Radiation

Meems · April 2005

I hear so many different things on radiation side effects and wonder what others have experienced. I know there can be fatigue and soreness but my oncologist told me that the fatigue associated with it makes chemo fatigue look good which scared me to death because I have a job. The radiologist said the opposite. Am I going to be able to function? This sure is a disease of ups and downs! One day you hear one thing, the next day you hear the opposite! Think I'll start drinking! Only kidding.
Love,
Barb

sassysally · April 2005

Barb, radiation is a breeze compared to chemo. There are not really any side effects until maybe the end. Ask for alot of aloe gel or something to that affect and put it on the radiated area frequently. This will help with the burning. Also, after awhile your clothes will start to be uncomfortable. WEAR COTTON. You will be able to function just fine.
I did all of mine on my lunch hour from work.
Are you sure your Oncologist knows anything?? No offense, but geeze. Stick with one who deals with this everyday.. the radiologist. If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer what I can. Hang in there.

epgnyc · April 2005

I didn't suffer any fatigue at all from radiation. On the other hand I did experience quite bad burning, which was very unpleasant. But most of the people I know who went through radiation for bc had very few side effects all - no burning or fatigue. So good luck....you'll probably do great. And you're getting close to the end.

llange · April 2005

I had a hard time with radiation because everybody told me it would be a breeze, so I kept up a very busy schedule, and I ended up getting wiped out. Everybody is different, but there is a possibility of mild to extreme fatigue. You need to let your body dictate your level of activity, and know that the treatments will end and you will get back to a normal life.
Best wishes - Lisa

kbc4869 · April 2005

sassysally said:
Barb, radiation is a breeze compared to chemo. There are not really any side effects until maybe the end. Ask for alot of aloe gel or something to that affect and put it on the radiated area frequently. This will help with the burning. Also, after awhile your clothes will start to be uncomfortable. WEAR COTTON. You will be able to function just fine.
I did all of mine on my lunch hour from work.
Are you sure your Oncologist knows anything?? No offense, but geeze. Stick with one who deals with this everyday.. the radiologist. If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer what I can. Hang in there.

Hi Barb,

I'm one of those that thought radiation was signficantly easier than chemo. Yes, I burned and was quite uncomfortable. Sween Cream helped my burn a lot (if it's not stocked at your pharmacy, your pharmasist can order it for you), but to me anything is better than that sick/rotting chemo feeling.

I was pretty tired during and after rad. But the thing about the fatigue is how do you know where your chemo fatigue ends and your radiation fatigue begins? Let's say that radiation on it's own is not as strong as the chemo fatigue; but regardless, it's already tired just building on more tired, even if it is mild. I started rad about six weeks after chemo. I was VERY tired through and aferwards, but I think that's because your body just hasn't had adequate time to recover from everything -- surgery, chemo, now rad. It's a long, hard road! Who wouldn't be tired? I know they say the chemo is out of your system within six weeks, but I really have to disagree. I finished treatment last July, and took a couple of weeks off afterward to get my strength back, but you know what? I'm STILL tired.

You're going to get tired of hearing E.O.I.D ("Every One is Different"), but I guess more and more, it's true. When I'd complain of side effects, my radiologist would blame it on the chemo, and my oncologist would blame it on the radiation! Few will give you a straight answer. So . . . try to focus on the good points of rad: your nausea will begin to diminish and your hair will begIn to grow back. I know, sounds like cheese on a poop sandwich ;0) But that's what I did. You will function and get thru it fine. You're close to the home stretch!

Kim

jdubious · April 2005

Hi,
I have 2 more radiation treatments to go, of 36.(yay!) I feel much better now than after chemo. I started rads 2 weeks after chemo. My radiologist told me I might feel tired (especially in the afternoon - I might want a nap) and the thing to do was to go for a walk instead of take the nap. I didn't listen at first, but the last 3-4 weeks I've been walking a lot and it makes a huge difference. I still nap on the weekends, but I try to keep them short and get lots of sleep at night. My skin didn't start to get sunburned until this week. I don't have much feeling under my arm after mastectomy, so it doesn't bother me too much.
I go to school full-time and I'm doing ok with rads - I was working full-time on chemo, and radiation is much easier for me to take. I feel much better - it must be the exercise!
jill

DiO · April 2005

I also was one of the lucky ones who had very little problem with rads. I ended up taking the last few weeks of chemo off work because of the fatigue and low blood counts (I work in public), and chose to just work part time during rads since I'd heard I might continue to be very tired. I actually could have worked full time all through, but the part time gave me a chance to get back in the swing gradually. I only had significant sunburn the last two week of rads (33 total treatments), and then it wasn't bad--I continued to wear my bra all through, just took it off when I was staying in the house. Hope you have as little problem with it as I did.

Good luck and God bless, Di

BuffaloGal49 · April 2005

I had 7 weeks of radiation starting about 3 weeks after re-excision which was 3 weeks after lumpectomy. Got increasingly tired; started out working almost full time, by the end was working 6 hour days and taking Friday off. Best advice was keep up walking and slow down when you need to (understanding employer helps). I used aloe every day right after treatment and took Arnica (a homeopathic remedy). Seemed to help. Also had a calendar with Pooh & Tigger & Eeyore stickers to mark off the days!
Fatigue gradually improved over 3 years while working full time; now I feel like my old energizer bunny self. Sending you blessings for smooth sailing.

Roxi1 · May 2005

I finished Radiation 2 weeks ago (the last week of Radiation was the boosters, or the more intense but superficial electron beam). My energy started to slowly pick up after the last of the photon deep beams (that was the first 28 rad treatments). My energy is now back to normal. Wow, can't believe how it is to have energy again, as I had started to feel fatigue about 6 months prior to my cancer being discovered. I agree with the others,that the fatigue was counteracted somewhat by walking. I did take naps, and slept longer at night then usual. It would have been possible to work full time, but especially the last week or two, would have been more difficult to focus; due to the fatigue.
The bigger your breasts, the more lymphedema or swelling you will have; (therefore, more pain/aching type of discomfort). The swelling, depending upon how much you have, may take up to 6-9 months to resolve completely.
Your skin integrity will be assisted significantly by following your Radiology skin care program to the letter. I did, and suffered no significant burn, excoriations, discolorment, etc..
Roxanne

Radiation

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