What is breast radiation like and what side effects should I expect?

@triciaot
Hi there! Glad to know you had your radiation at The Woodlands MDA. I totally didn’t know that was available. Wondering if the Sugar Land location also has it available there. One of my husband’s younger brothers and his family are all in The Woodlands, we love to visit them there. Have fun in Huntsville, we lived there back in the early 90’s when our older son was on the Football Team. Good times! Thanks for the info and Hugs!
Suzanne

I was fearful of getting bad skin effects from radiation. I got red, a bit itchy, more freckles, and the occasional small blister. What really kicked my butt was the fatigue which peaked the week after I finished radiation. I'm now 2 weeks out from the end of radiation. I'm still fatigued, but not horrendously so. My skin is healing quickly. I have noticed that the treated breast is now smaller than the other when it used to be bigger. I had a lumpectomy, so that is part of it but I think radiation had an impact too. My best wishes to all on this journey.

@babs28 - this is what I'm scared of, the skin reaction and fatigue. I have one more radiation tomorrow. If you don't mind sharing, what is your total dose? Mine is 21.9Gy. Thank you for sharing

@jules2026 I have no idea. I never thought to ask. I had 21 sessions: 16 total breast, 5 to tumor bed.

Hi @babs28 I may have responded to you earlier, but here goes again. I had a lumpectomy and 15 sessions. (And I have no idea about strength or what kind) I'm a huge proponent of skin creams! My skin stayed great and with only five sessions, you should have no trouble. I used Fruit of the Earth Gel, Miaderm1 and Aquafour- all available on Amazon. In the dressing room after treatment I slathered on the gel. and then during the day I rotated these three. Your skin needs it. That chest skin is very thin. The only itchiness I had came after I was finished so keep using cream for two weeks after treatments end. I called the doc and he prescribed a steroid cream that quickly did the trick. To this day, my skin and breast (s) are soft. I guess the lumpectomy side is a little smaller but certainly not noticeable. I honestly never felt overly tired...but then I'm retired and my habit is to nap after lunch. I kept up my walking, biking and exercise routine. You've got this!

@marshgirl24 I had 21 sessions. Mild to moderate skin changes. A little bit of itching that I manage with hydrocortisone. I apply lotion twice daily. I am a little over two weeks from my last radiation treatment and my skin is looking better. I was fearful because I have fair skin but the skin side effects havent been bad at all.

@babs28 That's great to hear!

Good morning, I had 15 treatments for mine cancer last September. 1 used Aquophour cream two times daily. It is a little greasy but I only had mild redness. It didn’t feel anything in the machine. It literally takes 10 minutes. I notice being a little more tire towards the end. A have an area under my arm that is a little darker and still a little redness under my breast. No pain. Remember it takes, I think about a year after radiation for all to heal. ( I think that’s what I was told. ) You got this. Remember you got this!! God bless and keep you.

I had 5 radiation sessions (hypofractionated) in Nov 2024 (after lumpectomy on right side). By May 2026, my right arm was tight and stiff enough that I mentioned it to my medical oncologist. She said I do not have lymphedema but referred me to lymphedema physical therapy anyway. She said their exercises also work for muscle/ skin tightness. I've started PT once a week and doing the daily exercises. I hope for improvement but expect it to be slow. I'm 82--and sadly, healing is slower as one ages!
Also, I'm not sorry I had radiotherapy. My cancer turned out to be a rather aggressive one--not what is usual in someone my age.

@peggydobbs , thank you for sharing your experience. I appreciate. Hope you continue to see improvement. Pray for speedy healing and recovery