Wish I had never,never done rads, DEEP REGRETS

I finished rads a week ago. It wasn't bad at all. I have very thin skin so I was reluctant to do radiation, but it was fine. The last few days of radiation my skin got red and itchy, but Aloe and a dusting of Cornstarch relieved all discomfort. BTW, I'm 71 years old. It's normal to be apprehensive about various cancer treatments. Feel the fear and do it anyway! I was also reluctant to do chemo, but even that wasn't so bad thanks to steroids and anti nausea meds. The worst part was losing my hair, but that's temporary. YOU CAN DO THIS ;-)

Meg101

I’m in Missouri, I had a lumpectomy October for stage 1, they did 5 weeks of rads to lower my risk of recurrence, 31/2 weeks into it I started burning, bleeding, oozing from my cleavage to my armpit, it burnt all the nerves, I had to sleep setting up for 9 nights, the only way I could tolerate the pain was to keep silvadine globed on with a cotton baby diaper on it. During this time the phrase “moist desquamation “ was never mentioned, I found out thru internet searches! During rads they acted like it was routine, no empathy at all, they just got on to me about the cream and diaper, they insisted I had to let “air get to it”! I’m 57, natural 38ddd, I would had to have stood on my head!!!!

not all docs are in bed with pharmaceutical companies. Please don't say everyone when most are not.

What's a bolus?

mac, I am so very glad I never had radiation or chemo. I had DIEP reconstruction and it feels a bit more uncomfortable as feeling still coming back over 6 years later. I am still having side effects from AI drugs. The treatment is bad. I pray it gets better in the future.

Macb04 what a horror story. I am happy to say that I have not had anything like your experience, but I have heard of other people suffering bad burns. I am tempted to say that your radiation center sounds criminally incompetent. It absolutely did not have to be that way. It is unfortunate that the health system in the US is not better controlled and standardised, and that it is "for profit", because it sounds like it is sort of the luck of the draw what kind of quality you are going to get. I had 25 treatments to my left breast and lymph nodes four years ago, (I am in France) at the end there were some places under the arm where the skin cracked and oozed and needed to be dressed with a red liquid and kept dry - that lasted for a couple weeks, but then it healed all up. It was not painful, only inconvenient and messy. I am now three fifths of the way through 5 weeks of rads to my right breast. I am always amazed by the professionalism and really careful care of the radiation technicians in my regional cancer center. I know that is sort of a desperate measure to try to save my life, and could not actually work, but I am profoundly grateful that they are trying. In any case no one is forcing me to do anything, thank goodness. I am the one who is practically begging them to try something, anything. I sure hope that you recover fully from this nightmare and never have to go through this again !

I've talked to literally thousands of breast cancer patients over the last 7 years. A few women have had severe difficulties during Rads, but most do not. My personal recommendations before doing rads:

1) Do your research on the Radiologist Oncologists - ask for patients you can speak with about their experience. Talk to nurses in your area.

I did this and it was invaluable to put my mind at ease because I had Rads in my local community rather than my

large university teaching hospital where I had chemo and where my MO was located.

2) Call all the hospitals you are considering and find out the age and type of machines that they have.

Do your research. I found that there was quite an age difference in radiation machines in my City. I made sure I went

to the hospital that had the newest machines. I was shocked how cooperative the hospitals were with giving me information.

3) If you are on the fence about having Rads, go to an NCI Designated Cancer Center for a second opinion.

https://www.cancer.gov/research/nci-role/cancer-ce...

4) If you have left breast cancer, seek a hospital or cancer center that has Breath Hold Radiation to help the radiation

stay away from your heart. This technology was not available to me, but my sister drove 120 miles round trip every day for 7 weeks

for this technology. I was so glad she did!

5) If you make a decision on a hospital, ask if you can speak to a Radiation Technologist. You can tell A LOT by talking to the people who do the work rather than the Radiation Oncologists. I asked many, many questions and by the time I was done, I knew I had made the right decision going to the hospital I chose. By "chance", one of the Radiation Nurses I spoke to was a breast cancer survivor. Her help was invaluable.

Seven years later, I still keep in touch with some of the Radiation Team I had. They helped save my life, and I am grateful to them.

1redgirl,

I am glad you feel your care has been very good.

So sorry you witnessed that heartbreaking but hopefully quite rare situation. You get your PT weekly at the BC center, and you being such a sensitive soul I wonder if there is a way you could get your PT in a more serene setting, or at least, is there a different route thru the center, that you could take on the way to your PT. Take care.

I’ve read them too. I feel so sorry for those who have had horrible experiences. Even though I plan on moving, I would return to my radiologist if I ever have to do this again. It was a good experience including wonderful staff. They also have state-of-the-art equipment which may have made a difference. I’d be happy to recommend. They are close to San Francisco.

Is there a reason for the bump?

gg27 -,did you have reconstruction after stage 4 dx?

My rad burns were very painful, skin messy, open and very sore, flamazine cream helped a bit to fight infection. I was sore for months after, and had restricted use on my radiated side, currently undergoing occupational therapy which has helped my mobility greatly! (1 year later

I hope this thread keeps getting bumped. (Thanks macb04 for taking the time).