Newly Diagnosed - Radiation Side Effects?

Thanks for the reply. Yes I had a bone density test and my back is not as healthy as the rest of my bones. I will have a talk to the Rad One again and see what is best. Have you been doing weight bearing exercises to help with bone strength? That sounds very good that your bones are still strong even after 10yrs of AI meds.

I was on Letrozole throughout. What works for one isn’t always the best for others, I just wanted to note that some side effects aren’t automatic. What is very much worth checking is your bone density, as most AIs can impact density. I was lucky, at 67 my bone density was excellent, so I had some wiggle room. Letrozole has made an impact on my bone density (as undoubtedly has a decade of getting older!) but so far no osteoporosis. I am hoping for some stabilisation now I have stopped! 

@Afraser
Thank you for the reassurance. I think I'm concerned because I already have arthritis and I'm worried what AI will do to my bone strength. Would you mind sharing which AI you were taking?

@WhiteLight

Don’t get too alarmed yet about the list of AI side effects, it’s a list of possible side effects, you may get some. I finished ten years of AI last May and I had none of the joint pain, aches or menopausal symptoms reported by many. I did have some side effects but managed them. Best to see how you go, don’t suffer in silence and discuss any problems with your oncologist. I was on the same AI throughout but often a change brings relief from troublesome symptoms. Best wishes for the next stage of your treatment. 

So I had my meeting with the radiation oncology nurse and she suggested QV cream, which fortunately I already use. So I will stick with that. I start 15 sessions of treatment on Weds this week. I know I will cope with it (I hope), but I'm not so sure about the listed side effects of aromatase inhibiters afterwards. :-( 

Thanks @GinGin that explains how I hadn’t heard about it 

Thanks everyone 🙂 I've been using sorbolene during chemo as my skin was very dry, and I've also been using it on my scar since it healed. I tried Moo Goo, but it didn't suit me, I think it gave me a rash, but it could also just have been a chemo side effect. I have a mild rash from paclitaxel, strangely from my elbow to my wrist, and from my knee to my ankle, nowhere else 🤷‍♀️ I will ask my McGrath nurse if they use strataXRT in Darwin.

@Tri, anecdotally, seems that StrataXRT is used more widely in Perth, Brissy and Sydney but not in Victoria. And centres that recommend it will provide discount code to their patients.

@Katie46, great that you’ll have the discount code😉. Come back here if the centre where you are having rads doesn’t know how to use StrataXRT ( like mine!). 

I stuck with plain Sorbolene cream. I did try Moogoo before thereapy started but had a reaction to it. Never had a problem with sorbolene, slathered myself in it all the time.