Coping with Radiation forum: Welcome to Coping with Radiation
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| Radiation may be a part of your treatment plan. Radiation may come after your surgical site has healed. This is a place where we can discuss any questions you may have regarding radiation treatments. Put your hands to work in these cubits: Arrangements 101 and/or Hands at Work Share your travels with us at: Travel Junction - Contest |
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| I did not have radiation following my original breast cancer diagnosis in 2009 (mastectomy and chemo were done then) but when the cancer metastasized to my thigh, three weeks of daily radiation treatments were performed as soon as I recuperated from the surgery to remove the tumor and insert a "nail" from my hip to my knee inside the femur. I had no apparent reaction during and immediately following the radiation treatments, but about six weeks thereafter I was admitted to a clinical trial for an experimental drug that has shown promise in treating "triple negative" breast cancer. The trial includes traditional chemo with two drugs-Carboplatin and Gemcitabine, as well as the study drug, a "PARP inhibitor". After the second round of the chemo I developed a severe skin reaction like a serious itching, peeling sunburn that was obviously restricted just to the area that had received the targeted radiation. My radiation oncologist identified it immediately as "radiation recall" which is rare but not unknown. They skipped the next round of chemo while my thigh and hip healed, and I have had no further problems when the chemo resumed a couple of weeks later. The skin still seems a bit leathery, three months later. Hope no one else has to go through this unwelcome side effect, but it is something to be aware of. Living sustainably comes with learning to see the world in a new way. |
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| That really is odd! I had some pretty good burns from my radiation, because we were trying to really maximize the dose to the skin... 6 weeks after my last treatment, it's still healing, but hey I can get a bra on again! LOL Some of the burn did develop a week or so after the actual treatment that caused it, but that's not unusual. Circles of Support for Breast Cancer I'm learning to dance in the rain! Thank you, Sally & Chris. |
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| I burned toward the end with the higher doses. I had something similar to what you describe, but my doctors called itI radiation folliculitis and thought I would never stop itching! I broke out all over my breast and under and all around, it was horrible. It lasted for a couple weeks before we got it under control. Put your hands to work in these cubits: Arrangements 101 and/or Hands at Work Share your travels with us at: Travel Junction - Contest |
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| Fortunately, the badly burned areas on me were also the areas that were pretty numb after surgery... The skin just darkened and came off in patches... not all of it went raw, thankfully, but the worst area was a little larger than my palm. Here's what nobody told me can happen when your skin dies back like that -- it smells like dead mouse! Under my arm!! DH swore the odor was only detectable by me when I sniffed closely, but it's still enough to make me self conscious.  An antibiotic ointment like neosporin definitely helps; it moisturizes as well as guarding against infection. Aloe is good (and is the only thing I was allowed to use during ongoing radiation treatment). Biotene ointment is better! I went through a tube of it in a little over a week at the end of radiation (when I was allowed to use it). There's also a dressing made for burns, impregnated with some great healing yellow goo... be sure to cover the dressing completely with a non-sticking pad (or the yellow can stain), and don't use tape -- there's this stretchy bandage that you pull on like a tube top to keep the dressings in place. An encouraging note for anybody who hasn't gone through radiation yet -- many people have almost no skin reaction, or nothing worse than a bad sunburn sort of thing. Your doctor will watch your skin closely to be sure it's not being damaged too much -- and skin heals! So please read the above as "what I can do if I have a problem" rather than as "OMG!!" Circles of Support for Breast Cancer I'm learning to dance in the rain! Thank you, Sally & Chris. |
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| I had radiation after surgery also, I used Palmer's lotion for stretch marks, and then added 100% aloe when the skin starter to show signs of getting red. I took those with me to treatment and applied it before leaving. Sally, your bone problem must be manifesting differently then mine. Mine is in the ilium, (the bone that you sit on) and later the ribs. I would not know I had it until it showed up in a bone scan and they did a biopsy to confirm. No pain, but my oncologist said if it does get painful radiation will help. I get a monthly IV of Zometa (does about the same thing as Boniva) keeps the calcium in the bones, to keep them strong. With that pin in your knee can you still get CAT scans? Scans are done on me about every 3 months or so to see if the treatments are working. I broke my wrist 2 years ago and it took longer to heal do to the Zometa, but it is much better now. I was in the cast longer then most. |
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| I'm pretty sure CAT scans aren't affected by having metal in your body (other than if the pin or whatever blocks the view of what they're trying to see). However, if you have metal pins etc., then you can't have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)... before my MRI, they quizzed me carefully about metal implants, piercings, even eye injuries that might have left a tiny piece of metal behind. Circles of Support for Breast Cancer I'm learning to dance in the rain! Thank you, Sally & Chris. |
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| Critter, as usual you are correct about metal implants and scans. CT scans are just X-ray slices, so are not affected, but MRIs are now no longer possible. I was told that the radiation would likely diminish my leg pain, but it didn't happen. I think there was a lot of trauma involved in implanting the rod. I too get Zometa monthly by IV, along with the chemo and study drug. I also take calcium citrate and Vitamin D supplements Living sustainably comes with learning to see the world in a new way. |
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My burn was mostly at the end when they did the boost. I have a certificate in my files that shows how many total rads I received. I didn't frame it or anything  About 8 to 10 years after my surgery, every once in awhile, my breast that had cancer turns purple! I'm not kidding - PURPLE! I went to the doctor (gp) and she sent me to a specialist who had no clue. No pain or anything and it only lasts a couple days and then goes away. Who knows  vic |
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| There are so many bizarre little things that seem to be associated with breast cancer and/or its treatments... and many of them can pop up years later... that's why it's good to chat like this, so that we know that odd things happen! purple, hmm. My radiation area isn't so blackish any more at least, it's more of a deep tan. It's been giving me some discomfort and even some nerve pain again lately, which probably means I need to get back to doing the exercise & stretching. There's recovery after radiation, just as there's recovery after surgery. PT helps! Circles of Support for Breast Cancer I'm learning to dance in the rain! Thank you, Sally & Chris. |
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| I ran into my surgeon at the Y the other day and he said can you imagine how much discomfort you would be having if you didn't work out that area? I agree, it is a daily regime of exercise and stretching just to keep that area mobile. Purple is a new one to me, glad it doesn't pain you. I guess it is just one of those unusual side effects. I am sure that the implant has a lot to do with your discomfort. I am sorry they can't do more for you in that regard. Living with constant pain is something I watch Steve do every day and I am amazed at how people are just able to cope and go forward. Hats off to you for dealing with the same. Put your hands to work in these cubits: Arrangements 101 and/or Hands at Work Share your travels with us at: Travel Junction - Contest |
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| Yep. I've still been "working" the area, just haven't been methodical about running through the whole routine, and I've been skipping the "arm bike" lately (like stationary bike pedals, set up on the table to pedal with your hands... a good little cardio workout too, so it helps with regaining my general stamina also). We can see what radiation does to our skin, but we can only imagine what's going on with the underlying muscle tissue... if it got dosed, it probably got damaged. And PT exercises, especially the stretching, helps keep scar tissue from forming while the tissue heals. Circles of Support for Breast Cancer I'm learning to dance in the rain! Thank you, Sally & Chris. |
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| Jill, you bring up an interesting point about radiation damage to the underlying muscle tissue. It is not something I have ever seen addressed, yet I have wondered about. I was happy that my recent scan showed no tumor recurrence in my thigh since surgical rod implant and radiation last fall, yet I still have pain in the area and cannot bear full weight on that leg. My orthopedic surgeon and radiation oncologist each seem to toss the ball to each other when I inquire about the source of pain. Living sustainably comes with learning to see the world in a new way. |
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| argh, that would make me want to shake somebody and say, I don't care which treatment caused the pain, just tell me what we can do about it! I'm hoping warmer spring weather will bring gradual improvement for all of us, by making it easier to get out and about. Circles of Support for Breast Cancer I'm learning to dance in the rain! Thank you, Sally & Chris. |
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| Had my surgery and radiation in 2007, I have muscle spasms, when the weather changes, and when I laugh. I found out that the weather change spasms, can hang on a while, but I get relief using a warm compress. The laugh spasm gets better after a while. It was explained to me the the muscle tightens up and takes a while to relax. Warm weather and the absence of snow and ice will give me a chance to get out and at least walk the yard. That is good for both the mind and body. Fresh air, birds singing. Yep, I am so ready for spring. |
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| I have noticed that my need for pain meds increases with weather changes. I am hoping to wean myself off them in the coming weeks so that I will be ready/able to drive again when the weather improves. As a formerly very independent person, I hate to rely on others for getting around. Living sustainably comes with learning to see the world in a new way. |
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| When I inquired about reconstructive surgery because of lumpiness in my surgical site, my doctor said no surgery in that area until the effects of the radiation have worn off. When I asked how long that would take he said 2-3 YEARS. I was flabbergasted, I had no idea that it remained in the system for such a long time. Consequently, I am not surprised at anything I hear about the damage radiation can do to underlying tissue and organs. Put your hands to work in these cubits: Arrangements 101 and/or Hands at Work Share your travels with us at: Travel Junction - Contest |
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