radiation

smend
smend Member Posts: 4
in Breast Cancer #1
I just finished chemo and had my mastectomy a while ago. My radiation oncologist is recommending radiation and I'm a little apprehensive. Can anyone tell me what side effects I should expect if I have radiation?

thanks

Comments

  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #2
    depends on alot of things
    Side effects depend on a lot of things. Feeling tired is most common. According to my RO the amount of skin problems partly depends on if you had a lumpectomy or mastectomy. I had a mastectomy and I am half way through and right now it is like a decent sun burn, red and flaky, mild discomfort. I started working out so the fatigue isn't that bad yet.

    Good luck,
    Cindy
  • robang13
    robang13 Member Posts: 333
    #3
    Hi,
    I just finished
    Hi,
    I just finished radiation 2 weeks ago and while it wasn't a walk in the park it wasn't horrible either. The reactions I received were : tiredness, a rash, a fungus and then near the end a little blistering and raw skin. My advice to you as I'm sure everyone else will tell you, get the lotions they tell you to get and use them from your first treatment even if you don't think you need them. I didn't burn until my 4th week and I think it was because I used them from day one. If you have any reactions don't be afraid to tell your rads people so it can be corrected and helped. I was so nervous before I started but it wasn't a bad experience and if I ever had to do it again I wouldn't hesitate. Good luck!
    angela
  • kya911
    kya911 Member Posts: 157
    #4
    Some redness, a little
    Some redness, a little peeling was all that happened to me.
    I had 33 treatments & it was a piece of cake for me, but every one is different.
    Best wishes for an easy rad treatment.
    Judy
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #5
    I may be odd ball out
    but I had NO side effects at all...no dry or burned skin, not tired or fatigued...I worked full time and did treatments on my lunch hour...

    I wish you the same...

    Denise
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #6
    disneyfan2008 said:

    I may be odd ball out
    but I had NO side effects at all...no dry or burned skin, not tired or fatigued...I worked full time and did treatments on my lunch hour...

    I wish you the same...

    Denise

    I'm over the half way mark
    I'm over the half way mark on my rads. Slightly pink skin nothing more. Energy level is still there and I too am working through my treatments. Spending lots of lunch hours with my rad technicians. So far so good...

    Lorrie
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #7
    Every week got better
    I started Rads one week after 12th Taxol. The Taxol had completely EXHAUSTED me but I felt better with each passing day while on Rads. No burning or pink (did tan good thoough in the area) until next to the last day and just a bit of pink then but the morning after last Rad the burning was going on with a vengence - burned VERY bad on entire area which took 6 weeks for last scabs to come off.

    No one can honestly tell you what you SHOULD expect - what you might expect - yes - what they experienced yes but we are each unique and do react exactly like anyone else.

    Susan
  • poplolly
    poplolly Member Posts: 346
    #8
    Radiation is easy compared
    Radiation is easy compared to chemo. There is some fatigue and your skin gets red. Mine wasn't too bad and some are worse than others. The doctor gave me a cream that worked great. In the beginning you might have an hour appointment or two because they mark the spots they will shine the light. After that, I wasn't there any longer than 30 minutes at a setting.
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #9
    It like a bad burn
    but manageable. Just slather on the cream and "baby" that area. It'll heal.

    Hugs,

    Sylvia
  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
    #10
    Have to agree with everyone else
    I am a tiny bit over half done, (we get to count every little accomplishment you know) and it realy isn't bad. My energy level is actually increasing since starting rads, my skin is reacting with a rash instead of burning...so far, and I have been working 40 hour weeks and driving myself the 1 hour each way to treatment after work. I started this rads journey with a horrible attitude even though I really believe that I needed to do the treatment, and I must say that is improving also.

    14 to go and counting them down,

    Jennifer

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