Question about Radiation okay...
on a scale of 1-10, how difficult as far as pain is having radiation? I can get a sunburn in as little as 15 minutes, my skin is very dry and I peel like crazy, I don't think I'm looking forward to doing radiation. After reading all the different threads on here, I kind of think I would rather do chemo if given a choice, but see it all has to wait. uuugggghhh
Love Ronda
Comments
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This isn't the answer you're looking for, but...
...everyone reacts differently to radiation, and there's really no way to predict it. Some women here have had just a moderate burn like a sunburn, while some have burned quite badly.
Of course, some of it depends on our skin, but also because radiation equipment varies from center to center, as do treatment protocols -- there are just too many variables.
Also, it's important to remember that chemo and radiation are not "either-or" treatments -- chemo and radiation treat very different aspects of cancer, so you and your doctors will decide whether or not to do chemo and whether or not to do radiation, basically independent of each other.
Hope that helps,
Traci0 -
Thanks TraciTraciInLA said:This isn't the answer you're looking for, but...
...everyone reacts differently to radiation, and there's really no way to predict it. Some women here have had just a moderate burn like a sunburn, while some have burned quite badly.
Of course, some of it depends on our skin, but also because radiation equipment varies from center to center, as do treatment protocols -- there are just too many variables.
Also, it's important to remember that chemo and radiation are not "either-or" treatments -- chemo and radiation treat very different aspects of cancer, so you and your doctors will decide whether or not to do chemo and whether or not to do radiation, basically independent of each other.
Hope that helps,
Traci
Yeah that helps some, I read somewhere that ILC doesn't respond well to chemo anyway, uuuggghhhh I just want this stuff over and done with asap. I kinda scared of the radiation, from what it sounds like but if I have to do it I most certainly will.
Is there a time where they would shorten up the weeks that they originally tell you you're going to have? Like say from 6 to 5 due to the skin looking gross?
Thanks again everyone,
Love Ronda0 -
Thanks for chiming in CR1954CR1954 said:Ronda...........
I found radiation to be much easier than chemo. However, this is MY experience...not everyone's.
Yes, I burned some and the fatigue is cumulative, so by the time I finished, I was soo tired.
But given a choice, I would rather do rads.
Hugs,
CR
you don't know how much talking with all of you ladies is such a releif, I am becoming less and less afraid and starting to face the inevitable.
Not that I want to by any means, just I have no choice....
Love Ronda0 -
It's my opinion......2Floridiansisters said:Thanks for chiming in CR1954
you don't know how much talking with all of you ladies is such a releif, I am becoming less and less afraid and starting to face the inevitable.
Not that I want to by any means, just I have no choice....
Love Ronda
It's my opinion that this part is the hardest...the waiting to get started! Once you start treatment and are actively doing something to fight your cancer, I hope it will be less frightening for you. I know it was for me.
The waiting & the worrying were over & I could take on whatever I had to do.
We will all be with you Ronda....
CR0 -
No pain....CR1954 said:It's my opinion......
It's my opinion that this part is the hardest...the waiting to get started! Once you start treatment and are actively doing something to fight your cancer, I hope it will be less frightening for you. I know it was for me.
The waiting & the worrying were over & I could take on whatever I had to do.
We will all be with you Ronda....
CR
I had only a couple days of discomfort, and after complaining on here and getting it off my "chest" (or what's left of it) I felt much better! I was a surfer girl who was always tan. I still take surf pix on the beach and was very used to the sun. It burnt me up pretty bad, but very doable, and I would gladly do it again if it meant decreasing the risk of the cancer returning. I have a fried who sounds like you, she burns easily and is as white as can be. She is doing the radiation right now and handling it way better than I did. Just a little pinkness, no pain. So like someone up ^ there said, each person is different...
Just hope yours is easy and breezy. I was worried once I started to turn red, but the radiologist said that if it gets too painful she would give me a few days off in order to heal up a bit. YOU CAN DO IT!!!! We're right there with you. Holding your cyber hand.0 -
on a scale of 1 to 10Mama G said:No pain....
I had only a couple days of discomfort, and after complaining on here and getting it off my "chest" (or what's left of it) I felt much better! I was a surfer girl who was always tan. I still take surf pix on the beach and was very used to the sun. It burnt me up pretty bad, but very doable, and I would gladly do it again if it meant decreasing the risk of the cancer returning. I have a fried who sounds like you, she burns easily and is as white as can be. She is doing the radiation right now and handling it way better than I did. Just a little pinkness, no pain. So like someone up ^ there said, each person is different...
Just hope yours is easy and breezy. I was worried once I started to turn red, but the radiologist said that if it gets too painful she would give me a few days off in order to heal up a bit. YOU CAN DO IT!!!! We're right there with you. Holding your cyber hand.
I'd give radiation a 2.... surgery a 3.... chemo a 7.5 (for the agony)....natural childbirth a 9 and sentinal node biopsy a 15!!!!!0 -
Thanks CR1954CR1954 said:It's my opinion......
It's my opinion that this part is the hardest...the waiting to get started! Once you start treatment and are actively doing something to fight your cancer, I hope it will be less frightening for you. I know it was for me.
The waiting & the worrying were over & I could take on whatever I had to do.
We will all be with you Ronda....
CR
You know another lady on here named jk1952 (Joyce) has said the same thing to me, this is the worst part of it all, but I can't schedule any surgery until after I have my next period, which will probably be in the week of June 21-25 so I'm still looking at the end of the month or even early July then I want it done with. On to the next phase.
Have a great day ladies, it's raining here in Pensacola so I'm stuck inside.
Love Ronda0 -
No pain at all during rads.
I had no pain at all during rads - I tanned some and got brown freckles. Skin was dry but the creams I was given helped a lot. At the very end - last 3 doses I started getting a bit of a sunburn but not bad at all til after they were over. I then burned fairly bad. The entire radiation area opened up and oozed/poured to the point that we couldn't keep bandages on so I wore white t-shirts that had to be changed every 2 - 3 hrs during the worst. YES it hurt but oxycodon and vicodin helped. Thankfully the deepest of the burns were under my arm and around to back where it is numb so I didn't feel that worst part of the pain. Took 6 weeks for the last scabs to come off that area. It might have healed a bit quicker IF I'd been able to use Silvadene/Sulfadene on it but I'm allergic to sulfa so it was out. Did Domeboro soaks and kept it slathered in Aquaphor - never got any infections though.
I was very surprised that I got burned as bad as I did because it isn't usual at all and I don't sunburn easily though I have fair skin.
We're all so different so don't expect the worst because some of us do get really bad burns - most don't. We don't always have a choice of chemo or rads - I had chemo (A/C) before surgery, surgery, chemo (Taxol) after surgery followed by rads.
Susan0 -
no problemsRague said:No pain at all during rads.
I had no pain at all during rads - I tanned some and got brown freckles. Skin was dry but the creams I was given helped a lot. At the very end - last 3 doses I started getting a bit of a sunburn but not bad at all til after they were over. I then burned fairly bad. The entire radiation area opened up and oozed/poured to the point that we couldn't keep bandages on so I wore white t-shirts that had to be changed every 2 - 3 hrs during the worst. YES it hurt but oxycodon and vicodin helped. Thankfully the deepest of the burns were under my arm and around to back where it is numb so I didn't feel that worst part of the pain. Took 6 weeks for the last scabs to come off that area. It might have healed a bit quicker IF I'd been able to use Silvadene/Sulfadene on it but I'm allergic to sulfa so it was out. Did Domeboro soaks and kept it slathered in Aquaphor - never got any infections though.
I was very surprised that I got burned as bad as I did because it isn't usual at all and I don't sunburn easily though I have fair skin.
We're all so different so don't expect the worst because some of us do get really bad burns - most don't. We don't always have a choice of chemo or rads - I had chemo (A/C) before surgery, surgery, chemo (Taxol) after surgery followed by rads.
Susan
Hi there,
I had no skin problems with rads. Got a little tired -- slept very well at night. BUT, and probably a big BUT, I didn't have chemo so I went into rads with way more energy than many others did. The rads onc asked me if I tan or burn and I tend to tan which is what happened. If you tend to burn, make sure you use your creams and talk to the rads onc if you're having problems.
Best of luck to you,
Victoria0 -
I was told 6 weeks of2Floridiansisters said:Thanks Traci
Yeah that helps some, I read somewhere that ILC doesn't respond well to chemo anyway, uuuggghhhh I just want this stuff over and done with asap. I kinda scared of the radiation, from what it sounds like but if I have to do it I most certainly will.
Is there a time where they would shorten up the weeks that they originally tell you you're going to have? Like say from 6 to 5 due to the skin looking gross?
Thanks again everyone,
Love Ronda
I was told 6 weeks of radiation and after about 5 got so burnt that we had to stop for a couple of weeks till I healed. Then continued and finished. My doc wasn't paying attention and when he'd ask how I was doing I always said, "Fine." and that was that. He should have looked at it anyway so when you have your weekly doc visit, make him look at it. Say, "Maybe you should look at it and you tell me."0 -
Thank you Victoria and Susan,aisling8 said:no problems
Hi there,
I had no skin problems with rads. Got a little tired -- slept very well at night. BUT, and probably a big BUT, I didn't have chemo so I went into rads with way more energy than many others did. The rads onc asked me if I tan or burn and I tend to tan which is what happened. If you tend to burn, make sure you use your creams and talk to the rads onc if you're having problems.
Best of luck to you,
Victoria
I guess it won't be so bad after all, thank you both for sharing your experience.
Love Ronda0 -
I'm with you, Ronda. I too am concerned - fair/dry skin and burn easily. I start chemo next week then radiation will follow. I do know several people who have gone through breast radiation, all have told me they had very few issues and more than one has recommended the Aquaphor Healing Ointment by Eucerin. I found it at my local drug store. They said to be generous and slather it on at night even though it's a bit greasy. You have to wash it off the next day before treatment but found it really helped. One friend has been through radiation twice and had skin problems the first time, found out about the Aquaphor cream and used it the second time around - said it made a world of difference, problem-free the second time. Hope this helps - good luck :O) Chris0
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Why would your plastic2Floridiansisters said:Thanks CR1954
You know another lady on here named jk1952 (Joyce) has said the same thing to me, this is the worst part of it all, but I can't schedule any surgery until after I have my next period, which will probably be in the week of June 21-25 so I'm still looking at the end of the month or even early July then I want it done with. On to the next phase.
Have a great day ladies, it's raining here in Pensacola so I'm stuck inside.
Love Ronda
Why would your plastic surgeon wait until your next period to do surgery? I don't understand that. I would think they would want the cancer out of you as soon as possible to prevent it from growing or spreading further.
As far as rads, I got very dark pink, like a mild sunburn. I did get exhausted from the rads and from the daily going to them. I used Biafine for any burn and Aquaphor to keep my skin moist and in good condition. Jeanne D wrote on here and she is right, to wear something with Aquaphor that you don't mind throwing away once done. I wore one of my hubby's old tshirts. Aquaphor is very greasy, but, really helps. Everyone reacts differently to rads, some burn, some just get dark pink like me. I never tanned as the machine was brand new and my rads oncologist said that with the new machines, you don't get that tan anymore, which was good. So, machines are different, everyone's skin is different and their sessions are different, so, you really don't know how you will react until you actually go thru them. Just take care of your skin and be gentle with it.
Hugs, Diane0 -
my two or ten cents worth..2Floridiansisters said:Thank you Victoria and Susan,
I guess it won't be so bad after all, thank you both for sharing your experience.
Love Ronda
I have just next week's five boosts left to complete. The boosts target the surgical site/scar area only. I have been red, on and off,for the past week. As far as discomfort, on a 10 point pain scale, nothing more than a 2. I have D cup sized breasts and on Friday asked for something to address the itching at the band-line under my breast. It feels similar to what happens when your sunburn is healing (Have had two sunburns during my teens).They gave me cortisone cream and I use it on that area and the Hydrophor and Aloe gel on the entire breast two to three times per day. Discomfort is minimal and most of the time, I am not aware of anything more than the discomfort of not being able to wear a bra. The rad tx team strongly urged against wearing a bra of any kind. For the office I wore a sports bra, one size larger than my usual size for about one week but when the redness began, I began to wear the camisole.Because I have early treatment times, 7:15 or 7:30 AM, it makes for a long day. I usually get home between 8-8:30PM from the office. I have been going to bed one hour earlier than usual (10 PM) and have not felt more tired than usual. I have been doing stretching and yoga DVD workouts for the last two weeks (2-3x a week). So aside from the daily trip for treatments, wearing no bra and trying to keep the treated area out of the sun (I love sunshine), things are going along normally.
Take one day at a time, drink plenty of fluids, use the ointmnets they provide/recommend, get your rest and do things that make you feel good.
Hugs, K0 -
Hi Diane BCDianeBC said:Why would your plastic
Why would your plastic surgeon wait until your next period to do surgery? I don't understand that. I would think they would want the cancer out of you as soon as possible to prevent it from growing or spreading further.
As far as rads, I got very dark pink, like a mild sunburn. I did get exhausted from the rads and from the daily going to them. I used Biafine for any burn and Aquaphor to keep my skin moist and in good condition. Jeanne D wrote on here and she is right, to wear something with Aquaphor that you don't mind throwing away once done. I wore one of my hubby's old tshirts. Aquaphor is very greasy, but, really helps. Everyone reacts differently to rads, some burn, some just get dark pink like me. I never tanned as the machine was brand new and my rads oncologist said that with the new machines, you don't get that tan anymore, which was good. So, machines are different, everyone's skin is different and their sessions are different, so, you really don't know how you will react until you actually go thru them. Just take care of your skin and be gentle with it.
Hugs, Diane
I had to wait to have an MRI after my last period came because of hormones changing during your cycle, so once I finally got my period then I was scheduled for the MRI, but I don't have my follow up appointment scheduled until June 10th, I can't have any surgery the following week because of conflicting appointments with my husband's schedule. So the following week will be when my period shows up, so the earliest I think I will get surgery will be late June, or early July. And this time is driving me nuts, I swesr if the breast cancer doesn't get me the anxiety will.
Thanks for asking, Love Ronda0 -
It's people like you that I admire,KayNYC said:my two or ten cents worth..
I have just next week's five boosts left to complete. The boosts target the surgical site/scar area only. I have been red, on and off,for the past week. As far as discomfort, on a 10 point pain scale, nothing more than a 2. I have D cup sized breasts and on Friday asked for something to address the itching at the band-line under my breast. It feels similar to what happens when your sunburn is healing (Have had two sunburns during my teens).They gave me cortisone cream and I use it on that area and the Hydrophor and Aloe gel on the entire breast two to three times per day. Discomfort is minimal and most of the time, I am not aware of anything more than the discomfort of not being able to wear a bra. The rad tx team strongly urged against wearing a bra of any kind. For the office I wore a sports bra, one size larger than my usual size for about one week but when the redness began, I began to wear the camisole.Because I have early treatment times, 7:15 or 7:30 AM, it makes for a long day. I usually get home between 8-8:30PM from the office. I have been going to bed one hour earlier than usual (10 PM) and have not felt more tired than usual. I have been doing stretching and yoga DVD workouts for the last two weeks (2-3x a week). So aside from the daily trip for treatments, wearing no bra and trying to keep the treated area out of the sun (I love sunshine), things are going along normally.
Take one day at a time, drink plenty of fluids, use the ointmnets they provide/recommend, get your rest and do things that make you feel good.
Hugs, K
That for sure is one long day, give yourself a huge pat on the back. Thanks KayNYC I will take your advice and somehow get through it all.Your treatment is close to ending, you must be so happy!
Take care, Love Ronda0 -
We can do it cancerfree63cancerfree63 said:I'm with you, Ronda. I too am concerned - fair/dry skin and burn easily. I start chemo next week then radiation will follow. I do know several people who have gone through breast radiation, all have told me they had very few issues and more than one has recommended the Aquaphor Healing Ointment by Eucerin. I found it at my local drug store. They said to be generous and slather it on at night even though it's a bit greasy. You have to wash it off the next day before treatment but found it really helped. One friend has been through radiation twice and had skin problems the first time, found out about the Aquaphor cream and used it the second time around - said it made a world of difference, problem-free the second time. Hope this helps - good luck :O) Chris
I'll be thinking of you and rooting you on, if you feel up to it please come back and tell me about your chemo and how you do with it. I'll be keeping you in my prayers Chris, good luck to you as well.
Stay strong and have happy thoughts, Love Ronda0 -
Hi Ronda2Floridiansisters said:We can do it cancerfree63
I'll be thinking of you and rooting you on, if you feel up to it please come back and tell me about your chemo and how you do with it. I'll be keeping you in my prayers Chris, good luck to you as well.
Stay strong and have happy thoughts, Love Ronda
if your skin very dry you can start applying moisturizer now in advance. You can improve your skin condition before you start the radiation treatment. I am agree with Diane. I think you need to be more proactive and push to earlier surgery. July seems too far away, more than two months since your diagnosis.
I was in similar situation 2 years ago. I was told by my breast surgeon that I need to push if I want to get on the schedule and I did. My advice to you do not wait, especially if you do not want to. Be your own advocate and try get your surgery as soon as possible.
Good luck,
hugs,
New Flower0 -
We can do it - You are so right!2Floridiansisters said:We can do it cancerfree63
I'll be thinking of you and rooting you on, if you feel up to it please come back and tell me about your chemo and how you do with it. I'll be keeping you in my prayers Chris, good luck to you as well.
Stay strong and have happy thoughts, Love Ronda
Thank you SO very much for your kind words Ronda - We certainly CAN and will do it! I would be glad to share with you.
I didn't look into chemo too much before I knew I would need it - a very dear and knowledgeable friend who is a nurse who specializes in helping women who are newly diagnosed (she's also been through this twice) gave me that advice. Each person's experience is so unique and there are so many different regimens that it's best not to go too far into any of it until you know what type, etc..
I was/am also only able to filter a little bit of info at a time so I don't overwhelm myself too soon or worry about things that haven't or may not happen to me. I tend to research the heck out of something - but I've taken her advice and so far it's helping me maintain some sanity :O)
Stay strong and have happy thoughts too (I like that!)
Chris 0
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