anyone with long term side effects from radiation?

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s3434
s3434 Member Posts: 46
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
anyone with long term side effects from radiation?
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  • s3434
    s3434 Member Posts: 46
    edited January 2009

    Hi everyone, I was DX 11/12/08. 0.6 cm,Stage 1,0/2SNB, ER+PR+. HER2-. So the docs have recommended lumpectomy with radiation. (no chemo).  I had the lumpectomy and got clear margins after two surgeries. Haven't started rads yet- I'm waiting on a second opinion. I'm still considering a mastectomy because I'm afraid of the radiaion and side effects- short and long term. So many women on this site choose mastectomy (even ones with stage 0) is it because of fear of rads??? Please can someone help me decide? Maybe best reasons to choose one over the other in my situation.  (no family history of breast CA)  thanks

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    Radiation treatment has come along way.  With the 3D imaging, they have the ability to more effectively target the radiation and minimize damage to the heart and lungs.  I had 28 rad sessions and am now 5 years out.  I haven't noticed any long term effects from the radiation treatment.

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  • s3434
    s3434 Member Posts: 46
    edited January 2009

    thanks for your  reply AlwaysHope- glad to hear from someone 5 yrs out. 

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  • sheila5859
    sheila5859 Member Posts: 35
    edited January 2009

    I'm on my 7th visit and the only thing I have noticed so far is that I stay sleepy all the time. Has anyone else felt that way?

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  • lafera12
    lafera12 Member Posts: 71
    edited January 2009

    I finished radiation the beginning of Dec.--I was also tired, so I asked the nurse...It's not uncommon to be tired, you are coming here everyday for treatments.  The only other side effect I had was my skin was burned ( very much like a sunburn), but used creams and now its fine.

    Angie

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  • Linda54
    Linda54 Member Posts: 2,689
    edited January 2009

    I had radiation 23 years ago.  So I guess it was the old kind.  I have not had any effects from it that I know of.  As far as I know my lungs and heart are healthy.  I am 55 years old and can run marathons without ill effects.

    Linda

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  • PSK07
    PSK07 Member Posts: 781
    edited January 2009

    I had DCIS and finished rads 12/30/07. One year out, no problems at all. I was mentally and physically wiped out by the rads, but from what the doctor said I was at one end of the spectrum. Many women work throughout and have no issues/tiredness.

    The side effects are cumulative, and it took me about 2-3 months to get completely back to normal energy levels - I went back to full-time work 2 weeks after treatments ended. My mom had chemo and to this day (18 years later) can't remember jack from those 6 months. Not an issue with rads.

    It's a hard decision to make, but for me, there was plenty of tissue remaining, a great surgeon, great margins, and a great cosmetic result. Mastectomy was more treatment than was necessary in my particular case.

    Best to you. Take care.

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  • NYCarol
    NYCarol Member Posts: 347
    edited January 2009

    I had 33 radiation treatments 6 1/2 years ago.  I was tired after the 20th treatment, had some slight burning during the last week, but other than that, it was not a problem at all, and I've had no issues from radiation since then other than an occasional sore rib (which may or may not be the result of the radiation)

    I don't think many women have a mastectomy to avoid radiation.  I think women pick one path or the other based on personal feelings about losing a breast or not.  My physician assured me that the results of mastectomy or lumpectomy and rads were almost identical.  I chose the later because I didn't want to have reconstruction in the future, and because I wanted to save my breast if I could.  Others feel safer if their breast is removed.  There is no right or wrong answer.  It is an emotional decision for many of us. 

    Whatever you decide will be right for you.

    Carol

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  • s3434
    s3434 Member Posts: 46
    edited January 2009

    Thanks to all the women who responded to my question. You're all my new best friends and I love you. I appreciate the info you all sent- it REALLY helped so much. I'll keep you all in my thoughts.  S.

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  • lizzy68
    lizzy68 Member Posts: 25
    edited January 2009

    I'm glad there was so much on this topic. I was wondering if I should have just had my left breast removed as I'm nervouse of radiation. I decieded I wanted to keep my breast so I had a lumpectomy and I'm having my lymph nodes checked on 1-8-09.  Hearing it said that there were no side affects other than tired!!! I can handle that!!! THANK you all for your input... My fears are at rest.

    Lizzy

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  • BCinMN
    BCinMN Member Posts: 25
    edited January 2009

    I will be starting radiation soon and from all the material I have read and researched, radiation has fewer side effects than chemo.  I have not received my oncotype test results but I can tell you in advance that I am more worried about chemo than radiation.  Chemo wipes your energy level also so you just have to do what you need to do to get back to good health.  I am lucky to be in Minneapolis where there are excellent doctors whom I have total trust in.  It is sad that breast cancer is so widespread.  I had no idea.  I have really learned alot by reading these blogs.  Thanks everyone for your honest, candid input.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with bc.  That's a boat load.

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