Radiation Boost help!

Kadychiv

Hey everyone! I am just finished 20 of 33 radiation treatments. I was told that I will need 5 boost treatments, and I'm a little nervous about it. My mother had breast cancer 16 years ago and when she had radiation boost she said she got horrible blisters. So far, my skin looks great according to my doctor. It is a little pink and dry, but I apply Aloe right after treatment and I also apply mometasone cream that my doc prescribed to me 2x a day. Did anyone have bad side effects with the Boost? Should I apply extra cream now in those areas where the boost will be targeted.

MsPharoah

Hi, everyone is different. When I had radiation, I did well....got pink, itchy and lost some skin in the breast fold. The boosts just caused my skin to get a little pinker and I didn't change my slathering regimen. The healing in the non-boost areas started right away so by the time the boosts ended, I was doing well. I had 6 boosts.....I was never able to find out why I got that extra boost! But talk to your rad onc for guidance.

Good luck...you're almost done!

MsP

Molly50

I actually found the boosts much easier than the WBR. Don't worry too much about it. Just keep a good eye on your skin and tell the RO if you are having trouble.

ORknitter

I had no problems with the boosts, and very little problem with radiation as a whole.

Northernflower

To piggyback on this topic....I have had 25 of 33 treatments and today started the boost. I'm wondering if others have had what I noticed: a couple hours after today's treatment, I was suddenly hit with major fatigue. Plus some nausea. Up until late last week, I had no fatigue; then, I started noticing a little, not too bad. But today! Wow, it came on fast and was major. I've spent a lot of time lying down and feel quite a bit better now, but am thinking it may be a very long week and a half. Anybody else had this experience? Does it resolve pretty soon after finishing the boost? Any input would be appreciated.

Meadow

Northernflower, yes what you are feeling is normal. Radiation effects are cumulative. I did see the effects stayed with me for a few weeks after treatment. But you may have picked up a bug, maybe you just are not feeling well too. Hang in there, you are almost finished! That is something to be very proud of!

Northernflower

Meadow...well, I've had a cold for the past week and a half, but it's (SLOWLY, oh so slowly) getting better. Plus, I have MS, so I suppose it could be the radiation interacting with that. I'm just going to have to grit my teeth and get through it. Thanks for the cheerleading!

JuniperCat

Has anyone ever opted out of having the boosts

Hopeful82014

Juniper, the boost targets the actual tumor bed - the tissue from which your tumor was removed. (As I'm sure you know) To my way of thinking, it would be tragic to go all the way through radiation and decline the boost.

If you are seriously concerned/thinking about doing so, please have a good sit down discussion with your RO and/or your radiation nurse.

I actually found the boosts somewhat more tiring than WBR but the skin reaction was less, which I think has to do with the type of radiation they're using and the way it's targeted, which is quite different than for the whole breast radiation.

Like Ms. Pharoah, I found the rest of my breast fading quickly during the boosts and the boost area did not turn as pink as I thought it might. However, if you're having real problems with the WBR, you might ask your RO about taking a break from the WBR by doing the boosts now and then completing the WBR.

Good luck - I know it's a pain and it's hard to make oneself turn up each day, always wondering just how much worse it will get. However, you're totally entitled to as much help as you need from your radiation team to get through this. Never forget that.

Meadow

Hopeful, hitting the "LIKE" button

Hopeful82014

Thank you, Meadow!

JuniperCat

Thank you so much for your advice, encouragement and kind words! Today after rads the nurse mixed up a compound of lidocaine, acquafor and Avo cream. I'm feeling strange deep tissue type pain in my breast and the nurse said that the cream will help. Ugh...I feel like such a baby about this!!

Hopeful82014

Juniper, I hope that salve helps a LOT. PLEASE do not beat up on yourself; RT is no picnic and having things get worse by the day IS grueling, physically and emotionally.

So much, too, depends on your build, your skin, the tumor location - we all hurt our way through it to varying degrees. The best thing you can do is speak up and get the help you need. Enjoy your weekend of recovery, ok?

Marie12341234

I got severe 3rd degree burns followed by horrible scar tissue and neurotic tissue. I am a year out and still in severe pain. I would never have done it. If it damages you they cannot fix it and you will be in pain for years. I’ve already had 1 surgery and am now starting hyperbaric oxygen therapy. I will never be right. See if lowering the risk (which the science behind a boost is iffy) to the fact you may be in pain the rest of your life and permanentlydeformed.

lyzzysmom

My RO promised they would not let my fair freckly skin burn and they didn't, no worse than sunburn, but everyone is different and some do have a more severe reaction. I used only Elta light cream that the RO supplied and had 33 sessions including boosts. The only affect was fatigue and a few weeks for the sunburn and minor peeling to clear up. Make sure to discuss all your concerns with your RO.