how bad is radiation

pattibear

hi everyone, im a stage 3 breast cancer woman finishing up my last chemo in 4weeks(thank god) after a masectomy and reconstruction the doctors want me to do 6 weeks of radiation. is it as bad as chemo. i think im more nervous of radiation then the chemo. any info would be helpful  .i love this site,because your the only people who know how i feel

sandiddstn

Hi there Pattibear...  I am 6 weeks out of rads and  all I can offer is that it is doable.  My skin held up pretty good, or so they say... I also had to do 6 weeks but what got to me is that I had an hour drive one way.  Was sooo worn out...  I was doing good, then one day bammmm it hit me.  So just drink plenty of water and rest .  It will be over before you know it..  And come here anytime.  These ladies sure know what they are talking about... I know more from here then from my dr's...  Let us know how you are doing... Best of luck and remember to DRINK>>>>

Vlady4848

Hi im Vicki, Im going through rads now! I had my 3rd treatment fri. I have 6 1/2 weeks total. Im working full time n did w chemo. I took a few days sick time w chemo n thats it. TRUST me!! Chemos the worst!! Rads burn your skin, n make you a little tired, but compared to chemo!! Its a breeze. If you had chemo, This will be a walk in the park. Take care!!! Sincerely Vicki

clariceak

Rads are so easy compared to chemo. I had a blast (sorry) during my treatment. I was able to travel to Monterey and had rads in the morning and went hiking in the mountains in the afternoon. You'll start to feel like yourself again. For most people, the skin discomfort comes in the last few weeks and for ten or so days after it has ended.

Let-It-Be

Rads was a breeze.  It felt a bit like a job that I went to every day.  At least I had something to do other than feeling sick sitting on the couch!  I drove in every day 1 hour each way, parked far, had a lovely walk in.  I got to know my rads team quite well.  While I was being zapped, I just closed my eyes and relaxed.   It was seriously too easy compared to chemo.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but, enjoy your rads!!  Up here the recommended cream was glaxol base cream.  Good luck

cookiegal

The first few weeks were easy....after about 3 and a half weeks the fatigue and a bit of brain fog set in. It got a little worse the days after I was done.

I was told to expect about 4-8 weeks for the symtoms to clear. Some of this probably has to do with how high your dose is.

If I had been employed at the time I probably would have needed 2-3 weeks off. Some women do have an easier time with it.

karen1956

Pattibear....for me rads was a walk in the park compared to chemo.....fatigue is cumulative and last about 2 weeks post rads....my skin burned a little and was itchy, but otherwise it was not problem...I worked during rads...went right after work.....I did rads in August....I barely sat down before I was called...I think I was there max 30 minutes....I had 25 rads....the rad techs were wonderful...Glad you found this wonderful place....hugs, karen

Celtic_Spirit

I had six weeks of radiation, and at around week four I began to feel fatigued. I slept a lot and had little energy. My rads ended the day before Thanksgiving 2008, and I took two weeks off from work at Christmas. I slept the first week and felt much better the second. On New Years Day, I went hiking, and after that my energy returned at a phenomenal rate!

My skin got pretty red and a bit crispy but never blistered or became weepy. I had an easy time with chemo, so I can't say that rads were so much easier than chemo for me. Use lots of aloe vera and lotion. I used Aquafor (sp?), Jason's aloe vera, and emu oil.

jennyboog

Congrats on moving forward with tx.  I'm in rads now...22 of 30 and it's so much easier than chemo.  I didn't even know they were doing anything until last week when I started getting red and the arm pit got a little sore, it does itch but it's really not bad at all.  I have a 40 min drive to get there and going everyday gets a bit old but it's hard to believe I've only got 2 more weeks.  Hope your surgery goes well, keep us informed. 

caaclark

Rads was easier for me too.  Plus-by the end of radiation you will have hair.

skigrl

You are on the home stretch! I also had a long haul to my radiation, 185 miles round trip every week day for six weeks. My skin did not suffer any effects at all, I put pure aloe on my skin before I got dressed right after radiation. I was tired driving home a few times I had to pull over to rest before continuing on. I was able to have drivers once in a while. My radiation was 10 in the morning, then we always went out to lunch after or did a little shopping. Compared to chemotherapy it was a piece of cake. Good luck and stop to rest if you need to.

KerryMac

Yeah, no problems for me either.

I had 25 Rads, didn't burn, didn't feel too fatigued. My Rads team was great - I mostly had the same techs each day, they knew my kids names, were very friendly, etc. They played music during the zapping, it really wasn't too awful at all. You do get a bit sick of going in every day, but I was starting to feel really good after Chemo, and it was the beginning of summer - not bad memories of it at all.

I stopped wearing my wig about 1/2 way through as well - got lots of "wow, you have so much hair" comments from others - only in a Cancer Centre, eh!

kathleen1966

I finished my rads about a week ago.  It was not that bad, though my hair is still growing in very slow. I got a bit tired AFTER it was all over.  Still have to wear a hat.  Have a bit of chest heaviness that has gotten a lot better.  I am assuming it is from the Rads.  I have no breast for added protection.  Feel good though. I hope you do well! 

Claire_in_Seattle

I would probably have been less tired if I hadn't been training for summer cycling events.  About the end of Week 4, I felt an energy dip, and I did need extra naps.  I did two 45 mile cycling events immediately following and the Seattle-to-Portland (202 miles over 2 days) w/i six weeks of finishing.

I recommend chocolate-lavender macaroons for energy recovery.  Major difference the day I ate them during a Three Rose Gardens ride I did with two friends.

I had minimal skin damage....no more than a bit of peeling, and was relatively unbothered by it.

You really are through the worst now.  I found those last 4 weeks of chemo difficult, as got a mind-body dislocation.  I was sooooooooooooooooooooo done mentally, but my body took a bit of time to catch up.  This happened about 4 weeks into rads.

For your skin, aloe, aloe, and more aloe.  I also used Bag Balm, which we had used on our cows when I was growing up.  I thought that cows would be a good endorsement, as their relieved expressions said everything.   It worked just great on my own personal udder.

KerryMac

Yeah, I slathered myself with thick layers of cream too - I used Glaxol base cream. I put it on every time I thought of it. Seemed to work as I didn't burn - although the radiated area is still a darker colour than the rest of my torso.

SoGr8fl

For me rads was like a walk in the park compared to chemo.  I had 6 weeks of radiation in 2008 and just finished another 6 weeks (different location for bone met) this month.  My skin did burn (like a bad sunburn) both times but I used aloe and that helped a lot.  I found it draining to have to go to treatment every day and the radiation itself did decrease my energy but the time flew by for me and I hope it does for you too.

pattibear

thankyou so much for talking the time to allieviate my fears, from all your replies if its not as bad as chemo  i can handle it. thanks, you women are the best

Laurie09

I agree with everyone, I had no problems with radiation.  Definitely way easier than chemo. 

I guess some people get fatigued with rads, but I had none of that.  I did get a burn, like a bad sunburn, but it was under my axillary region where I had an axillary dissection and the skin was numb so I couldn't feel it.  

Good luck to you!  

SATEX12

Hi There,

Like most of the other ladies here, I agree that after chemo, rads is not so bad. I just finished my 33 tx ( treated in seven different areas), IMRT, three weeks ago and am now in the processing of re-expanding my left tissue expander. It was deflated to allow for the best targeting of the radiation beams. I had some burning to the collarbone and neck area, but not horrible and pretty well managed throughout the process. I used Miaderm two or three times every day, then on the areas that sustained some burning, I used a gel called Alta Gel which has silver in it. The areas that burned healed amazingly fast and I think it was due to the extra attention with the Alta Gel. It's especially helpful if you end up with any broken skin.

Anyhow, the only thing to add is that even though rads is a lot easier than chemo, you are nearing the end of a very gruelling treatment plan so you still need to be kind to yourself and listen to your body. Get lots of rest and my Radiation Onc also said no cutting back on calories and eat lots of good quality protein to help with the tissue repair.

I actually got my second, post rads, fill in my left tissue expander today and my PS is very pleased at how well my skin looks. You're going to do great. Oh,one other little thing, since my burning was on the left collarbone and neck, I kept a very soft little scarf in my car and put it under my seat belt to avoid any rubbing on that area ( I was driving myself back and forth each day). It really helped minimize the potential for further skin breaks. One lady I know at my clinic carried a baby blanket for the same purpose and it helped her as well. You could use just about anything that's soft and not abrasive though...

Good luck, it will be over before you know it!

elmcity69

Hi Patti,

I'm so sorry you have to join us - there are fabulous women on these boards, however.

As many of the gals have said: radiation is easier than chemo. I definitely recommend Aquaphor - I purchased it in the HUGE tub - and to slather it on after your treatment. Also frosted myself with it at night - ruined waaay too many tank tops, but my fair Irish skin held up nicely!

The worst part was the fatigue, which was pretty marked by the end. Daily naps took care of that.

Good luck. You're in my thoughts.

xo