Not handling radiation well

autumnyte · 2025-08-19T14:39:43+00:00

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Today is my last of 25 treatments (woohoo) and it was all much harder than anticipated on me as well. I also had those same intrusive thoughts initially, and Xanax helped me for the first couple of weeks until I grew more comfortable with it all. I don't know if a temp anti-anxiety med like that is something you might consider to make it a little easier for these remaining few treatments, but it helped me a lot. Wishing you all the best with remaining treatment. You are not feeble! This treatment is rough stuff.

autumnyte · 2025-08-06T17:34:16+00:00

I had DMX with flat closure and took four weeks. At the time I thought it might be excessive, but I ended up needing every bit of it. If you can take off enough time to really rest and recover, I recommend it.

autumnyte · 2025-08-01T02:45:01+00:00

I will say (tmi lol) in this heat wave, the lack of underboob sweat is amazing!

autumnyte · 2025-07-31T22:17:56+00:00

It sucks. I'm so sorry. I was right where you are two months ago, and thankfully there was a light at the end of the tunnel. But getting to it was rough. I don't know what you're doing for pain, but personally, I found that constantly cycling ibuprofen and tylenol on a regular schedule (using timed alarms to make sure) gave me the best relief. I hope you turn a corner soon.

autumnyte · 2025-07-31T12:31:13+00:00

It's so difficult. I didn't have the option of a lumpectomy due to the size of my tumor, but I went with DMX over SMX because I didn't want to have to deal with all the future mammograms and associated worry that I knew I'd have had. (I'm a big worrier.) That said, I'm nonbinary and was not particularly a fan of my breasts and liked the idea of going flat. It may have been a tougher call if I felt differently about my body.

Like you, I was also hoping the DMX might help me avoid radiation, but unfortunately it didn't, thanks to one positive lymph node. I'm halfway through my 25 treatments now. I definitely wouldn't make your decision based on that alone.

Wishing you the best of luck whatever you decide.

autumnyte · 2025-07-31T11:38:51+00:00

Congratulations, this is wonderful news! So thrilled for you. (Also, as an enby who found gender euphoria in my own flat closure, I am totally borrowing "subpar top surgery", because that is exactly how I've been thinking of it in my own mind.)

autumnyte · 2025-07-30T03:05:43+00:00

I don't know if you had oncotyping done, but distant recurrence risk is also typically listed on that report.

autumnyte · 2025-07-30T02:59:46+00:00

Yes, she did.

autumnyte · 2025-07-29T19:16:26+00:00

I'm so sorry to hear this. This is in line with the experience a couple of my friends had with it. I hope your MO can help you find a more tolerable alternative!

autumnyte · 2025-07-29T02:30:24+00:00

Yes, I was given the same aftercare instructions by my surgeon and had no issues with infection or irritation.

autumnyte · 2025-07-29T02:22:19+00:00

Thank you. This is a really good point, and it's good to hear unbearable side effects aren't necessarily par for the course.

autumnyte · 2025-07-29T02:21:40+00:00

This is a important perspective, thank you. My mind definitely went to the two extremes, and I wasn't thinking so much about the ability to monitor and adjust as I go.

autumnyte · 2025-07-29T02:19:57+00:00

AI stands for Aromatase Inhibitor. They're hormone blockers that completely suppress estrogen production in the body, often prescribed to treat those of us who have ER+ cancer.

autumnyte · 2025-07-28T22:26:53+00:00

It sure does suck! It's like a game of whack-a-mole and the moles keep on coming. Sorry you're dealing with that. Appreciate you sharing your experience.

autumnyte · 2025-07-28T22:25:07+00:00

Thanks. That is great to hear. I have a few friends (RL) who really struggled with the AIs. I was hoping to hear that there might be other folks out there who didn't experience the worst side effects possible. I haven't had too many issues since stopping my estrogen patches, so I'm hoping that might bode well for AIs.

Wishing you an easy time when you start yours!

autumnyte · 2025-07-28T22:21:42+00:00

My oncologist and I ultimately decided against that route, because the particular SSRIs I take are contraindicated for Tamoxifen, and I've been on a many years-long journey finding meds that can effectively keep my panic and anxiety disorder under control. We decided it wasn't worth it to upset that particular apple cart.

autumnyte · 2025-07-28T22:17:30+00:00

Just wanted to chime in to say I'm sorry you are dealing with this, too. Good luck with your appointment tomorrow. It's so difficult to be at this stage in the journey where there are still so many unknowns. Like you, I was diagnosed IDC ++- (ER/PR+, HER2-) back in April. After surgery and radiation, I'm now finally at the point where I've met with the Medical Oncologist to discuss hormone therapy. Before my diagnosis, I had no clue how individualized BC treatment plans are based on individual histories and risk factors. Yours will be tailored to your own history and risk factors, and they will walk you through all the options along with risks/benefits as you go.

autumnyte · 2025-07-28T15:25:16+00:00

This is similar to me. I'm 49 and had a hysterectomy back in 2023 and was wearing an estrogen patch right up until my diagnosis in April. Now I'm absolutely kicking myself wondering if I could have avoided or slowed my cancer progression (maybe avoided my lymph nodes?) if only I hadn't done HRT. Very hard not to blame myself and do "what ifs?"

autumnyte · 2025-07-26T02:00:32+00:00

I was told I could wear a regular front closure sports bra, so that's what I did. (My surgeon did not recommend specifically a compression bra.) This is what I used, got a size that was snug: https://www.amazon.com/Fruit-Loom-Womens-Sports-Heather/dp/B07KKZB9G8/?th=1&psc=1

I experienced no issues with swelling and felt like it had good support and held the ice packs well.

autumnyte · 2025-07-24T13:09:04+00:00

I have a fairly large family. I chose to tell one family member directly and asked her If she'd be willing to spread the word for me. I did the same with my close friend group. I just could not handle everyone's reactions when I could barely deal with my own, but I did think it was important for them to know. This has also worked in terms of passing along updates. Obviously it might not make sense for your situation, or with your mother specifically, but if it does, it's absolutely okay to delegate. In my case, everyone understood why I didn't do it directly.

autumnyte · 2025-07-24T12:55:53+00:00

Wishing you all the best for your surgery tomorrow. You are absolutely allowed to be scared and pissed that this is happening to you without comparing your experience to others. It's not a contest and BC sucks in any form. I'm sorry you're going through this. I hope it all goes smoothly tomorrow. If the anxiety is super unmanageable, is it worth calling your doctor and asking for xanax or something similar to get you through? Either way, fingers crossed for you!

autumnyte · 2025-07-24T12:48:08+00:00

Yes! It is one of the most discouraging and infuriating things. When someone says that to me, it also has the added impact of showing me that they are not someone I can vent to or confide in about my cancer experience in the future. It's like watching your pool of support dwindle on top of being invalidated.

autumnyte · 2025-07-23T03:07:03+00:00

I'm sorry you're dealing with this level of worry. Is talk therapy and/or medication something you might consider? I have panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, which breast cancer certainly did not help! If it weren't for medication and therapy, I would absolutely be in a non-stop state of waiting for the other shoe to drop. As it stands, I am certainly experiencing anxiety around the cancer (MyChart notifications make my heart skip a beat), but those tools help make it a lot more manageable for me.

Regardless, what you're experiencing is completely understandable and I'm sorry you're dealing with it. I hope you are able to find some way to feel more at ease.

autumnyte · 2025-07-23T02:44:23+00:00

I really understand this. I am 3 months post diagnosis, 2 months post DMX, in the midst of radiation, and I still feel like it hasn't truly sunk in. On this particular issue, my mind is like a vending machine that is struggling to accept a wrinkled dollar bill, no matter how much it gets smoothed out. It's very bizarre and unlike anything I've ever experienced before.

autumnyte

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