Radiation April 2019

I start rads on April 8th.

I can hardly wait -- I start next Monday and will have the hypo fractionated (sp) radiation which will last 3 weeks. Is anyone else going with this type? This is my last step before the drug therapy. I can't believe it's almost over. Maybe I can start having fun again soon.

In my last 2 weeks of 30 rounds. So far so good. Skins holding up nicely but I must admit, the fatigue is kicking my ass. Cranky, moody and tired. Can't wait for it to be done and start cleansing my body and soul of all the crap. I know it's helping me but it's still a toxin and I need to feel better and moved on.

Freebee -- this is the only part of treatment that I don't dread. A friend of mine had radiation and she said it was really easy. At the very end she got a rash, but it cleared up quickly. It's just a pain having to go 5 days a week. I know everyone is different, but I bet most get through this pretty well. I think we are going to be OK for this part of treatment. However, we'll know soon enough -- hope I don't have to take back my words.

Thank you Jess, that’s encouraging!

PS my "warning" would be re skin. Start now using a good heavy moisturizer on the skin of your breast, chest, collarbone area. The more moist and healthy your skin is the more protected it will be. But you may burn anyhow. I am fair and I burned towards the end (I did 28 days). I would say by #21 I was very red, so that last week or so felt 'over the top' in terms of my poor boob. The level of a gnarly sunburn. But I got through it. I did ask for (an received) a medication to help my breast heal because it felt extremely inflamed. I do not think it is routine but it can prevent fibrosis due to rads, and I decided to take it... it's Vitamin E and Pentoxifyllin.

The apex of discomfort was roughly 5 days after I finished Rads... the "burn" can worsen for a couple of days after. I am now 2 weeks beyond my last rads, and I am 90% normal again, 100% comfortable, with only a few small patches of skin that still need to peel but mostly new healthy skin. I did my normal exercise routine yesterday and felt great.

Well, I was supposed to have my setup and first rad this morning, but I got a call at 9am from the cancer center to tell me that their machine had broken down. At first they thought Iwould still be able to come in later to have it done, but by noon they called to tell me that it wouldn’t be possible. So tomorrow we will do all of the set up and Monday will be my first rad.

hi freebee

when was your durgery

Here we go.....Radiation starting April 16th, still don't know how many treatments I suppose they will let me know on the 16th.

I finished rads in late March.

My fair skin pinked up pretty early too-- but it stayed moderately pink and highly tolerable until the last week-- before getting bad. I had 28 sessions of proton rads. By #22 or so, my breast was palpably hot, a little swollen, and my skin was at the level of a bright red sunburn, plus there were zingers of nerve pain. I did finish on time with no breaks despite the discomfort, and it was truly *not* horrible to experience, more itchy and tender than painful... but it *looked* horrible at the end. People need to be aware that skin/burns can get worse for several days following rads, before it very rapidly heals. My worst skin was about 5-6 days after final rads, and my worst exhaustion too... but by 2 weeks post rads I had totally healed. I still have a "tan" on my radiated breast and one tiny bit of peeling in armpit, but the skin is healthy and intact and feels fine.

A few tips....

1. Be very kind to your skin. Drink a lot of water. Keep it well hydrated and be gentle with patting dry etc. There are lots of products that can be used. I do not tend to do well with mineral oils or petroleum products, so I used two natural creams (both expensive). I think the best one for me was "Seven" cream; the other was Camwell's Herb To Soothe. Pure organic no-alcohol aloe vera also nice. Lots of people like Aquaphor or Miaderm. All are avail on Amazon. Miaderm can be found with 4% lidocaine which is soothing. Begin applying a heavy moisturizer at least 3-4 x /day a few weeks before rads, so the area begins well moisturized.

2. When you develop peeling or anything that's wet/weeping, you can use "Domeboro" which is an astringent powder you mix with water to make a soak or a wet compress. It is very soothing and can be chilled in fridge. It dries things out and promotes peeling of dead skin. If you develop any cracking/ bloody areas (when things peel quickly it can be sort of raw skin underneath) there is a prescription cream called Silvadene which is like a heavy zinc oxide consistency and seals up anything raw, so it won't get infected. You can get a steroid ointment too to relieve swelling/heat.

3. Ask about Pentoxifyllin & Vitamin E, a month long meds regime post rads, to prevent fibrosis. I began that regime in my last week of rads.

4. Going topless at home, or braless under a loose soft tee, is helpful. Shelf-bra cotton tank tops were useful too but I needed some waterproof gauze pads to tuck into them, so my raw skin would not stick to the cotton. I would take a warm bath and put a cold Domeboro compress on my breast at the same time. That felt wonderful. Then I'd pat dry, and use aloe, then moisturizing cream, air-drying between each application.

5. After finishing rads, I did 5 sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen to help my skin heal. From worst-looking day to totally healed took me about one week... very rapid!!

You can do this!!!

Hi Jesse, good luck tomorrow! You and I are starting our hypofractional rathe same day the exact same treatment. We can do this! Have a great day !! XXOO 😊

Hi Cassie, my surgery was nov 23/18. I am a bit late to rads as a second scare delayed the process a few weeks. I am trying to remain positive, but getting a bit weary

Hi Frmthahart. I finished rads on October 31, 2018. I did a lot of reading and there are a ton of suggestions on different creams to use. I am fortunate that I didn't have severe side effects. My skin did get very pink, the worst was the fold under my breast. Anyway, drink lots of water. My oncologist told me to slather on enough aloe vera (no dyes or fragrances) till I was sloshing out of my bra. I was also told not to put anything on my breast 4 hours before treatment but could slather up immediately after. That's all I used until the fold under the breast became sore and weepy. Then I started using topical Neosporin with Pain Relief to the crease underneath my breast. My radiation therapist told me not to wear deodorant at all for treatment. My RO said I could use something like Tom's (all natural) for the rest of the day. What to wear? Something comfortable and easy to take off/put on. My treatment center provided a changing room and gowns. I was told to only undress from the waist up so I also wore comfortable pants that stayed on. My center wanted the gown to open in the back. Some ladies have talked about having to walk down a long hall so if you're a little uncomfortable about being exposed in the back be sure to take an extra gown and put it on like a robe. I didn't take anything else except a book to read while I was waiting. I have read that some took music to listen to while they were undergoing treatment, I guess that depends on your treatment center. I just laid there and let my mind wander to a peaceful place although I did get distracted by the fact my machine sounded like an anemic bagpipe ... gotta find the humor. Good luck to you, it will be over before you know it.

Had my first rad today. Besides a mix up in appointment time, it went pretty well and the rad techs know their stuff well. Tomorrow I see the RO for a check up and then another rad.

had my 3rd treatment today and turns out my reaction is from an allergy to the aloe vera gel I used!! I stopped using it and started using the miaderm and no more rash. Thank heavens. I was getting worried. Its only been 3 sessions me.