experience of tomotherapy

I just finished a round of rads on Tomotherapy equipment four days ago. I got the 16-session (3-week) double dose instead of the 33-session (6-week) single dose.

Each session was about 10 minutes from start to finish. First, a CT scan was taken; then, my treatment would begin.

I was fortunate to have very few side effects. I didn't get any fatigue (in fact, I ran a half marathon two weeks into treatment). Every now and then, I'd have mild discomfort in the breast, which was relieved with ibuprofen. At the end of week two, I developed sensitivity and itching in my nipple and areola.

Near the end of week 3, I developed an angry-looking rash on my breast, but it looks way angrier than it feels. It looks much like an allergic reaction; there's redness and some freckling. I didn't get any blisters.

Four days post rads, I'm itching more and have switched from putting A&D ointment on the breast and hydrocortisone with aloe on the nipple and areola to just putting the hydrocortisone on the whole breast. I continue to run and go about my normal activities.

I'm glad I was able to get the Tomotherapy because my cancer was on the left, and traditional rads on the left endanger the heart. Tomotherapy allows very precise targeting that protects the heart. I can actually see how precise the targeting was by looking at my rash; it's on my breast, not my chest, and the worst of it is right where the surgeon cut my tumor out; he cut along the left edge of the areola.

Hope this helps!