Radiotherapy side effects
Hello I began chemotherapy in April this year for triple negative breast cancer and 2 weeks ago I finished 13 cycles of chemo. I now can have a lumpectomy followed by 3 weeks of radiotherapy. Due to some side effects of radiotherapy, I was looking at my options of removing the whole breast which I then could avoid radiotherapy as both options have the same survival rate. I have had sarcoid of the lungs in past and lot of severe gerd pain which I’m on medication for recently due to chemo. Has anyone got any experience with longterm side effects from radiotherapy they could share? Thank you
Radiotherapy side effects apart from tiredness ? Any one experienced them?
Hello everyone, I'm sorry if this question has already been asked, I've been reading many information from here as well as in other places etc, I've now had my surgery on the 27th Jan 2023, it was a lumpectomy, and it all went well, for that I'm very grateful to my surgical team, my surgeon is a fantastic woman along with her team of dr's under her, I would highly recommend them to anyone here in Brisbane. My margins were clear, along with the lymph nodes they also removed, I'm now facing this radiotherapy and have had my 1st appointment with the oncology doctor who went through everything, But these side effects are just not sitting well with me at all, I'm not to worried about the tiredness, everyone has spoken about this, and I'm still suffering with long covid as well, plus possibly post surgery recovery, I've started back with exercising, yoga and swimming. the wounds have healed nicely, and the post surgery infection and fluid build up has gone after a brief stay back in hospital 6 days later from the original surgery of the removal of the tuma & lymph nodes. Its the damage (possible) as I'm told to my ribs. the lungs and maybe the heart. and these permeant dots you get branded with like I'm live stock not a human. this has me truly upset and very stressed and concerned for my on going health, as this can and will effect my bones, and organs, Has any one has side effects to their ribs where they are sore after this treatment, or developed scaring on the lungs (that I'm also told is a possibility) My Dr (radiology oncology) did say I could get sore around the rib area, they say I need 3 weeks and 1 day's worth of this treatment, at 5 days a weeks so 16 sessions all up, Has anyone had a shorter time as I've read it can range from 2-5 weeks? Has anyone seek a second opinion or tried alternative measures? I'm extremely worried, stressed , and concerned for my health in the long run with bring subject to this now I have all these facts on what the side effects are, As I have clear margins and nodes and it seems a bit much to me. seeking your thoughts please, I'm a little fragile and extremely overwhelmed , this cancer journey sux - and like ( I would think all of us,) "I / we just want my/ our life back" as this is a nightmare that is screwing up my household and my life Thanks for reading my babble :smile:
Lumpectomy vs mastectomy and lymph nodes surgery
I’m a stage 2 early breast cancer patient . Triple positive . Lump 4mm on detection now reduced down less than 2mm with 4 weeks of taxcel chemo to go ( previously completed r x fortnightly AC chemo). Herceptin Infusions has been weekly 8 weeks , another 4 to go then becomes 3 weekly in 2021 . I’m now at point of having to decide on surgery option. I’ll be clarifying these questions to my surgery team as well . ive been told,I’m a candidate for lumpectomy , and this will require radiation treatment .the question of reconstruction I’ve decided can be left for later ( at present I don’t think I will bother but.....one doesn’t always know till you are really in that situation). it was made clear to me that status of my lymph nodes is almost a separate issue . At present no sign of enlargement on physical,exam or scan or ultrasound . Sentenial lymph nodes will be checked On day of surgery has anyone been in same situation where lymph nodes were found to be cancerous- how many ? did you have wide clearance Of the breast lump with lumpectomy and radiation? ( with clear margins at lumpectomy). What I suppose I’m trying to get my head around is a few issues radiation therapy - it’s been a interesting time with chemo ( that I had to have ) and I’d somehow like to avoid radiation therapy . Q if I opt for mastectomy -can I avoid radiation If lymph nodes clear ? Or if it’s in lymph nodes , they’ll do,a clearance/wide excision will I end up having to have radiation as well Hope that makes sense . I do understand that radiation burns etc do not end up a major issue with everyone but I’m tending to think it’s one less,toxin to impose on my body . Surgery isn’t easy either but......Vibrating boob
I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy in the left breast in August last year, finished rads with breath holding in November. I got the sign off from the radio oncologist last week as all being good. I am on femara. Weirdly, yesterday and today I have had a strange vibration in my left breast. It's almost like I have my mobile tucked down my bra (which I have never done). Has anyone else had similar? Should I be worries - I am thinking nerve regeneration maybe? The vibrations come in pulses, last a couple of seconds then go away and come back a few seconds later. Weird and annoying.
Is this normal?
Hi all, I don’t post much, but have been part of the group for a while. I’ve been able to find most of the answers to my questions in other people’s threads, but not this one. I had a lumpectomy in October 2018 to remove 4 tumours in left breast, the largest was 3.5cm, the other 3 were in a group and all about 1cm. They also removed a few lymph nodes that were clear. A second surgery 2 weeks later to get clear margins, then 5 weeks of radiation, which finished a few days before Christmas. My concern is that my breast is still pretty swollen and a bit sore. (I am having physio occasionally to help relieve a golf ball sized lump of scar tissue and fluid) plus I now have thickening on the underside of my breast, well away from either surgical site and my breast is hotter than the other again. The thickening of the underside of my breast is new, only noticed it a couple of weeks ago. After radiation my breast was hotter than the other for some time, but gradually got better. Is it normal for the heat thing to re-occur 5 months after radiation has finished? I had my first 6 monthly check up in March and got the all clear. Except for that golf ball sized lump the doctor was happy, so I’m not worried that cancer has returned, but I can’t understand these new changes. Any advice would be much appreciated, I’m freaking out a bit. thanks!
Hormone therapy only
Just curious...about how many of us here have gone straight from lumpectomy (or two like me) to hormone therapy, no rads, no chemo. I was stage 1, grade 2 early stage breast cancer, no lymph node involvement. Admittedly i am part of a radiation trial (EXPERT) where i was placed randomly in the hormone therapy only group. I think if i had not been part of the trial i would have had radiation simply because is considered standard treatment. Was the decision to just have hormone therapy yours or recommended by your med team?
Emotional about DCIS and Potential Fatigue
I really empathise with a comment I read on this forum recently "I don't want to think of this as a big deal, but for some reason it kinda feels like a big deal." I was going to add my comments to that thread but that would have been hijacking someone else's discussion, so I thought I would start again. I was recently diagnosed with DCIS. I had a lumpectomy 2 weeks ago and pathology is good - only DCIS, clear margins, etc. The only thing left is 6 weeks of radiotherapy. I'm feeling very emotional about it all and worried about the potential fatigue. I live 90 minutes away from the hospital and I'm planning on driving down 2 days a week and staying at my daughter's house (only 15 minutes from the hospital) for the other 3 days (I'm currently there two days a week anyway babysitting my grandchildren, aged 4 and 1). Is this practical? I've read a lot about fatigue after Radiation Therapy. How common is it? Will I be able to cope with the children if we stay at home and don't go out? I'm 56 by the way. My daughters have both just returned to work after maternity leave so they can't get time off, and my husband works overseas (new job) and is only home 1 week out of 4. Or does this all come under the heading "how long is a piece of string"?
Blue dye spot - having a whinge
I had my surgery in March 2018 and the blue dye spot is still shining brightly under my skin. I know this is really petty and completely trivial but it's really annoying. It's a constant daily reminder of why 2018 was such a shitty year and that even though I'm finished with active treatment and supposedly in remission, hey, any moment now, it could come back with a vengeance. I forget about it and then I have a shower or get changed and there is it, sparkling away. The surgery scars healed up beautifully and I'm fine with the little black radiation tattoo dots. But this blue spot is just pissing me off. It's the size of a 5 cent piece and quite prominent. And I know, if that's all I have to complain about, I'm really being narky about something that will eventually fade. But seriously? They couldn't invent a dye that absorbs in 2-3 weeks?? I also think if I'm focussing on the little stuff it's a good distraction from worrying and stressing about the big scary stuff. I just needed to have a whinge and a whine.
Wondering if this will ever be over
Not a good day today. I had a lumpectomy on Monday and went back to see the surgeon today only to find out that one of the margins was not great enough so am now scheduled for another surgery on the 5th January. Was so hoping that at least this part of the treatment was over as I have already had 6 months of chemo. Still have to have radiation as well but thought the worst of the treatment would be done. I just want my life back - I am so sick of the constant doctors appointments and it always feels like one step forward 10 steps back again. So not a very Merry Christmas for me. Sorry I know I am feeling sorry for myself but sometimes it just gets too much.
Nervous about starting Tamoxifen
Hi everyone, This is my first post ! I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in January 2016. I feel very blessed as my cancer was found early and prognosis is good :-) In February I had a lumpectomy and central node removal. That went well until I got a wound infection that saw me back in hospital. In April I started Radiotherapy for 4 weeks. It is now 2 weeks after I completed radiotherapy and I am due to start Tamoxifen for 5 years. The problem is that I have started reading about the side effects and I am now feeling very anxious about starting, to the point that I have decided to delay. I already suffer from anxiety, the thought that this drug will contribute to this condition is scary. I have also read about other womans experiences with weight gain. This concerns me as I am already struggling to lose weight. Then there is hot flushes, nausea, indigestion..... I know it will be worth reducing the BC recurrence regardless of the side effects, however, I am not ready to face this next step in my journey. My courage is failing me at the moment. Did anyone else feel like this before starting Tamoxifen ? I know that so many of you out there have journeys that are so much more challenging than mine and I want you to know that I think you are all brave, strong and inspirational woman. Ta Sandra