What you wish you had known before starting Radiotherapy?

Tony, I was so desperate yesterday, I knocked on somebody's front door and asked if I could use their toilet.  Luckily he let me!

I only had 5 treatments of Radiotherapy after my breast cancer surgery but I had a painful shoulder after the 2nd lot of surgery (the explanation was that I must have been laid 'awkwardly' on the operating table whilst unconscious - how would I know!) anyway, due to this the position of holding the posts over my head to have the radiotherapy was extremely painful but it was a case of 'needs must' and I managed to complete it all and the physiotherapy I received really helped. BUT what no one told me was that you can get cramp like pains in the muscles around the breast sometime afterwards - I honestly thought it was angina or something the pain was so sharp I couldn't breathe and it can be triggered by things like putting a coat on or just taking a deep breath. I was so relieved when I learned that many other breast cancer survivors have the same experience but I do wish someone had warned me it might happen beforehand then I would not have been so worried. I am coming up for 2 years post surgery and I still get the cramps but they seem to be lessening. Just wanted to let people know as I haven't seen any literature about this potential after effect, not everyone will get it but I know quite a few who have so its not just me, so just wanted to raise awareness.