Radiation twice on same side?

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LynnieH62
LynnieH62 Member Posts: 3
edited June 2018 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I had breast cancer with lumpectomy back in 2007. I had radiation then for 6 1/2 weeks. I got breast cancer again in 2018 and had a double mastectomy February 13, 2018. Today was day two of radiation again on the same side. This time it’s electron beam radiation. I was wondering if anyone else had had radiation twice on the same side?

They said the side effects this time would be burning and fatigue. That I expected. The radiation oncologist also told me that there could be bone pain. When I asked her how bad the pain was, she said, “do you know anybody that’s ever had their chest cracked open“? Now I’m scared to death that I’m going to get that pain. She said it takes longer for that to show up, maybe two or three months If its going to. Today I asked how long the pain last, and it seems that it’s ongoing! Anyone else ever have this pain?

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  • ann1999
    ann1999 Member Posts: 104
    edited May 2018

    Hi Lynnie- I had radiation two times - in 2000 for IDC 1B with lumpectomy and in 2013 for ILC 3B mastectomy- Tram.Only 25 doses the second time instead of 31 the first time. No problems at all.. no pain, redness, etc. sounds like u maybe having two different kinds of radiation....Best of luck!

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  • buttonsmachine
    buttonsmachine Member Posts: 930
    edited June 2018

    Hi Lynnie, I'm in the middle of my second course of radiation on my right side, so I can't speak to long-term side effects, but so far it's been fine, and my experience has been similar to last time.

    The first time I had whole breast radiation after my lumpectomy. Now my right breast is gone, and I'm having radiation to the collar bone area, intramammary nodes, axilla, and chest wall - so a pretty big area. They did change the radiation beam frequency in some way compared to last time, although to be honest I just don't know those details.

    The way my RO explained it is that much of the area we radiated before - aka my breast - is now gone. So although there is some overlap, it's not quite the same as radiating the exact same place twice. I had misgivings about a second course of radiation too, but in my case all the doctors were adamant that I need it. I decided to go for it and hope for the best - I really want this cancer gone. No one mentioned bone pain to me, but that is a scary thought.

    I hope your treatments go smoothly, and hopefully more people will chime in who are farther out.


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  • LynnieH62
    LynnieH62 Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2018

    Thanks for replying. I had no problems that first time except a little fatigue. This time it's electron beam rads. I don't know. I'm just a nervous wreck.

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  • LynnieH62
    LynnieH62 Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2018

    I pray I do as well. Thank you

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