Radiotherapy

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I'm just about to start radiotherapy following bilateral mastectomy. What side effects should I expect?

I had to have 23 sessions of radiotherapy following a diagnosis of endometrios cancer. I didn’t have any side effects other than inflammation of my bowel for a couple of days where I had to hold my tummy when I tried to walk or we went over any bumps or pot holes. I had horrendous side effects to my 6 chemotherapy sessions but everyone reacts differently. If you have any problems please speak to a member of your radiotherapist team. They will offer you lots of support.

Baking mad 13 days ago in reply to Dramalady

Thanks. I'll speak to the team when I have my first appointment. My goodness, sounds as though you've really been through it. I'm lucky by comparison as I only need 5. I found my cancer and was operated on within 6 weeks.

Bungle1 12 days ago

I had 28 sessions of radiotherapy, due to the area being treated I had toilet issues but this shouldn't affect you. I was told I would be exhausted from it but I wasn't. The main thing I had was burnt and sore skin but this didn't start to be an issue until about 10 sessions in. Hope all goes well for you. Xx

latchbrook 12 days ago

Hi Baking mad and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I’m Anne, one of the Community Champions here on the Online Community and I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2022 and had 10 sessions of radiotherapy.

Apart from a slight skin rash which developed after about 6 sessions, I didn't have any others ide effects. The rash cleared up when I was prescribed a cortisone cream and antihistamines by the radiotherapy nurse.

The online community is divided into different support groups so I'm going to recommend that you join the breast cancer group, where you'll find lots of others who have had radiotherapy after a breast cancer diagnosis.

To join, just click on the link I've created and, once you've joined, you can start a new post in the same way as you did here and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.

It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment to date into our profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"

Baking mad 12 days ago in reply to latchbrook

Hi latchbrook

Nice to hear from you. Thanks for the suggestions. Will do.

Everything happened so quickly I feel as though I'm still whirling around. My daughter in law was diagnosed with breast cancer just 4 months before I was diagnosed. My poor son was devastated to have his wife and mother undergoing breast cancer treatment at the same time.

I will join the breast cancer group. Thanks.

Pinball 11 days ago

Tiredness. SEVERE tiredness. Well it was for me. My first day of Rads was fine. The second day I could hardly walk. Well they do say that the cure is as bad as the disease sometimes. That was just my experience of it and I just remember always sleeping for days in the hospital later.

Pinball 11 days ago

Also, remember that a high dose of radiotherapy can actually destroy your bones and skeletal structure wherever they're focusing on your body.

I wish they had told me that beforehand.

Dramalady 11 days ago in reply to Pinball

Hi Pinball...I didn’t have any problems with the 23 radiotherapy sessions but I had horrendous problems with the 6 rounds of chemotherapy. Finished all my treatment on the 7th January this year and ive done nothing but sleep ever since! I sleep day and night and I can barely walk! I have nerve damage in my feet which drives me nuts at night time. Had my picc line removed yesterday along with a CT Scan with contrast. I now have to wait until the 8th. April for my results when I meet with my oncologist. Fingers crossed that my treatment has worked. There is a 65% chance of my cancer returning within the next three years but to a different part of my body. I’m going to be receiving scans every 3 months so if it does return hopefully they will catch it soon enough. I had endometrial cancer with a large tumour and stromal invasion to my cervix so I had to have everything removed. I’m hoping the nerve damage to my feet repairs itself xxx