I wanted to know what expect from radiation?

Newhomes01

hello everyone,

1. I am new to this group and unfortunately new to having breast cancer. I will start radiation on 12/17. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what to expect?

JoE777

How many treatments will you take? That will make a difference

Newhomes01

i will have 4 weeks 20 total

Newhomes01

4 weeks 20 sessions

Moderators

Hi Newhomes,

We're so very sorry to hear of your diagnosis. You're sure to get great support and information here though!

We'd suggest you join the December 2018 Radiation thread, where you can chat with others who are currently undergoing radiation therapy, and get some insight about what to expect.

In addition, you may be interested in checking out the main Breastcancer.org site's section on External Whole-Breast Radiation, including the page on what to expect.

We hope this helps and we hope to hear more from you!

--The Mods

AliceBastable

It varies a lot from one facility to the next as to procedure and amenities and practices, and of course it varies WIDELY from one individual to another. Some sail through it with little to no skin issues, some get severe burns and other problems, and most of us are in the middle with a range of moderate reactions.

DeeBB

I'm scheduled for 20 sessions, well 22 I guess. I started 12/03 so today was my 7th session. So far it hasn't been too bad. The session are quick, I'm usually there maybe 15 minutes, Mondays are a little longer because I meet with the Radiation Oncologist. I'm also the first one scheduled in the morning, I go every day at 8:00 AM and then head to work after that. I have noticed, this week I get pretty tired in the afternoons. Skin so far is doing well. My RO recommends green tea and put it in warm water then go over the breast with the green tea bag, after that I put on Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream (which is what my doctor prescribed) I do this in the dressing room right after my treatment. For the green tea I make it in a little jar or tupperware before I leave the house. My RO also suggested I order ORONINE H OINTMENT NET WT: 100 G from Amazon and I apply that at night before going to bed.

Have you already had your mapping done?

PebblesV

Hi newhomes - I just got through 30 sessions of radiation and I'm one of those with minimal side effects. Below are some tips of what to expect and what worked for me:

1. First treatment session will be the longest because they take X-rays. After that it's super quick, time to change your clothes will prob take longer than the radiation itself!

2. The actual radiation treatment is painless. You hear it, you don't feel it. The machine is kind of intimidating but focus on the music or breathing or whatever helps. Radiation therapists are usually pretty accommodating - I requested spa music during all my treatments and got it!

3. Lotion up! I applied 100% pure aloe vera gel from Fruit of the Earth morning and night plus Miaderm immediately after treatment. Anywhere I applied the lotions came out tanned and not burnt. The one area I didn't apply it because I wasn't aware the rays went that far up I got the radiation burns (which are like big scratches, not actual burns).

4. Extra bullet for Miaderm - read the Amazon reviews, you can filter by “breast cancer". Basically convinced my to buy it because those who used it said they had a much better experience and less SEs than those who didn't. Also if you have fairer skin than me might want to use it more often.

5. Stay hydrated! It's a thing. It's supposed to help. I don't know why but I had my water bottle with me and stayed hydrated.

6. Advice from my RO to keep applying the special lotions 2 weeks post treatment. I've added Aquaphor to my regime for post treatment management

7. If they are radiating your nodes, do arm exercises to keep them moving. There is a 10% to 15% risk of lymphedema with radiation treatment so be aware

Best of luck with your rads! Here's hoping it goes smoothly for you

grandmaadams

Hi Newhomes.  You can find lots of advice and suggestions for side effects in these forums. Just a note for what I found completely unexpected and shook me up pretty badly. Some women have no problem being half naked in front of strange men but as a victim of sexual assault I was not prepared for my reactions. In the past all breast exams … uncover one side do the exam, cover that side up then go to the other side. All mammograms, ultrasounds, etc were done by women. Years ago I had male Ob/Gyns but they followed the same procedure of only uncovering one side and there was always as nurse in the room during the exam. Even now there is always a nurse in the room with my Oncologist and Rad Oncologist during exams. Then I was sent for radiation treatment. No one told me that I would be stripped naked to the waist and they wanted me to be that way, with my arms above my head, during the entire treatment. Also, the rad therapists were men (the only female was on vacation) and no female would be in the room with me when the men were there. I was blindsided by the wave of terror, I thought the assault from years ago was behind me, not so, only buried. I had an emotional meltdown. I can tell you my male Rad Oncologist was incredibly understanding. BEFORE the therapy actually started, he stopped everything until the female rad therapist was back from vacation. We talked and she handled my entire therapy session herself and at no time was I ever naked to the waist. She even covered my treatment breast after set up. Their kindness and understanding got me through my treatment, the last one was October 31st this year. The reason for this huge post is to encourage you to let your people know what is going on no matter what concerns you. I have a good friend who laughed at herself saying she didn't care who saw her naked … I wish I could be a little like her. Each person is different, each has their own concerns and issues … don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. Good luck on your journey.

PrincessButtercup

My advice is to be sure to lie comfortably on the first appointment. They will make a mold for your head shape (to keep you from moving during the radiation treatments), so be sure to relax and get your head into a comfortable position for this process.

I was surprised by how long I had to lie still. Because my tumor site was on the left side, I was given a scuba-type breathing apparatus to wear and told to hold my breath. The techs were great and reassured me that I could do this, but 20 seconds is a long time if you have asthma, especially when you have to hold your breath several times in a row! I was unable to to it, so I had to switch to prone position radiation and start the set-up process all over again. Don't feel bad if this happens, but know that there is another option if you need it.

The pleasant surprise, to me, was that the machine sounded like bagpipes. I learned to time the sessions according to the length of the bagpipe sound. That gave me something positive to focus on, and it helped me to get through it.

Good luck, you can do it.

Buttercup

AliceBastable

No molds were made at my facility. The initial position was locked in on the computers and every day the techs would slightly shift me by little tugs on the robe I had on, until the tiny light beams exactly matched the X marks they had put on me the previous day. All I had to do was place my arms in double stirrups over my head - and even the position for those is calibrated for each person. I was given a soft plastic-covered ring to hold with both hands to make it easier to keep the position for the short time. I have a funky nerve in one arm, so they would always place a folded towel on the arm stirrup so I'd be comfortable. My place has nice wrap-front robes. The techs would untie the robe to get me aligned with the light beams, and re-mark my skin if necessary, then cover me up completely for the actual treatment. I only had a male tech one time when one of the others was out, and they told me the day before so I could skip a day if I wanted and reschedule at the end. He was as professional and gentle as any of the female techs. As I've said before, nearly every facility is different.

DeeBB

I didn't have any molds either. They line up everything, my left breast is bare put they cover up the other side once they get me lined up. I place my hands over my head and hold on to a handle thing and my arms rest in stirrups.They always ask if I'm cold or if I need a blanket. The first week of treatments was a male, and he was great, very professional, kind, and personable. I felt very comfortable with him. This week is a female and she is great as well, I guess they rotate every week. Today was number 8, almost half way there

Spookiesmom

After the initial mapping and tats, it was easy. Just get comfy on the table, let the techs know if you aren’t. I was asked one day if I minded a male trainee observing. No I didn’t, because by then it seemed half the hospital had seen my chest, and he was there to learn.

Fatigue is a thing too. You’re worn out from all the other tx and stress, then dragging your worn out self into rads Every. Single. Day. Be kind to yourself, nap when needed

So I’d lay there watching the machine go round and think, die cancer, die Guess it did, been 6 years.

My DD does play bagpipes, don’t think my machine sounded like her. LOL

My skin broke, it was a mess. Weeping, burned, don’t remember if it hurt. Had a week off to give it a rest and heal a bit. RO rx’d Lidocaine for the itchy, Silva dine to heal it.

Everyone is different, you can do it😎.

Runrcrb

Newhomes01 (and others with similar questions) - this is the summary I wrote on my Caringbridge site after I completed radiation. My stats are in the signature block and I did finish radiation at the end of March 2017. When I look for it, I can still see the discoloration on the side of my trunk but otherwise, no lasting side effects from radiation. I worked full time during radiation and walked or ran most days (no swimming or business travel allowed).

Brutal

That's the word that comes to mind every time I think back to radiation.

Each person with cancer has a different experience with treatment, even when having the same surgeries or drugs as another. This is my reflection on my experience with radiation.

Last summer, once I knew that I'd have a mastectomy and radiation I remember thinking "is it really a cancer experience if you don't have to go through chemo?" I know, weird things to think. Anyway, in September when I learned that chemo would be part of the treatment, I honestly thought that would be the worst thing. I was wrong.

On the surface, radiation seemed straightforward. I had a consultation last fall where Dr C explained the likely plan, walked me through the steps for preparation, and answered questions. In January, after finishing chemo, I went in for my CT Simulation. This is when they use a CT scan to plan out exactly where they will apply radiation. In order to be consistent in the treatment, once I was in position (on my back, arm up and over my head, slight heard turn to the left, etc.), four tattoos were made. The tattoos aid the technicians as they line you up at each treatment.

When I started treatment in February, Kim, Nathan and Jason were my primary technicians. There are a half dozen or more who work in the practice and two shifts when the patient load is high, but 80% of the time, those three were the ones lining me up and hitting me with their best shots. On my first day, they did comment that the woman completing my CT Simulation must have really liked me because my tattoos were so small. (I can't find them – freckles and moles already there plus can't see through glasses at the angles necessary!) Since the tattoos were small, they applied stickers and marked with sharpies to speed up the daily process of positioning me.

My appointments were originally at 4pm and then shifted to 4:15pm. Sometimes they called me right back for treatment, other times it ran a little late. Always, I wore my silk robe, thank you very much, Ro. Generally, I was out of the office by 5pm. Radiation was scheduled five days a week and one day each week I met with Dr C. My plan called for 28 days for the primary field followed by a 7-day boost, for a total of 35. For 28 week days, I received three radiation treatments – one on the clavicle and two on the breast (different angles). The last 7 treatments were targeted to the scar under my breast.

I started radiation on a Thursday. According to my notes, I began to have pain that weekend. By the following weekend, I was in so much pain that I was Googling to determine which of my available pain meds would be most effective. I wrote a post about that. The weird thing was that the pain wasn't in the radiation field. This lasted for several weeks – even had an x-ray of the shoulder/upper arm – which confirmed my suspicions that nothing was going to show. I declined the MRI and got a massage instead. That did help.

After about four weeks of radiation, I began to see the skin changes. Think of radiation as causing a big ole sunburn. It began with a rash and then continued to redden. I don't have a tape measure handy but roughly, my radiation field was 9"x12", from center of my chest to under my right arm, and from my clavicle to below my breast. In addition to the redness, there was, and still is, swelling, particularly noticeable along the trunk, as my arm hangs at my side.

The redness continued to increase until about a week after my last radiation treatment. About a week after that, skin began to peel. I was very careful to simply let the skin slough off as I knew pulling on skin that wasn't ready was not a good idea. About this time, the pain was significantly less. As a matter of fact, the day that I fell and broke my arm was the first day in 7 weeks that I was in less pain than the day before. (Of course, that changed with the arm break!)

From the first week of radiation until last week, approximately week 11, I put Aquaphor on my skin twice a day; for about three weeks at the height of the burn, I also applied aloe vera twice a day. I don't know if these steps prevented worse skin reactions but I do know these steps helped me.

I am feeling much better now and my skin looks much better. I can still see the radiation field very clearly but I'm not sure if the casual observer in the Y locker room can. I am no longer in pain but I do still have some swelling. I had been warned of fatigue as a side effect, both by my doctor and my friend Mary, but I never experienced (or at least didn't notice) fatigue. The pain level and duration that I experienced was not on my radar.

As I think about the two surgeries, three months of chemo and seven weeks of radiation I've under gone to remove and cure my cancer, radiation was by far the most difficult step in the process.