Side effects to my radiation... normal?

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Owens69
Owens69 Member Posts: 66
edited June 2016 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I had my third radiation treatment today.

Since the first day, my breast skin has been pink after each treatment. The Dr said that typically doesn't happen until sometime during the third week. Does this mean my skin is going to get really bad?

Starting on day 2, I began feeling tired / low energy in the afternoons, plus I am feeling nauseated about 2-1/2 hrs after my radiation therapy. Radiologist assured me that the nausea wasn't from radiation. Anyone experience nausea?

Today (day 3) I'm having some slight pain on my shoulder blade on the right side where my BC treatment is. I feel some tingling in my hand and forearm.

Someone please tell me if these things sound normal. I don't see the Dr again until next Wednesday.

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  • PlanB58
    PlanB58 Member Posts: 157
    edited June 2016

    owens69 ask to speak to your RO or nurse at your next app. For treatment.They should be able to answer your questions. I would really ask about the hand and shoulder discomfort. You don't need to wait to talk to someone..

    I had nausea my first 3 weeks after treatment. My RO also said was unusual. Happily that seems to have resolved. It got better a little at a time. Hope yours goes away as well. My RO gave me a script for meds but Imdid not take it.

    Best of luck


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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited June 2016

    Owens--you might post this on the Spring 2016 Rads discussion thread. Lots of women over there who are about to start, early in the process, late in the process, or completely finished. Just my experience--really nothing for the first week, then some pink/tan showing up, then the "itchy bumpies," really just late last week, which was 12-13 treatments in. I've had no nausea and two days of noticeable fatigue--both on weekends, and after big days/nights. Just a period of 4-5 hours in the middle of the day when I couldn't get out of bed. My RO said to listen to my body re: the fatigue but also to keep up with the same level of exercise I went into tx with (so I did go to a yoga class last night and felt much better afterwards). I've tried to keep doing regular life things all along and do think that has helped. I wonder if shoulder/hand/forearm effects are from the position you're in when you're getting treated? Do you relax? I must say I think yoga has been a *big* help to me through this process--it's wonderful for calming the mind and for relaxing body parts that don't need to be tense.

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  • Skysquirrel
    Skysquirrel Member Posts: 41
    edited June 2016

    Owens - I had both the pinkness and the nausea 2.5 hours after treatment! Of course my RO told me that neither one was from Rads, because that seems to be their standard answer! My skin held up well through treatment so I wouldn't say that early pinkness is a predictor of things to come. And as for the nausea, I found that sucking on a dum dum sucker when I felt it come on helped so much!

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  • New-girl
    New-girl Member Posts: 358
    edited June 2016

    I had nausea at the end of my first full week.  Horrible throwing up and headache.  Of course the doctor said it had nothing to do with the radiation.  Also have had light pink skin and itchy bumps since week two.  Had #13 today and nothing major has hit. 

    As per another patient I suck on a hard candy during treatment.  It calms my stomach and gives me a treat. 

    It has gotten better.  I do think the stress and drama of everyday is more taxing on us than we really want to admit.  Be kind to yourself and listen to your body.

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  • Usernameforreal
    Usernameforreal Member Posts: 12
    edited June 2016

    hi owens69,

    I also got weird stomach pain my first couple of weeks of radiation, but then it subsided. I couldn't find any info about that online either. I didn't get pink till the second week. I'm in week 6 now, and I'm bright red. I really haven't felt any fatigue yet, but that could be because I'm off from work during my treatments. Are you using anything topical? I've been using calendula cream right after my sessions, and calendula ointment with a xeroform dressing over that at nighttime. So far so good. I hope this helps, and that you're feeling a little better.

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