Long Term affects of radiation?

deerello said:

Same questions
I also posted as I am/was having serious doubts and almost decided against it. However, I think the good outweighs the bad and I have lost so much already I don't want to lose the ulimate, my life! I have heard that a lot depends on your radiation oncologist, and I guess the rest is in God's hands. Have faith that you will sail through it as I hope to do. I start in late July, and pray a year from now(or less) to have my life back. Please keep posting and Good Luck!

I had both radiation in 2005 and 2006 had chemo for colon rectal cancer at the time I was only 46.  I believed what my doctors and ocologist told me and today 9 years later as well breast cancer in that time I don't buy it as the only treatment option.  I am not sour just not living a normal life any longer due to the pain and damage incurred in the area of rectum and large intestines.  God forbid I have to deal with it ever again, I would not go with the default treatmens - cut/burn/poison.  Yes I'm sure there are many here that "survived" but our entire immune system is destroy and if you ever get it back it will take many years of proactive efforts and it won't be eating via the USDA food pyramid.  All I would say is pray to be directed to natural remedies and connect with people that have experience with alternative options to the main stream cut/burn/poison.  The USA has outlawed many alternatives and it may mean leaving the country or looking for doctors who operate outside the system.  I am very grateful to be alive but for me radiation and chemo has destroyed my ability to live a normal active life so I would rather caution and speak to people over 5 years or if possible after 9 years with the same cancer and same treatment plan.  Maybe if my cancer was just a 1 foot way from where it was, I would have had a different experience because of the location that area is highly sensitive. Now the medical community just basically says "there is nothing they can do".  

I know this comment is past due and pray you and all cancer patients have healthy lives but felt compelled to share a real life experience.

NancyJac said:

None of that after 18 years
I am currently in my second go round with rads. First time was 18 years ago. I've had no lymphedema. I don't have implants so nothing to fail there. And no lung damage. I did have a subsequent DX of IBC, but all my docs agree that was neither a recurrence of my previous cancer nor the result of previous rads. What is the basis for being told there is 100% certainty of lung damage? Are they not doing breath hold? That protects the heart and lungs during rads. At least that is what I was told.

I just had RADS, nothing was told to me about breath holds, I heard that breath hold was for lung cancer?  You seem a very strong person 18 years !!! That is wonderful ... Good luck and God Bless! 

ctbrowneyes said:

long term side effects

I had both radiation in 2005 and 2006 had chemo for colon rectal cancer at the time I was only 46.  I believed what my doctors and ocologist told me and today 9 years later as well breast cancer in that time I don't buy it as the only treatment option.  I am not sour just not living a normal life any longer due to the pain and damage incurred in the area of rectum and large intestines.  God forbid I have to deal with it ever again, I would not go with the default treatmens - cut/burn/poison.  Yes I'm sure there are many here that "survived" but our entire immune system is destroy and if you ever get it back it will take many years of proactive efforts and it won't be eating via the USDA food pyramid.  All I would say is pray to be directed to natural remedies and connect with people that have experience with alternative options to the main stream cut/burn/poison.  The USA has outlawed many alternatives and it may mean leaving the country or looking for doctors who operate outside the system.  I am very grateful to be alive but for me radiation and chemo has destroyed my ability to live a normal active life so I would rather caution and speak to people over 5 years or if possible after 9 years with the same cancer and same treatment plan.  Maybe if my cancer was just a 1 foot way from where it was, I would have had a different experience because of the location that area is highly sensitive. Now the medical community just basically says "there is nothing they can do".  

I know this comment is past due and pray you and all cancer patients have healthy lives but felt compelled to share a real life experience.

I too, share a similar experience. I had colon cancer at age 40, which had spread to lymph nodes. After surgery, I was on chemo for a year. I had to drop out of grad school from the effects of chemo, called "chemo brain." Anyway, now 22 years later, I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. I don't have the full report back from Mayo yet, but it is a papillary tumor in situ. another lump was discovered also, a fibroadenoma in the opposite breast. Since I have breast implants, I have been advised that radiation is not my best option. It could be done, but both the radiation oncologist and the plastic surgeon said that mastectomy was a better option for me. I am meeting with another doctor in a couple days for a second opinion. I am not crazy about the radiation idea anyway, having already had chemo once. But mastectomy is scaring me too. I am not a fan of pain, and am worried about complications that would lengthen the whole reconstruction process. I need to start something soon, so a decision has to be made. I am leaning toward a double mastectomy, because of cancer history, and because I would worry all the time about another cancerous lump appearing. We'll see what this second doctor advises before the final decision.