In 2nd week of rads: questions

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Julie--MA
Julie--MA Member Posts: 33
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I have had 7 doses of radiation for DCIS and am already feeling side effects.  I did start a mosturizer yesterday, so that may help the skin issues, but I am surprised by "pain" that I feel too, though I don' t know if that is post surgery stuff.  (I had a surgical biopsy/lumpectomy 4+ weeks ago, after  three previous ones in June/July.)

Mostly, though, I am surprised by the fatigue already.  I am in good shape--eat pretty well and run/swim regularly, and 48 years old, etc.  I guess because of that I have felt (maybe people have assured me?) that I will not feel too fatigued, etc., but I am wondering, is there ANY correlation between the shape you are in and the fatigue?  Is it just hit or miss?  I am still working 1/2-2/3 time (teaching).  

Also, I just want to CRY!  Every day I leave there on the verge of tears, and I just read a post that said being weepy is common.  Is it?  Why?  Is it the obvious emotional aspects, or is there something more directly connected? 

I really thought that this all wouldn't hit for awhile, so I am questioning myself:  Am I just tired in general?  Am I just moody?  It's all surreal...  All of these radioactive beams every week day; it has to take its toll...

Thank you in advance for your help.

Julie 

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  • patti3796
    patti3796 Member Posts: 79
    edited October 2012

    I am at the same point 7 treatments done. My thought is since July 25th when I got the call to come back for another Mammogram...it has been a constant stress of what type of surgery..then surgery lumpectomy with snb......then recovery...then minor complications and now radiation. Personally I think my tiredness is from all the stress rather than from the radiation.





    I am emotional...was driving today and a country song came on and the next thing I know the tears are streaming down my face. Have not had my period in years....but emotionally it deals very much like PMS.







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  • ruffy
    ruffy Member Posts: 141
    edited October 2012

    Hi :)

    Just wanted to tell you I was pretty emotional during radiation. More so then chemo, for me it was the daily reminder, the undressing, and just the total experience that did it to me. And I also learned what the word fatigue meant! I'm 38 and I was totally exhausted! Now the good news....this too shall pass! Don't be too hard on yourself, love yourself and be proud of how brave you are :) your energy will return and you will feel like "yourself" again. It takes awhile after rads but just be gentle with yourself and crying when you feel like crying is good :) it means you're processing. I remember telling my radiation doctor that I hated it. His reply was good, if you said you were having a good time with it I'd be worried :)

    Take care and I think what you're experiencing is pretty normal :)

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  • lane4
    lane4 Member Posts: 175
    edited October 2012

    Julie - just wanted to add that I was very emotional during radiation, as well. My RO said it's very common.  I teach school and worked full-time throughout the seven weeks of treatments. I think that's how my fatigue manifested itself; not so much sit-down tired as just wanting to cry at the drop of a hat. Part of my problem was that as I progressed through the radiation, I could see that my breast was going to end up much smaller than the other and I was freaking out about how I'd make myself look normal. I felt pretty angry about that, too, because everything looked really great after surgery. I began to really question the need for radiation and about halfway through, I called my surgeon complaining about the shrinking breast and threatening to quit. Of course, he encouraged me to finish my course of treatments and look into plastic surgery later. I did finish my treatments, but in some ways I do regret the radiation. 

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited October 2012

    Same here. You have lot to think about while you are on that table. My emotional breakdown got worse when rads was done. I feel apart, couldnt stop crying. I had been through many biopsys, rt mastwith TE,almost 6 months of chemo, by the time you get to rads you are allready been through the mill. Ibrought towelanddo some yogastretching while i waited my turn. Sometimes i cried there. My nurses and techs somehow got me through it.

    And i finally added effexor after treatment when i couldnt getthe tears to start.

    And you know not to put your mousterizer on within 4 hrs of your zap/rads. Ask your team, i thinkmy teamsaid four, but sometimex my memory isnt what it used to be

    You can do this!

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  • Julie--MA
    Julie--MA Member Posts: 33
    edited October 2012

    You are all so nice to respond at length with your experiences.  It is so helpful to hear, though I cannot even imagine what so many of you went through with chemotherapy as part of this long process. I am sorry what all you have had to endure.

    Another question:  night sweats?  I sometimes get them when I am PMS, but my period is over and I am getting drenching night sweats each night.  I will ask my RO this week but would love to know what you have experienced.  

    Your feedback was so kind and supportve--thank you.  I am afriad my mom and husband want to "fix it" but sometimes I just need sympathy and empathy.

    Julie 

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  • ro-berta
    ro-berta Member Posts: 134
    edited October 2012

    Hi Julie, Hon I had night sweats, day sweats , and i am post-meno for over 10 yrs, (my last period was when I was 43) so i was done with the sweats for a long time. When I went through rads I would just break into a major dripping sweat (not a pretty sight for sure! hahaha) I didn,t even have any pre "tell tale" signs  it would just come. I can tell you they subsided after rads and since then have pretty much stopped ( I am about 2 mths post rads) Just wanted you to know you are not alone with that. The real interesting thing the side I was having rads on, my underarm never sweated go figure hahaha. You will get through this hon keep asking questions any info you get makes things a little easier. Hope you are having as good of wknd as possible. P.S anything you,re not sure of don,t forget to ask your rad team that is what they  are there for and they are very supportive group.   

                 roberta

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