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Starting radiation

by Brittany on 10/11/2007 at 7:16 pmin category Treatment

My mom is finishing up with her first round of chemo in a few weeks. She has done extremely well considering how strong it was but it has still be very hard. Next is radiation. I don't know much about it and was wondering if anyone would like to share their side effects, stories and advice with me! I'm thinking it is going to like chemo where every person is different and responds in their own way but a discussion would be helpful to me! Thanks

Brittany :)

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Hi Brittany,
I had 7 weeks of Radiation in January of this year.
Your mom should do very well with this, the hardest part is getting there every day.
The radiation really does not that that long, your mom will spend more time in the dressing room than she will on the Rad table :) My team was amazing and I looked forward to going daily for the smiles.

Best suggestion I would have is to make sure that your mom has on hand (WITH HER DR's PERMISSION) Clear Liquid AleoVera - it can not be the green one we are all use to for typical sunburns. Also there is a deodorant (ask for it at WalMart / CVS / Walgreens that does now have the Aluminum in it, Most all deodorants are a no no during rad, but her Doctor will give her a SKIN Care Sheet at her first appt.

They say that it is normal to go through a mild depression after it is all over with, because the effects of the Rad actually take a few weeks to show up, and then a few weeks after the Rad is actually over. So if your mom is tired at the end of it all that will be normal, encourage beauty sleep!

Wishing you and your mom all the best! - Ronda

by Ronda on 10/11/2007 at 10:51 pm

I have 12 days left of my radiation left and it has gone ok so far I am really red and the area in my arm pit is now cracked open and oozing and very uncomfortable but it is tollerable i guess! the fatigue hit me hard this week due to my last chemo was on Monday but other than that I don't really notice it unless I think about it. when I went through this in 2000 I had no problems at all just a good tan but it is taking its toll this round so yes it will be different for her but at least we can give you a little heads up!
love to you and your family and feel free to message me anytime.
Nancy

by whitewolfe on 10/11/2007 at 8:16 pm

Hi Brittany - I am undergoing radiation right now. Tomorrow will be the end of my second week. There is no pain involved in the treatments. Your Mom will lay flat on a table and an xray type machine moves around her. My treatment takes about 5 to 10 minutes. I will be going for 6 weeks and get the weekends off. My doctor told me that about 50% of his patients have the fatigue and skin may become sunburned around treatment 20. They are monitoring me closely and I am using pure aloe and will add some lotions later. If I get the fatigue he said it will probably hit about week 3. I am hoping to be in the 50% without it. I am 45 and fairly active so that is in my favor. I hope all goes well for your Mom. You sound like a great supportive daughter. Julie

by Decaturjulie on 10/11/2007 at 7:54 pm

Radiation treatments are usually everyday 5 days a week or however the doctor orders them. Radiation zaps the energy out of one. One becomes very fatigued. Your mom may have a symtom like a sunburn and there are ointments that will help with that. Personally, I used PURE SHEA BUTTER. my doctor was impressed with the results,I did not blister.
I still suffer from side effects of both chemo and radiation. My shoulder is tender,what did I expect? burning thru my body.I am alive and kicking so I will live with it.
Cindie 3 yr survivor

by My HEART is in Michigan on 10/11/2007 at 7:43 pm

National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

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