Radiation Treatments

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Jean T. Szabo
Jean T. Szabo Member Posts: 193
in Breast Cancer #1
Anyone gone through Radiation with side effects of hot flashes, night sweats and headaches, facial hair? Thought this was over with when the treatment ended. It has been a week since last treatment and having these problems in the evening. Makes it hard to sleep.
Anyone else have this problem?

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  • Katmy
    Katmy Member Posts: 93
    #2
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    I finished radiation 3+
    I finished radiation 3+ weeks ago and I never had any side effects beyond my burned skin. My radiation was only across the left side of my chest to my under arm. It lasted 7 weeks (?). Are you sure these side effects are radiation related. I was told by my Radiation Oncologist that he was only responsible for local pain. And he was right.

    Where on your chest were you being radiated?
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #3
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    I never had any of these
    I never had any of these side effects with rads. These sound more like the hormone therapy side effects. Are you on tamoxifen or one of the other hormones?
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #4
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    Not from the rads
    I didn't get any of these side effects from rads, but I do have the night sweats, hot flashes and weight gain from Tamoxifin.

    Hope it gets better.
    ~Carol
  • pbrndm5
    pbrndm5 Member Posts: 83
    #5
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    camul said:

    Not from the rads
    I didn't get any of these side effects from rads, but I do have the night sweats, hot flashes and weight gain from Tamoxifin.

    Hope it gets better.
    ~Carol

    only tired
    I had therapy 2 x a day for 5 days and the biggest thing I noticed was being VERY tired and I was burned-like a very bad sunburn, but that didn't happen until about 3 weeks later because my rads were from the inside out. I had a balloon implanted and every day a radioactive"seed" was put in my breast for about 15 minutes.
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #6
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    not me either
    I never had any of these problems with radiation and I'm 5 weeks in. Had soem of the problems with chemo though.
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #7
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    Jean
    I finished rads Feb 15th. I didn't burn until the last 5 and only mildly. A week later I got itchy and peeled. What you are describing are menopausal hormonal conditions. My hot flashes are awful to the point that I get drenched several times a day or night. There were a few times I actually had a hot flash while laying on the rads table. I rarely get headaches but I did notice an increase in facial hair. I'm on Arimidex and suffering. My gyn started me on Savella (prescribed for Fibromyalgia) to help with the hot flashes. I'm on day 6 and so far no change in intensity or frequency. He told me it could take a month. I also have osteoarthritis that Arimidex is making worse.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • Jean T. Szabo
    Jean T. Szabo Member Posts: 193
    #8
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    cahjah75 said:

    Jean
    I finished rads Feb 15th. I didn't burn until the last 5 and only mildly. A week later I got itchy and peeled. What you are describing are menopausal hormonal conditions. My hot flashes are awful to the point that I get drenched several times a day or night. There were a few times I actually had a hot flash while laying on the rads table. I rarely get headaches but I did notice an increase in facial hair. I'm on Arimidex and suffering. My gyn started me on Savella (prescribed for Fibromyalgia) to help with the hot flashes. I'm on day 6 and so far no change in intensity or frequency. He told me it could take a month. I also have osteoarthritis that Arimidex is making worse.
    {{hugs}} Char

    Facial Hair
    Char: What can we do about facial hair growth? Any ideas? Menopausal? thought I had that a few years ago when I had my Hysterectomy. Could this Chemo/Rads routine make a return to menopause happen? Finger nails have broken off any ideas on nail care?
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #9
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    Jean T. Szabo said:

    Facial Hair
    Char: What can we do about facial hair growth? Any ideas? Menopausal? thought I had that a few years ago when I had my Hysterectomy. Could this Chemo/Rads routine make a return to menopause happen? Finger nails have broken off any ideas on nail care?

    Jean
    I see my onc on Thursday and will ask about the facial hair and nails. None of mine fell off but they do have ridges and some got very thick (especially toes). I let you know what he says.
    Char

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