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Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

What to expect from treatment and ways to cope with side effects.

Summer/Fall 2024 Radiation Support thread
Gather here to share experiences, ask questions, get encouragement, and support others who are going through radiation therapy along with you. Please share your diagnosis, any previous treatment you've had, and your scheduled start date along with your radiation schedule. We're all here for you!
Spring/Summer 2024 Radiation thread
Gather here to share experiences, ask questions, get encouragement, and support others who are going through radiation therapy along with you. Please share your diagnosis, any previous treatment you've had, and your scheduled start date along with your radiation schedule. We're all here for you!
Winter/Spring 2024 Radiation Thread
Gather here to share experiences, ask questions, get encouragement, and support others who are going through radiation therapy along with you. Please share your diagnosis, any previous treatment you've had, and your scheduled start date along with your radiation schedule. We're all here for you!
Fall/Winter 2023/2024 Radiation Thread
Gather here to share experiences, ask question, get encouragement, and support others who are going through radiation therapy along with you. Please share your diagnosis, any previous treatment you've had, and your scheduled start date along with your radiation schedule. We're all here for you!
List of what to do/get/pack to prep for Radiation Therapy
Hey all, We would like to put a complete-as-possible list together of your suggestions for getting through Radiation treatment in our next newsletter. Can you start sharing your ideas here? Thanks so much! The Mods **********HEY ALL, HERE IS THE LIST, AS OF MARCH, 2015. Please let us know if we missed things, and/or you…
Questions about Radiation treatment? Join us on Zoom.
Our professionally facilitated In Treatment Zoom meetups are a great space to meet others going through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or reconstruction to talk face-to-face and get support while going through active treatment. You'll pick up great tips from others who've been there, gain immeasurable support, and learn…
Important Links for Newbies About Radiation Therapy
Some very helpful information can be found in the main Breastcancer.org site's section on Radiation Therapy, including: How Radiation Works Types of Radiation Managing Skin Side Effects Managing Other Side Effects of Radiation Myths About Radiation Therapy Breaking Research News about Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer In…
Starting Radiation October 2019
Is anyone else starting radiation in October? I was supposed to start today but it took them so long to do the x-rays and more markings that they mercifully postponed the treatment until tomorrow--which is October. I will be having 30 treatments over six weeks.
Radiation
I was diagnosed with DCIS stage 0 in July / 24. I had a lumpectomy in 8/24 and I just started radiation on10/9/24. Luckily I only have to have 5 sessions . I am HR / PR Negative so I won’t have to take any medication. When I did my radiation yesterday Later in the day I noticed I was sore and had a swollen lymph node . Was…
Anyone have acceleration radiation?
Hi, I'm new here. My biopsy result was DCIS stage 0. A lumpectomy was performed, my surgeon said no further surgery is needed. Radiation is next but the thought of five days a week for six weeks depresses me. Has anyone did the acceleration radiation? I could handle that to shorten treatment. Can we firmly request it or…
Post radiotherapy damage
Does anyone have damage from radiation? I have had two rounds of 30 doses of radiotherapy to my left chest: 2013 post lumpectomy for DCIS and 2018 post mastectomy for TNBC. As it was 5 years between my RO said it was ok. I now regret taking this course of action. Since my last round of radiation, I have had two recurrences…
Radiation center’s accreditation
How important is a radiation center’s accreditation? And if they aren’t accredited what other ways can you find out their quality assurances and quality control?
Post Chemo, currently Radiation 20/30 Pain in under-crease redness, & peeling lumpectomy scar
Not sure on the appropriate subject line, so I just listed where I am in my treatment currently for my Invasive Ductal Carcinoma HER2+ Pr+ ER+ (IDC HER2+ PR+ ER+ Post Chemo, Radiation 20/30 Pain, redness, peeling lumpectomy scar) I should be sleeping as it is already 5:42am and my 21st radiation session is at 8:45am and I…
Radiation AFTER mastectomy & direct implant
Hi can I please ask if anyone had radiation after a mastectomy and immediate implant reconstruction? I was initially told (before surgery) due to how small the area of DCIS was that I would avoid radiation but the pathology report says otherwise. I feel sick with worry regarding the effect radiation will have on my gel…
Radiation induced fibrosis
has anyone else been diagnosed with it?
Internal breast pain after radiation
Hi all. I had 16 whole breast treatments. My symptoms were itcy, red skin, tenderness, with mild / moderate internal sharp pains. I finished my 5 boosts 2 days ago and the internal pain has increased considerably. Continuous sharp nerve pain and even my lumpectomy and node incisions seem annoyed after being completely…
FAST Foward radiation treatment schedule option
Hi, this is my first post. I’m also not sure if my dx signature/details automatically attaches to my post. But I’ll add those details if I need to. I’m in Canada. The radiation oncologist gave me the option of the Fast Forward dosing schedule of treatment. It’s not first in line protocol here yet because it hasn’t been…
Pain and tightness around implant after radiation
I’m 13 months post final radiation and have extreme tightness around my implant. There isn’t a time when I don’t have an uncomfortable feeling or down right pain. Now the back story and questions. Original Dx 6/2016. Dbl mastectomy, SLN Bx, under muscle reconstruction with textured implants. Woke up feeling as if I was…
Dcis er/pr+ her 2- radiation fatigue
Hi I am 66 yrs was diagnosed last October 2023, lumpectomy in Dec then Sentinel node surgery in Feb 24. Did 20 radiation treatments finished apr 2. I am having crazy fatigue thought it might ease off but seems to be getting worse. I have to rest by 3pm everyday. Would like to hear how others are dealing with fatigue.
Sharing towels with others, including a young kid, after more than a year of radiation therapy
Hello Everyone, I was just wondering if anyone shared towels with your husband and young children after more than a year of radiation therapy treatment. I did share with my kid sometimes, especially things like going to the beach or pools or accidentally using mine when he finished showering. So, is that fine? Thank You!
Late Effects Post Mx Rads
Hi. I had pmrt back in 2006 and have had a lot of issues over the years and wondering if anyone else does. To start, not even a year after my rads I needed an inhaler for a bad cold where I was up all night coughing. Now, I’m not sure what is going on. I had bronchitis about a month ago and I developed a non-stop cough.…
Breast pain & fibrosis 6.5 years later!!
UPDATE!! I just found this online that says COVID Vaccine can cause Radiation Recall Phenomenon that describes perfectly what I have. I am making an appointment with an Oncology Surgeon since I can go back to my old clinic since I changed insurance. Please read this and I will also post it separately!! I had lumpectomy &…
Why did you refuse Radiation?
For those of you that refused Radiation, can you tell me why? I am in the grey area and the Radiation doctor is recommending it, but my Oncologist assumed I wouldn't need it throughout my Chemo treatments. I'm confused and just want to hear from more of you how you came to your decision of why you might refuse Radiation…
Radiation
I started my first radiation treatment yesterday. I’m supposed to receive 15 total. I would say my breast feels tender and afterwards it was slightly achy. However, I am TIRED. I went to bed a bit earlier because I was tired early. I’m tired today also. Does this sound normal? I was told that the fatigue would come on…
Nausea and taste disturbance?
I've been having radiation for left breast ILC, which has included all the surrounding lymph nodes - axillary, supraclavicular and internal mammary. Increasingly I am noticing nausea which comes and goes in intensity, together with that miserable metallic taste that I had in chemo. I also have a slight sore throat and…
Sudden high blood pressure
During the past two weeks I noticed that I was hearing my heart beat in my ears. I have always had fairly low blood pressure my entire life, at the most 120 over 75. I decided to use our home blood pressure monitor two days ago and yikes! My pressure was 166 over 92. Today wasn’t much better, 154 over 84. I thought maybe…
ASTRO Updates Partial-Breast Radiation Guidelines
ASTRO Updates Partial-Breast Radiation Guidelines Jan 11, 2024 New guidelines strongly recommend partial-breast radiation after lumpectomy for many small, early-stage breast cancers with no lymph node involvement. Read more…
Summer/Fall 2023 Radiation Thread
Going through or starting radiation soon? Gather here to get answers, insight, and support from others navigating radiation treatment and its side effects right along with you.
Throat pain 6 weeks after breast radiation
I am curious as to whether anyone has experienced throat pain weeks after radiation. I had radiation to both breasts, on the left my lymph nodes in the clavicle area were also radiated and I did experience short term throat discomfort during radiation but it resolved quickly. .I have been finished with radiation for six…
*** UPDATE ** 5/31/2024
UPDATE 5/31/2024: Had double mastectomy 4/25. Great news. Path report showed clear margins! Thank God. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Haven't been able to visit my husband in Memory Care but will go this Sunday with my daughter. He is going downhill more rapidly. So sad to watch my once strong Marine going…
Radiation December 2018
I don’t think anyone has started this group yet, so here goes. Anyone else doing this over Christmas?
Shorter Radiation Schedule Seems As Effective As Standard Schedule After Breast Reconstruction
Shorter Radiation Schedule Seems As Effective As Standard Schedule After Breast Reconstruction Oct 19, 2023 An accelerated radiation schedule after breast reconstruction saves women time and money. Read more…
Radiology onc referral & does gender matter?
After a brief discussion, my medical oncologist hurriedly set up a consultation with a male RO. Said he was detailed, a little OCD (joking)… inferred I would like him because, dunno, I ask technical questions. He named a female RO “if that would make you more comfortable.” I went with the male. Now I am mulling it over.…
Question about Fatigue and Radiation
Has anyone had any side effects such as fatique and tenderness in the rib and area that is being treated? I'm exhausted and everytime I bring it up I get told its too early to have any side effects. But I literally feel like a truck ran me over backed up and did it again. Even before treatement began I felt exhausted (the…
COVID VACCINE RADIATION RECALL PHENOMENON
I am having redness, bruising, warmth and pain in my breast that was radiated 6.5 years ago. Found this online. It says it will clear up with Hydrocortisone. Going to try that and going to see an Oncologist Surgeon.
Can radiation miss its target?
I'm having the five day accelerated partial radiation treatment on my right breast. Did # 3 yesterday. But I'm worried because after #1 and #2 treatments the opposite side of my breast turned sunburned red but not the area where my lumpectomy was. I see my radiologist next Wednesday after my last treatment and will bring…
radiation aloe or aquaphor
Hi. Wondering which is better to reduce chances of getting radiation burns, aloe gel or Aquaphor? Any experience would be greatly appreciated! Also has anyone used both, like aloe in the morning and Aquaphor at night?

Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

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