing from all of you gals!
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WenchLori - Congrats on getting your port out! I know it must be a relief to not only sleep freely, but not have to worry about awkwardly positioned bra straps or hitting your port on accident.
Also, I thought I knew a bit about the medical industry before going through treatment. But there's nothing like firsthand experience. And if you don't speak up it's frighteningly easy to just get rushed through a myriad of important decisions and experiences.
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I am in the May radiation forum I have 4 more to go. Skin is red, and starting to peel especially under my arm. From reading it looks like in a few weeks my skin will start turning to normal. Right now I look like a sunburn gone bad. Any tips?
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Goincrzy, YAY! Your treatments should be over by now!! I just kept the area clean and dry and I used calendula to help ease the burning. My armpit got pretty bad at the end of my treatment, I'm praying I'll never have to shave my left side again. The treated area will get a little worse for about two weeks once your treatments end. Once your skin starts to heal it'll return to healthy skin in no time at all. I was surprised how fast my armpit healed once the treatments stopped. Good luck and speedy healing!
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Thank you Wench, today is my FINAL treatment......so excited and tired.
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How is everyone doing?? Today was treatment number nineteen! Only nine left to...yippee! I'm getting pretty red, and itchy...nothing hurts so far..I'm using organic 100% pure aloe and Cetaphil 3 times a day...and Aquaphor at bedtime...Cortisone for the itchiness.
What is everyone else using? or used?
I cant wait to be done, I drive an hour each way....and that is the worst part lol
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BG46TN - Guess you have even fewer than 9 left, now that it is 4 days later than your post. Almost there - You can do this! Keep using those creams. If you hop onto the May 2017 topic, check out Jul 12 post on pg. 15 for info on creams (an excerpt of lengthier post on pg. 2 of that topic). Whew - a 1 hour drive must be tough. Are you in the greater NY City area? (I see a city-like background in your pic - Just returned from visit to the area - daughter lives in Astoria, Queens & sister in Stamford, CT).
Goincrzy8 - Yippee - DONE!!!!
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Bdagal and Whirlaway - Yes, my breast and armpit is still very sore 3 months after my final rads treatment. I didn't have any pain at all during the treatments, but now I have issues sleeping on that side.
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It's odd, Ruby. I finished rads 2-1/2 weeks ago and my breast was only slightly sore during treatment. This past week it's been very sore! I guess that's the radiation still working. But three months later? Have you asked one of your doctors about it?
MJ
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Tappermom - no, I haven't yet. I keep waiting to see if it will work itself out, but it only seems to get worse rather than better. I need to talk to my MO about the Arimidex, so I'll bring it up then. Thanks! Hope you're doing well!
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Have you started Arimidex yet, Ruby? I started a week ago Monday and so far, so good. Having read about the magical effects of Claritin - and having the Costco version in my cupboard - I started taking that every day, too. I take my anastrozole (Teva brand) at night and have been sleeping very well.
MJ
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I've been on Accord letrozole. Today the pharmacy gave me Teva. I've had minimal side effects on the Accord... just hoping I'll have the same with Teva.
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I had 16 days of whole breast rads and 4 days of boost. Now almost three months later my breast is noticeably larger and engorged feeling. How long does it take for the selling to go away?
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6cats - I'm 2 months out and have the same question. My mammogram is tomorrow and I'm worried the breats is larger because it might have a mass....
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Ruby - greetings from the "other" side of rads - think we started out on the same Feb Rads thread. Having some pain, feels somewhat like bruising, but not bruised on skin surface, Finished rads Mar 21. Follow up with Surgeon's PA has indicated this is "healing" post rads and will likely continue for awhile.
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I keep having a tightness in area where I had rads...and under my surgery arm....I saw the lymphadema specialist and she says its fluid build up in that area from the radiation and she calls it "radiation edema"....and she sent me home to do some exercises to get the fluid moving like its suppose to...but she says I don't have lymphadema in my arm which is good news...but goodness...its always something..has anyone heard of "radiation edema"?
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Shoot, Nayda!
I'm not familiar with radiation edema. Did the doctor say whether it's temporary and responds well to therapy? Good luck!
Lyn
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Yes, I too have radiation edema. I wasn't given clear instructions on how to deal with it beyond firm massage. Nothing like having a giant hard breast!
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Hey VLH!...all the Lymphadema specialist did was go over some exercises with me to do and said I needed to do them everyday...But I haven't done them everyday..but she was like if I do these exercises everyday that should take of the fluid build up....But I am going to start doing them on Sunday everyday for 2 weeks and see if what she says works.
Hi 6cats!...yes my breast area is hard and tight..and it scared me at first..thought it was another lump...but they assured me that it wasn't and that its just fluid build up....I see that radiation stays with you like the chemo does...so I am recouperating from chemo and radiation..ohh fun:(
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I'm off to see my RO tomorrow. The tightness/fullness/heaviness in my breast hasn't changed. I figure 5 months without an RO appointment was long enough!
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hey ladies - it's been a while since I've checked in with you.
6cats and nayda985 - I have lymphedema in my right arm (nothing dramatically visible, just very uncomfortable). Need to look into what you have both described as radiation enema though. My breast feels swollen, as well as swelling and discomfort on the rib cage (my ribs feel bruised). I can't wait to get home every day to get my bra off!! I have been having a lot of discomfort still in the whole breast above the nipple, mainly from the midpoint of the nipple to the center of the chest. It hurts to apply even the slightest pressure. My annual mammo is scheduled for the beginning of nov and the thought of how that machine will compress that part of my chest is giving me major anxiety!! I can't wait for the day when this is all just a distant memory
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Bdgal, since you had your radiation in the States, is there a radiation doc you could see there in Bermuda? Maybe get it checked out before your mamo? Sorry you are having so much trouble.
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Bdagal,
I also had quite a bit of tenderness above my breast and heading to my armpit. I went for physio and massage which helped a lot! the clinic deals with post cancer rehab and lymphedema. I have stretces to do daily that have made me feel better. Not sure if you have that in Bermuda. My mammo was early August and the right side being compressed was quite painful but at least over quickly.
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