New to forum, possible side effects of radiotherapy

I didn't find that although I did get very tired (my rads came after surgery and chemo).  I'm guessing that you've probably got the end of active treatment whammy of emotions.  I coped (mostly) during treatment but it's a fairly well-recognised thing that towards the end, things start to fall apart.

Hello Yes I have recently finished radiation.  I'm a bit sore and I think my tiredness and crankiness is just after everything. 2 surgeries 6 months of chemo hospital visit and then daily radiation.  The radiation  nurses were lovely.

I didn’t have radiation (mastectomy) so I can’t say for sure if it makes you ratty and irritable but cancer certainly can! Even those who get through treatment reasonably well (and I count myself as one) have days when nothing is right, everything and everyone is wrong and anyone trying to help is worst of all. It does pass. It’s also understandable - this was never, never in your plans or even in your ‘what ifs’. Cancer was something other people got. It takes a while to sink in. The good news is that lives can be big enough to accommodate all sorts of unplanned things, particularly if you can let anger subside. Someone outside your friends and family to talk to can be really good, your breast care nurse or oncology nurse is usually a font of information and good advice. Best wishes. 

Hi,

Im having radiotherapy at the moment. Ive done 15 out of 25 zaps so far. I feel tired and mildly irritated skin but not more emotional. @Locksley has recently finished radio so she may have a different experience.

I was diagnosed in late June and had a single mastectomy and then chemo. Ive also been on a hormone suppressing injection.  My children are young teenagers. 

Your diagnosis is relatively fresh. Once my mastectomy was over and the initial priority was dealt with i experienced a rush of other emotions. What you have been through already is shocking and rocks your foundation/certainty.  By the time i got to radio i had processed some of these things.  I had to also process the seemingly wrong idea of hurting my body in order to ultimately get well.

The tiredness on top of the processing can make you more emotional. Its like grief and you will possibly feel all emotions and eventually come out the other side. 

Sometimes it is less than fun dealing with the medical. Drs mean well but they forget that you are human and not just something to treat /process. There are fabulous nurses, cancer services out there that will listen and of course we are here.

Michele