Radiation Therapy for breast cancer: What was your experience?

@may2024

There has been many discussion on radiation on Breast Cancer support group that may help you understand other's anxiety and experience. ,
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/breast-cancer/?search=radiation#discussion-listview
After lumpectomy and few lymph nodes removed I first had chemo then radiation. Everyone treatment plan varies. The first appointment was to establish exact places to be radiated. They placed tiny tattoo dots on few spots to line up future treatments. They did radiation on breast bone, left breast and left arm pit.

The actual treatment went fine and is painless. Everyone was helpful and supportive. I usually made my appointment first thing in morning, in and out quick and had rest of day. Because they needed radiation on left breast, I had to take deep breaths and hold it to help prevent radiation touching heart. That was hardest part at first. After all the treatment, had some skin irritation. I contacted the radiation team and they gave be ointment to help. I did have fatigue, but had been thru surgery, chemo and then radiation, I think it was combination of all treatments that caused fatigue.

Do you know the number of sessions they are recommending?

The only thing that bothered me with radiation was a little bit of a burn. It was taken care of quickly by my Dr. I don't remember not being able to sleep or anything like that. However, I have lost my taste and smell. Has anyone had a problem with that?

@may2024 I had 6 weeks of radiation and I have taken 3 family members daily to radiation, two for lung cancer and one for prostrate. Overwhelmingly the one side effect we all had in common was fatigue. This is consistent with other members of our local cancer group who have had radiation. If you can, try to let yourself rest, your body will recover from this but it takes time.
Some burn is normal if you have daily treatments for weeks, but now they have some really great hydrogels for that too. I tried the aquafor they gave me but felt it made it feel worse under my bra at work all day, I did find that alcohol free aloe Vera helped and I kept mine in the fridge at home and in my lunch cooler during the day. Ahhhhh!😂😂
If you have targeted therapy this is less likely to be an issue.
Do you know yet what type of radiation you are having?

You have gotten some great practical understanding here, but I want to add a touching story about my dad. When he was in his 70s he had six weeks of radiation for prostate cancer. He asked my sister to send him $1 a day in the mail. She did, and he'd line those bills up. He said he could do it if he got "paid" as if it was a job! A job of course usually has good and bad, but is necessary. Many decades later (my dad long dead) I had 15 radiation treatments for breast cancer. I worried a lot, particularly about my esophagus burning, due to radiation to lymph nodes. I just worried about everything. Never burned or had skin problems--just some very mild fatigue. But I asked my husband to take me to live music every week I was in treatment. That helped so much emotionally. So please, be as good to yourself as you can. My dad's model just kind of normalized cancer treatment like anything else--not fun but part of life. I had to add fun to motivate me--but maybe that is because I'm a Baby Boomer and he very much Greatest Generation.

not a question that crossed my mind to ask. what are the types? what should one know about each type?

3wks Mon - Fri so in total 15 sessions ... the doctor did mention she might be able to get me into a trail group where they are doing only 1wk 5 sessions ... this sounds like a group I would be most comfortable with but no guarantee I could join this group

That trial would probably be some sort of targeted therapy. Targeted therapies are when you get it done but in much fewer treatments. Sometime as few as 5. I am sure that you will do great whatever happens, but I have heard from a few friends that the targeted therapy was easier. Theirs was 2 times per week for 3 weeks. Mine was every day for 6 weeks,
You got his❣️

@may2024

This site from VeryWell describes different types:
https://www.verywellhealth.com/breast-cancer-radiation-methods-430554
This site from Sloan Kettering discuss in more detail:
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/breast/treatment/radiation-therapy
Do not worry about the options, rely on your provider to recommend the best options for your situation. They know your situation, diagnosis and options. I did ask about protein beam vs other radiation options and my radiologist informed me that the other radiations option were more effective in my situation then protein beam.

You can always ask why they are recommending a specific radiation treatment plan over others.

link was very helpful, thanks

I had 33 treatments. I was already extremely fatigued after 5 months of chemo so I couldn't tell which caused what. I was close enough to walk (5 blocks) which helped me recover my strength. The most important thing I did was moisturize. My treatment was at 7:45 a.m. so I used Udderly Smooth right after radiation, again at lunch, after dinner and before bed. Any good moisturizer will work, but I liked Udderly Smooth because of its fluffy consistency which did not create friction applying it to damaged skin. When showering be gentle in that area.