Radiation Boosters question

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cavediver
cavediver Member Posts: 607
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Wednesday starts boosters....any comments on what to expect? ...more fatigue, more sever burns????? Not getting much info from nurses or onc on this. I am scheduled for 5 days of boosters on the incision area.
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  • Snowkitty
    Snowkitty Member Posts: 295
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    I'm starting boosters a week
    I'm starting boosters a week after you. Interested in this also.

    Take care, Cindy
  • pattimc
    pattimc Member Posts: 431
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    Snowkitty said:

    I'm starting boosters a week
    I'm starting boosters a week after you. Interested in this also.

    Take care, Cindy

    Boosters
    The boosters are directed right toward the incision site so actually it's better than the full blast you normally get. It's very quick, too. By the time I started the boosters I was getting pretty pink. You do continue to "cook" for a few days afterwards. That's when I had it the worst. I had to go and get Biafine for my burn on my back and under my boob which cleared it up in a matter of days.

    But you are nearly there!! Congratulations! It's a great feeling!

    My best to you,

    Patti
  • Sher43009
    Sher43009 Member Posts: 602 Member
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    pattimc said:

    Boosters
    The boosters are directed right toward the incision site so actually it's better than the full blast you normally get. It's very quick, too. By the time I started the boosters I was getting pretty pink. You do continue to "cook" for a few days afterwards. That's when I had it the worst. I had to go and get Biafine for my burn on my back and under my boob which cleared it up in a matter of days.

    But you are nearly there!! Congratulations! It's a great feeling!

    My best to you,

    Patti

    Burns
    I didn't find I burned more after the boosters (had 7). By that time I was very pink and tired all the time so that didn't change. Keep the lotions, creams, etc on--these will save you even after you stop treatment. I finished rads in Jan.10 and I still lather up as the skin is still warm. And again drink, drink, drink.

    Wish you well,
    Sher
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
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    Radiiation boosters
    I had seven.........they are directed at ONLY the tumor site....I did turn more red but I had no problems with burning......I was very faithful through out radiation in using the Biafine that I was given to use.......I continued using after radiation as I was told you continue to "cook" for approx 2 weeks........It did not, for me, cause any more fatigue than I already had.....

    Congrats on ALMOST being a rads graduate! Job well done.....pat yourself on the back.! I finished my rads exactly 1 year ago this week........

    Wishing you continued good heatlh
    Nancy
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
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    Coming down the home stretch!!
    The boosters were not too bad for me, either. By the time I got there, I was also pretty pink, not burned though. I used the aloe lotion the entire time. The boosters are very quick. Do you see the light at the end yet? I'll keep shining it until you cross the line. You're almost there!!!
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
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    MyTurnNow said:

    Coming down the home stretch!!
    The boosters were not too bad for me, either. By the time I got there, I was also pretty pink, not burned though. I used the aloe lotion the entire time. The boosters are very quick. Do you see the light at the end yet? I'll keep shining it until you cross the line. You're almost there!!!

    you are headed to the finish line...
    I became more pink and developed a little blister in the crease beneath my radiated breast during and following the boosts. The boosts (I had five)take a lot less time than the regular radiation treatments. I was faithful with my use of the Hydrophor and Aloe and still use Aquaphor on the breast that is slightly darker in color, warm and a bit swollen (I developed lymphedema).I completed radiaton in early June 2010.
    You are almost a Rad Grad. Congratulations are in order.
    Hugs,K
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
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    KayNYC said:

    you are headed to the finish line...
    I became more pink and developed a little blister in the crease beneath my radiated breast during and following the boosts. The boosts (I had five)take a lot less time than the regular radiation treatments. I was faithful with my use of the Hydrophor and Aloe and still use Aquaphor on the breast that is slightly darker in color, warm and a bit swollen (I developed lymphedema).I completed radiaton in early June 2010.
    You are almost a Rad Grad. Congratulations are in order.
    Hugs,K

    Agree with everyone else
    I agree with everyone else -- the boosters are nothing to be overly concerned about.

    The good thing about them is that (since they're targeted just to the tumor site) they allow the rest of your skin to start healing. In my case, I had bad burns under both arms by the time I got the boosters, and the boosters were nowhere near those areas, so the burns started to heal while I was getting the boosts.

    Hang in there -- you're almost done!

    Traci
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
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    TraciInLA said:

    Agree with everyone else
    I agree with everyone else -- the boosters are nothing to be overly concerned about.

    The good thing about them is that (since they're targeted just to the tumor site) they allow the rest of your skin to start healing. In my case, I had bad burns under both arms by the time I got the boosters, and the boosters were nowhere near those areas, so the burns started to heal while I was getting the boosts.

    Hang in there -- you're almost done!

    Traci

    The boosters are so fast
    The boosters are so fast that you barely get to lay down and you are done. The rest of the area where you got rads will start to heal during boosters, but, the area getting the boosters, the tumor site only, might get more red and more tender. Just keep using the creams and be gentle with your skin.

    Soon you will be done!
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
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    Angie2U said:

    The boosters are so fast
    The boosters are so fast that you barely get to lay down and you are done. The rest of the area where you got rads will start to heal during boosters, but, the area getting the boosters, the tumor site only, might get more red and more tender. Just keep using the creams and be gentle with your skin.

    Soon you will be done!

    I agree with most of the others
    however, I was lucky enough not to really burn--just got reddish pink on the breast and near the clavicle. I was already pretty fatigued by that time, so I really didn't notice a difference there. I just kept putting on my Bio-Oil after treatment and at night.

    Glad you are almost done--way to go!

    Hugs, Renee
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
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    missrenee said:

    I agree with most of the others
    however, I was lucky enough not to really burn--just got reddish pink on the breast and near the clavicle. I was already pretty fatigued by that time, so I really didn't notice a difference there. I just kept putting on my Bio-Oil after treatment and at night.

    Glad you are almost done--way to go!

    Hugs, Renee

    How are you doing with the
    How are you doing with the boosters cavediver?
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
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    WHAT IS BOOSTER?
    I had radiation but never heard of booster?
  • WHAT IS BOOSTER?
    I had radiation but never heard of booster?

    A boost...
    is typically radiation specific to the surgical area. It's administered a bit differently than radiation in general. For me, it involved a custom lead cut out, closer proximity to the linear accelerator, and a briefer 'zap' of radiation. I had no burns, no discomfort, and the best part was it meant I was nearly through the @#$%! process.

    On my last day I arrived in a Hawaiian shirt, I had leis for everyone (even the parking attendant) and a pineapple upside down cake. as far as I was concerned it was 'Aloha' to the cancer center. Oh, and at my center...I got to keep the little bell.

    Best wishes!
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175
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    Bumping cuz of spammer

    Bumping cuz of spammer
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
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    what is a booster?
    I finished radiation over year ago...never heard of BOOSTER!
  • sparkle1
    sparkle1 Member Posts: 242
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    I will start my boosters
    I will start my boosters tomorrow. I need 8 of these. When speaking with the doctor today he told me the fatigue will probably get worst before it gets better, but it will get better. My skin is completely burned and itchy. I've been using the biafine and betamethasone for the itch. I finally made it to the single digits - just 8 more. One questions is how do you know that the radiation was a success. Who tells you that you are now cancer free? I had a lumpectomy, chemo, and radiation.
    Sparkle
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
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    sparkle1 said:

    I will start my boosters
    I will start my boosters tomorrow. I need 8 of these. When speaking with the doctor today he told me the fatigue will probably get worst before it gets better, but it will get better. My skin is completely burned and itchy. I've been using the biafine and betamethasone for the itch. I finally made it to the single digits - just 8 more. One questions is how do you know that the radiation was a success. Who tells you that you are now cancer free? I had a lumpectomy, chemo, and radiation.
    Sparkle

    what is/ are booster for?
    I have never heard of them until on this site? I had 8 wks daily radiation-then just ended...(which is good i know...)
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
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    what is/ are booster for?
    I have never heard of them until on this site? I had 8 wks daily radiation-then just ended...(which is good i know...)

    Never heard of boosters?
    Disnesy,
    As always you have made me wonder...
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
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    what is/ are booster for?
    I have never heard of them until on this site? I had 8 wks daily radiation-then just ended...(which is good i know...)

    I think someone above
    I think someone above answered your question disneyfan. Boosters are a different type of radiation delivered ONLY to the exact tumor site. They are usually given at the end of rads and vary in amount of treatments. Does that help to explain it?

    Sue :)
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
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    Ritzy said:

    I think someone above
    I think someone above answered your question disneyfan. Boosters are a different type of radiation delivered ONLY to the exact tumor site. They are usually given at the end of rads and vary in amount of treatments. Does that help to explain it?

    Sue :)

    Sue: Thanks..must have missed it above
    Yes-I never heard of it...so it's kind of an extension of treatments?
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    Options

    A boost...
    is typically radiation specific to the surgical area. It's administered a bit differently than radiation in general. For me, it involved a custom lead cut out, closer proximity to the linear accelerator, and a briefer 'zap' of radiation. I had no burns, no discomfort, and the best part was it meant I was nearly through the @#$%! process.

    On my last day I arrived in a Hawaiian shirt, I had leis for everyone (even the parking attendant) and a pineapple upside down cake. as far as I was concerned it was 'Aloha' to the cancer center. Oh, and at my center...I got to keep the little bell.

    Best wishes!

    great idea...
    sounds like great last day...for all...!