is radiation for cancer treatment painful?

Answer 1

This is all VERY much dependant on the radiation field, dosage and type of cancer being treated. As such the effects can range from nothing more than a little bit of fatigue through to severe burning of the skin and difficulty swallowing if the area being radiated includes the oesophagus. Too much of an open ended question to provide a catch all answer!

Answer 2

I agree with John, this is too much of an open ended question. I can't speak for external beam radiation, but I have had Brachytherapy which is the implanting of radioactive pellets into my prostate. These pellets are very strong indeed, but as they are injected directly into and around the cancer, they are very localised. I have had about 100 or so of them in place since 6 June last and I feel nothing whatsoever. My PSA/cancer level prior to the op. was 12, I had a blood test again yesterday and it has dropped to 3.2 So my cancer's on the run and I feel nothing at all. As John said, it depends where and what type of cancer you have. Also, it affects different people in different ways, so chin up, keep smiling, and if you've got cancer, go in there and beat the living daylights out of it. You've been here longer than your cancer, so kick the intruder out. It's not allowed to take up residence in your body without your permission. Don't give it that permission! Whack it and kick it out! Go on, you can do it. I'm behind you all the way.

Answer 3

It varies a lot from person to person. Many people say they don't have any discomfort from radiation. This was not my experience.

For me radiation was very painful and zapped every bit of energy I had. But I am sure that the facts that my radiation treatments followed six months of chemo and that my cancer was advanced (stage three) were huge factors.

At the time I said I would go through chemo again, but that I would never, ever put myself through radiation again. I know that's not true, though. If my cancer returned (which it hasn't and it has been six years since I was diagnosed and five since I finished all treatments-WooHoo!) I would go through the treatments all over again--because the bottom line is that it sure beats the alternative.

Answer 4

I can't speak from experience, but I do have a coworker who was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago. She went through extensive chemo and after all of that ran out of medical leave from work. Unfortunately to keep her job, she had to come back to work before she finished her treatments. She worked 12 hour night shifts (at a hospital!) and got her radiation in the morning before she went home. She did that for weeks before she completed her therapy. She never complained or said that the radiation was painful. The chemo, on the other hand, sounded very difficult.

Answer 5

It varies according to a number of factors, including where it is administered.

I had 25 sessions following my chemo for stage 3 breast cancer; the treatment was painless - I think this is true in most cases.

I had no burns and no pain - my skin turned a little pink and tender - like very mild sunburn - towards the very end of my treatment.

I had had a mastectomy, however; I understand from some women who had had lumpectomy or reconstruction (ie who still had a breast) that their burns were worse, especially under the breast, though not in every case.

Someone has said here that it makes people feel very sick; this is certainly not the case for breast cancer, but I think would depend on the body part being treated.

I had no reaction to radiotherapy except tiredness.

Answer 6

This varies depending on how the tresatment is administered, where the site of the treatment is, and how the individual react to the treatment.

My mother and one sister seemed to breeze through radiation treatments with only tiredness following breast cancer.

Another sister had uterine cancer and had internal radiation treatment for 24 hours continuously afterwards - described it as one of the worst experiences of her life (and she has 6 kids!)

Brother had radiation for cancer on tonsil, externally wasn't too bad, but could hardly swallow due to the effect on his throat.

I had radiation for 5 weeks concurrent with chemo after breast cancer and ended up with severe external burns after 3 weeks. The last 2 weeks felt like torture! The treatment itself was painless, but the burns were so tender it went against all my instints to keep going back for more.

Answer 7

My stepmom said that it didn't really hurt when she was getting the treatments but afterwards her skin felt like a bad sunburn and she became nauseous for awhile. She is doing both chemo and radiation treatments right now.

Answer 8

There is no pain for the treatment itself. However, I did get a burn and that hurt. For me it was like I spent way too much time in the sun. There are creams to use prescription and nonprescription which help to calm the pain down and soothe the skin.

Answer 9

My father underwent radiation therapy. never did he complain about feeling any [aon.
The problem he had, was feeling constantly tired,. however that went away very shortly after the treatments were over.

Answer 10

Not at all. You feel nothing.

After a while you may develop what looks llike a sunburn that can be sore, but they will recommend ways to help it.