Radiotherapy experiences please

[Ikeameatballlunch]

Bit silly to ask as everyone is different but getting myself geared up. As I've also come off hrt, started to feel some symptoms there and then started tamoxifen. A mix of getting prepared, easing anxiety and getting myself as fit as possible within the circumstances. mn survey seems part of the process now 😄

It's only 5 days for a small breast cancer. Thankfully. Not got a date test but probably in a couple of months.

Just wondering how long you felt the after effects for?

Surgeon said could be months which I wasn't quite prepared for 😬

I had four weeks of radiation therapy for breast cancer 2017-2018 (over the Christmas season into New Years) It initially started like an X-ray or a CT scan. I have claustrophobia and was on a Rx I took prior to each session. I have a very fair complexion and I did end up getting a significant burn and an infection which responded immediately to antibiotics but I was having to do very painful burn dressing changes for a while under my breast. The nurses and techs were wonderful as was the emergency care doctor who drove to the pharmacy to bring a Rx to the after hours pharmacy for strong pain medication (I live in the US) My skin under my breast has a permanent change in the skin I don't know how ti describe it but I made it through and I'm cancer free. Don't be afraid to speak up and ask for support

Hi @Ikeameatballlunch I had radiotherapy a few years ago for breast cancer. I was tired and a bit sore but OK really. Tired a few weeks after.
Was mainly grateful and relieved I didn't need a mastectomy or chemo, so it felt unpleasant but OK

Wear socks for the treatment, it's a cold environment and you have to be motionless

My dad’s currently receiving radiotherapy, he’s got two more weeks to go and he’s not really had any negative side effects. Wishing you all the best x

Thank you so much for your responses. It's only 5 so I hope not too bad.

It just that some seem to be saying the tiredness can last weeks and months and start a couple of weeks after treatment . This may affect what I do work wise so trying to get a handle on what to expect.

Hi OP
I had 5 days RT early this year for early stage breast cancer. I would say I felt tired for the last two sessions, mainly due to the early starts and just being in hospital. I would say I then felt tired for the next 2 weeks, but I was still able to walk the dog, go about my daily life. I didn't however work. I think that would have been too much. After that the tiredness improved and I was fully back to normal within another two weeks. So 4 weeks after treatment I was completely fine. Hope that helps.

Thank you, that's really helpful. I won't be working definitely but will be walking dog etc.

I had three weeks of radiotherapy and it was no where near as bad as I expected it to be. The room is cold and it does feel a little undignified as I had to have my masectomy uncovered so I felt a little embarrassed. However all the techs are brilliant and so kind so no one made me feel awkward. I asked for music to be played to distract myself as you can't move and time feels never ending in there, but overall its really not too bad. The worst after effects for me were tiredness but it's hard to quantify how much of that was radiotherapy as I was already knackered from chemo/surgery etc so it was more a continuation of feeling wiped out. Nothing too extreme thankfully. I was lucky not to get any burns just a bit of redness and a bit of tightening more like a mild sunburn, again nothing major though. Just make sure the techs talk you through everything, ask any questions you have and follow the aftercare plan they tell you to do as that helps. Be kind to yourself your going to feel wiped out but you can totally do this x

I had 5 sessions in July - two before weekend and three the following week. I felt very tired after the first one and I felt very tired in general by nos 4&5 so much so that I took those days off work , otherwise I was working (gently) . The radiologist said something about it being a similar dose but delivered in fewer sessions.

About 3/3.5 weeks after finishing I had blistering underneath my breast - I had been warned by Oncologist that she thought I would get blistering due to skin folds/where cancer had been. It wasn't too bad and after about 10 days cleared up.

During treatment I had used Aveeno shower oil and lotion (when blistered stopped anything in that area)

I have a slight colour change skin wise by my sentinel node scar and underneath breast and on my nipple - it was darker before but has faded a little more already.

Alll my sessions were early morning - i has a couple of days when they had difficulty lining me up properly so it took longer but not by loads. For me the room wasn't too cold but it was taking place during our nice weather - if I was going now I would wear socks

Good luck