High Blood Pressure and Radiation

aussielovergirl

I am new to the board and looking for information from anyone that has been on HBP meds while getting radiation.  The medication causes photosensitivity and requires you to be careful in the sun, but the radiologist made no mention of my medication in the consultation.  I am concerned how my skin is going to react and now I am worried  that it might cause "more tanning/burning/ irritation" . I am considering halting my medication for the 6 weeks I will be undergoing radiation.   I found one site that mentioned radiation/ along with sun exposure, but only that one site.

 

Thanks in advance !

Disneygirl44

hi Aussielovergirl,

I just finished my rads and I'm on blood pressure medicine. I did ok with it. I met with my RO and nurse every week & they always verified my medications, checked my skin, always gave me creams to use. In addition to check my blood pressure. The worst part was in the folds of the skin for me: armpit and under my breast and they weren't a direct hit from the beam. Good luck, though. I hope you get through it well. 

aussielovergirl

Thank you for responding Disneygirl4    I'm surprised when people say that areas that are not a direct hit get irritated... like under the arm pit ? Hope you are healing well !  I am very worried about the bad reactions I've heard about.

I'm very nervous about starting tomorrow.    Can I ask what meds you were on ?  I just switched to Bystolic -and I'm on a water pill.  These medicines to make you photosensitive to sunlight, so I am worried it will be worse with the radiation too !  When I was diagnosed I was on Nifedipine, but I read that there are some links to DCIS breast cancer so I stopped immediately and had my Dr. switch me.  She had never heard anything about the correlation. So I gave her the websites and she agreed to switch me.

 

 

aussielovergirl

Disneygirl4  How long was your radiation treatment ?  Are you planning to take Tamoxifen ?

aussielovergirl

I purchased a home blood pressure monitor and have been checking myself daily.  I went off of my medication for the time being and my blood pressure is staying low.  So I'm  taking curcumin now and lots of green tea.  Drinking less wine, and trying to get my exercise in every day... but at this point, halfway through radiation, I'm feeling ok.