RO Consultation--Questions for those who have had Radiation.

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pam53
pam53 Member Posts: 131
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I have my initial consulataion with RO tomorrow.  I was wondering if there were any particular questions worth asking.  I see my MO for the first time next week.

One of my dilemmas is--I have a two week cycling vacation planned to leave 9/10.  My breast surgeon advised me to go and have radiation when I return.  If I wait, my treatments will run into when I start my final online course for my doctorate degree.  It is tough because I also work full-time.  How bad is the fatigue?  I work ten hour days, four days a week as a physical therapist so I am on my feet all day.  Does the fatigue only happen toward the end of the treatment and if so how long after treatment was over did you still deal with it?

Thanks for your help!

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  • stage1
    stage1 Member Posts: 475
    edited July 2011

    Pam53 I had my last rad appt two weeks ago.  I started getting really fatigued about 3 weeks into it.  Mostly feel it about 3pm each day.  Still feeling it.  I would not do rads and then expect to do a cycling vacation right after, my burn was too much.  The burn beneath, skin to skin, took two weeks to feel better. Still peeling and I think that if I were to do physical activity, I could start about now, two weeks after rads.  Everyone is different, as some people said it was a moderate sunburn feeling, mine was more.  My whole breast peeled.  Some gals work right through it, I could not. 

     Your BS is right, do the rads when you get back.

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  • Shirlann
    Shirlann Member Posts: 3,302
    edited July 2011

    Hi sister, I was 63 and worked all thru radiation.  I left for a whale watching trip in Baja 6 days after I finished.  What I found was, do not plan ANYTHING for the evenings.  Just vegetate (you can study, of course) then, for me at least, I was fine the next day.  I scheduled my zaps for 5pm and just went home and chilled.

    I was really lucky, I did not burn at all, but a cycling vacation might be a little much.

    Gentle hugs, Shirlann 

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  • pam53
    pam53 Member Posts: 131
    edited July 2011

    Thanks for your input--Shirlann and stage I--I appreciate it.  Hopefully, the RO and the MO will agree it is okay to delay the radiation about a month so I can get my trip in.  Sounds like the best option from what you say.  I may have to see if I can go down to 8 hour days a work, 5 days a week, although keeping my 10 hour days gives me Tues off which might also be good.  Will see what RO says in the morning.

    I am not looking forward to this but am thankfully, that radiation and hormones will probably be my only treatment.  They are many others who go through much more and my heart goes out to them.

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  • sundermom
    sundermom Member Posts: 463
    edited July 2011

    I just finished 28 regular tx and 8 boosts on July 14th.  I was able to work full-time as an elementary principal and be a Mommy to my five little ones.  I made sure to apply 100% aloe vera 4-5 times a day and thankfully, I never had anything more than some mild redness.  While I know everyone responds to every tx differently, I think it was a piece of cake.  I had a 3:15PM appointment each day and I was always in bed by 10PM, but I've never been much of a night owl :)

    Tammy

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  • stage1
    stage1 Member Posts: 475
    edited July 2011

    I agree Pam, looks like we have nearly the same diagnosis.  I was once told by my MO that you can wait up to 4 months from surgery to start radiation.  But then every doc says something different.

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