Hi Respect! Welcome to the radiation group. I didn't have any isses with redness anywhere else on my body. I did have red blochiness on my face, that was about 4 weeks into the radiation (I figured I was glowing!). That hardness and pain around the nipple area is completely normal. You will also get shooting pains for about a week (next week!) then it will go away and come back around week 5 until the end. I am alittle over a month out of radiation (finished 4/2) and the red rectangle from the radiation (you will see that about week 4) is almost gone. I still have brown skin where my incision is and its still kinda peeling and scaly (that will happen for quite a while). Thursday is my 1 month post radiation visit.

Are you taking tamoxifen after radiation?

Thanks for your reply! And thanks for the upcoming warning signs! My face has always been super sensitive so I imagine I am starting this phase of it early. I have already heard from 5 people that has happened to! The oncologist and nurses told me "No" but I think they are full of it. Thanks for making me feel "Normal". :)((((HUGS))))Yes, I have a few short stabbing pains that come and go. Red rectange?! LOL OK...around my incision right now is red. They want me to wear a sports bra at night. I have one for the day time too. They are much more comfortable than the ordinary bras. Apparently so...they haven't let me talk to a medical oncologist yet. But they did mention Tamoxifen. Not something I've very excited about. One day at a time. Thanks for your support!

Anytime. I only had one visit with the oncologist and she said that she wasn't suppose to see me and that the surgeon was following me (that was a wasted visit..LOL!!).
Doing ok with the tamoxifen pill. I had my 1st bout of the hot/cold flashes that they make you aware of. Kinda scared the hell out of me because it happened so fast. I was at work during an inventory on Saturday night (my 2nd job). I had a good night there and about 3 1/2 hours into it that is when it happened. They sent me home because not only was I having a major hotflash but had a wave of nauceous and felt like I was gonna faint. doing better now. I just started the pill a month ago and I feel like this is gonna be a long 5 years. LOL!!! I don't know if I should even mention to the PA or radiologist tomorrow that I had this hot flash because they won't believe me.

Ugh..everyone complains about those hot flashes. What about Weight Gain? Have you noticed any of that? Is it a tablet? Capsule? I am looking for it in a liquid...Yes, I would definietly mention it to them! If they don't believe you smack them upside the head! Ha! I wonder if you take 1/2 in the morning, and 1/2 at night, if the side effects will be "gentler" on you? Just a thought. **HUGS**

The actual radiation time is a snap, but look out for the two weeks after your done. The rads keep on for about that long. I was hospitalized with the blisters that appeared and kept appearing then. Believe me it was no fun. Make sure your rad onc gives you the meds you will need before you leave. Just sharing my experience.

Hi-After having a mastectomy for my cancer, I just had chemo. because my scar went across my chest and over the place where my heart is. They felt that it would harm my heart, so I couldn't have radiation (I really wanted it, just to make sure, you know?) Anyway, after chemo. I was on tamoxifen for 5 years, and am now on Femara, going on my 7th year(they don't know if it does any good after 5 years, but my onc. has kept me on it). I did have terrible hot flashes, but right away my onc. put me on Effexor, and it really has helped. I've been on it with both the tamoxifen and femara. Going from having estrogen to having none is a shock for the body, but since I was estrogen positive, I don't want any drop of estrogen around to feed any loose cells. So ask your doctor if he would give you the Effexor along with the tamoxifen. A lot of people don't want to go on these drugs, but so far I am still in remission after 14 years so I feel it is worth it. Warm hugs to everyone. Kathy

Not sure if that would help taking 1/2 in am and 1/2 in the PM. After being on a month, I haven't had weight gain yet. Infact, I quit diet pepsi (cut back - I drink it when i go out to eat) and lost about 5 lbs since starting. Its hard to tell this early in the game with the tamoxifen. I will tell my PA and radiologist about the 1 bout of hot flashes, hopefully they will be minimal. I will have to ask about the Effexor pill when I see them tomorrow.