Rads and their SE for Stage 4

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DodgersGirl
DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
edited January 2020 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Going thru rads while still in early stage BC meant following a group of people all starting around the same time. Great for sharing side effects and tips to handle the side effects. But those groups aren’t having rads to other area like an MBC person might. So I am starting this topic, hoping others will share SE and tips with other MBCers so we can share experiences with all

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  • DodgersGirl
    DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
    edited January 2020

    I had 10 rad treatments to the thoracic spine without any real side effects

    I just started a 2nd set of rads yesterday to the left and right acetabulum. RO warned of diarrhea, burning when urinating, and to watch my skin.

    I had my first treatment yesterday afternoon. On the way home, I was nauseous. Got home and slowly slipped ginger ale to calm my tummy. Felt like I had the flu. Cold and nauseous. Had soup for dinner. Had loose stools. Went to bed, looking forward to my blankets to warm me up.

    Feel better this morning.

    I have Gatorade and ginger ale on hand. I have lotion from the RO’s office that contains lidocaine so expect my skin will be pink and sore soon. RO said AZO OTC might help with painful urination. Guess I need to buy some AZO toda

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  • Goodie16
    Goodie16 Member Posts: 446
    edited January 2020

    I had GammaKnife to the brain twice. No real SEs aside from some tiredness and a little pain when they attached the halo.

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited January 2020

    September and October I had rads to my left and right femur respectively. You'd never know. Was only 6 rounds each time and I have tough skin.

    Rads to the spine are more common. For those about to have them, you need antacids and anti-nausea meds in the house. No matter how hard they try, they're going to hit part of your GI tract. I had no real idea when I did it and couldn't figure out why my stomach was so unsettled. If I'd taken Pepcid I'd have been much happier.

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  • Jaylea
    Jaylea Member Posts: 478
    edited January 2020

    DodgersGirl, great thread.

    I just finished 5 rounds of rads for a crack in my sternum. 5 days later I started a new chemo combo. Shortly thereafter I developed a hot, burning pain in my esophagus right behind, you guessed it, the sternum. RO had indicated esophagitis could be an issue but we didn't discuss it in detail. She said it's typical for onset of rads related issues to develop at around the 10 day to 2 week mark post treatment. Thankfully it is temporary, and I've been given a prescription of Magic Mouthwash to swish and swallow. I think the idea is to numb the esophagus to make eating easier. The original pain to sternum is almost completely resolved.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2020

    Here's one I started back in the spring of last year when I was referred for mets to my lumbar spine. A few posts there about experiences and side effects:

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/871507?page=2#idx_54


    I had ten treatments to my L1 vertebrae and mostly it was side effect free. I did feel very fatigued afterward for a couple of weeks. During the treatment, I went to exercise after every session, outdoors because the weather was beautiful. Getting there every day was a bit of a hassle since I am not too close to my cancer center. But it was really uneventful and once you do the preparatory visits the actual 10 rad sessions are about 15 minutes from walking in the door to walking out.

    No noticeable burning on my skin, it was just a small area that got zapped, not like whole breast radiation.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2020

    5 rads to sacrum/sacroilliac joint.

    I was warned by rad techs that there could be some gastro discomfort. Yeah I had some on the bus on the way to the hospital after my last session. Almost had a desperate moment stuck in traffic and I was thinking about bailing for a nearby coffee shop. It didn't even occur to me that it was from the radiation as I had just started other drugs. Had a few days of some pretty epic Big D and one night I slept with the heating pad on my stomach as it was so uncomfortable.

    Skin rash didnt show up until 6 weeks later, but I slapped on the cream they gave me.

    RO said that they would give it time to see if that was enough, but I am starting to suspect I am going to have to go another round. Never had pain, had a feeling of a lump and it hindered my ability to walk.

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  • DodgersGirl
    DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
    edited January 2020

    Wow. Thanks everyone for posting. I know I will refer back here as new rads treatments occur.

    Rads to hips are definitely causing more SE than those to my thoracic spine do. Had Rads #2 of 5 today. Had to ask to use the restroom just before starting the treatment. Don’t think the techs were very pleased since they had me all lined up on the table ready to start.

    Felt nauseous all day. Felt chilled. Couple trips to bathroom with loose stools. I feel like how sick cancer patients are portrayed in movies. Just want to curl up with a blanket and sleep.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2020

    Dodgersgirl - I keep some ginger hard candies in my hospital bag and work bag to suck on when feeling nauseous. Ginger to soothe and the sucking gives me something to distract my mind/taste buds from what is going on below. Works ok for mild to light nausea at least, and they really saved me on that awful bus ride! You've had a lot of rads in a short time period too, I wonder if regardless of location its just a lot for the body to process.


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  • DodgersGirl
    DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
    edited January 2020

    SE for rads to hips — beside diarrhea, I am now quite nauseous and have been given Zofran. Skin is really red tonight. 1 treatment left.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2020

    I was warned the SEs could peak at 7-10 days after - just be aware you could get some lingering after effects. But you are almost done!

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  • DodgersGirl
    DodgersGirl Member Posts: 2,382
    edited January 2020

    SondraF- thank you for sharing that. It helps to know what to watch for.

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