Radiation: What should I expect? What are your tips?

I have 33 plus 5 sessions of radiation scheduled...I had my 7th yesterday, 8th this afternoon. I am using the Aquaphor twice a day....it is greasy, but the MD said that I have "delicate skin" and he believes this is the best of three choices that was recommended. I was fine until yesterday's session...I found that I was very fatigued and weak immediately afterwards and woke up this morning the same. According to my doctors...this is normal. I will adjust! Keep smiling and hold your faith to a new level....It works for me to keep a smile.

I had 30 rounds of radiation. Before they started they stabbed my breast with a thumbtack three times to tattoo my breast. This was painful and my tatoos are gone five years later. I suggest a black permanent marker. Unnecessary pain is unnecessary.

@sharon35981 Yes--good point. I asked to not be tatooed and the marker was just fine.

@gailmarienewton I am planning on working through radiation. I'm a PT so I am a bit worried about surviving a full day if I'm in pain or very fatigued. I will see how I do and if it'it's too much for me I can increase my FMLA time.

@gailmarienewton I realize your post was re: fatigue and yes, that can come. Try a nap if you do not work. About the creams: I used three products during my 3 weeks of radiation. 18 months ago. To this day my breasts are soft. The docs can't believe it. The mainstay was Fruit of the Earth alovera gel (available on Amazon and inexpensive). At first I tried real aloe but it was a hassle and I didn't get much from each leaf. Miaderm 1 and aquaphour(actually I think they're all available on Amazon but also in local drugstores) . I squirted some aloevera gel into a baggie and took it with me every day. After my appt, back in the dressing room, I slathered the gel over my breast. Then at home every half hour, I rotated these 3 creams. At the end of 3 wks I had a little itchiness and the dr recommended a cream (trimolene??)) Took care of it pronto. The aquaphour is messy and will ruin your tops. I found inexpensive tops (soft t-shirts)at Sam's. Eddie Bauer brand. Bought three xxl. some were women's and some were men's. Good luck! One day at a day. I was such a bozo that I had to find a video to learn how to breath. I will never forget those sessions trying to get the bar to rise!

@marshgirl24 Thank you....so helpful!

@gailmarienewton One other thing. Remember to use the creams on your chest and below breast. The whole area radiated. Skin etc on the chest is so thin. The itching, for me, started there at the end. And keep using the creams for two weeks after the end of treatment.

I start this coming Monday. Setup and simulation on Monday. Actual radiation starts Tuesday for 21 days. I've been practicing holding my breath. It's not easy! Must remember to dig through my CD collection for some relaxing music to play during treatments.

@mir123 I had my simulation 2 days ago and got the tattoos. It was like a pin prick and the slight pain lasted a couple of seconds for me. Maybe I was just fortunate to have a great tech but for me with the tattoo dots I don’t have to worry about marker coming off. Just didn’t want any added thing to worry about

@ebabor Getting my tattoos wasn't horrible. Felt a little prick on the right side and nothing on my left side. Over my sternum was another story. That sucker hurt but it was momentary. I had been forewarned by a friend. And I have art tattoos so I was expecting pain over bone. What was interesting to me but did make sense is they don't want you to lose too much weight during radiation. It makes sense that they don't want the tattoos to move. I've been seeing a dietician off and on for weight loss. She came up with a plan for me. Anyway, for me getting the tattoos was the right choice. One less thing to worry about.