ive completed 5 of 30 radiotherapy treatments to date. I have been told the two common side effects are skin reactions and tiredness. for those that have completed radiotherapy treatment 1. After How many treatments before you started to see skin reactions? 2. How severe were your skin reactions? How were these managed? 3. After how many treatments did you start feeling tired? Thanks Angie

Hi Iv had 2 treatments & have felt the tiredness straight away. I thought it might have been caused by something else as I didn't think it would affect me so soon, but my GP assured me that it was the rad. After the first treatment I slept for 24 hours & after the one today it was 6 hours & Im going to sleep again soon. The thing I have been wondering about is, the hospital gave me some sorbolene & for the life of me I cant work out how Im supposed to use it with the plastic all over my chest LOL. I don't know how long it usually takes for the skin to react but am not looking forward to it as Iv got REALLY sensitive skin anyway Paula

Hi. After a lumpectomy and 6 cycles of FEC-D, l have now had 20 of 30 radiation treatments and so far no tiredness. My skin started to turn light pink around treatment 14, and is now a very pretty bright red. l saw my rad onc yesterday and she told me to only use sorbolene on my skin for the next week and see if the redness reduces in any way. I told her l wasn't sore or feeling ill, but l think my skin is redder than expected, but l'm glad they are looking after it all. My skin is really itchy where the treatment is happening and onc advised using Sigmacort which is available over the counter from the chemist - it works. Just remember that everyone is different and all reactions are monitored and reviewed. Good luck with your treatment. Chris

Hi again, We really are doing similar treatments right? I've just completed 11 out of 25 sessions. So far, so good. Today was the first day I felt pretty tired - but then I haven't been sleeping so well. I'm using sorbelene (cause it is free and there when I get changed after radio) and then calendula at home. Not really getting much in the way of reaction. Does feel a bit tingly like the start of sunburn. I assume you are doing okay. It's such a hassle going every day....but then I keep reminding myself it is a pretty easy process once you get there. Certainly nothing like chemo! Cheers, Anne

Hi Angie, I had 33 radiotherapy sessions after finishing treatment. For me, the fatigue really kicked in after I finished the radio. Not sure if that's because I finished on 19/12/14and had Christmas and straight after on 07/01/15 my eldest sons 21st. I found my skin started to breakdown when I had only 3 treatments to go. Fortunately, I was able to keep going and didn't have to put off having any of the treatments as I was determined to finish by the Christmas. I still struggle with fatigue now and I finished all treatments 10 months ago now but it is getting better. I was tired before I started radio as I had a very difficult time with chemo. I also went back to work 4 days a week at this time too. I used QV cream 3 times a day every day and then when my skin started to breakdown the radiotherapy nurse dressed my breast daily. Good luck with the rest of your treatments. Karen xox

Hi. I've had 26 rads - 4 more to go. I was expecting to have a really bad experience because I am a red head with very sensitive skin. However while my skin was "flushed" after each treatment, it was back to normal every night and I didn't start to get pink until session 22 and it is only slightly pink. Now I have small patch of redness under my breast where my bra sits which stings like very bad sunburn - but it's mostly because of the friction between my bra and skin. If I am not wearing a bra it doesn't hurt. I am now leaving a large dollop of cream on under there and use a silicon dressing which the hospital gave me to reduce the friction with my clothes. The skin is still intact. I only began to get tired yesterday (session 25) but I am working, having targeted therapy every 3 weeks, looking after my parents and doing a heap of other things. I slept a lot today and feel a lot better. Good luck with it, Nadine

Radiotherapy side effects | BCNA Online Network

37 Replies

Sharon_Leigh
Member
9 years ago
Photos of my skin a week after finishing 25 zaps. Armpit now worse. centre of chest blistered and itchy and I wake up in middle of night to burning and itch and bleeding. Use a towel on my bed sheet plus another towel rolled up like a pillow to give me support for under armpit. Any skin rubbing on it hurts. Use a dressing at night under armpit as well. So want to be healed.
AineG
Member
9 years ago
Hi All, Lots and Lots of good advise here... one other thing to mention that was advised to me at Prince of Wales in Sydney a simple Salt soak. 1 teaspoon salt in a ltr of boiled water. Cool, then soak a cloth and apply for 15 -20 mins twice a day.
Like a lot have mentioned on here, for me the last week and the week after the last week was when I blistered. It cleared up quite quickly with a special burn cream from the hospital. You can go back for treatment after the last session so make use of it if you can.
(I thought I was the only one taking photo's of my armpit - glad to see I was in good company! :wink: )

Aine
Nads
Member
9 years ago
Well after 18 treatments my breast is red raw especially under arm pit, have new freckles and. It liking this one bit. Using all creams, special soap free soaps in shower soft bras and padding. Not looking forward to a double hit on Thursday because of public holidays. Have appointment with oncologist Tuesday so will be discussing these issues with her.
Sharon_Leigh
Member
9 years ago
@Pammy46 on my that looks so more painful than my armpit. I am day 2 post 25 zaps and will monitor how bad it gets. Thanks for posting pics and info
Pammy46
Member
9 years ago
Hi Sharon they say everyone is different I was okay for first 4 weeks got a bit red but not to bad then the last week and the week after radiation finished I was pretty burnt it was sore.. nurses gave me a gel not solugel it was in little white tubes this eased my pain and I healed very quick this was my under arm where lymph nodes were removed last week of treatment then two weeks after top photo so you can see how quick I healed..
Sharon_Leigh
Member
9 years ago
Here's a photo of the products I used (as well as Mepitel Film via hospital) which relate to the previously mentioned list in my earlier comment today.
Glemmis
Member
9 years ago
Hi Sharon, thank you, very useful advice. I have had 15 out of 25 so far. They don't use Mepitel film at RPA. I was given Novasone cream to apply twice a day. I had a minor itch in the middle of my chest from about round 10 but it has cleared up. They said studies have shown cream works as well as film. Sorbolene was also suggested for between times. I have very fair skin & feared the worst but am working & exercising & haven't notice any difference. We have just moved house temporarily too as we are renovating. I am hoping to get through next 10 the same.
Sharon_Leigh
Member
9 years ago
Photo for above comment.
Sharon_Leigh
Member
9 years ago
Here's a photo of me wearing a very loose top (without bra) with bandage under armpit area. It's a PJ top (kindly given to me from Lily of Lily Bliss To You), which I use a lot as it's comfortable when I am at home. I use a very large loose top at home because a bra causes friction on the radiated skin. Photo shows the radiation "burns" under armpit and blistered itchy centre area. I try and restrict movement in right armpit area to avoid friction and use large bandage under armpit. I also try to cover centre blistered itchy area when I am exposed to the sun when putting clothes on line or in car etc. Also I have the sorbolene soap or Dove soap handy in my bag as you are not supposed to use deodorant on radiated armpit. So I dampen soap and use a bit of the soap under my armpit just before radiotherapy. This is so I don't smell of body odour for the poor Radiotherapy Therapists, when I have to lift my arms up and above my head into the moulded "bean bag" at the hospital. This helps avoid any embarrassment. I've been told radiated skin will get worse after treatment for about 2 weeks and will then start to improve.
Sharon_Leigh
Member
9 years ago
Here's a photo of me at hospital showing radiated red and itchy centre wearing bandage from hospital and soft cotton bra (93% cotton and 7% spandex) which I got from Lily of Lily Bliss To You (www.lilyblisstoyou.com) - also got breast prothesis and nipple prosthesis from Lily who services women in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands and southern Sydney . She's lovely and offers personal home mobile service. Soft front opening bra comes in Black and Tan.

Rgds,
Sharon