Scared of radiation - how bad is it?

Pam - I was scared too of radiation and it turned out to be a breeze.  I wasn't tired at all and yes, they protect your thryoid.  I am very pale-skinned and I used a lot of lotion on my boob, several times a day and I was fine.  Do not worry.  I read so many scary things about it but the technicians put me at ease during my fist visit and they were so wonderful.  Good luck!

For me it was a breeze, except for having to be there 5 days a week for 6 weeks. I was just a little itchy and red towards the end. Now you'd never know I had rads. I was NEVER tired. Walked an hour a day every day. Honestly, people who have severe reactions are the exception not the norm. Best wishes!

No fatigue for me!

Interesting point Selena. I did not have chemo. That could account for my lack of fatigue.

I just finished up my rads today and I can tell you that I did have a lot of fatigue. I tried to do a little less and take a nap when I could. It would hit me like a wall in the afternoon, but everyone is different. I learned not to be out and about around that time. I had just the other regular side effects like burning, itching, etc..., but they can be managed w/ a bunch of creams. Good luck and take care.

Don't be scared! Like others have said, rads was mostly a breeze. I had surgery and rads and for the first 4 weeks of rads the fatigue wasn't bad at all. It caught up to me during weeks 5 and 6. (it accumulates). It took 2-3 weeks after rads for the fatigue to go away (and even during those weeks, I'd have a good day, then a bad day, so it wasn't that bad). FWIW, I took my nurse's advice and walked 1/2 hour a day--made it a top priority--because it boosts the immune system and gives you a bit of extra energy. Near the end of rads I would sometimes walk first thing in the morning to make sure I got it in. I'm a vegetarian, so I also made sure I ate extra protein so the tissues healed. (I heard extra protein is even more helpful during chemo)

FWIW, one of my friends (a 12 yr BC survivor) had a lump, chemo, rads and took Tamox for 5 yrs then an AI for 2 years. (with some SEs). She said rads was the easiest part of her Tx by far.  So maybe once you do chemo, everything is easy after that. Good luck! You'll do great!

Yeah, I hear you. I was also worried about the long term effects. It's a major bummer. Your situation (location of rads) is different than mine and everyone needs to choose for themselves. Even though I hate to think of the possible long term SEs, right now I'm happy and hopeful that I made the right decision. 

If you want more happy stories, I know many long-term survivors:

--my friend who's a 12 yr survivor had several (5? 6?) positive lymph nodes. She's doing great today.

--I know two women who are >15 yr survivors. One had one (or more) positive lymph node (I can't remember the details)

--I know someone who is a survivor for 30 years and counting! (she was 31 when her husband found the lump.) She said she plans to live to 90.

We don't hear this too often but there are many long term surivors out there, and just think of all the medical advances made in the last 10, 15, 30 years.

BTW, I attended a Guided Imagery class (all different kinds of cancer patients) and one of the guys in my class (prostate cancer) used to do the imagery while he was on the rads table. He'd imagine the the rays zapping the cancer cells.  He found it an empowering experience.  Maybe something to consider? Wishing you good luck with your rads and sending you positive, healing vibes. (((hugs)))

I was tired when I started tx, and by the time I got to the end i was a zombie.  But I also couldn't sleep so the fatigue just kept snowballing.  I had a really nasty skin reaction, but it was only troubling for a few days. And the nasty annoying little cough I had going in has totally cleared up.  I'm two months out from rads and i can't say my energy level is back where it was before dx, but it gets better all the time.  I'm walking and swimming for at least 1 hour a day so, getting some stamina back.

 The one thing no one has mentioned is the amazing amount of support the rads team can be.  Not everyone has a great team, but I did.  My boys (all young enough to be my kids) took great care of me and it was a comfort to me to have so many people keeping close tabs on my health at such a scary time. The doctor saw me every week, my nurse was always there and ready to talk, the cancer navigator was just around the corner.  I think I'd have felt really adrift if the surgeon had just cut me loose and that had been the end of treatment.  By the time rads were done (well actually the week after, because I had to come in to have my ooozing wounds treated) I was ready to solo. 

And with all the problems I had I was able to work full time and only ended up missing a few hours of work over and above the 30 minutes a day that rads took.

Now, my skin is a little more tan than it's ever been, and I still have swelling that may be related to rads, but nothing of note.  I wouldn't say it was a walk in the park, but I'd say it's very doable.

The lotions are a must-start using them early. My doc suggested that I use Aquaphor. Greasy but effective! I got really red and ouchy so I ended up getting a prescription about two weeks in.



I wasn't tired at first, but on day 19 fatigue hit me hard. I worked full-time through all of it, and I know that might have been too much for my body after surgery and chemo.



Radiation was WAY easier than chemo, but it wasn't great. Now you can barely tell that I has such red and itchy skin.

I forgot to comment on your thyroid question...

I did not get rads to supraclavicular area, so my own worry was not about the thyroid.  Why not ask if they have that thyroid collar like dentist offices have?  You may still get a bit of "scatter" off your ribs and collarbone, but it may give you some additional shielding.  

For me the worst was having to go every day for 6.5 weeks (M-F). I had a sunburn-like redness and a bit of peeling, nothing more. I was more fatigued at the end but a nap after each rad tx if I needed it fixed me right up. That was it...pretty easy and each tx so short (like 10" or less) compared to the hours-long infusions of chemo!

Claire

folks told me to watch out for burns so I did.  It started to get a bit pink so I yelled!  The techs (yes they were great) gave me a bunch of samples to use and said try the dif ones and then we will give you more or whatever you want!  And they did.  I did get one nasty burn/blister under my large boobie, they gave me a script for SSD cream.

tired, yeap along about week 3 which is just what my RO told me would happen.

but all in all, not bad, not looking for a repeat on the other boob but doable