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Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

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

I’m new to this thread!
Ok guys I will have to have 28 days of radiation. Ugh. I have to finish my fills to my expanders first. So it will be another 4 weeks or so before I begin. I need advise. Whatever you have! I just don’t want any surprises! I like to know what I’m facing Thank you guys.
Radiation burns healed ridiculously fast
Wow. It is three weeks since my last radiation session, and now there is no sign at all of the ghastly sunburns I had. Originally is was almost a purple red, stretching across the breast into my armpit. Is this typical? Or is jojoba oil infused with magical healing properties? I've been buttering myself with that stuff.…
Better Support During Radiation Improves Survival Rates
Better Support During Radiation Treatment Improves Breast and Lung Cancer Survival Rates for Black and White Women October 30, 2021 Identifying and offering solutions for obstacles that kept people from completing radiation therapy for early-stage breast and lung cancer improved outcomes and seemed to eliminate the…
Rib fractures following radiation
Has anyone had fractured ribs following radiation?
Proton Radiation: share your experiences
I am considering getting Proton Radiation due to a left sided cancer and TNBC. Has anyone had Proton Radiation? If so, how did it go for you, and where were you treated? Thanks!
Calling All Mepital Film Users!
Hi all, I found out about mepitel film prophylaxis for radiation from some other posts on this board. I asked my RO about it. She said that they do not typically use it but that I am welcome to if I want. So I went and ordered some from CVS. Since my radiation team doesn't typically use it I want to make sure I know what…
Fork in the road: radiation or AI or both?
My radiation oncologist just presented me with the possibility of skipping radiation and going straight to AI. This is partly due to everyone feeling that I am an excellent candidate for AI, and that radiation would t provide a huge advantage The twist of course is that I would have to be very committed to completing that…
Starting Radiation July 2021
Didn't see a group for this, so decided to start one! Anyone else starting radiation this month? I have a baseline mammogram tomorrow, then am scheduled to begin 4 weeks of rads on July 15th. I picked up my prescription for steroid cream and ordered some calendula cream as recommended by my RO. Guess I'm ready to go!
What to ask the Oncologist?
I had my mastectomy in June. I'll finally be seeing the Oncologist for the first time on Monday. I already know that the minimum further treatment I need is radiation to the chest wall, radiation to the lymph nodes, and 5-10 years of a drug like Tamoxifen. Last month they did a CT scan and a bone scan and sent a sample of…
IORT - Interoperative Radiation Therapy
Just sharing for anyone with early stage BC, as there are specific conditions to tumor size and type type to qualify. A lot of surgeons don't know about it, which is sad because it's been around for years and doesn't expose you to excess radiation. Insurance covers it, and it's done during surgery, so once and done. I had…
Starting Radiation June 2021 Group
Hi all. Starting this thread for June 2021 radiation starts. I have my mapping appt this Thursday, and then will probably start next week. I have 15-19 treatments. I told my RO I was concerned about lung and heart damage, so she said she would keep a wider margin..."because she knows what's important to me". I had a left…
4 vs 6 weeks
Originally my dr offered me the choice of doing 4 weeks (with more intense radiation) or 6 weeks (with less intense). I chose the 6 weeks because I really don't want to miss ANY work, and I was worried about fatigue with the 4-week course. After my first appointment today they gave me a calendar of all my upcoming…
atypical vascular lesion
I've had radiation twice on the same breast. (Not sure that was a good idea). I had some spots appear on and around my mastectomy scar two years out from my second bout with breast cancer. I had a routine follow-up with my surgeon the other day and he biopsied one of the spots right there in the office, which the pathology…
How to deal with my emotions during radiation treatments
I am 67 and after a having a lumpectomy I am about to begin daily radiation for 4 weeks. My CT mapping and simulation days have made me feel violated, humiliated and like a side of beef. I've been feeling very exposed and weepy all weekend. Does anyone else feel like this? What can I do so I can get through the next 4…
Starting Radiation December 2020 group
No one else has started this group yet, so here I am. Finally had my first of 21 treatments today. Really felt like no big deal. However, now I'm back home and feeling very drained. I'm sure it's psychological, not physical, but still. I'm really bummed that by starting today, and due to winter holidays, my very last…
April 2021 Radiation
Creating this group for those of us receiving radiation therapy in April
Starting Radiation January 2020
Couldn't find this topic, so thought I'd create it. I start 21 days of rad on Jan 2, ready to get the party started (and over!).
September 2020 Radiation Group
Has anyone started radiation in September? Tomorrow marks day 13/20 for me. I’ll have boosts for the last four, days 17-20. I was petrified prior to starting but, knock on wood :) it hasn’t been too bad. My skin is slightly pink. I’m using Triamcinolone 0.1% twice a day and Yoro Organic Manuka Crea in between. How is…
November 2020 Radiation Group
I may as well start for the new month! I go in today for my first session and have 20 total, I think it’s 16 plus the boost. My last day is probably the day after Thanksgiving as they are open on the Sunday before Thanksgiving To get that day in. I have a little stack of various chemical free lotions/oils including Aloe,…
Capsular Contracture post radiation with implant/screening
Hello everyone. I had a lumpectomy and completed radiation in Sept of 2019. I had implants prior to my diagnosis and the implants were left as is during the ordeal. 8 months post radiation, I had an annual mammo and it was incredibly painful. My annual is coming up again and I’m worried about it. My breast is much harder…
Feburary rads group 2021
I've had my consult and will have my staging on Jan 26th. My treatment will start around the 8th so I'm hoping you Feb ladies will jump on here with me. I will have 3 wks of rads and 5 booster appointments. My radiology oncologist is the kind of doc who keeps up with the latest and looks at your specific results .
January 2021 Radiation Club
My radiation is scheduled to start January 21 with simulation and the actual actual treatments will start January 25. The plan is to do hypofractionated radiation over a 3 week period with 4 boosts to lumpectomy sight the next week. I am definitely nervous and anxious because they plan to radiate the lymph nodes even…
Podcast: Doctors May Not Recognize the Severity of Radiation SFX
SABCS 2020: Doctors May Not Recognize the Severity of Radiation Side Effects January 19, 2021 Dr. Reshma Jagsi is the Newman Family Professor and deputy chair of the department of radiation oncology and director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan. At the 2020 San…
Radiation Induced Fibrosis
I've just been diagnosed with early RIF post radiation. I went through chemo (4 DD A/C & 4 Taxol) and then finished 33 rad tx's in early October 2009. In early December over night I started experiencing problems and was dx with a breast infection. Started my first round of antibiotics. Now I'm on round 3 of antibotics and…
Secondary Angiosarcoma of the Breast
I have agonized over whether to post this or not because I in no way wish to scare the daylights out of you who are in radiation treatment or have finished. I do think this is something that rad. onc. need to address as I was never told this could happen, because they do not expect it to happen. See my original dx. at the…
June 2020 radiation group
Is anyone else starting radiation in June? I start June 10th. I had the CT scan/mapping yesterday. It was weird. 3 people writing on me, putting stickers on, taking pictures of my boobs and hand placement, while I just laid there realizing that this is now my life. I have done pretty good throughout this journey, but…
Starting radiation March 2020
A group for those starting or having radiation therapy in March. I had my simulation Feb 21, and am now scheduled for a dry run March 4, to begin daily treatment the next day (25 sessions plus 5 boosts, 6 weeks total)
STINKY...B O...Lump side only,any thoughts??
It's been almost a year after surgery and 9 months since rads and my lump side has a stinky sour-like underarm smell, not on the other side....Could it be from rads?..surgery??.......Does anyone else have a different odor on their surgery underarm side....I use Crystal and works great but not on my lump side...Any…
May 2020 Radiation
I start radiation May 15th so thought I would start a new thread here. I have my mapping on May 7th. This is my second time here. In 2008 had radiation on the right breast for DCIS without any real problems. Some skin issues that resolved within a month or so. I had 30 treatments. This time will only have 15 for L breast…
Radiation June 2019
For members starting or continuing radiation therapy in June 2019.

Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

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