Radiotherapy

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Hi.  I'm due to start radiotherapy (3 areas) after finishing 6 rounds of chemotherapy for breast cancer having a mastectomy.   The side effects have been horrendous severe diarrhoea,  vomiting, lack of energy not and the emotions.  Although they have tried to counteract nothing has helped.  I'm really concerned that radiotherapy is going to be just as bad, and travelling 80 minutes each time for treatment and then back, I dont think I can do it.  I dont want to do it. What are other people's side effects like? 

  • Hi Lostagain

    Everyones experience of treatment is entirely different.  I know of at least four other people close to me who have had totally different experience. But I can only tell you of mine.  

    I had very little side effects from five months of savage Chemo apart from extreme tiredness - which was the major difficulty for me being an hyperactive person.  Surgery for breast cancer and nodes, I practically swam through.  Everyone has been saying during my treatment that I didn't look like I had cancer, that I looked well and generally apart from the obvious aches and discomfort I was well-ish.  Four weeks of daily radiotherapy which I found uncomfortable but nothing severe and I pretty much swam through that.  However since finishing radiotherapy I have been quite ill and in great discomfort and I am told that possibly the radiotherapy caused an infection and have had great discomfort for around five or six weeks.  I am just getting back on my feet now having finished radiotherapy end September.  

    But as I said, everyone is different.  I hope yours goes fine. 

  • Hi Lostagain

    Welcome to the forum and I am sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with breast cancer and that you had horrendous side effects from chemo.  Radiotherapy is nowhere near as bad as chemo.  Your breast may get a little red after a few days of radiotherapy so it's best to keep the area moistened. Use a body cream  on your breast after every session of radiotherapy. You may also experience some burning to the breast, if you do make sure to let your Radiotherapy nurse know and they can give you something to ease the pain.  Make sure you drink plenty of water before and after each radiotherapy session.

    Wishing you the best of luck with it.

    Best wishes

    Daisy53

    Community Champion Badge

  • Hi Lostagain, I had daily radiotherapy for just under two weeks.  The radiotherapy was absolutely fine for me just a little tiredness which built.  However, I wasn't told to do any exercises or physio afterwards and ended up with a frozen shoulder which meant yet another operation so my only advise would be to make sure you have exercises to do to avoid any issues whilst your body recovers from the radiotherapy.  I really think you're through the worst of it now and will hopefully find the radiotherapy a breeze.  They will give you some really good moisturiser to keep the skin in tip top condition.