Radio post lumpectomy

Hi there

I was similar. I had Grade 3 and had a lumpectomy after 8 cycles of chemotherapy to shrink the large tumour I had. My lumpectomy was at the end of August. I had 15 sessions of radiotherapy after that. This was every day for 3 weeks (not including weekends). You have a planning appointment before the sessions where they take all the measurements and position you so that you are in the same position each day. I didn't find it too bad at all but I know everyone is different. 

Some of the other ladies there were only having 5 sessions so it is can vary depending on the person.

All the very best for your recovery.

Thanks, that's v.helpful.  Best of luck with your recovery 

Hi there,

I was also similar in that my stage 2, grade 2 ductal has spread to lymph nodes - spread to one, but had four removed in surgery.

I've just finished 15 daily sessions (non weekends). That's the standard at my hospital, my oncologist said they are currently testing 5 daily more intensive sessions at the moment and expected that to become the hospital standard in the future. My understanding is the 5/15 days would be the same total in my case, just much more intense. 

Thanks.  I'm now managing my expectations for 15.  We're the side effects similar to chemo?

Hya, I had 3 lumpectomies and finally a mastectomy with reconstruction. In addition to the mastectomy my Oncotest score was zero so my Oncologist suggested radiation only, I didn't need chemo. From what my Oncologist (and others) shared, the 'usual' side effects expected from radiotherapy were significantly less than chemo. For me personally they have been fatigue and sunburn type symptoms on the target areas. 

Gosh, you've had a hard journey.  Thank you for sharing your experience and I hope that life is treating you well now.  

I'm lucky, each op got easier as they were less invasive than the first. Certainly worth it to get confirmation it was all gone! 

It's now 5 days since final radiotherapy session. The key thing for me was my team of radiographers were fantastic. They examined my skin each day before my sessions so were on top of any potential side effects. It really felt like I had a security blanket around me each day, they were great. Worth investing the time in chatting through your concerns with them.

It's worth reading the Breast Cancer Now forum, but be warmed it can be overwhelming - especially as no two journeys are the same. The key thing is to moisturise and stay hydrated. Everyone will recommend different creams to you, I stuck with the cream my radiographers recommended and it's really helped. 

This step will be over in the blink of an eye, nothing compared to what you've been through so far. 

Take care 

Hi, it’s nearly a year since my radiotherapy. I had 5 days high intensity treatment. (Grade 2 IDC but no lymph involvement). At the planning session I had 3 small ink dots (one either side and one central) on my chest area but I think this is becoming outdated. 
The key things during treatment I was told are to rest, keep hydrated (I was recommended coconut water) and moisturise. I have super sensitive skin and used flamigel which was amazing for me. I continued to use it for about a month or so post treatment. Radiation effects intensify over the treatment period and in the first two or three weeks after treatment ends. It’s important to keep up your arm exercises too. 
I also experienced fatigue from a couple of weeks after treatment ended.
Some of us experience other (later) side effects (tightening, pain and tenderness etc) but I am not sure how common that is and hopefully you won’t. I am sharing that because I really worried when it happened as I hadn’t heard of it. 
Take care X 

Hi Newyear20263e5b84 
Sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Others have confirmed a lot of what happens at radio.  One thing I will say is it will be a whole lot easier than chemo.
I had the 15 days (no weekends) but I was diagnosed 8.5 years ago - since then I've seen some ladies have intensive radiotherapy of 5 days, higher dose.

One piece of advice that I would say is when they say drink plenty - they mean it!  It makes such a HUGE difference.  I went at the same time each day - had to drive 60 miles a day (to get there and back) and I was with 3 other ladies.  2 of us drank loads more than we usually did and the other 2 didn't.  The 2 that didn't suffered really badly with fatigue, we 'drinkers' didn't.

Use the creams they recommend (gel type seemed to be best for me).  I did get one burn, but it did heal and although not nice; not the end of the world.

I still do have tenderness in that breast from the radiotherapy every now and again - it can hurt if pressed, far more than the non cancerous breast, so I think this is down to the radio. So don't panic if you have this.

It was about a year after my operation/radio. that I realised my breast didn't hurt any more after picking up something (I had 80mm removed as I had a lot of DCIS as well) and the breast care nurse confirmed that this was perfectly normal.

Hope this helps a little and I hope you sail through your radio.

Kindest wishes, Lesley

Thank you for this.  Best wishes