Coming to the end of radiotherapy

FormerMember
FormerMember
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I have been undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer after having a lumpectomy. I have had 15 sessions to treat breast, underarm and neck and an now having 5 boost sessions to the breast, and will finish this Wednesday! 

I have found it all ok, a little bit of tiredness and not wanting to do much some days, and little bit sore and tender under arm where scar is. Will these side effects continue to develop once I have finished treatment? What are your experiences? 

karen 

  • Hi - yes, my radiologist said that radiation peaks at 2 weeks after you finish treatment and then by 6 weeks, your skin and cells have healed again. I found the slight redness I had did peak at around the 2 week mark.

    Some precautions are lifelong - you can't expose the area to sun for example and there is a risk of lymphoedema but I think that is quite a small risk. 

    Fantastic you're almost finished!

  • I agree with beatthebreast, personally my side effects didn’t  increase significantly but they were there consistently for a few weeks afterwards, hurray for nearly completing it!! X