Radiation long term side effect...what have you experienced?

tcaba
tcaba Member Posts: 41
in Esophageal Cancer #1

My last high dose treatment was Aug 5th. For 5 weeks I had absolutely no symptoms or problems.  Then out of the blue I began experiencing pain and discomfort in a radial line around my body at the shoulder blades and breast level. Having thought I had simply over done it or something I did not think much about it. But the pain became more severe, so I mentioned it at my oncology appointment and was told it likely was due to organ and tissue swelling due to the radiation. What surprised me was that I thought I was outside of the side effect time frame. I haven't seen much on anyone with late side effects and just wonder what others have run into. 

This is recurrent EC so there was a lot of concern as to radiation toxicity the second time around. I'm just worried  a little that this may now  be a part of life from now on. It has gotten better over the last 4 weeks (PTL) and hydracodone does make it managable but I don't want to take that stuff the rest of my life.

I guess this is my punishment  for having had such an easy and yes I  mean easy time the first go round. Other than surgery I did not experience very much discomfort from treatment. 

Comments

  • JKGulliver
    JKGulliver Member Posts: 93
    #2
    Radiation side-effects

    My husband had more side-effects with radiation than chemo.  The pain in his shoulder started about three weeks after radiation ended.  It continues to this day.  It is getting better but very slowly.  We've asked our radiation oncologist about this pain.  He said it would gradually go away.  We are entering our 10th week now and we are still waiting.  He manages the pain now with OTC pain relievers.  So, there has been progress.

     

     

  • tcaba
    tcaba Member Posts: 41
    #3
    JKGulliver said:

    Radiation side-effects

    My husband had more side-effects with radiation than chemo.  The pain in his shoulder started about three weeks after radiation ended.  It continues to this day.  It is getting better but very slowly.  We've asked our radiation oncologist about this pain.  He said it would gradually go away.  We are entering our 10th week now and we are still waiting.  He manages the pain now with OTC pain relievers.  So, there has been progress.

     

     

    Thank you JK

    Not expecting this and it's timing was the worst.  I do not want to find comfort in that someone else is having the same issues but now I now that hopefully mine AND your husband's will leave us soon! God bless all of us for a quick recovery.

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