Can anyone tell me how bad radiation is??

GG27

I think it depends on how long your rads are.  A lady I met at rads, we would go together & she said that I was in there way longer than everyone else.  Also they closed the door & when she asked why some keep the door open & some closed the tech said it depended on how much rads.

I too followed the instructions to the letter, but I did get quite burned at the end & into two weeks post.  The onco even gave me the option of not doing the last one or two because of the burns, but I wanted to throw everything I could at this & figured a couple of weeks of being uncomfortable was worth knowing I gave it my all.

Char2010

I did 33 treatments (after 4 rounds of TC chemo).  Worked through the whole thing,  Had a 5:15 appointment so would walk to the hospital from work and then home (live downtown Chicago).  No problems with swallowing, skin got burn towards the end but only in the boost area.  Was fatigued but no worse then after chemo.  It is a mental game though - going Mon-Fri for 6.5 weeks....

GracieLives

I agree whole heartedly about the Aquaphor salve!  I didn't know about it until my radiation nurse gave me a tube of it to take home.  I admit I thought I should ration that one tube out to last over all of my rad treatments.  Btw, I did 25 (or was it 28?) daily rads while also doing 2nd half of full dose chemos in 2001. 

I should have been more bold and asked the nurse for MORE tubes of Aquaphor.  Yes, several of my cotton t-shirts/tanks did get saturated w/it ... and can still see a bit of it in those clothes today BUT it REALLY helped ease the (as someone described it to me) "most intense sunburn you've ever received". 

Looking back I would start the using the Aquaphor as soon as I began radiation and apply, soak in, apply and soak in, and apply it again.  Oh, not to sound terrible but the fatique was real for me and I was not superwoman after that.  Of course, as I said, I was also doing my 2nd half of chemos ... and had a 2 year old to take care of  ... poor pumpkin   He had the most to adjust to.  BUT he's 11 years old now and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat if it meant I could be where I am today. 

 The pain and discomfort of treatment will end and then you will adjust to your "new" life.  Looking back to where I've been and where I am now, if I can do it, then you DEFINITELY can do it, too!

hydeskate

I too found radiation a piece of cake.  The only issue I had was the hit my pocket took, 1 hr round trip every day for the entire month of July for 30 rad treatments that were shorter than the time it took me to drive there.

Sandeeonherown

I was told radiation would make me feel fatigue like I had never experienced in my life..all the books and sites said so....

So, I was determined for that NOT to be true. I went on an adrenal glad support for the three weeks prior to radiation (and three weeks afterwards as well), signed up for a personal trainer, at 3 meals a day including drinking smoothies and green tea and kept going to pump classes and I continued to work full time. It helped me keep my sanity. I only took one day off work (had an emotional melt down...cried for about 18 hours) but physically, I was ok. Emotionally I was more inclined to cry than usual but I figured I was allowed given the situation....I did not experience trouble swallowing or anything....just did my best to keep to my regular schedule and keep things as 'normal' as possible. I spent a couple of those weekends with a galpal who went through it all 8 years ago and I let my fears out with her, which helped me immensely.

I used aloe vera on my skin when I got dressed, when I got home from radiation and at bed time. My radiation tehcnicians were amazed by how great my skin remained. It only got red and peeled etc. once radiation was over and cortisone and eucerin cream did the trick for those two weeks...I am very fair but had no trouble.

I had my mp3 player ready to go and spent my time in the radiation waiting room listening to music and reading....stayed in my own little planet and focused on the fact that radiation was going to war on the little #$%$'s in my breast...

Think positive, believe it will be all right and stay active. My radiologist essentially said that those who have the hardest time with radiation tend to be those who are inactive...too tired after chemo or disheartened ...the adrenal gland support was a huge help...I had done it once before and I credit my ability to get through radiation in part to this. SRTS (well, I may hav eth order wrong on those letters but a health food store or naturopath could steer you on to the right path)

Good luck.

Sandeeonherown

oh yeah....forgot to add that I started my Tamoxifen three days after I started radiation..the idea of starting one more thing was too much for me...and I wanted to start the tami when I knew I would be in the hospital on a daily basis in case I had a reaction...the time it took mye to drive across town, find parking, sign in and get undressed was longer than the entire process....

You can do it:)

GabbyCal

Can you share what brand/type of Emu Oil you used? 

Also, any advice on the Canadian Method? I've read that it's just as effective as the longer methods. It doesn't seem that it's used as often as traditional and am wondering why. 

Sandeeonherown

There was a study that was running when I started my radiation....10 days only ...forcused ont he spot where the cancer was removed ...2x per day...I opted for the 'regular' or 16 hits....I think we do them for a bit longer than you folks do in the States...I usually got through 3 or 4 songs on my ipod from start to finish so....a bit longer than you folks are on the table I think.

they hav done sudies to show that 16 is as effective as 30 but I am not sure if it is a stronger zap or a longer time or both. Something I should prpbably know now that it is over and I can focus on facts and not fear....don't know how I would have fared if I had to go there 30 times....I was counting down....25% done....30% done, 50% done...only 30% left to go..only 25% left...two more ...you know the score...but 30....that is 6 weeks! Holy dinah!!! That woul dhav ebeen a lot of kleenex for me.

catwood

I had not fatigue or any side effects-sailed though--NOT LIKE CHEMO AT ALL!!!!! Shame on your doc for saying that to you-

Fearless_One

I think you will find this to be the easiest part of your journey.   And I used clear, alcohol free aloe vera gel (Fruit of the Earth), and at the end towards my "boost", I used Aquafor Healing ointment.

Laurie09

Agree with all who said that radiation is not bad - for me it was the easiest part.  

I know some people have radiation burns which are painful and some people have fatigue.  

I had no problems with radiation at all - no burns, no fatigue, really no problems at all.  

I guess if someone had a very easy time through chemo and then had a lot of side effects with radiation, for that person it could be worse than chemo, but I can't imagine anyone telling you to expect it to be worse.  That seems very odd to me.    

Rose_wood

Be careful of Aquaphor if you have allergies to lanolin.  Found Fruit of the Earth clear aloe vera gel to work best, and 100% white cotton t-shirts.  Info on this board was very helpful as my rad techs had never had someone who reacted so violently to Aquaphor, and they hand out the sample tubes freely to all their patients.  I had to do my own research to find what worked for me.

Sherryc

I have to say I did not have the easiest journey.  I am fair skinned and very sensitive to sunlight which I was very worried about.  2 weeks in I had a horrible rash, got that cleared up and though things were going good and then at the end my nipple/areola was like ground meat.  I only had a couple of blisters but they would burst and turn dry which is good.  My boost would not have been that bad except they had to include my areola/nipple area which was already raw.  I also was given the option for a break or quit but choose to take pain pills and finish.  Suprisingly I started healing up right away and the pain went away.  Not eveyone reacts this way you just have to know your body.  I creamed all day long with the script the RO gave me.  I really wanted my skin to be good when it was over.  I am still healing but I think I will be OK.  My fatique was not as bad as others, but I exercise alot and I think that helped.  My RO said I would help me and also said it would help my skin heal

Sandeeonherown

My Ro also said exercize really helps to combat the fatigue and everything I read said the same thing (Crazy Sexy Cancer tips and Crazy Sexy Cancer survivor...loved those books...and so good fo rhe heart and soul)...I used the clear aloe gel too and my skin was fine until 4 days after adn then it looked  and felt like a sunburn, but I am very fair skinned and avoid the sun so...all said and done, I did much beter than I or the technicians etc. had anticipated. Just keep your skin well aloed and take the cortisone at the end of rads and use it....the only negative the aloe is it stuck to my clothes so...had to give myself a few extra minutes inthe am to ensure it had time to dry! (not a big deal at all it he grand scheme of things)

Loucks2

That is crazy too...everyone I have ever wrote to or read about almost always says there is nothing to it..hardly no side effects other than a little tiredness later on and some skin problems...dont believe everything someone tells you, even your doctor.. I am going through it and cant even tell..

Claire_in_Seattle

Really important is to slop on the aloe upon dressing, which I did from the first rad going forward.  About two weeks into the process, I would follow this with a thick layer of Bag Balm (veterinary product for sore udders.....figured it would work on my own "personal udder" and it did).

I did the aloe/Bag Balm again in the evening.

Nothing worse than a bit red and minor peeling.

I exercised every day, but did get more tired towards the end.  Just needed a few more naps.  I did the Seattle-to-Portland Bicycle Classic (200 miles over 2 days) within six weeks of finishing, and two 45 mile events the two weekends following the finish.

So not fun, but extremely easy compared to chemo.

It does take a bit of time to heal though, so I am still a bit sore in the area.  But in no way affects what I do....just what bras I can wear.  So still waiting to finally heal before replacing anything.

Good luck.......

Vlady4848

Thanks for the insurance. a little late. but not always on-line. work home n sleep. besides watching grandkids.    I appreciate the comfort   

Vlady4848

Thanks so much for advice. im not on-line that much. i appreciate your experience. its making me feel more comfortable. I will remember the Auquaphor!!      Sincerely vicki

Sandeeonherown

Vicki....aloe aloe aloe ....and hten aloe some more...when the rads are finished, your skin will continue to feel the affects for a couple of weeks. At that point, I switched to Eucerin calming lotion (recommended by the radiology folks) and I kept my skin soaked with it...when th eredness started under my arm where the lymph nodes had been removed, I switched to cortisone and eucerin...tha only lasted about a week...or a full tube's worth...now my skin is fine and the radiatin healed the scars..they are no longer red and puffy...can barely notice the one on my breast. The sin is a bit darker under the arm but there is no itch or burn.

good luck!

Alcie1

Rads effects depends on what is in the radiation field.  I happened to have left-sided cancer nearly on the chest wall.  Being older, a bit floppy and fairly large, my rads hit the stomach and a rib.  I got horribly nauseous and anemic and had low white count halfway through.

I had almost no skin problems.  I didn't use anything greasy because the nurse told me women who have greasy skin get burned more.  I did use aloe after every treatment.

Rads hit my lymphatic system hard.  I don't have edema, but I did get axillary cording.

At my age, with my low onco score, I wish I hadn't undergone the radiation.

kalyson

So if your onco score is low, you can maybe skip radiation?

CTMOM1234

Just wanted to add to the 2 posts up about getting zapped on the left side. I also had that, but thankfully my treatments were given in the prone (face down) position. No hitting my stomach or ribs and minimal involvement of heart and lung.