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Ms. Toad

(36,000 posts)
18. Ah. All sorts of variables in the mix.
Sat Sep 17, 2016, 09:25 AM
Sep 2016

Mine was only 1.3 cm. (They expected from the MRI for it to be at least 2.1 cm, so that was a pleasant surprise.)

Good luck.

Use "My Girls" cream. It has calendula in it, which has been demonstrated to minimize skin damage - and this brand had better reviews than others I found.

The Makemerry bra from Ana-Ono is designed by a radiologist (the niece of a friend of mine) specifically for radiation treatment to minimize irritation. Many women skip bras altogether, or wear a T-shirt inside of a bra or camisole to avoid irritation from the seams of the clothing. I didn't have to. It is, unfortunately, a lot pricier than I am used to - but I decided I could splurge on one.

I also used circumin (turmeric). There is some controversy, but the information on the Mayo site about it convinced my doctor that it probably was ok. (The radiation creates a very small risk of a very aggressive cancer. The circumin facilitates DNA repair in normal tissue - so it is less likely to develop this cancer, but seems to also make the radiation more effective at killing cancer cells (that's where the controversy is - it is an anti-oxidant, and those are normally contraindicated with radiation because they are usually thought of as also helping the cancer cells beat radiation). Circumin has also been found to minimize skin damage.)

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Yeah! Great to hear everything has gone well. Soon - moonscape Aug 2016 #1
So good to hear. Keep your spirits up, and your Hubster busy. :) alfredo Aug 2016 #2
You've a great attitude and that is wonderful! Solly Mack Aug 2016 #3
What are ya using for pain management? dixiegrrrrl Aug 2016 #4
I'm actually not in pain PennyK Aug 2016 #5
Glad it went well! Ms. Toad Aug 2016 #6
I feel great, but... PennyK Aug 2016 #7
I, too, was surprised at how quickly I bounced back shrike Aug 2016 #8
Not yet PennyK Aug 2016 #9
Hey hey hey PennyK Sep 2016 #10
Yay! Ms. Toad Sep 2016 #11
I found the answer. PennyK Sep 2016 #14
Ah. All sorts of variables in the mix. Ms. Toad Sep 2016 #18
Thank you PennyK Sep 2016 #20
Something new in my mix PennyK Sep 2016 #12
Now I've got a big old Ace bandage around my chest PennyK Sep 2016 #13
Back to my surgeon tomorrow PennyK Sep 2016 #15
One more day PennyK Sep 2016 #16
I'm FREE PennyK Sep 2016 #17
BEST garment so far PennyK Sep 2016 #19
Things are proceeding apace PennyK Sep 2016 #21
Some good news PennyK Sep 2016 #22
Brief break in the action PennyK Sep 2016 #23
I started my Xarelto today PennyK Oct 2016 #24
So, no radiation just yet! PennyK Oct 2016 #25
So apparently herceptin alone has its own side effects PennyK Oct 2016 #26
Thank you for sharing your ongoing experiences ... slipslidingaway Oct 2016 #27
I just started radiation PennyK Oct 2016 #28
Good Luck! Ms. Toad Oct 2016 #29
I go for my 2nd herceptin tomorrow PennyK Oct 2016 #30
So, I had to make a stink, but... PennyK Oct 2016 #31
Well, I got the leg cramps again PennyK Oct 2016 #32
Leg cramps at night -- ugh PennyK Oct 2016 #33
Continuing treatment PennyK Oct 2016 #34
This message was self-deleted by its author PennyK Nov 2016 #35
Doing well with my radiation PennyK Nov 2016 #36
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