Radiation side effects

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

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

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.