Compression bra during radiation

In June I had 5 treatments of radiation and instead of a compression bra I just did ones that are soft cotton T-shirt fabric with elastic and no cups to hold my breast up for air circulation due to heat and better air flow. I still got a breast yeast infection under the breast that had cancer and radiation. That happened about 2 weeks after finishing radiation. I did have swelling too during radiation and used the cream prescribed that I applied daily to my breast after each radiation treatment. Then about after the yeast infection I got Shingles on the top part of the treated breast. Your immune system is depressed afterwards (I have had both shingles vaccines about 6 years ago) because after having shingles about 5 times Doctor suggested the vaccines to stop the reoccurrences. So now I have had shingles 6 times on 4th of July. Then I got a flu after attending my Grandson’s wedding. So now I am avoiding large groups of people to give myself a break from catching stuff and I have been dealing with fatigue which hit about a month after radiation and I was warned by the radiologist. So I am a few months ahead of your treatments but that was my aftermath so far for the ILC in my right breast after lumpectomy and breast reconstruction.

Not exactly the same, but I had a lobectomy for lung cancer and have issues with bras- I wear a tight-fitting cotton tank to help. Compression might feel good so your body is not doing the work to hold up your breasts.

I had a lumpectomy eight months ago, followed by five radiation sessions. The oncology team instructed me to wear a compression bra for the month leading up to the start of radiation. During the radiation treatment itself, the oncologist recommended wearing a loose cotton bra and using plenty of lotion (I used Cera).
After two weeks, I developed a rash, for which the doctor recommended only hydrocortisone

Does everyone experience fatigue from radiation?? I start this week and will have 15 sessions

@kathysimmons my radiation oncologist said it was a very common side effect, but not necessarily universal. Also, the degree of severity can also vary greatly. Best of luck with your treatment.

Thank you!! I am very active do I hope this helps!!!

So

@kathysimmons My fatigue was fairly mild until toward the end of my 21 sessions. I had about a week of bad fatigue at the end. It wasn't typical fatigue for me. It was all encompassing and actually made me want to cry. It was challenging to go on even short walks. But I pushed through. My fatigue fairly quickly resolved after I stopped radiation.

I didn’t wear any type of bra and still don’t 2 yrs later. They hurt the scar where they removed my under arm lymph node the only thing I do wear are soft cotton tube tops if needed and I use Aquafor under my breast and where radiation sorest was.

@babs28 I’m sorry it was so bad!!! Hopeful I won’t!!!