I will be going to radiation treatment and i would like to know how do you feel after treatment?

Question

I just want some information just to get my sefl ready etc

Answer 1

Fatigue, weak, some people feel nauseated.

Here are some websites with more information:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/MBC_2x_RadiationEffects.asp?sitearea=MBC

http://www.annescancer.ca/radiation_and_you.html

Answer 2

I have had radiation after a mastectomy in 2000 and a second mastectomy in 2006. I tolerated it well both times. The actual treatments are painless. I developed some redness like sunburn and an itchy rash after several weeks of treatment but was given various creams and gels to soothe it. The rash and burn goes away within a couple weeks of treatment and the skin looks a little tanned. I have had reconstructive surgery post pre and post radiation with no problems whatsoever. The worst part about radiation is the scary feeling of being alone on the treatment table while everyone else leaves the room because it's so dangerous! Only God knows what the long term effects of the therapy will be but we have to make health decisions based on the best information we can get. I have survived 2 different types of breast cancer and double lung cancer (BAC) even though I have been a non smoker, exercised and ate well. I have also had two children who have died of brain tumors. No one knows what has caused all these cancers but I suspect environmental poisoning from where we lived in Louisiana in the 1970's.

Answer 3

Radiation treatments completely sap you of your energy. Don't drive to your treatments. If you don't have family who can drive you, the American Cancer Society will provide a daily ride for you.

Also, you need to apply Aloe Vera 2 hours after your treatments. The reactions you will get are not immediate. About 2 weeks after you begin, you will actually have the burns from the initial treatment. Get them to start giving you Vigilan (I'm not sure of the spelling) no later than a week into your treatments. It's like the product at the pharmacy called 2nd Skin. It's 2 sheets of plastic with a gel in between. You peel off the blue sheet and put the sheet with the gel against the area you had the radiation. I literally had my skin melting before I knew about that. I was using it twice a day.

First I would apply the Aloe Vera 2 hours after the treatment, then an ointment for healing the skin called Aqualohor, then the Vigilan pad. Then, just before going to bed, remove everything, cleanse with a saline solution and sterile gause pad and repeat the routine again.

Radiation is VERY damaging. In fact, even though it kills the cancer, it can actually cause new cancers in the future. The doctors will tell you to not take any vitamins because they can hinder the affects of the radiation. On low doses, this is completely correct.

But, if you take HIGH DOSES of antioxidants, they not only do NOT hinder the affects of the radiation against the cancer, the actually boost it and help kill the cancer, while PROTECTING you NORMAL cells, and the studies show that those who did this did NOT get secondary cancers later in life from the radiation. Search the Internet. There is a study out of I believe Boulder, CO that explains it. I believe it's called something like, "The Pros and Cons of Antioxidants during Radiation therapy". Also, a supplement that helps protect you against the adverse affects of radiation is NAC. Do some research and look in to it. If you choose to go that direction, you need to be really committed and keep up the regimen, because LOW doses DO hinder the affects of radiation against cancer. HIGH doses on a REPEATED regimen are what you need if you choose to go that direction.

Also one of the things that helped give me more energy after radiation was juicing using organic fruits and vegetables. It was like having a transfusion. Plus it's another way to help fight against the cancer.

Good luck...

Answer 4

I had radiation every day for three months for my breast cancer. No, it does not hurt, in fact you don't feel anything at all. You just lay there perfectly still and the machine above you will hum away. And you're done! They will have to measure the area and use a marker to mark the area where you will be radiated. They just make tiny dots. I had three. I can't even find them now! The problem I had was afterward. Radiation made me very, very tired. I started taking liquid multi-vitamins and that helped tremendously. Just make sure you allow yourself time to sleep and rest. You might want to put things on hold for now, until your treatments are done. I hope this helps...do not be afraid...it's quick and painless. I'd rather do radiation than go to the dentist!

Answer 5

Bless your heart! Here are few things to watch for.
Nausea an a flu like feeling up to 2 weeks after a treatment. A good drug to help with the nausea is ZOFRAN. It was designed for chemo patients, but works like a charm. They make it in a dissolving disk you just place on your tounge. They are great.
Radiation burns can be a problem with repeated treatments. Ask in advance how to treat these, if they come up.
Some patients go through the entire process with minimal nausea and just feeling tired. They do great. It helps to make up your mind to not just get through it, but get through it with a positive attitude.
Finally, ask the nurses who take care of you at your treatments. They are a wealth of knowledge and will be glad to help answer questions. Good luck!

Answer 6

Depends on the type, and amount. I had I-131 radiation pill. Not external beam. I felt drained, but in no pain, just a tiny soreness in throat. Some of my face felt numb, cheeks, ears, and jaw. I had a bad taste in my mouth.

It was days after that I felt pain like an arthritis.

As far as scary level.. I worked myself up before hand and should not have. My experience was tolerable, but depressing. I had three weeks I had to stay in my bedroom, so that I did not expose others to the radiation. That was the pits, but I made through it alright.

Answer 7

I went through radiation therapy for breast cancer it made me tired but other than that i didn't notice much difference . I had to put cream on after each treatment to prevent the therapy from causing my skin to dry out so bad. also a word of advice if you are having radiation on your breast or upper body area DO NOT wear any deodorant until after the treatment that day.

Answer 8

You wont feel very good at all. However keep up your spirits and you will feel better. I volunteered at the local hospital for four years and because of my physical build i was usually the one to take oncology patients to and from radiation therapy. Some were bitter going in and when they got out they were feeling awful. Others had a positive attitude, joking with us as we took them down, talking about things like icecream and things that they love, and when they got out they were drained a bit but didnt seem to be in as much pain. As it progresses further you will get weaker. It will be harder to remain cheerful but remember the pain and such you go through now will only make things better for you in the future. I think one of the biggest lessons i learned is that laughter, and smiling cheerful people around you that you get involved with (join in the joy and be cheeful with them) is essential to effective radiation therapy. It is good for you, look past the bad and find the good. Make sure to have friends, or nice people take you to there and back from it. Actually each of the years i transported patients I kept such a good attiude with the patients that they learned my schedule and would request me to transport them because i raised their spirits and it made them feel better.

STAY CHEERFUL AND THE PAIN AND AGONY ALMOST DISAPPEARS. Best wishes, and a speedy recovery :)

Answer 9

I am sure it depends on what part of the body is being radiated but for me it was nothing more than an inconvenience. I continued on with my life as normal, which is quite active. If it is to the breast you do need to follow your doctors advice and use the creams to prepare and keep the skin soft and smooth

Answer 10

Radiation is not that bad, you do feel very tired, fatigued, and the skin gets dry and cracked, you might burn like a sunburn. Usually people don't get sick like vomiting. They will give you creams to use to help the skin. The burns hurt some like a sunburn, but it's not really that bad. Chemo is alot worse.

Answer 11

I had 6,000 rads of radiation at Stanford on my leg from the knee to the ankle. How you feel depends entirely on what part of your body is being irradiated. For me, there was no sickness, but it was shocking to see my skin start sloughing off and my leg waste away. I wish you the best of luck.