The Radiation Room

245

Comments

  • Candi Cane
    Candi Cane Member Posts: 159
    moriak said:

    Starting in July

    Yesterday I finished my last Taxol on a DD schedule (after 4 months total ACT)! They told me they wanted 3-4 weeks off before starting RADS so that the taxol is totally out of my system.  I'm a bit bummed about this as I have 33 sessions as I won't finish until about 9 days before my wedding weekend. (Start July 8: End Aug 21 Wedding Sept 1)  I'm hoping that I have enough energy to have a great time!  I do have the summer off while on RADs which is great, but I start school meetings 5 days after my radiation stops.  I guess I won't know how fatigued I'll be until I start (and get into the 3rd week or so?)  I also am worried about the skin and wearing my wedding dress, and how much my reconstructed breast will be affected.  Unfortunately, moving our wedding date just didn't make sense.  We had many pieces in place already when I was first diagnosed, and it also seemed like a great celebration of life and love when I'm finished with my treatement.  Thank god we did not pick Memorial Day, which was one of our original options!

     

    I'll keep checking back here for advice. Hadn't heard about the vitamins and will definitely ask my radiation onc.

     

    Thanks!

    Kaleen

    Hey Kaleen!  First let me say

    Hey Kaleen!  First let me say how beautiful you are!  Congrats on finishing Taxol and on your upcoming wedding.  I have to admit that I am exhausted.  I am hoping that when I finish that I get my energy back quickly.  I am not used to feeling like this.  My skin is really sore and dark pink.  I am still hoping that I don't get burnt bad.  I've been using my creams, drinking lots of water, resting a lot and avoiding the sun.  ( and I love the sun ) 

    Wishing everyone a great weekend off too!  It will be nice!

    Candi

  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    Kobias said:

    They told me today that I

    They told me today that I could also use Calendula Gel.  They said it wasn't as greasy as the Aquaphor.  I haven't gotten any yet, as, I wanted to see if any of you have tried it.  Has anyone?

     

    Calendula gel is good and so

    Calendula gel is good and so is aloe vera 100% gel.  The aloe vera is greasy where as the calendula isn't.  Keep plenty of it on your skin and I mean a LOT!

    Jan

  • Candi Cane
    Candi Cane Member Posts: 159

    Calendula gel is good and so

    Calendula gel is good and so is aloe vera 100% gel.  The aloe vera is greasy where as the calendula isn't.  Keep plenty of it on your skin and I mean a LOT!

    Jan

    I'll ask about using the

    I'll ask about using the calendula gel too.  Thanks for posting about it.

    Start again tomorrow :(

  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member

    Hey Kaleen!  First let me say

    Hey Kaleen!  First let me say how beautiful you are!  Congrats on finishing Taxol and on your upcoming wedding.  I have to admit that I am exhausted.  I am hoping that when I finish that I get my energy back quickly.  I am not used to feeling like this.  My skin is really sore and dark pink.  I am still hoping that I don't get burnt bad.  I've been using my creams, drinking lots of water, resting a lot and avoiding the sun.  ( and I love the sun ) 

    Wishing everyone a great weekend off too!  It will be nice!

    Candi

    Candi, it is pretty

    Candi, it is pretty remarkable how your skin will heal after you're done and pretty fast.  Ofcourse, I am just speaking for myself here, but, that was my experience.  I was really amazed that even during the boosters, how much the other area started to heal. 

    I just wish no one ever had to have rads ever again!  It really is a barbaric treatment, in my opinion.

    Good luck,

    Sue :)

  • Candi Cane
    Candi Cane Member Posts: 159
    Ritzy said:

    Candi, it is pretty

    Candi, it is pretty remarkable how your skin will heal after you're done and pretty fast.  Ofcourse, I am just speaking for myself here, but, that was my experience.  I was really amazed that even during the boosters, how much the other area started to heal. 

    I just wish no one ever had to have rads ever again!  It really is a barbaric treatment, in my opinion.

    Good luck,

    Sue :)

    I hope so Sue.  I am really

    I hope so Sue.  I am really red and so sore.  What are the boosters like?  I will have them at the end according to my radiation oncologist? 

  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member

    I hope so Sue.  I am really

    I hope so Sue.  I am really red and so sore.  What are the boosters like?  I will have them at the end according to my radiation oncologist? 

    I can tell you a little about

    I can tell you a little about the boosters Candi.  They are targeted only to the area where the tumor was.  That's why the rest of your skin will start healing as it isn't being treated anymore.  And, they are a different type of radiation, not so strong I believe.  I hope I explained them a little for you.

    Diane

  • Candi Cane
    Candi Cane Member Posts: 159
    DianeBC said:

    I can tell you a little about

    I can tell you a little about the boosters Candi.  They are targeted only to the area where the tumor was.  That's why the rest of your skin will start healing as it isn't being treated anymore.  And, they are a different type of radiation, not so strong I believe.  I hope I explained them a little for you.

    Diane

    Thanks for the information

    Thanks for the information Diane.  My radiation oncologist briefly went over it with my husband and I, but, said he'd explain it more when it got closer to the time that I would be having them.  It will be so nice for the rest of my chest to start healing. 

    I've started getting kind of hoarse, but, no sore throat really.  Wondering if it has something to do with rads.?.?

    Thanks again Diane.

  • grannabeth
    grannabeth Member Posts: 95
    Skin sluffing off

    I had radiation treatment #27 of 33 today. I was wondering if anyone has had some skin slough off and been left with a very raw red sore spot. Mine is in my arm pit. I did see my onco nurse after treatment today to ask what I could do for the pain and if there was something better I needed to put on the raw spot.  She suggeted to continue with the Aloe and Aquaphor, plus ibuprofen.  So far this afternoon I have had very little relief.  If anyone has ad this happen?  I guess the one good thing that this has just now happened is that tomorrow is my last day of whole breast irradiation and Friday I will begin my boosts so my armpit should not get anymore zaps.  Any clue as to how long this will tke to heal?

  • grannabeth
    grannabeth Member Posts: 95
    Skin sluffing off

    I had radiation treatment #27 of 33 today. I was wondering if anyone has had some skin slough off and been left with a very raw red sore spot. Mine is in my arm pit. I did see my onco nurse after treatment today to ask what I could do for the pain and if there was something better I needed to put on the raw spot.  She suggeted to continue with the Aloe and Aquaphor, plus ibuprofen.  So far this afternoon I have had very little relief.  If anyone has ad this happen?  I guess the one good thing that this has just now happened is that tomorrow is my last day of whole breast irradiation and Friday I will begin my boosts so my armpit should not get anymore zaps.  Any clue as to how long this will tke to heal?

  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    Kobias said:

    I have started radiation too

    I have started radiation too and was given a prescription for Biafine and was told that aquaphor was also good.  Bought a big jar of it today.  It's so greasy that I am afraid it will stain everything.  Looking forward to being in this group.

     

    bumping up for Debbie, Hoot

    bumping up for Debbie, Hoot Owl.  she is starting next week.

    leeza

  • Candi Cane
    Candi Cane Member Posts: 159

    Skin sluffing off

    I had radiation treatment #27 of 33 today. I was wondering if anyone has had some skin slough off and been left with a very raw red sore spot. Mine is in my arm pit. I did see my onco nurse after treatment today to ask what I could do for the pain and if there was something better I needed to put on the raw spot.  She suggeted to continue with the Aloe and Aquaphor, plus ibuprofen.  So far this afternoon I have had very little relief.  If anyone has ad this happen?  I guess the one good thing that this has just now happened is that tomorrow is my last day of whole breast irradiation and Friday I will begin my boosts so my armpit should not get anymore zaps.  Any clue as to how long this will tke to heal?

    My arm pit is doing better

    My arm pit is doing better than the rest of my chest.  I am sorry this is happening to you.  Have you tried Biafine?  It is especially for burns.  It is a prescription, so, you will have to have your radiation oncologist write a prescription for you. 

    I am still tender, sore and getting redder or dark pinker or just not good :(

    Hope someone can help you more.

  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991

    Skin sluffing off

    I had radiation treatment #27 of 33 today. I was wondering if anyone has had some skin slough off and been left with a very raw red sore spot. Mine is in my arm pit. I did see my onco nurse after treatment today to ask what I could do for the pain and if there was something better I needed to put on the raw spot.  She suggeted to continue with the Aloe and Aquaphor, plus ibuprofen.  So far this afternoon I have had very little relief.  If anyone has ad this happen?  I guess the one good thing that this has just now happened is that tomorrow is my last day of whole breast irradiation and Friday I will begin my boosts so my armpit should not get anymore zaps.  Any clue as to how long this will tke to heal?

    If you've got a raw red spot

    If you've got a raw red spot Beth, your rads oncologist needs to help you.  You don't want that to get worse even though you're almost done.  Our skin heals pretty quick once we're done, but, I don't know about something like you've got now.  I never had that happen.  Since you are starting boosters today, I hope you will see some improvement quickly. 

    Good luck with the boosters!  Let us know when you're done so we can all celebrate!

  • Kobias
    Kobias Member Posts: 115

    Skin sluffing off

    I had radiation treatment #27 of 33 today. I was wondering if anyone has had some skin slough off and been left with a very raw red sore spot. Mine is in my arm pit. I did see my onco nurse after treatment today to ask what I could do for the pain and if there was something better I needed to put on the raw spot.  She suggeted to continue with the Aloe and Aquaphor, plus ibuprofen.  So far this afternoon I have had very little relief.  If anyone has ad this happen?  I guess the one good thing that this has just now happened is that tomorrow is my last day of whole breast irradiation and Friday I will begin my boosts so my armpit should not get anymore zaps.  Any clue as to how long this will tke to heal?

    How did your booster go today

    How did your booster go today Grannabeth?  I heard they are faster.  Is that true?  How is your raw spot?  Any better at all?

  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member

    Thanks for the information

    Thanks for the information Diane.  My radiation oncologist briefly went over it with my husband and I, but, said he'd explain it more when it got closer to the time that I would be having them.  It will be so nice for the rest of my chest to start healing. 

    I've started getting kind of hoarse, but, no sore throat really.  Wondering if it has something to do with rads.?.?

    Thanks again Diane.

    You will start healing Candi

    You will start healing Candi on your chest except where you're getting the boosters.  I hope the area getting the boosts won't get any worse. 

    Sue :)

  • Candi Cane
    Candi Cane Member Posts: 159
    Ritzy said:

    You will start healing Candi

    You will start healing Candi on your chest except where you're getting the boosters.  I hope the area getting the boosts won't get any worse. 

    Sue :)

    Thank you Sue!  I hope so

    Thank you Sue!  I hope so too.  Just be glad to get the boosters started and then done! 

     

  • June Bugs
    June Bugs Member Posts: 167
    Kobias said:

    How did your booster go today

    How did your booster go today Grannabeth?  I heard they are faster.  Is that true?  How is your raw spot?  Any better at all?

    Kobias, the boosters are a

    Kobias, the boosters are a lot faster.  It seemed like I just laid on the table, got all set up by the techs, they left the room and in a couple of seconds, I was done for the day. 

  • grannabeth
    grannabeth Member Posts: 95
    Kobias said:

    How did your booster go today

    How did your booster go today Grannabeth?  I heard they are faster.  Is that true?  How is your raw spot?  Any better at all?

    Much Faster

    Kobias, thanks for asking. Yes, it was really fast, especially after the set up.  Raw spot is somewhat better. Not as red and raw, so I'm hoping for continued improvement. I am thinking it is the friction of my arm movements against the new skin underneath that is causing the raw spot, so keeping lots of Aquaphor on it.

  • grannabeth
    grannabeth Member Posts: 95
    Angie2U said:

    If you've got a raw red spot

    If you've got a raw red spot Beth, your rads oncologist needs to help you.  You don't want that to get worse even though you're almost done.  Our skin heals pretty quick once we're done, but, I don't know about something like you've got now.  I never had that happen.  Since you are starting boosters today, I hope you will see some improvement quickly. 

    Good luck with the boosters!  Let us know when you're done so we can all celebrate!

    Better

    Angie2u, I appreciate your advice. I do see my rads onc on Monday and will defintley talk with her about the spot.  It is some better today, so I keep piling on the Aquaphor. Will most certainly let everyone know when I finish my boosts. It will be celebration time then.

  • Kobias
    Kobias Member Posts: 115

    Much Faster

    Kobias, thanks for asking. Yes, it was really fast, especially after the set up.  Raw spot is somewhat better. Not as red and raw, so I'm hoping for continued improvement. I am thinking it is the friction of my arm movements against the new skin underneath that is causing the raw spot, so keeping lots of Aquaphor on it.

    I am glad that the raw spot

    I am glad that the raw spot is better.  Hopefully it will improve quickly now that you aren't getting boosters in that area, or, are you?    I been putting on lots of Aquaphor too.  I am all greased up right now  lol 

    Good luck with the boosters!  When do they end?

     

  • Candi Cane
    Candi Cane Member Posts: 159
    Kobias said:

    I am glad that the raw spot

    I am glad that the raw spot is better.  Hopefully it will improve quickly now that you aren't getting boosters in that area, or, are you?    I been putting on lots of Aquaphor too.  I am all greased up right now  lol 

    Good luck with the boosters!  When do they end?

     

    Very happy that you are

    Very happy that you are better too!  I start boosters next week.  Mentally, I am feeling better, just knowing that the end is near.  Just wish my skin felt better.  Red and sore! 

    Hope you all had a good weekend off!  We can do this!