Cancer Survivors Network

hi:
I don't know your stage and what kind of radiotherapy you are having, but I know there is some irritating skin effect. You don't want to further stimulating that area. You can go to: http://www.nbcc.org.au/pages/info/resource/nbccpubs/radio/contents.htm
Maybe you can find more information there. Or if you would like, give me more specific detail about your therapy, I caould try to find some more info for you. Best wish!

Hi, You will probably have about 6 weeks of radiation 5 days a week and a possible additional boost of 4 treatments at the end. The first appt. they will lay you down on a contoured pillow and table and plot you out on a simulator. They will draw marks on your chest to help them align the machine. I had to lay still for an hour and was awfully stiff when I had to sit up. I recommend wearing long pants to this first appt. as the room is kept cool for the machines. At the next appt. they applied about 7 dot tattoos. These dots help them align the machine with laser lites. When you finally start the actual treatments they are over with very quickly. It is dressing and undressing and waiting for your turn that takes the most time. Some people burn more easily than others. I got pure clear aloe vera gel in a tube to apply to my skin AFTER each treatment. The area treated got quite a nice tan. Radiation was the easiest part of my treatment. God bless. Margaret

Radiation was the easiest for me. The only problem I had is tring to find some thing in an ontment that I could use because I turned beat red. I was a little tired but then the drs. say it was normal. Like it was said the dressing and undressing takes the longest once they get the map on you where they will be doing the radiation. For me it was a walk in the park. Infact I have been done with rad. for 10 mouthes and only have to see that dr one more time. Let me know how you do. Auntie

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Radiation for me had little side effects except a bit of being tired after several weeks. I'm hoping it is the same for you. Love Debw

Hi Angie,
Its really not so bad after the first time although I have to admit I felt like crying.
I had really good luck with my energy level not getting to low by keeping as arobic as possible. I went to the gym a couple days a week and walked every day for at least 15 min.You dont need to do any thing real hard just get your blood pumping. Also I took my headset with me every day and listened to Bruce Springsteen tapesreally loud during my treatments so I would not have to listen to the machine humming, that gave me the creeps.
Every one is different but I only got real tired about the last week but it came back fast when I was done. Good Luck your going to do just fine. Alice

HI! I'm starting radiation too next Wednesday. First I had an appointment with the radiologist and he discussed the side effects. Then I went to the center and I was measured. That took about 30 minutes, and I had to lay with my arm up over my head. My arm was numb when I was finished. I got 7 tattoos too. The tattooes didn't hurt at all and they look like little freckles. I'll get 30 treatments, 5 times a week for 6 weeks.

Hi Angie! I took 33 radiation treatments. They zapped me in 4 differnt places. The side effects were not bad. I had a little skin irriation on my neck and my chest. They gave me some great lotion for that. The hardest thing was trying to stay out of the sun, that irriated it more. Take care, Maggie

Hi Angie.

I've just finished my 3rd course of radiation. Be prepared to be very tired. Also you will probably get some burning in the area so use pure aloe vera gel (I grow my own & just slap it on straight from the plant - a bit sticky but sooo soothing) Also do not use perfume or soaps or deoderants in the area, avoid the sun and take heaps of bovine colostrum as it will bring your white count up & help with tiredness. I do not have the problem with burning in my last radiation as it was a very deep one to get to the bone tumor in my spine that has caused a compression fracture. It makes you tireder than the chest wall radiations though as it is such a high KV. Will be thinking of you. Love Pam

Angie - It's late and I need to hit the bed, but I just saw this post and had to respond. If I repeat something others have said, forgive. I finished 33 radiation treatment in late November. I'm still experiencing twinges now and then, but all the redness and the flaking skin has gone bye-bye. I was generous with the Aquafor they gave me and kept the redness down alot. THe DR. was surprised as I am fair skinned and still didn't have the bad blistering and sunburn some people speak of. I believe taking extra precautions and following instructions about creams and ointments to the letter pays off. Be sure to cover your underarm also. It is the place I burned the most. At first I didn't understand it was getting that much radiation. I learned quick! Another thought - watch the nipple area. My incision is at the edge of the nipple, so that got the boosts at the end. The nipple had been quite sore all through the radiation and although they blocked it for the boosts, it still scabbed over and was tender for a long time after. If you have any other questions - email me. Good luck. Ellen

My radiation treatments were four years ago. I had a total of 27 after 6 months of chemotherapy. After chemo, radiation was a walk in the park. I used to go on my lunch hour and told people at work that I was going to 'tan'. My skin did get pretty dark and the "flash" tanned the skin on my neck too. Skin got dry. I used Aquafor to help with that and the tight feeling. Other than that I was just tired. I was single with an 11 year girl and 14 year old boy. Neither drove and were involved in everything!!! My techs were great!! It was through this experience that I was made aware of the presence of God in our daily lives and in the miracles that he performs. There is a song by Scott Krippayne that says "Sometimes he calms the storm and other times he calms His child."

Don't know if you've already sarted...I'm new to this site.

I had no problems at all during radiation, other than the attractive purple marks. I hope it is as easy for you!