Rads- how easy is it really?

RegulJ

So I finally finished my 6 rounds of taxotere,carbo, and herceptin. I have another appt. with my radiation dr. next week for the final set up, dosing-mapping and whatnots.

I have been reading the forums for a while and some of us seem to glide through rads., others struggle.

I guess what I want to know is how emotionally draining is it? Having to go everyday M-F for 20-28 sessions. I am so used to being drained for 7days or so post chemo and having 2weeks off--should I be worried?

msmpatty

RegulJ - I'm not sure why but after 24-weeks of chemo I really, really, really dreaded the rads.  I was in a really bad mood at my first appointment with the rad Onc and just hated the whole idea.  BUT...I just completed my 28 sessions yesterday and I can tell you it went just fine!   I very quickly got used to the daily drive to the clinic, the techs were great, and sometimes the place was working so well that I was in, undressed, zapped, dressed and back in the car before my actual appointment time!  Plus, the 5+ weeks just flew by.  The effects of radiation on your skin and energy level are cummulative.  My skin made it through just fine and I didn't feel any noticeable fatigue until the last week.  So don't be worried...you'll do just fine!

Patty

Makratz

Patty describes my experience too!  It took me longer to get dressed and undressed than it did for the treatment.   Best of luck to you!  You're almost done!!

Titan

• Regulj..ditto what Patty and Linda said,,it is so much easier than chemo..less time, less drugs, less needles, less se's...less about everything...yes..some people have a rough time but most don't...don't be afraid..it will go quickly...rads just don't seem to affect your MIND like chemo does...the word CHEMO to me just freaked me out..RADS just didn't..you will be fine..just apply the cream as they tell you.  I never even felt tired with rads...I think alot of it was the mindset that CHEMO was over and I was on the home stretch...it was a great feeling

CTMOM1234

I didn't do chemo., but my experience with rads. so far is ditto what Patty, Linda, and Titan wrote. I just finished treatment #19 and am so happy to be out of the teens!  For the first 2 weeks, I didn't count the days done (too many ahead of me), just would count it as 1 week done, then 2 weeks done. Now I'm counting days.

For me, the mind game part of this was the bigger thing to manage than the physical. And don't get me wrong, I'm red and peeled and a bit tired at times -- to quote my Dr., "I've seen better and I've seen worse" -- but once I got through the simulation and dry run and the first week passed uneventfully, I think the freaky part of the whole thing just became manageable. I tend to be a thinker -- maybe an overthinker -- and had little practice just shutting my thinking off and doing what I was told. But now I'm good at it and even like my daily SLAM DUNK of the gown. .. you'll be fine.

jenn3

Before I started rads, the thought of driving to the clinic every single day after a full day of work did not seem appealing and I really wasn't looking forward to it.  However, it became part of my daily routine and like the others said I spent more time undressing and dressing than I did on the table.  I also had the same techs everytime I went and they were always in a good mood and helped make the experience more tolerable.  I seemed to breeze right through.  I did have some skin issues and discomfort after it was over, which caught me off guard, but it's all doable and I am glad to say I am recently finished.  The start of radiation, like chemo seems like it will take forever and going daily just seems like it's such a burden, but the time will fly by and before you know it you'll be writing back on this thread or start another thread to say you are done, done, done.

ruthbru

I lived 100 miles away from where I did rads; so going back and forth was the most draining part of the whole experience. Compared to chemo, it was really a piece of cake physically, and emotionally to know you are nearing the end of 'active treatment' is pretty great too. You'll do fine! Ruth