Radiation April 2019
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Hi Girls!!
#7 of 15 today! No SE's yet. I lather up 2 times/day and still exercising! No boosts for me.
Freebee- so glad you got some good rest. Keep moving! We can do this!
Sunocean- it is so frustrating how each office seems to do things a little differently. Run girl run! 😃 I continue to exercise and No fatigue yet. Keeping my fingers crossed it continues 🤞🏻. So glad Flower216 posted the article on exercise. This is what my RO told me- based on research.
Chantalbe- you are in my prayers. Hang in there… I know the waiting is torture. 😢
Rosie Red- I had my CT and planning. Almost halfway through my RADS and have not had any further x-rays. Again, offices all do things differently it seems 😫
Flower216- thank you for posting the article on exercise. I think it's so important and really helps to keep my energy levels up!!
Wishing everyone a great day!
XXOO
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Rad # 7 - RO said that the x-rays are taken after every 5th treatment to make sure the techs are lining me up correctly. Had a student watch over the process today. Funny how shy I was before all of this and now I don't care who sees me half naked. LOL.
I lather up 3 to 4 times per day and RO is pleased with that. I use aloe & Miaderm.
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Just finished my 7th treatment!! Skin is getting a little pink
LOL 😂. I get that. I have no problem bearing my boobys anymore!! Have a nice day!
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1st treatment today. They said this would be the longest one, It took about 25 minutes and I didn't feel a thing. So thankful my treatment center is 10 minutes from my house! I did get a dry mouth and metal taste during the treatment. Not sure if this is related but I am feeling really cold a few hours after treatment, I am already pretty pink and a little swollen, didn't expect this so fast! Full breast radiation with 30 treatments, 1 down 29 to go....
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Just finished 30 treatments to my left breast and underarm. Last 5 were direct to my breast scar and I was covered with a skin-like gel pad. All in all the treatment was painless and side effect free. Mostly just very fatigued and a few instances of nausea. My skin held up pretty good with 3X a day steroid creams and Calendula cream. I have what looks and feels like a big bruise in my armpit but it's going away. Now that I'm getting back to a normal-ish life I'm taking REALLY good care of myself. Saying no to working overtime, eating right, exercise, taking supplements and vitamins, drinking less wine/tequila and eating less cake
I realized that if I can commit to a BMX, 30 treatments of radiation and self care in my recovery? I can commit to the other really important and healthy stuff too. No more excuses, being lazy and F'N around. I want to be as 100% as I can be! 0 -
Yay Desert Pup that's a great attitude!!
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Thank you friend! It just seemed so silly that I could commit to important but still very harsh and scary things and not commit to things that are not scary AND make you feel good! How's SB? Lived in Carp and SB most of my life
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The usual - mild sunny with a little breeze. Feeling good after a wet winter we needed!
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LOLOL. The usual amazingness. Yes - So much needed rain and now yellow blooms EVERYWHERE!! Enjoy!!
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Good morning. Started radiation April 4. I'm burning quite a bit (fair skinned and large breasts), which was predicted by my RO. I was using calendula + aloe and then switched to Miaderm religiously. My RO just prescribed Radiaplex today...which looks similar to radiaplex (ingredient-wise). Anyone else prescribed this cream?
thanks!
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euphonious I started rads April 4th too and have not burned. I am tan but nothing painful. I am using miaderm. However when I first started I realized I was allergic to aloe. So be sure it's not that. I too have very sensitive skin and today I am getting #10 and so far so good. I am primarily using miaderm. I'm sure the prescription will help you. Dont loose hope !!
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Rad # 8 - went by quickly today. Saw the nurse today. She’s kind of a busy body and just wanted to see how I was doing even though I just saw the RO yesterday. Oh well.
20 to go....
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Started RAD on 4/11, very fair skin. I am very red using Aquaphor.I also have tried Calendula. Did you remove aloe vera before using other topicals? Seeing the dr after rad today hope I get an RX. Euphoniuos what did you think of Miaderm? Did it help?
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Sunocean
I would definitely keep working out. I have seen it recommended to use cornstarch to help with perspiration. They make an unscented baby one you can buy at Walmart. Use an old knee high stocking filled with it instead of wiping your skin with a towel.
In the beginning liked to walk outdoors between 3-5 miles at a time. The sun is too bright and I can't protect my treatment location adequately from the sun. RO says no sunscreen in that area and my appointments are too early to walk before and the sun is too bright after. Now that I am nearing the end of my treatment 23/33 I'm too tired to walk after dinner. Only 2 more weeks and then I will have my “me” time back!
Hopefully you have a better workout plan than I did. Lol
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One thought on exercising during rads. I did as much as I could throughout, and I really think it helped with energy. And my skin held upreally well through 25 sessions
But the mistake I made was not paying enough attention to the fact that my skin started breaking down after I finished (which is common) and I actually had a couple of tiny cracks in the skin under my arm.
Exercise, warm weather, sweat, bacteria - and a cellulitis infection that looked a lot to the radiation staff like normal post-radiation effect. Fortunately, I had a dermatologist who recognized it for what it was.
So go for it! But pay attention, especially if you already have lymphedema.
Good luck, ladies!
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6/20 today. Skin is quite pink and whole boob is sore and heavy. Her sister next door looks like a deflated beach ball. I am definitely getting these ladies fixed when all is said and done.
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Is anyone wearing a compression sleeve throughout rads to prevent lymphedema? Not during the actual treatment, but before and after during the day? My PT/lymphedema specialist said I should wear mine as much as I can throughout rads, and I'm wondering if anyone else was given the same advice.
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I liked the Miaderm. And I liked the calendula, on its one (both of these I tested on my inner arm before using because I have a ton of allergies). I did use 100% aloe, but read that is just very soothing, nothing else. (I have used aloe for sunburn before so I am not allergic to that...) The aloe and the calendula are in the miaderm. I used the Radiaplex last night and this morning. It is fine, but I can't really tell. I plan to use calendula cream midday.
I actually had a breast reduction at 18 that made part of my breast numb (and then my breasts grew again since I wasn't fully an "adult". So, I am not actually that itchy/in pain. But, it looks bad. The nipple/lumpectomy wound are probably the worst parts.
My RO also suggested corn starch, especially under the breast/armpit. So, I'm doing that as well to keep things dry. Today, I rolled a very thin, small washcloth up and put under, even while wearing a bra, to try to keep things even drier. I am trying all the things!
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I'm getting ready to head out for # 9/28. So far my skin is holding up to it all. I am using pure aloe and Lindi Soothing Balm.
Fritz, I wear my sleeve during treatment. Some days I will pull it half way down and other days I just leave it. My Techs say it is no problem to have it on and my PT was the one who recommended it. She said "if they don't think it will interfere or cause problems with radiation, it could be a good idea to keep it on." So, I do.
Hope you all have a great day!
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Rad # 9 - Didn’t sleep well last night. Starting to have a back spasm somewhere between my left shoulder blade and my spine. Not one sleeping position was comfortable. Took Advil this morning so I could get through rads. Rad techs peeled a few of my stickers and retraced lines and put on new stickers. Glad tomorrow is Friday.
My PT also said to wear the compression sleeve as much as I can. I put it on right after rads and keep it on most of the day.
Have a good day
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Morning! Wanted to post this as it might possibly help anyone else having skin issues. I finished 30 rounds of rads last Friday and up until literally the last day, my skin was fine and I had no issues. Then on Saturday and everyday since my underarm has been black and blue, red, scaly & dry and super painful. (All expected and I knew there would be side effects) My Radiologist originally prescribed Mometasone 2x a day from the start, then they gave me Calendula on top of that the last week. Yesterday my underarm area became so painful I made an appointment with my dermatologist. She said to stop with the steroid creams, it was too much now, stop with the Calendula and she gave me Tacrolimus cream 2x a day. I figured a dermatologist would be a good extra call to heal the best I can.
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Ten down and only 23 to go. The luckiest thing for me is the convenience. I’m back home 30 minutes from the time I leave. Lumpectomy site feels harder, some red spots, harder to stretch arm but feeling pretty good.
I’m glad it’s Friday. Have a good weekend everyone
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Rad # 10 - TGIF everybody! Talked to the nurse about the back spasms I’m having (I ended up sleeping on the couch last night because I could not lay in bed without hurting). The doctor is calling in a prescription for a muscle relaxant. Hope it helps.
Happy Easter
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Rosie, Ask them about the brachial plexus and whether they might be able to give you something to avoid damaging it. MyRO gave me Pentoxifyllin to aid my tissue healing... The brachial plexus is right were you describe...
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I finished my 5th day of the hypofractional radiation today and so far so good. I purchased the lotion that starts with an A and that is horrible ---- way too greasy -- had to wear an old T shirt to bed. I gave it up after using it twice. So I haven't used much lotion and still am not red. I'm trying to find the Miaderm before I start week 2. My only problem is my thoracic spine hurts a little while I'm on my back, but I think that's because I"m not used to laying in such a straight position on a hard surface. I did ask my RO about the percentage of lung and heart radiation I am getting. He showed me the film after the first day --- I'm left sided and the heart is completely protected. The lung is getting about 1mm up the side. He said in the old days they would shoot for 2 CM -- so this is very good.
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Ladies I hope you all have a good Easter.
I am halfway done !!! Today was #12 out of 25!!!
I am definitely tanned but no pain.
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Hi, Ladies - I've have 6 more days left to my 20 day radiation therapy & my Radiation Therapist told me I will be getting additional xrays and a "wire" on Monday for targeted radiation directly to my lumpectomy scar. Is this the same as what is commonly referred to as a "boost"? Are the boost treatments commonly left towards the end of radiation? Did any of you have any issues with the boosts vs. the regular radiation treatments? Thank you so much & many blessings to all.
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Hi Faith,
It sounds like you’re getting boosts. I am booked for 16 full and 4 boosts. My RO said boosts are protocol if under 50 and margins not clear. I may elect to skip the boosts then. I’m 52 and my margins were clear but a bit slim (up against the chest wall). I’m at 7/20. I will decide once I finish #16. This is no pic nic
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I think the boost depend on the RO. I had clear margins, but was told that the protocol was 16 full rads and 5 boosts.
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