Radiotherapy and exercise
Hello everyone - After a DCIS diagnosis and lumpectomy with a re-excision I now have clear margins and, although I could have refused radiotherapy, I have opted in as it is still standard treatment. And I wasn’t prepared ‘to roll the dice’ as my surgeon put it. I will have about a three-quarter hour train commute and a 10 minute walk each way from the train station. So all up I reckon it’s going to be three and a half or so hours each day. I have heard that exercise helps combat the fatigue. My question is - yoga? I’ve found a fabulous YouTube yoga by Lisa Moore which is about thirty minutes, gentle stretches etc. Walking I could definitely do in fine weather. I also have a rowing machine at home that I enjoy. Have people kept up resistance training while going through radio? I work four days a week but I can be fairly flexible about hours. Any survival tips welcome!What The Heck Radiation and Chemo? What to do and the side effects, are freaking me out.
In July, I had a mastectomy with lymph nodes out, then they found cancer somewhere else in the body with completely no relation to the breast cancer. If the breast cancer wasn't enough. So, now I have to deal with the other cancer site, which is colorectal, and I have just had an appointment with the radiation and chemo doctors at Royal Brisbane Women's, and I don't mind admitting I'm freaking out. The side effects of the 50/50 cure seem to be so much worse than the actual disease. Yes, I know that the disease, if left to run riot, equals, you know. But, after all these years of funding and funding, why do we not have something better? It's so weird that since my surgery, I have had posts popping up on my socials left right, and centre. Like the "Cure from Japan with Bee Venom" seriously makes me want to find a hive and fly into one with wanton abandon. A "Breakthrough in South Korea, scientists can turn cancer cells back to normal cells," .. Say WHAT? (frantically looking up flights to S Korea) Then there is Ivermectin, Febendazole, and something blue? I mean, I have never paid attention to these things before, but now, my ears prick to the slightest twitch and rustle, like a kid who hears a lolly bag open within a 10-mile radius. I can't help it, I am confused about everything, am I the only one? When I confronted the chemo doctor about all of my concerns and questions, he said If you don't do this, you will be in palliative care in 3 months .. What, hang on what the heck???? I mean, just like that, he said that without any pause or thought, I was never advised that before, and then said, "Whatever you decide, we start therapy on the 28th July, and proceeded to walk out. This journey is brand new; everything has happened since July, and it is no lie, akin to riding a faulty wooden roller coaster with loose nuts, bolts, and rotting timber, operated by a maniacal, crazy clown, in the middle of a thunderstorm, who looks like he has been dragged through a hedge backwards. Just to clarify, the clown is the cancer. I have questions, a thousand of them, with no end of these questions in sight. Where are the natural alternative therapies, like, singing bowls, or is humming drums? What about the milk from an Aztec goat? Yeah, or the petals from a rare flower that only grows on top of some hidden temple in the Amazonian forest, which, on recent reading, is currently swarming with giant anacondas in a breeding frenzy, ugh! Ok, I made up the goat and flowers. No, there is only radiation and chemo. Sigh! I don't know what to do with this option. I have been told my cycle will be 28 days straight of radiation with chemo. I can look forward to a burning bum hole, diareah, burnt skin, possible issues with legs and bladder, and kidneys, and all sorts of other stuff. However, I was told that everyone is different and responds differently. Well, I have to say I don't feel that comforted at all. I am overwhelmed. If anyone can share with me their experience with radiation and chemo, I would love to hear from you. And if anyone knows where I can get my hands on an AZTEC goat in Brisbane, I would love that too!! Goats are ravenous but cute.
Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome
Hi everyone!!!! I was diagnosed with BC last year. I had DCIS and IDC......I had conserving surgery partial mastectomy with a flap reconstruction done......I had my yearly follow up in June this year and the mammogram and ultrasound picked up a mass....I had the biopsy straight away and it didn't contain any cancer cells......It was necrotic tissue. So I had to go back to Breast surgeon 3mths later which was last week....She said I was fine....I saw my radiation oncologist the day later for my routine check up......He told me I have radiation fibrosis syndrome.......I have pain daily and have trouble with the tendon at the front of my arm pit and pain in my arm, breast and left side of my breast. He told me it wont get better but will probably get worse and if I can't handle the pain he will give me medication which settle down the inflammation in the under lying cells which were damaged through the radiation. I was wondering if anyone out there has had this and if anyone knows if I should just have the whole breast removed.....I would be grateful to hear from you.....I don't like the idea of living the rest of my life with daily pain and restricted movement in my arm. Thank you :)
Feeling cold all the time
Anyone else feeling cold all the time after treatment? Had surgery and radiotherapy last year & started Letrozole in June. Had a few side effects from the Letrozole - occasional hot flush, big weight gain, occasional trouble sleeping (but that could be because my brain comes up with plot ideas as I'm an author...lol), diarrhea. Continual fatigue since radiotherapy. Anyway now it's autumn and although the temps are around 20 I'm feeling cold all the time. Rugged up, sit wrapped in a blanket, etc. I simply cannot get warm. Never used to feel this cold until the temps were in the low single digits...lol
Late onset Radiotherapy issues
I had radiation therapy after surgery on my left breast over four years ago. In the last couple of months I have developed something called Bronchiolitis Olbitrans Organising Pneumonia (BOOP). One of the causes cane be breast cancer radiation, however my cancer was the outer side of my left breast and the lesions from the BOOP are upper outer side of right lung. Has anyone else developed this? I’m really lost here. I did not have chemo if that makes a difference.
Skin fold
Hi I am 8 days post radiation treatment and have been feeling great and living life. I now have a split skin fold which is oozing a yellow goo (sorry only way I can think to describe it). My question is it ok to put anything in this? My rad nurse was supposed to call days ago and didn't and I tried calling today my was told the nurses were unavailable and to leave a message (that I did) and my gp isn't available until next week.
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:
Nearly finished radiation!
Hi all, I’ve done 18/20 radiation sessions and am pleased to report the side effects have been minimal so far. I have had a few waves of tiredness and slow brain recently but pretty minor. Skin wise, I used strata xrt and moogoo at home. and straight after treatment I used the sorbolene the hospital gave me. I didn’t realise the beam field was so large beyond the breast so I didn’t apply all the way towards my neck, but there isn’t too much difference in the skin reaction to be honest. The skin has darkened all over - like a light tan, and my nipple is now very dark compared to the other side. I have some tiny red spots over the whole area but they don’t hurt or itch. The only area of concern is the under boob skin fold which has gone very dark brown and the skin is a little bit broken. I was very careful to apply the strata cream there but maybe I should have put a cloth in the fold. I’m wondering what I should put on the broken skin? Savlon? Interested to know what others experienced a week or two after treatment stopped? a.
Has anyone had Vertigo on Paclitaxel
I've been experiencing vertigo, towards the end of my Paclitaxel, and are still experiencing 7 weeks later. It's not severe, but usually occurs in bed turning my head side to side. My Oncologist doesn't think it relates to my Chemo. Maybe it's just a coincidence. Has anyone else experienced this?
