Radiation Therapy at Icon Cancer Centre
I had my lumpectomy surgery on 13/05/2022. I'm waiting on my radiation treatment to start soon and just a bit nervous. Just wanted to see what to expect on my first treatment, any tips and side effect...
Forum Discussion
Hello @ARichies, hope you are feeling ok after your surgery. The first treatment is always the hardest because we don't know what to expect. I had surgery, chemo and radium and I found radium. It doesn't hurt. I had 20 rounds of radium ie every day for 4wks. It didn't take long for the actual treatment- maybe 5 or 10 mins.
My first session was mapping the area and this took a long time. Once this was done each visit required getting changed and lying on a radium table with my arms above my head. In terms of burns I was ok but did have a couple of sore areas.
I used mepilex which is like having a second skin to prevent burns. I did have some soreness at the end of the radium treatment under my breast and also on the scar line where some lymph nodes were removed. I think radium builds up so the redness and burns come towards the end of the treatment and get continue after the treatment for a couple of wks.
Talk to the nurse there about mepilex or other coverage to prevent burns also see about what they recommend for moisturiser after treatment. Also I found I could not wear a bra so used firmish camisoles for support.
I had my radium in 2020 in the height of covid so I couldn't bring anyone with me. Check about support but at the end of the day they will need to wait outside.
Also check on paying if private and costs. I was private and upfront payment of $23000 was required and then they process same day with Medicare. My out of pocket was just under $3000. There is no private cover for radium. I made 3 payment so the $23k wasn't all upfront ie $10k and then Medicare claim which helped next payment of $8k and then Medicare claim etc.
Hope this helps. Best wishes
My first session was mapping the area and this took a long time. Once this was done each visit required getting changed and lying on a radium table with my arms above my head. In terms of burns I was ok but did have a couple of sore areas.
I used mepilex which is like having a second skin to prevent burns. I did have some soreness at the end of the radium treatment under my breast and also on the scar line where some lymph nodes were removed. I think radium builds up so the redness and burns come towards the end of the treatment and get continue after the treatment for a couple of wks.
Talk to the nurse there about mepilex or other coverage to prevent burns also see about what they recommend for moisturiser after treatment. Also I found I could not wear a bra so used firmish camisoles for support.
I had my radium in 2020 in the height of covid so I couldn't bring anyone with me. Check about support but at the end of the day they will need to wait outside.
Also check on paying if private and costs. I was private and upfront payment of $23000 was required and then they process same day with Medicare. My out of pocket was just under $3000. There is no private cover for radium. I made 3 payment so the $23k wasn't all upfront ie $10k and then Medicare claim which helped next payment of $8k and then Medicare claim etc.
Hope this helps. Best wishes