Starting RADS tomorrow

Options
BMS
BMS Member Posts: 127
in Breast Cancer #1
I am 5 weeks post-chemo and starting my rads tomorrow. Last week we had the tatooing session and tonight is a "dry run." First treatment tomorrow afternoon. Any advise?

Bonnie

Comments

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #2
    Options
    Mine went smoothly daily
    Where I went we had swipe card-so when you arrived know there-then you just go change and wait!

    I don't have any advice per say! (I did my on our lunch so mine was not very long)

    Denise
  • Boppy_of_6
    Boppy_of_6 Member Posts: 1,138
    #3
    Options
    Use your cream
    I finished rads in Sept. 10 Start using your cream or whatever they tell you to use right away. My rad techs gave me cream to use that they had samples of and they kept me stocked up. I did use aloe some and aquaphor some later on when I burnt a little. I did great until about week 4. It was just uncomfortable mostly. I did burn some my last week, had a little peeling but not terrible. I never had to miss a tx because of it. I always took my bra off as soon as I could and wore big comfy T's Later in tx I just could not wear a bra at all. Remember not to put anything on 4 hrs. before tx. Well 4 hrs. was what my Rad. Onc said yours may be different. Best wishes. God Bless
    (((hugs))) Janice
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #4
    Options
    Advice...
    Take the cream that you should have been given with you..if you weren't given any ask for it...I used it from day one before I put my bra and top back on..I then used it three more times daily, also on weekends...I never burned...lucky I guess but I was advised to do this by my radiation oncologist...also no underwire bras...and put NOTHING on the area to be radiated within 4 hours of a treatment...miy appt. Was at 8:30 am..so I always showered before I went to make sure there were no remnants of the RadiaPlex cream...many on this board used aquaphor..I was told not to use it until treatment ended as it is petroleum based and it can interfere with the rads....Difference in doctor's advice, I guess...
    I also was advised to use Dove for sensitive skin, soap...don't let the water hit directly on your breast....I didn't even start turning pink until the end of the third week...it became more so as time went by and the last seven treatments were boosters...I did turn bright red with those...I know it seems like 6 1/2 weeks seem like forever but I think you'll be surpirised just how quickly it went by, once it's over....

    Easier to undress with two piece dressing...it takes longer to remove top and bra and redress than the treatment! Which for me, took less than five minutes!

    I wish you the best...keep us posted...
    Hugs,
    Nancy
  • ladyg
    ladyg Member Posts: 1,577
    #5
    Options
    Bonnie
    Good luck with your rads. The actual treatments are quick and painless. As the others have said use your creams a lot. I used Calendula Gel immediately after my treatment. It is not as greasy as Aquaphor and did not get on my clothes. I used the Aquaphor at home where I would put on old tops and no bra. One other thing I was told was to use a natural deoderant with not aluminum in it. I did not burn too bad but the fatigue for me was a problem. Of course we are all different so you will just need to go one day at a time. You will see how quickly the time passes and you will be done before you know it!

    Hugs,
    Georgia
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #6
    Options
    ladyg said:

    Bonnie
    Good luck with your rads. The actual treatments are quick and painless. As the others have said use your creams a lot. I used Calendula Gel immediately after my treatment. It is not as greasy as Aquaphor and did not get on my clothes. I used the Aquaphor at home where I would put on old tops and no bra. One other thing I was told was to use a natural deoderant with not aluminum in it. I did not burn too bad but the fatigue for me was a problem. Of course we are all different so you will just need to go one day at a time. You will see how quickly the time passes and you will be done before you know it!

    Hugs,
    Georgia

    I'm thinking of you Bonnie
    I'm thinking of you Bonnie and holding your hand...

    I have my Simulation on Monday (May 9th) so I won't be much behind you. We can compare notes... I am so ready to get this stage going and over with. Good Luck dear pink sister.

    Hugs,
    Lorrie
  • BMS
    BMS Member Posts: 127
    #7
    Options
    Thanks everyone!
    Thanks for the advise. I also was told not to use anything for 4 hours prior to the treatment. I did ask the nurse and technician about deodorant, and they said any was fine. Soaps: they recommended either Dove or Aveeno, which is what I use anyway. They also gave me Aquaphor samples and said to use that at night and weekends. No one has said anything about the underwire bras, but that makes sense. Might have get some cotton sports bras to wear near the end.

    Well, wish me luck for round 1 today!

    Bonnie
  • BMS
    BMS Member Posts: 127
    #8
    Options
    butterflylvr said:

    I'm thinking of you Bonnie
    I'm thinking of you Bonnie and holding your hand...

    I have my Simulation on Monday (May 9th) so I won't be much behind you. We can compare notes... I am so ready to get this stage going and over with. Good Luck dear pink sister.

    Hugs,
    Lorrie

    Wishing you well, Lorrie
    Guess we are in this together, Lorrie. Keep me posted on how you are doing, too.

    Bonnie
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #9
    Options
    BMS said:

    Thanks everyone!
    Thanks for the advise. I also was told not to use anything for 4 hours prior to the treatment. I did ask the nurse and technician about deodorant, and they said any was fine. Soaps: they recommended either Dove or Aveeno, which is what I use anyway. They also gave me Aquaphor samples and said to use that at night and weekends. No one has said anything about the underwire bras, but that makes sense. Might have get some cotton sports bras to wear near the end.

    Well, wish me luck for round 1 today!

    Bonnie

    I"ll check back later..
    HOPING all went smoothly...

    Denise
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #10
    Options
    disneyfan2008 said:

    I"ll check back later..
    HOPING all went smoothly...

    Denise

    Bonnie--hope that first treatment went well
    The girls are right-use those creams. I did use the Aquefor--even though it was so greasy--I just put it on at night and wore one of hubby's old white t-shirts. During the day, after rads--I used the creams. I even brought it with me to treatment so I could put it right on immediately.

    I got breast, axillary and supra-clavicular rads (collarbone) and did very well. Got a little red towards the end by the clavicle, but never blistered or peeled.

    Good luck to you. It'll be done before you know it. I just looked at it as a job I had to go to every day. The good news--I only had to work about 15 minutes a day!

    Hugs, Renee
  • poplolly
    poplolly Member Posts: 346
    #11
    Options
    The radiation is so much
    The radiation is so much easier than the chemo. You mostly look for fatigue although I didn't find it debilitating. Toward the end I experienced some burning of the skin, but they will give you a cream to use that works well.
  • BMS
    BMS Member Posts: 127
    #12
    Options
    poplolly said:

    The radiation is so much
    The radiation is so much easier than the chemo. You mostly look for fatigue although I didn't find it debilitating. Toward the end I experienced some burning of the skin, but they will give you a cream to use that works well.

    one down...
    So I had the first one yesterday and it was a breeze. I was a little nervous of just waht to expect, but all went well. #2 today at 5pm. All of this week at 5pm and next week I get into my regular slot at 3pm. Yay! I get to leave work early each day!

    Bonnie
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #13
    Options
    BMS said:

    one down...
    So I had the first one yesterday and it was a breeze. I was a little nervous of just waht to expect, but all went well. #2 today at 5pm. All of this week at 5pm and next week I get into my regular slot at 3pm. Yay! I get to leave work early each day!

    Bonnie

    Twist it into a positive
    Twist it into a positive Bonnie. Hmmm.... maybe I need to think this all through myself, I was going to set my times to run during my lunch hour. LOL

    Lorrie
  • robang13
    robang13 Member Posts: 333
    #14
    Options
    BMS said:

    one down...
    So I had the first one yesterday and it was a breeze. I was a little nervous of just waht to expect, but all went well. #2 today at 5pm. All of this week at 5pm and next week I get into my regular slot at 3pm. Yay! I get to leave work early each day!

    Bonnie

    I know how you feel
    3 weeks ago I was asking the same questions as you. As everyone has told you the actual rads is easy. I am at the end of week 3. I found the first few treatments made me tired. The second week I felt great. Now into the third week I am again feeling the exhaustion. I have been using the Aquafor since day one at night. I bought myself some cheap comfy flannels. I glob on the goop and rub it in well. I do it right before bed so I can air dry after.I warned my kids to knock before entering or they will be flashed!! I am very fair skinned and have just started to turn pink. I stopped wearing a bra after week 2. I found that no matter what kind I wore I felt it under the breast. So I am now at 51 bra-less like a teenager. Too bad the breasts aren't like a teenager : ) If you need a cream during the day, ask and they can give you a script for something to use during the day. Keep a watch to the under area. Mine has become red and I am sporting a fungal infection. So in addition to the creams I am putting on an intifungal 2x a day. If your people are anything like the ones at my radiology place they will keep a close eye on what is going on. If you find anything "off" bring it to their attention. Don't be worried that you are asking a dumb question. You want to stay as comfortable as you can. If you have any more questions you can send me a private email. I am 2 weeks ahead so can warn you before you get there : ) Good luck!!
    angela
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #15
    Options
    Bonnie
    my rads went smoothly except for snow days. My cancer center opened on the weekends to help keep us on schedule. I had 28. Went by faster than I thought but I definitely got very tired. I only had a slight sunburn for the last 5 and just kept putting rad cream on my mastectomy scars. No problems. Wishing you an easy time of it.
    {{hugs}} Char

Discussion Boards