Well... I guess I'm just over 1/3 the way finished...and dumping..
A little graphic here... my nipple on the side being treated is swollen twice the size as my "normal" side..and really hurts, actually the entire breast is swollen, but the worse is the nipple... I've been using both aloe and Aquaphor but really nothing helps relieve the pain on the nipple... It is so uncomfortable to even have the tee shirts touch it...Monday I will ask if they can give me something that can at least numb the area...I'm not pink, I'm red.. as if I sat out at a nudist beach all day but was indeccisive and only let one side fly free...my arm sticks to my under arm and .... well... needless to say I am feeling like a total whiner... and I'm really not tring to.. actually I'm annoyed and frustrated.. and simply getting angry...
I am normally up at 6am and out the door by 7.. used to being a "get up and go" kinda gal... but this week getting up just isn't happening... I was late for work twice this week, and one day just opted to work from home... in 14 years of working at my office I have never been late... I've been having head aches everyday for the last week, my lower back and legs ache... probably all totally unrelated.. I'm irritable and bit*chy... I just am not feeling like myself... after today I have 21 treatments left... and to be honest, I don't want to do even one more!!
Okay... I know I sound like an ungreatful whinning whimp, sorry.. just needed to dump and this is the safest way I know...
~T
Comments
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T
so sorry about all of that-I would be miserable too if I were you.
It does sound really painful and I wish you could get help earlier than Monday,but if your clinic is how mine is,my onc isn't there today-it's everyone else who can't really help you on their own. And with all your other body aches as well.wow...
No,you're not an ungrateful whining whimp,you are a human being who is in a lot of pain and naturally,frustrated!0 -
So sorry for this!
T, I'm sorry this is so uncomfortable for you, and I wish I had some sage advice to give. And haven't you already heard cliches?
"Hang in there"? Sure, but it HURTS! and you just want some relief from the pain...to be able to sleep well, function well.
"It'll get worse before it gets better" ...right...we all want to hear that one, when we're already on the raw edge
"You're not going through anything that others haven't done." You aren't anyone else...you are YOU, and you know when you've reached your limits.
"Think of it as just a bad sunburn".... (just?)...what does anyone know if they haven't been there?
I have not had rads, but my turn is coming. Reading these discussions, I am getting a clearer picture of what I may be facing. And hopefully, it will help me prepare for it. I already know how indadequate the "teachings" are. Others may be along soon to offer suggestions and tell you how they dealt with this. Believe me, I'm taking good notes!0 -
don't be so hard on yourself
so what if you are bitchy!! Your body hs been going through alot with the rads and I'm sure you are tired out.
Also what determination you have, many people do not work while going through treatment. Take a break when you need hun, and rest. Be good to yourself, you deserve it.
Hugs, Jackie0 -
Like Jackie said...
Try not to be so hard on yourself, T. Rads are not "easy" - nor are they "a piece of cake" (I find it disturbing to sometimes see rads described that way on the board here).
There are products available (by prescription) that should help with the pain and discomfort you're enduring. I hope you get something today, so that you can start using it right away and get some relief.
Your body aches, etc. - stress + rads-induced fatigue = horrid combo. And when we are so exhausted, other things go haywire.
Can't expect to be "normal" and function "normally" during treatment.
Thank goodness it's the weekend - and a two day break for you from rads. Rest up, and do something you enjoy, that you're up for...
Kind regards, Susan0 -
ALOE.......Christmas Girl said:Like Jackie said...
Try not to be so hard on yourself, T. Rads are not "easy" - nor are they "a piece of cake" (I find it disturbing to sometimes see rads described that way on the board here).
There are products available (by prescription) that should help with the pain and discomfort you're enduring. I hope you get something today, so that you can start using it right away and get some relief.
Your body aches, etc. - stress + rads-induced fatigue = horrid combo. And when we are so exhausted, other things go haywire.
Can't expect to be "normal" and function "normally" during treatment.
Thank goodness it's the weekend - and a two day break for you from rads. Rest up, and do something you enjoy, that you're up for...
Kind regards, Susan
that's probably what's making you feel "sticky.".....I so hate that you are going through this...I've been told to expect the tiredness to set in after 2-3 weeks, or earlier, because I had chemo before rads. I had #7 today, of 33......I was given RadiaPlexRx by my radiation oncologist....He told me to use it IMMEDIATELY, in the dressing room before I dressed after each treatment, then 3 more times each day......but NOTHING on the breast for at least 3 hours before rads......I go early in the morning, I have yet to experience the redness and or pain, I'm sure that's around the corner.......Perhaps they can give you something for the pain......
Short comment on rads "being a piece of cake".........for me it is, COMPARED to chemo.....I honestly think that's what most people mean when they say that.......NOTHING about having breast cancer is a "piece of cake!" I think we ALL would agree with that! IT SUCKS.........ALL OF IT! I personally HATE all of it!
I hope you are feeling better, soon.
Nancy0 -
Due to the angle ofMAJW said:ALOE.......
that's probably what's making you feel "sticky.".....I so hate that you are going through this...I've been told to expect the tiredness to set in after 2-3 weeks, or earlier, because I had chemo before rads. I had #7 today, of 33......I was given RadiaPlexRx by my radiation oncologist....He told me to use it IMMEDIATELY, in the dressing room before I dressed after each treatment, then 3 more times each day......but NOTHING on the breast for at least 3 hours before rads......I go early in the morning, I have yet to experience the redness and or pain, I'm sure that's around the corner.......Perhaps they can give you something for the pain......
Short comment on rads "being a piece of cake".........for me it is, COMPARED to chemo.....I honestly think that's what most people mean when they say that.......NOTHING about having breast cancer is a "piece of cake!" I think we ALL would agree with that! IT SUCKS.........ALL OF IT! I personally HATE all of it!
I hope you are feeling better, soon.
Nancy
Due to the angle of radiation, my nipple was not badly affected, but the radiation therapists recommended soft flannel for a patient with a problem similar to yours. I am using flannel on the underside of the breast, where the tumor was. I purchased plain white flannel at Jo-Ann fabrics & folded it in a square to pad the area. It has seemed to help! I hope you can get some relief... and soon...0 -
Taleena
Im so sorry that you are having such a rough time with your rads. And quit appologizing for venting, thats what we are here for. I hope it gets better for you. Dont be so hard on yourself either saying you are ungreatful. That is totally not true, you are fighting right now and have every right to feel the way you do. I didnt have to do rads, just chemo that im doing right now, so i dont know how rads makes you feel. After what you have described and the pain you are in, i want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you get to feeling better soon. Try to take it easy on yourself too.
laura0 -
Awww...Taleena
I feel so bad for you! I admire that you are trying to work through your treatment, but I was one of those that knew I couldn't. I have been off for 4 months and will be off at least 2 more. I just knew I couldn't do both (treatment + work).
It does suck with the tiredness and fatigue. It's like "bam", you hit that brick wall. Absolutely nothing you can do about it but rest. Best not to push your body too much. It takes sooooo much energy to heal from the radiation. The aches I had too. Just my body doing all it could to slow me down....I eventually listened. It's like having a month long flu.
Yep, I got irritable too. With good reason, your body is not happy so why should your mind be? It's temporary and we manage to muddle through the worst of it. I think it upset me more than the people around me, as they expected me to act THAT way. They were way kinder to me than I was!!
Ohhhh....and the nipple thing! Yeah, me too. Now THAT really hurts! It's like getting the worse "Titty Twister" you have ever had in your life! (you can quit laughing now! Yes, I have gotten them as many times as I have given them!).
I'm really sorry you have to go through this. But know that you will make it to the end. Everything you are experiencing is very normal. Do mention your symptoms to your Doc so he can maybe script something to make it more barable.
Hope you start to feel better soon....hugs.
♥Pammy0 -
Thanks everyone... Sorry forAkiss4me said:Awww...Taleena
I feel so bad for you! I admire that you are trying to work through your treatment, but I was one of those that knew I couldn't. I have been off for 4 months and will be off at least 2 more. I just knew I couldn't do both (treatment + work).
It does suck with the tiredness and fatigue. It's like "bam", you hit that brick wall. Absolutely nothing you can do about it but rest. Best not to push your body too much. It takes sooooo much energy to heal from the radiation. The aches I had too. Just my body doing all it could to slow me down....I eventually listened. It's like having a month long flu.
Yep, I got irritable too. With good reason, your body is not happy so why should your mind be? It's temporary and we manage to muddle through the worst of it. I think it upset me more than the people around me, as they expected me to act THAT way. They were way kinder to me than I was!!
Ohhhh....and the nipple thing! Yeah, me too. Now THAT really hurts! It's like getting the worse "Titty Twister" you have ever had in your life! (you can quit laughing now! Yes, I have gotten them as many times as I have given them!).
I'm really sorry you have to go through this. But know that you will make it to the end. Everything you are experiencing is very normal. Do mention your symptoms to your Doc so he can maybe script something to make it more barable.
Hope you start to feel better soon....hugs.
♥Pammy
Thanks everyone... Sorry for dumping but like I said this is definately the safest place for me to do that.... Rads went as expected today...except that they gave me something to put in my shirt to try to keep my boob from rubbing on my shirt... see the doc on Monday.. in the mean time hopefully this will help...
I know I will get through this... with all of you beside me.... thank you my sisters...and my dear friends....
Reading your responses once again brought comfort and laughter...I will try to be kind to myself... I will try to ignore stupid people who make stupid comments, and I will definately stay away from any titty twisters...Pammy you come up with just the the thing to make me laugh every time!
In the mean time... I will act like the "Little Engine That Could"... "I think I can.. I think I can..." you get the jest...
♥ & hugs
~T
~T0 -
I had burned a lot inAkiss4me said:Awww...Taleena
I feel so bad for you! I admire that you are trying to work through your treatment, but I was one of those that knew I couldn't. I have been off for 4 months and will be off at least 2 more. I just knew I couldn't do both (treatment + work).
It does suck with the tiredness and fatigue. It's like "bam", you hit that brick wall. Absolutely nothing you can do about it but rest. Best not to push your body too much. It takes sooooo much energy to heal from the radiation. The aches I had too. Just my body doing all it could to slow me down....I eventually listened. It's like having a month long flu.
Yep, I got irritable too. With good reason, your body is not happy so why should your mind be? It's temporary and we manage to muddle through the worst of it. I think it upset me more than the people around me, as they expected me to act THAT way. They were way kinder to me than I was!!
Ohhhh....and the nipple thing! Yeah, me too. Now THAT really hurts! It's like getting the worse "Titty Twister" you have ever had in your life! (you can quit laughing now! Yes, I have gotten them as many times as I have given them!).
I'm really sorry you have to go through this. But know that you will make it to the end. Everything you are experiencing is very normal. Do mention your symptoms to your Doc so he can maybe script something to make it more barable.
Hope you start to feel better soon....hugs.
♥Pammy
I had burned a lot in radiation, and I was given a prescription cream, and they also gave me gel pads that adhere to your skin, I forget what they are called. They helped alot. Also, make sure you are wiping your breast completely before radiation. Take Care0 -
I don't have anything to
I don't have anything to add, dear T. Just wanted to pop in and say that I hope that you are having a "rest up" weekend, that your radiation onc will have an Rx for the redness and pain, and that I am glad that you are letting us know how you are doing. Doesn't sound like whining one bit to me- sounds normal. Venting is good. xoxoxoxo Lynn0 -
rad swelling
Hi Taleena, sorry about the swelling, Ouch !! I finished # 5 friday, so I am almost 2 weeks behind you, today the nipple area is red and swollen, double the size of other breast, no burn to report anywhere else, and I am not even sure this is a burn, it looks and acts like the swelling I got from the dye injections, I will check with doctor on Monday, it's very sore, cannot touch it, I wear an cotton undershirt and my bra over it, at least it does not move when I do, but definately uncomfortable. I was told to use only aloe vera and it does not do anything for the swelling, but it may be the reason I have no "tan" yet. My tumor was on the arm side of my breast, and that area has numb spots, sometimes it feels like I am carrying a piece of rough cardboard under my arm, but when I look at it, it looks normal, maybe even a little whiter than then rest of my breast and armpit.
In my case there is one thing easy about rads, it's the time involved, I am in and out in 8 minutes, the zapping seems like 12 seconds one side, 18 seconds the other, I never even get to sit down in the waiting area. Friday I took a nap when I got home, but have not felt too bad otherwise yet. Hope you swelling gets better soon, let us know.
sgamtd
PS: I dressed too quickly yesterday after applying the aloe and sure enough, the undershirt stuck to me, glad I read on an earlier post about just stepping into the shower with the undershirt on.0
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