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What to expect with radiotherapy?

Kaz39
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Anything you wish you had known before starting radiotherapy? 

I was diagnosed with stage 2 (Her2+) breast cancer in June. My treatment plan was TCHP Chemo, followed by surgery finishing with Radiotherapy.

Thankfully had good response to chemo - well the cancer did my body is still rebuilding itself. I had surgery in December and recovery from that has been easier than I expected. Still struggling with cording as they removed the Lymph nodes too. 

Am now preparing for radiotherapy to start and truthfully know very little about what to expect. When I ask people around me I just get told - "it's easier than chemo, if you got through it will be fine"

So am hoping someone here can share some words of reassurance. 

Sending best wishes to everyone on their own cancer journey! 

Thanks for reading. ️ ️‍

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    Hi thanks for asking the question Im interested in knowing this too as I will be facing this myself soon.  A week today since my mastectomy, still feels surreal sometimes.

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    I started radiotherapy beginning of December. I’m out the other side now. My skin got sore but the moisturiser worked. Really slap it on several times a day. Having appointments everyday is tiring. I think the treatment can make you fatigued too. Oddly the pain in my breast was worse after the radiotherapy. I get sharp pains in my ribs and particularly my nipple. Not where I had the surgery. My breast is still swollen but this is slowly subsiding. If you got through chemo, this will feel much easier. It really isn’t bad. It feels a bit impersonal when you are being treated but the treatments take minutes. Wishing you all the best. You’ll be fine! X

  • Offline in reply to Lk53

    I feel very detached from it all, - I had my surgery results this week and thankfully I had a full response to chemotherapy but it doesn't feel real looking back it feels like someone else going through it. - good luck with rest of treatment. 

  • Offline in reply to BecB

    Thanks for reply, tip on moisturiser is handy. 

  • Offline in reply to Kaz39

    I’m through the other side and I still can’t believe it. It is so shocking I think it takes a long time to come to terms with it. I joined a small local breast cancer group and everyone had felt the same so I think that is very normal. Give yourself some time especially as you are still in treatment xx

  • Offline in reply to Kaz39

    I feel like this too, still can’t believe this is happening, never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen to me!  Not sure why now tho when I see how many people are affected by cancer think your more likely to get it at some point than not..  guess I was living in a naive bubble.   I never noticed the cancer adverts etc really but now they seem to be on every 5 minutes!!!

    BecB thank you for the moisturiser tip too, anything I can do to make this less painful the better  x

  • Offline in reply to Lk53

    It's nice to know we are all feeling the same "normal" feelings. 

    Like you I couldn't believe it was me, and had never seen so many ads for cancer before my diagnosis. Once you have it, it's like a secret door opens and become surrounded by so many who have or are going through it and totally consumes you through treatment phase. - everyone is so generous with their advice and sharing experiences, have been so grateful. 

    Good luck with rest of treatment .

  • Offline in reply to Kaz39

    Yes your right, I felt very alone at the beginning but talking to other women in the waiting room for appointments made me feel less alone and realised how many women are going through the same journey.

    Think we all understand how scary and *** this is, if we can help each other get through it in anyway it helps .

    Good luck to you too xx

  • Offline in reply to Kaz39

    By the way I can’t bear to say the ‘c’ word so I’ve named it Roger….  Loved viz as a kid so after Roger Irrelevant as this will hopefully be irrelevant to my life soon!!  X

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