Diseases after radation

 I looked for side effects of radiation and statistics on long term effects, very little information.  If anyone has a good site that can tell me what percentage of radiation patients get other cancers down the road, I am interested.

 Thanks for sharing about the shingles. Sorry you got this. I get marked for my rad on 5/13/11 and will have 6 weeks. I did not have to have cemo. I am very nervous about the rad treatments.

Please sistas come visit the thread after the Rads. there is lots of info we share.we also have some fun too.If you are doing the rads you cannot get the shingle shot.you have to wait until you are 2 months finished.GET THE SHOT ASAP.As Lago says no one wants that shit.I thought it was over after the rads were finished...SURPRISE.BC IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.IT SURE DOES SUK.huggggggggs K

beatacancer some people do get chills and headaches shingles. I didn't. I would check with your doctor and let him/her know. BTW if you don't have narcotics for pain you should ask your doctor about that. When my doctor asked me if I had any (I did) I never thought I would actually take them since I didn't after my BMX or on chemo. There was on day I was in so much pain I did.

It's now 3 weeks for me and I still take ibuprofen for the pain although not quite as bad. The itching is really bad now but I know that's a good sign of things healing. 

hang in there. This so far as been the most painful part of my journey… but you will get through it. Just be sure to have the meds you need.

I assume you get antivirals from your doctor.

I was on Valtrex too. My doctor said it was no miricle drug. I was breaking out for a full week. Begining of the second week it started to dry up.

My doctor had me on Valtrex for 2 weeks although that is not the norm to be on it that long. As the blisters dry up the pain does get worse. I did take 1/2 norco twice. It still hurt just hurt less. As it dried up the pain actually got worse.

If it looks like an infection I would call your doctor again. Mine did not look like an infection. Just a cherry red bumpy rash with blisters. The blisters eventually dried up and fell off.

It's been 3 weeks & 3 days and I still have redness, itching and some burning but not as bad and the burning is only in the area where the rash broke out. 

Hang in there. This can last 2-6 weeks from what I have read. In some cases the pain can last longer. I thought I would have that issue but now that it's feeling better I know it will go away.

Jo-5 I believe you can't get the shingles vaccine if your immune system is down. Both Chemo and Rads do a job on your immune system. Not sure how long you need to wait after treatment is done. You med/rad onc would know for sure.

beatcancer I'm in my 4th week but the pain isn't so bad. I'm actually wearing jeans again but as I mentioned still doing ibuprofen. For a while there I was wearing soft yoga pants but there were days when I really needed nothing touching me. I did consider vacuuming nake… decided to let the vacuuming go.

Grannydukes is right the after radiation thread is great.  I am 3 1/2 months out and had a pretty hard time during radiation.  About a month ago I started itching used the hydrocortisone and it helped a little but not much the next week went to my RO for a follow up and told him about the itching and he said just use the hydrocortisone.  So the following week I had a dematologist appt and the day before broke out in a rash.  He gave me a prescription to keep on hand because he said that once you have radiated skin that it is much more sensitive and will always be that way.  He said you can break out in a rash just from a piece of clothing rubbing the wrong way.  He stressed this will be with me for life. I used the cream for a week and half and it went away.

Oh and I might add the dermatologist told me the over the counter hydro-cortisone cream that the RO's tell us to use are worthless.  That is why he gave me a script of something that works.  He even said that RO's really need to be more aggressive in skin care during radiation.  My RO had me use a really good cream to try to prevent problems but once they started was very hesitant it really giving me something to clear it up.  I don't really get it.

Luan he gave me Kenalog .1% it comes in ointment or cream.  he said this is a good general one to have on hand for most things.  There is a lessor one that is .025%-he said do not waste your money on that one it is not much stronger than over the counter creams.

Sherryc - Thanks very much for the information about sunscreen.  The tech was very nice during treatment, but very dramatic when she said no sun "forever".  She looked at me like I was being naughty when I said I was going to Orlando shortly after end of rads.  I haven't been able to find anything on the web that says no sun exposure ever on the rads area, even with sunscreen.  I plan to get some SPF 50.  Thanks again.

Becky - Wow, I've never heard of SPF 100.  Will have to check that out at the store.

JO - What happens when you get some sun on that area?  Does it get sore or burn very quickly?  The tech didn't say what the consequences would be, but gave me the impression they would be dire.  I thought maybe my breast might fall off, lol, which wouldn't be so bad - I'm mad at it!

Have a great holiday on the Outer Banks!  Sitting in the shade, reading and sipping tea sounds heavenly!

Just posting this a fact which may not have been known about or given to some of you regarding effects of radiation:  LATE RADIATION EFFECTS.  LATE radiation effects are now receiving more attention because more of us are surviving longer, allowing such effects to surface!

After some benign lumpectomies on my LEFT BREAST, I had another LEFT BREAST lumpectomy  - this time diagnosed as cancer.  I chose NOT to have any other treatments. The whole time period covered several years.

In 2003, I was again diagnosed with cancer of the LEFT BREAST.  Reluctantly I was persuaded to at least have radiation of the LEFT BREAST.

Having a known history of sensitive skin, I feared I would have champion radiation burn effects. I followed the advice of fellow patients and used aloe and did not wear a bras from the very beginning.  I still think that had something to do with my experiencing MINIMAL side effects.

Jump to spring of 2009 with no side effects in the interim.  One morning, I noticed a pea sized blister on the underside of my LEFT BREAST. Fortunately, just where I could see it.  Alarmed, I was able to get an appointment the next day.

Too make a long story short:  I ended up with a LEFT BREAST covered with severe blistering and redness. A biopsy proved BENIGN.  I was diagnosed with what is called LATE RADIATION EFFECTS which were later complicated by a diagnosis of Bullous Pemphigoid (so far localized).   The medical staff were/are challeged as to how to deal with such blistering. So severe was my condition that my HMO authorized Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for me. HBO2 Treatment in conjuntion with some pills has made a huge difference.

HBO2 Chamber gets a lot of use for divers, burn victims, diabetic patients having difficulty in surgery healing, and other types of difficult wound healing situations. The supersaturated high pressure environment of pure O2 envigorates cells to do their normal activity in a normal manner - reproduce and do chemical exchanges normally.  We were assured that there is plenty of statistical evidence debunking notions of HBO2 treatment envigorating cancerous cells.

Truly, for some fun, go ahead and do a GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH for hyperbaric oxygen OR FOR  hyperbaric oxygen chamber.

BTW, I only use Kiss My Face, a castile soap, recommended by my Dermatologist.    For laundry, I use Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap (and even then do a second cycle of just plain water), which I am most easily able to get at Whole Foods.  I believe these soaps are also available online.

>>> Just in case it did not register: radiaton 2003 no problems until 2009 when LATE RADIATION EFFECTS appeared.  Bear in mind, not everyone will have the kind of effects I experienced or even any late radiation effects.

 LOL from one of the "bubble heads" of the multi patient "bubble head ship" in Illinois.

Thank you, this is a very informative thread.  Jo and Sherry - After reading your posts, I think I will just cover up for a year and use sunscreen next year.  That whole side is blotchy looking and the breast feels sore (I'm 4 months from end of rads).  My ribs are also sore now, were yours?  Sherry, I thought UV rays couldn't go through glass so I'm wondering if some do get through or if the heat or light is affecting your skin.  I had no idea about these long-term effects.  They were not explained by anyone in the treatment process.