Forum Discussion
Started Radiation 'boost' today
Hello everyone!
Today I'm on my final wk of Radiation. The boost as we call it. And I must say I'm so happy not to have to hold my damn breath for this 1!!! Most of you know I'm a radiation therapist so I know the ins and out of this treatment but I admit I found the holding my breathe very difficult and anxious, and I apologise to anyone else who has to do it! I have some feedback for my department so hopefully we can tweak it and make it less stressful.
In other news my skin is starting to break down in the expected places, (collarbone, armpit a d under my breast).
I hope everyone is travelling ok with their treatment xx
Today I'm on my final wk of Radiation. The boost as we call it. And I must say I'm so happy not to have to hold my damn breath for this 1!!! Most of you know I'm a radiation therapist so I know the ins and out of this treatment but I admit I found the holding my breathe very difficult and anxious, and I apologise to anyone else who has to do it! I have some feedback for my department so hopefully we can tweak it and make it less stressful.
In other news my skin is starting to break down in the expected places, (collarbone, armpit a d under my breast).
I hope everyone is travelling ok with their treatment xx
32 Replies
- All the best x
- Thank you for your help @JoeyLiz and your wonderful first hand knowledge, unfortunately!. It’s only the people who have experienced radiation first hand who understand and know how it feels. It has helped me to understand what to expect in the next few weeks. I really appreciate you taking the time to get back to me. With best wishes.
Maureen x - @duxx1234 radiation is also cumulative so yes unfortunately it will get worse sorry! The fatigue may kick in from now if your halfway as well as the skin reaction. Good news is that during the boost the rest of your breast gets a break so that skin will probably be at its worst just after you finish whereas the skin in the boost area will get worse for another wk. But hopefully you'll be fine x
- Thank you so much @JoeyLiz for the explanation. Are the side effects likely to get worse during this ‘boost’? I found the last 6 doses of Taxol very difficult as the chemo became cumulative. Hoping radiation won’t get worse! Thanks again for your response. How good is it that you are all finished and congrats on your new role at work. Maureen
- Hi @duxx1234 if you are having 30 then yes you are having a boost. The first 25 treatments treat the whole breast tissue whereas the last 5 target where the lump was to give it an extra 'boost'. You may be in the same position as you are now or it may be changed slightly, they may or not put an extra attachment onto the machine it just depends on the technique they are using for your particular case. Hope that helps! Congrats on being on the last part of your triathlon and yay for being almost half way through radiation xx
- Hi @JoeyLiz. I am almost half way through my 30 doses of radiation and have read where people have referred to ‘boost’ dose. What is this?Would I have been told if I was to have a boost dose? I had left sided breast cancer but not doing the DIBH. Thanks for any information. I am on the last leg of my ‘triathalon’ and can’t wait to finish! Best wishes.
- @Nikkilee that's the prone technique, great at reducing dose to heart and lungs
- Hi ladies ,
i have just finished chemo for triple negative , had lumpectomy in jan left breast about to start radiation on 20th Aug but I am lying on my stomach with my boob falling through a hole in the table to receive radiation with no mention of holding breath lol ... - Thanks for the great info. I stay away from snorkels, I nearly choked the last time I used one on the Great Barrier Reef.
