Radiation Therapy

lindatn said:

Here is my story with radiation. In 2002 in Sept I started radiation after first chemo, lumpectomy. I had some burning under the breast like bad! The breast swelled a little, I am the same size as you or was the D. In any case right after I started Tamoxifen in early Dec my breast swelled huge and really really hurt. Went back to the radiation center and he said could be the really serious form of cancer. Called the onoc who said of course not. I had a really dumb radiation center, never been back. In any case the breast pitted, skin is coarse in some areas and thick. Swelling went down to a degree. As of the last two weeks I have had a great deal of pain above the breast in the ribs. Probably time to go back again this is after two and a half years out. Dr Loves book says there is a form of arthritis after two to five years can set in and no cure just the ususual treatment for arthritis that may help some. Had I to do it over I would of had a mastectomy and said the heck with radiation. As of this morning it hurts to move my arm, one Dr said it was lymphedma of the breast rather then the usual arm. Many other gals will write they have had no trouble, breast looks normal etc. We are all very different in how we react to treatments for cancer. Good luck and ask all the questions you can to the Drs some are helpful other are completely worthless. God Bless Linda

lindatn said:

I'm more then hoping I am praying for you. I woke up this morning with a terrible cold and a very sore breast. Unfortunately I read your letter after I had made my tea and that was cold before I drank it so in a bad mood!!! Should not of even written something so negative to someone in treatment but it has been the pits. I did find using my aloe vera plant was by far the best cure for burning. Hopefully several people will write saying the opposite that it all went grand. On the plus side it has been three years since dx. I have a appointment in early May so will pray at least that is still the case! God Bless Linda

inkblot said:

Sorry to hear that you're having swelling and pain. I've heard of some ladies having this, early on. It could just be fluid build up from the radiation and nothing else going on? Keep in mind that some of us swell and some of us shrink from rads and sometimes it may improve with time and sometimes not.

WHAT is your rad onc. saying about it? Has he/she said specifically what is happening? If not, then they NEED to be saying something about it...what's causing it, if it's normal, giving you an idea of what to expect as you continue rads, etc..

Hope you get some answers soon. In the meantime, I'd be careful to shower (& rinse) well prior to each rad session to remove all traces of any lotions, creams, etc., and use no deoderant on that side, until after the treatment each day, if at all.

I used aloe vera, straight from the plant, several times daily during rads. I also used a pure aloe oil at night before going to bed. I wore no bra during the entire time. I'm a C cup, so didn't miss the support very much. Just wore cotton tees and if going out, put another shirt or top over the tee. I had no major trouble with rads (except getting some tiny, itchy bumps once, which aquaphor only made worse!). I did get red during the last two weeks of the "boost" rad., which seems to be quite common. It healed quickly though. I used a loofah daily to help the skin to peel, once it looked tanned. Kept up the aloe plant and oil for 3 months after that and have no residual discoloration.

Something else I used during rads was a pure soap. No fragrances, additives, etc.. I recall about half way through treatments, my breast began to feel warm all the time. Not hot but warmer than the healthy breast. When that began to happen, I began keeping some aloe vera stems in the fridge. They soothed and cooled immediately!

During rads, I didn't deeply massage anything into the skin of my breast. Rather, I used a light touch. After surgery and during chemo, though, (the months prior to rads) I used the pure aloe vera oil a LOT and this, I did massage in firmly, in an effort to help reduce surgical scarring.

Hope that may help some and please keep us posted.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

1tan said:

Wow, I am really concerned after reading all of your posts. I am scheduled to have a mastectomy on 4/8/05. I have gone through 6 months of chemo, and will have radiation after the bilateral mastectomy for 6 weeks. I have been told to wait until after radiation to have the reconstruction surgery, and from your notes it sounds like this is wise. My arm hurt tremendously before the chemo.