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Radiation side effects



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ecrowley2

				          
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        			    July 11, 2006 - 2:37pm			  			

			
			
My mom was diagnosed with Stage IV NSCLC 2 wks ago.  She's had 6 whole brain radiation treatments and seems to be getting worse - lathargic and extremely nauseous.  We're hoping it's the side effects of the radiation and not the lesions in her brain getting worse.  Has anybody had experience with whole brain radiation and its side effects - how long after radiation do the side effects go away???  Any info (good or bad experiences with radiation)would be greatly appreciated.  My mom is otherwise very with it - she's very sharp and regardless of her symptoms she still manages to make sure that we're all fine and can still carry on great conversations - she's still a "talker"!  Thanks everyone!


‹ 6 year survivor with "rib" pain Here I Go Again ›

						
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mrmust

				      
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July 12, 2006 - 2:28am

			
Re: Radiation side effects
			
Hello..my boyfriend has Stage IV NSCLC also and is on his 8th whole brain radiation treatment.  He is doing remarkable well.  Functions just fine.  Drives himself to his treatments.  Appetite isn't as good as it was but he still eats.  Quite tired at the end of the day and he does take a nap in the aft.  He is only 39 yrs. old.  Is your mother taking steroids to reduce the swelling in the brain?  My boyfriend is and they say that one of the side effects may be lethargy.  I have noticed that my boyfriend has a short temper and snaps at me more than usual.  They say that is a side effect of the steroid also.   Sorry I don't have more info for you but this is what I have experienced so far.

Good luck!



			
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ecrowley2

				      
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July 12, 2006 - 8:26pm

			
Re: Radiation side effects
			
Thank you for your reply - so sorry to hear about your boyfriend's diagnosis - he's so young, too.  It sounds like his treatment is going well which is encouraging - I actually saw my mom today and she's doing so much better - she's finally walking a bit in physical therapy and getting her energy back.  It's so great that your boyfriend can drive himself to radiation - it sounds like he's staying strong!  Best wishes to you both - stay strong and positive!  I'd love to hear more from you about his progress.



			
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mrmust

				      
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August 4, 2006 - 3:15am

			
Re: Radiation side effects
			
Alot has changed since I last posted.   My boyfriend finished his WBR (3 weeks of it everyday) and he actually started to feel good!  A little bit of hair started to fall out so he shaved his head to get a "jump start" on it.   He had very little fatigue and had a great appetite.  And the shortness with me stopped.  I think it was the steroids.  They said he could have drastic mood swings, like Dr. Jekyl&Mr. Hyde, but thank God he didn't. He is having GammaKnife surgery on the brain lesion on Aug. 15th.   Outpatient procedure where they just irradiate the lesion.  Not sure what to expect after.....still researching that.  He has been on 2 liters of O2 since Feb. and can't quite seem to get off of it.  I think alot of it is that he is scared to be without it.  He occasionally gets winded but recovers quickly.  Now the big problem is he has SEVERE pain under his left rib cage (had a rt. pneumonectomy and lt lung pleurodesis) He had this problem awhile back and it was constipation from all the oxycontin but he is going daily.   He does have a necrotic mass on his left adrenal gland and I am worried that it is getting bigger.  They hope to remove it after the GammaKnife procedure.   I am thinking it is a small bowel obstruction.  His oncologist doesn't seemed concerned and just wants to up his oxycontin dose.   My BF said no.....doesn't want to be a veg all day long so he is just going to deal with it.  I find that unacceptable and he needs to keep getting on his onc.s back about it.  Any opinions??

Glad to hear that your mom is doing much better.  I do know well what they mean by "it's a rollercoaster" as you probably do as well!

Good luck!



			
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gdpawel's picture
						
gdpawel

				      
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August 3, 2006 - 5:26pm

			
Re: Radiation side effects
			
Google or Yahoo "HBO Therapy for radiation-induced necrosis" to learn more about HBOT to re-vascularize damaged brain tissue.


You may want to also google or yahoo "Whole Brain Radiation and Brain Metastasis"



			
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