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What Kind of Radiation Did You Get for Your Gynecological Cancer?
Gynecologic Cancers | Last Active: Feb 4, 2023 | Replies (77)Comment receiving replies
Today was first day of external radiation, was 11 am and once home at noon did have a kind of headache in back, did feel strange for probably 4 hrs. A co-worker told me her mother always took a nap after her treatments. I think I see why. Tomorrow will be leaving work early, for 3:20 pm appointments for remainder of appts for week.
Will keep you all posted on how I feel. Was told to expect possible skin issues and fatigue, possible diarrhea.
Hoping for very little or any.
Replies to "Today was first day of external radiation, was 11 am and once home at noon did..."
@terradean
I recently finished radiation at my first weekly appointment with the Radiation Oncologist I met a very kind retired doctor who was filling in and I mentioned that I was experiencing headaches daily after my treatment. He said have some coffee and I said I wasn't a fan he said have some tea then. I did each day and that helped. I always had the earliest appointment each day and worked the entire time. A nap would have been nice, but it was good to keep as active as possible. I had 28 external treatments and 3 brachytherapy ones. On the day after the final external treatment I woke up with a very small burn that quickly healed. I had plenty of fatigue and diarrhea. Immodium was definitely my friend. Take care and be kind to yourself. Rest when you can and very soon you will be all done.
@terradean From what I can tell here everyone has a slightly different treatment regimen.
During radiation therapy I had a few headaches. Coffee help as did staying hydrated. Also, my treatment was in the winter months in Minnesota so I figured the bedroom was very dry from the furnace and I needed to use a humidifier. That helped. I had diarrhea off and on and as @cmb2022 wrote I carried immodium with me all the time. I also had some fatigue toward the end of the treatments. I did what my radiation oncologist recommended which was to stay active and walk a lot. I took occasional naps during the day if I felt tired in the afternoon and slept well enough at night. I did not have any skin problems. I'm not sure why some people have this and some do not. Maybe this is something to ask you radiation oncologist.
Will you be working throughout your treatments?
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It's hard for me to compare because I also had chemo during my 5 weeks of external radiation. My first 3 weeks went fine .then I got real sick diarrhea being the worst of it. Zero appetite. Severe fatigue. I still blame the chemo. The skin issues from the radiation came at the very end. I was literally peeling. The doc gave me a zinc burn ointment that worked but I still have skin discoloration that a bikini wouldnt cover. Maybe it will fade in time. I was treated for vaginal cancer and currently am recuperating from the brachytherapy I had after. I hope your symptoms are mild I do believe the more severe symptoms were from the chemo. Eat well, stay hydrated, stay as active as you can. Is probably the best advice I can give