Radiation side effects

mschaben

hope everyone is doing well.  I am getting ready to begin my radiation every day for six weeks.  Does anyone have any advice or seide effects I need to know.  I am told there will be tightening and discomfort and dry skin at the radiation side.  I already have a lot of discomfort due to having bilateral and removal of lymph nodes .  What should I expect   Last Thursday I had my sixth round of the aggressive chemo ( herceptin, perjeta, carboplatin and taxotere). I will still have herceptin every three weeks for eleven months as well as radiation. I'm hoping i won't feel as yucky as I have with the aggressive chemo meds.  any advice on the radiation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you 

 

Mary 

button2

Not too bad

I think you will get through it fine and I know you'll feel better after finishing the hard chemo rounds. Herceptin is so easy in comparison to the other medicines you've taken so far. Radiation was really the time I started to feel much better and could finally eat again. It's annoying to have to go to the medical center every day, but it will be worth it in the long run. Locally, I felt like I got a bit of a sunburn. At one point, I got a blister and the doctors decided to give me a break of several days. I was religious in doing everything they told me such as applying special creams and ointment for the blister. I also had radical mastectomy with removal of all nodes so the area was tender. One lady finishing treatment advised me to avoid all temptation to scratch as her skin had gotten infected. As the days went by, I felt a bit itchy too and I made sure never to even start scratching so I avoided this problem. All in all, it is well worth it and the days will pass and you'll do great I know. I always felt grateful each morning to have the chance at such life saving treatment unlike many other women around the world. Good luck - you're almost there Mary! Best, Anna

GlowMore

button2 said:

Not too bad

I think you will get through it fine and I know you'll feel better after finishing the hard chemo rounds. Herceptin is so easy in comparison to the other medicines you've taken so far. Radiation was really the time I started to feel much better and could finally eat again. It's annoying to have to go to the medical center every day, but it will be worth it in the long run. Locally, I felt like I got a bit of a sunburn. At one point, I got a blister and the doctors decided to give me a break of several days. I was religious in doing everything they told me such as applying special creams and ointment for the blister. I also had radical mastectomy with removal of all nodes so the area was tender. One lady finishing treatment advised me to avoid all temptation to scratch as her skin had gotten infected. As the days went by, I felt a bit itchy too and I made sure never to even start scratching so I avoided this problem. All in all, it is well worth it and the days will pass and you'll do great I know. I always felt grateful each morning to have the chance at such life saving treatment unlike many other women around the world. Good luck - you're almost there Mary! Best, Anna

Radiation..

Know you are glad to be finished with the worst part of the chemo Mary.......the radiation for me was mostly just knowing about the long term effects.  I was very careful to use the cream they gave me for under my arm where they took the lymph nodes and at the site on my left breast where I had the lumpectomy and also around my left collar bone where we also have lumph nodes and they decided to zap me there too....and only got a slight burn.  My main problem was getting my thinking straight about it and truly understanding that it was going to save my Life and not kill me.   That was TWELVE YEARS AGO and I am still standing...Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.**   Prayers for continued Strength and Courage.  Gloria

disneyfan2008

I didn't have any side

I didn't have any side effects at all (thankfully) the only thing I did use was sample that i was given on site for skin care. I did not burn, crack, no fatigue etc. SO NOT much advice..

 

I am sure others will have soem suggestions.

 

I hope you have very little side effects..

 

Denise

desertgirl947

Lots of lotion -- they

Lots of lotion -- they usually recommend kinds -- is a huge help in keeping the skin from burning or borning badly.  I did end up with some burning, but it did not cause me to have to delay getting rads done on time.  The burns were not severe, easy to care for.

alabama_survivor

I was stage 3C triple

I was stage 3C triple negative on one side, and ER+ DCIS on the other.  I had chemo first (4 dose dense, bi-weekly Adriamycin and Cytoxin, followed by 12 weekly Taxol), followed by a double mastectomy, followed by radiation.  I had 28 regular treatments, and 5 boosts.  Keep in mind that every person is different, and doses may be different too.  I used Aveeno, both body wash and body lotion.  Long about week 5, I started having my skin break down along my incision.  After that, I did start developing some raw, weepy places, and one area did get infected.  Up until the skin problems started, and the worst of it was after treatment ended, I felt really well.  I finished a little over a month ago, and I am now pretty well healed--I just have two little spots that need to finish healing.  The biggest thing I've noticed is that when I have days out of the ordinary (we are dealing with my mother-in-law's fairly advanced Alzheimer's disease.  She's been falling a lot, and has made several trips to the emergency room.  We finally got her into a geriatric psychiatric rehab on Saturday, which is about an hour from us), I realize that even though I feel fine, I am still recovering.  Cancer treatment is certainly no picnic, but it was not as bad as I expected it to be.

I'maWinner

side effects

Hi Mary, 

I had some side effects for the first few radiation weeks. Then I saw a homeopath who speacialised in cancer care who took away the exhaustion and the burning and aching. I used her throughout my treatment. She helped me with all my meds. I dont know what I would have done without her. Thats always an option for you. Good luck!