radiation side effects

nancyb101 · February 2009

Hi, R there different types of radiation therapy for breast cancer and have you ever had or known anyone who has had major complications with radiation. Also I have heard that you will not be able to do any reconstructive surgery after radiation. So how is one supposed to "reconstruct" the area that has been treated with radiation.

mmontero38 · February 2009

Hi Nancy, haven't had
Hi Nancy, haven't had radiation but, i think that the radiation is basically the same they just may target different areas. You can still do reconstruction after radiation. There are many different types of reconstruction, and your plastic surgeon will be the best person to tell you your options. The most common is the tissue expander and implants. It is one of the least invasive forms of reconstruction. I had the tram flap,which takes a flap from the belly with the muscle attached and is tunneled through the inside up into the chest area and attached. I had muscle removed and needed the muscle so for me this was the best choice. There is also the lassitimus dorsi flap which takes the muscle from your back (bu the shoulder blade) with the flap of skin and is tunneled also to the breast area. In this procedure, most people still need an implant. Then there is the diep flap, which takes the flap from the belly and is microsurgically transplanted to the breast area. This last operation uses microsurgery and can last around 12 hours. The recovery time is pretty short compared to the tram and lassitimus flap, but the risk of rejection is much bigger.

There are many women here on this site that did the tissue expander with an implant after radiation, so go to a competent plastic surgeon. Hugs, Lili

Chellebug · February 2009

Radiation
There are some variations for radiation, and even within similar types of radiation there might be different schedules, depending on the patient. (ie...number of treatments, boosts, area being radiated).

I finished my radiation the first week in Aug '08, and I'm still having some issues with ongoing pain. My situation is unique, so I wouldn't use my experience as the typical one.

I have not gone through any reconstruction at this time, but I've heard that if you have radiation you should wait one month for each week you were in radiation, before moving forward with the reconstruction. So if you had it for 5 weeks, then you should wait 5 months. My PT has mentioned that you can continue to experience radiation effects even up to 8 months after radiation (scar tissue adhesions).

There is the option of doing the first step to reconstruction (having the tissue expanders put in place) before doing the radiation. But the permanent expanders don't go in until much later.

rjjj · February 2009

Chellebug said:
Radiation
There are some variations for radiation, and even within similar types of radiation there might be different schedules, depending on the patient. (ie...number of treatments, boosts, area being radiated).

I finished my radiation the first week in Aug '08, and I'm still having some issues with ongoing pain. My situation is unique, so I wouldn't use my experience as the typical one.

I have not gone through any reconstruction at this time, but I've heard that if you have radiation you should wait one month for each week you were in radiation, before moving forward with the reconstruction. So if you had it for 5 weeks, then you should wait 5 months. My PT has mentioned that you can continue to experience radiation effects even up to 8 months after radiation (scar tissue adhesions).

There is the option of doing the first step to reconstruction (having the tissue expanders put in place) before doing the radiation. But the permanent expanders don't go in until much later.

Haven't been there yet
I haven't had radiation yet but it will follow when i am done with 6 mo's of the chemo. I have heard you can only have radiation once. Is this true? and so what it you have a re-occurance in the other breast?
I guess i will listen to what the Dr.s say as when and if i have reconstruction. I would love to have it done..just don't know when or how much it would cost, guess i will jump that hurdle when i get to it. Wishing every one of my pink sisters a good day.
God Bless
Jackie

Derbygirl · February 2009

I've never heard of
I've never heard of different types of radiation, but there are varying lengths of treatment. I finished 25 days of radiation on Christmas Eve 2008 and there is some lingering discomfort either from the lumpectomy (August) or from radiation. There are side effects such as fatigue and radiation burns, but I never heard of more serious problems. The breast tissue is changed following radiation and it can be radiated only once, but I'm fairly sure you'll be able to have reconstruction afterwards.

young_one · February 2009

I have had radiation. I
I have had radiation. I wasn't aware of different radiation either but you can have a different number of fields (radiated areas). You can have reconstuction after radiation. Many people have TRAMs or DIEP or Lat Flaps done. If you go for implants, they do have to do the expansion prior to radiation. I am getting ready to do my exchange for implants next month and I have had a LOT of radiation. I have only heard of one person who has had more fields than I did. I have had no major complications with it. Really, no minor ones either.

lynn1950 · February 2009

Different types of radiation
There are different types of radiation for breast cancer. Let's see if I can remember...external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) comes from a machine outside the body, a lot like an x-ray, but more powerful. Brachytherapy are tiny radioactive seeds placed directly in the breast. I've never met anyone that's had that.

There are two kinds of EBRT. Which kind is best for you depends upon the shape of your chest and where the radiation is directed. (At least that is how it was explained to me.) The second kind, IMRT, is a newer, more elegant form of EBRT. IMRT stands for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. In this type of radiation the intensity of the rays vary depending on the targeted area. Higher doses go to the targeted area and weaker doses hit normal tissue. There's more information than you'll ever want to read about it at www.cancer.gov. I contacted the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology at 1-800-845-4624 and they sent me some really informative brochures.

I haven't met anyone who had major side effects from radiation, but there's always risk. That's sort of the nature of the cancer treatment game. I was lucky. Radiation only hit a tiny part of my left lung and did not hit my heart at all.

I haven't decided upon the reconstruction part of the puzzle, but I know that reconstruction is possible. I can really notice the difference in the skin of my......armpits! The skin on my radiated side is much less...flexible?...than my regular, old skin. It just feels stiffer somehow.

Hope all goes well with you. Lynn

NorcalJ · February 2009

Radiation
I recently finished radiation after a mastectomy and chemo. You can only have a certain amount of rads in a lifetime, so it depends on what they give you the first time.
I plan to eventually have a bilat. mastectomy and reconstruction, but, in my case, I had to wait until about a year after radiation to have the bilat. mast. and reconstruction.

As we continue to say, not everyone is the same, and not every treatment is the same.

I didn't have much trouble with radiation until the last few days. Then the "sunburn" was uncomfortable enough that I couldn't wear a bra for about a week. I used some really nice cream samplesthat they gave me. Ask them. They also gave me some lidocaine to use at night because it really started to be uncomfortable during the night. But, again, it was right at the end of the 6 weeks.

Can't remember if you said you had chemo, but this was a walk in the woods compared to that. The best part, it goes so fast that it's over before you have much time to dwell on it---and I can dwell with the best of them LOL.

Good luck!

inkblot · February 2009

radiation side effects
Hi nancyb,

I'm wondering if by "different types" of raidation, you may be referring to mammosite/ brachytherapy? These are delivered differently, in that it's delivered via a pump or seeds...ususally implanted into the breast tissue and the time required to complete therapy is far shorter. However, each type of delivery system has its own unique set of potential side effects. The two types I mentioned above, are typically used following lumpectomy. (I had lumpectomy/chemo and traditional radiation tx, in that order)

My radiation experience wasn't difficult really. Fortunately, I had very few side effects during treatment. (37, total) I had some redness after the first week and nearing the end of tx, my breast looked like one would expect skin to look, following a summer of a bit too much sun. You know...that overly brown look? During the middle of treatment, I developed some very itchy red bumps but was able to get them under control without missing any tx. I also experienced some occasional shooting pains in my breast, but otherwise, nothing remarkable. Post rads, the skin on my breast flaked and peeled but once done, looked normal. Some women experience swelling and/or shrinkage, either during or after rads, while others may have some discoloration...all of which may or may not be permanent.

I'll share with you a few things you may want to try (with your docs permission) to decrease burning of the skin, (if you're having external radiation tx): I used only natural soap on the radiated skin. (Follow the rules carefully and never apply creams, lotions, powders or deoderatns before tx) Each day, after tx, I applied aloe vera, straight from the plant. I'd cut and place a few stems of it into the fridge each day (nice big healthy ones) and found it was sooo cooling and soothing on my skin. It was a relief treat! Anytime my skin felt warm/dry I'd reapply. At night, I applied 100% PURE aloe vera oil..rubbing it in well. It's readily available at most health food stores and/or pharmacy's. I wore only cotton tees round the house and NO BRA, EVER, during treatment and for several weeks afterward. I continued with the aloe vera plant/oil regimen, as well as the natural soap, for about 6 weeks, post treatment. At which time I began to use my regular body lotion, after bathing. I also used a loofah at bathtime, VERY GENTLY, to help the dry, peeling skin to shed (I didn't use the loofah until AFTER I was finished with treatment and the peeling began).

**Ask your doctor before using any of these things...just to be sure it's ok with him/her. Otherwise, get plenty of rest, eat well, drink lots of fluids and be kind to yourself. You'll be done before you know it and can move on to the next phase of healing. RE reconstruction, following rads: it is my understanding that each case is different and it depends upon a lot of variables. The most common delay seems to be a waiting period for the skin/tissue to heal, for those who plan reconstruction. It is also my understanding that irradiated tissue tends to heal less well in some cases. Again, everyone is different. Your doc will be able to best advise you, based upon your unique experience. If you aren't comfortable with what he/she advises, don't hesitate to get a 2nd opinion on reconstruction.

Be well and best wishes.

Love, light & laughter,
Ink

radiation side effects

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