Radiotherapy Eperiences PLEASE, I'm so frightened.

[Driftwood999]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of Oct. Surgery 15/11 and I feel so lucky because it's not in my lymph nodes, armpit. I will need a drug called Tamoxifen (that is sorted) and Radiotherapy x 4 weeks. Please do you have anything you can tell me, with honesty before I make a decision to have this radiotherapy or not? I've not even had the appointment yet to see the rad/specialist, but I've heard it can effect the lungs/heart.

Hi, I haven't had radio but both my parents have (prostate and breast) in the last 2 years and had some skin blistering and tiredness but were otherwise surprised to find it uneventful. They are both pretty laid back but say the other people they spoke to had similar experiences.

I'm sure someone with first hand experience will be along with more detail.

Meant to say my Mum's position sounds similar, nodes not affected so has lump out and will he having tamoxifen too.

If you've had a lumpectomy, you need to have radiotherapy. If you don't, your chance of the cancer coming back is much, much higher.

Lung complications are pretty rare, and although if you have left sided breast cancer your heart does get some radiation it is not normally a problem. Less effect than taking Tamoxifen for instance.

Most ladies find breast radiotherapy very easy, and not a problem to them.

Talk to your oncologist about your worries

Thank you for the replies.

Drift, just to add that a friend of mine at dd's school is just finishing radiotherapy for breast cancer - she says its been very doable, she's had moments of tiredness and needing to go to bed early (she has a young ds, but doesn't work) but has carried on as normal throughout.

Her main complaint is the time consuming-ness of it all, journeying back and forth on daily basis!

She does have a little blistering and discomfort now, and knows it could get worse before it gets better, but nothing awful.

Best of luck with yours, hope its a walk in the park compared to what your worries tell you (usually the case for me in all sorts of areas!)

there is a very good ongoing thread called 'Tamoxifen' for ladies who are having treatment for BC. I think it's in General Health.

They are a mine of information and support, you might like to take a look

I wish you all the best with your RT and hope you get a really good outcome xx

colleague of mine is having radiotherapy for breat cancer and has managed to work full time throughout (onto month 3 of a 6 month course - she has lymph node spread too) she's very tired and emotional but glad to be able to distract herself by working (I think i'd probably have taken time offf but she's younger and childless and single and feels she'll just fret at home alone all day)

good luck

I have had it - over a 6 week period if I remember correctly . Thankfully these sort of details have faded with time.

Everything does seem to take huge amounts of time. The initial marking up and tattooing -which is when precise tiny dots are inked onto the skin in preparation for the treatment. These don't hurt and are usually hidden -even if they weren't they aren't noticeable to anyone else. And if you have a massive objection to them for any reason you don't have to have them - they can cope with indelible ink and replace as necessary .

The comes the planning of sessions. These are meant to be spaced out evenly but sometimes are not due to the machines breaking down - which even the newer ones are prone to do.

Each session will only last a few minutes and you're out but the waiting time can be anything -unless you are canny and ask for first or last sessions of the day and tailor your travel accordingly. Obviously this all depends on the hospital and may not be possible to ask for.

The treatment doesn't hurt at all and you become extremely blasé about walking in to a room and stripping your top off before lying on a table with your arm above your head (or is that only me?).

The burning comes later and greatly depends on many factors . Personally ,I got red quickly and then blistered and peeled revealing a large expanse of raw ,weeping skin.This was treated with special gel and very loose dressings. But I had a Bolus which is some material which is used to concentrate the beam at a certain depth (this was in my case because of irregular tissue depth) and had the effect of magnifying the burning on the skin. But it was really not a problem . Once dressed properly there was little pain and it healed quite quickly.

The after effects are few usually . I have a horrible square of broken veins in the area where the bolus covered . But as no-one has ever -nor will ever see this area it isn't a problem for me. And no doubt if it bothered me enough there are many treatments for this to be explored.

It is eminently doable. It isnt claustrophobic having the treatments .It is quick and painless in delivery and the onset of side effects are so gradual you can cope with them as they develop.

Good luck

I had radiotherapy for lymphoma. It was fine, I managed to work full time and go after work each day. My skin did burn but my team gave me some fabby cream. No other side effects at all. Please don't worry x x

Thank you for taking the time to reply, it's still early days for me, I was diagnosed 3/10, surgery 15/11, all because I attended my first invitation for a mammogram at 48. I do count myself lucky but feel quite unwell atm after feeling so great before DX. A rude interruption to life is an understatment, was it John Lennon that said "life is what happens when you're making plans" or somesuch? I know in my better moments that I'll take it as it comes, but it's all so new and unchartered territory for us, it helps to hear it from others that have been there and done it and I want to be prepared. So thanks again.

drift - CMOT really knows about these things and really radiotherapy is advisable after your WLE to make sure all the cancer is seen to. Trust me it's completely do-able - mine was left breast but the chances of any lung or heart damage being a problem are tiny- not enough to stop you having the treatment. Obviously it takes time- appointments every day,travelling,distruption,machines breaking down etc but if it cuts the risk of a recurrence or a new primary cancer then surely that's worth it ? I had burns and soreness afterwards but nothing a few dressings couldn't sort out.My left breast is smaller than the right as a result but really that is a tiny price to pay (is dented anyway from surgery) Of course it's up to you, but I'd say go for it.