Stomach Pain & GERD from radiation?

Hi LiveWellToday---I had a sore throat through much of radiation (also had the nodes near my collarbone radiated). It went away shortly after radiation stopped.

Hopefully the antacid will start to work and give you some relief. Have you tried something like Boost to try to get some nutrition in? There's a higher calorie one---Boost Plus. You can also find store brand equivalents right there next to it on the shelf. I come across this in my career and sometimes people with poor appetites and taste changes do better with a liquid supplement, especially if it's nice and cold. Maybe a popsicle for the throat? They can also give you a mouthwash to swallow that can numb long enough for a meal. Doctor would have to write a prescription.

Hope you feel better soon!

Hi LiveWellToday--- sorry to hear about your suffering from radiation. If you had radiation done on both breasts, you could have more SEs from it. I had total 33 rads including 8 boosters on tumor bed, radiation to chest wall and collarbone area. I was worried about my esophagus and lung exposure to radiation as my tumor was attached to chest wall. I mentioned my worries to RO at the initial consultation and she didn't respond much or I don't remember her response. I went through the treatment alright apart from an oozing nipple for ten days and catching a cold during the treatment. But I did develop a dry mouth a few days after finishing the treatment. My RO said my salivary gland was not in the radiation field but could be in the scattering field. I am still having dry mouth 4 months after rads, slowly improving. I had indigestion and swallow problems during my AC chemo. I had to eat semi solid or soft food, (like noodles, soup ) for a while and lost weight as results. I have since bounced back. Have you seen your RO about your troubles? Hope you get better.

Maybe you should consult with a GI? I had horrible gastritis during chemo - terrible burning in my stomach and a feeling like a lump in my throat that made me almost gag. My MO put me on Prilosec and Carafate. They helped a lot within a few days.

I agree seeing a GI sounds like a good idea. Your chronic sore throat prior to even getting radiation (if I understood you correctly) is something that really should be evaluated.

Did you go to the primary care doctor about your mouth and throat yet? I have dry mouth from tamoxifen and they have me using biotene. Maybe the biotene gel before bed would help. I have woken up with my tongue stuck to my retainer before, that is super fun. During the day, ACT lozenges are pretty good but not long lasting, just takes the edge off.

that’s how my throat/system feels, like 20 packs!!!! I did lay flat on my back for radiation. Are these symptoms gone for you now? It is awful for me and not sure what to d

hi I have been tested for everything you can imagine after getting severe dry mouth during breast cancer radiation boosts! I have met a few people who also got dry mouth, dry tongue, and very sore mouth from breast cancer radiation, so this is PROOF IT CAN HAPPEN to the mouth, even if it’s not supposed to affect the mouth, it does and cancer teams need to help their patients and do some more research. My cancer team didn’t even look at my mouth. If there are more patients out there I am praying you will share/post your situation on this site for the cancer drs. to see!! My last treatment was mid nov 2018, and I am still having a lot of mouth problems today, which I have to nurse most days and I am praying will go away. Thank yo

Thank you so much. It’s good to know I’m not alone. I had acid reflux before breast cancer and was using omeprazole also. Taking it now in the morning and gaviscon at night. It helps some. I’m trying to be patient by telling myself that I had 6 weeks of radiation so it’s not going to get better overnight.

So glad to hear, 2002chickadee. I am about 7 weeks out from completing radiation and the stomach pain has eased up quite a bit. Still taking gaviscon but not as often.  It’s so nice to be feeling better. Thanks!