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 Angie, I had 25 rads and only found that the tiredness set in after 2 weeks. As far as your skin goes, keep moisturising in the morning and the evening and after your rads session and it should protect the area for a while. I used moo goo udder cream and it wa really good. The rads ruse will review you regularly and will advise you along the way what other reams to use. My skin broke down for the 2 weeks after all of my treatments but recovered quickly.
Wishing you all the very best, Trace ????????
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
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 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. 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 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
