radiation can anyone advise me as im scared?

Question

i had a hysterectomy for cancer of the uterus and now have to have radiation. has anyone had radiation and what can i expect from this. i have been so depressed over all of this. it was a shock to learn i had this.

Answer 1

Hello,

Since you have had endometrial cancer, I am assuming that you are soon to have radiation to the pelvis. Radiation is a very local treatment - and the effects and difficulty that patients have on it depend both upon the patient as well as the site treated. In contrast to some of the other comments, radiation to the pelvis is quite different to that for the breast or head, however, most people do still find it easierto tolerate than chemotherapy.

Depending upon where you are getting this, the first appointment is called a "SIM" date short for simulator. Here you get either an X-ray or at CT and they line you up and put small tatoos (size of freckle) on you so that they can set you up that way every day and so that they will be treating the same area precisely every day. After that, you go home, and the treatments are planned.

Typically, in Canada, you will receive 25 treatments of radiation. When you come in for these, you will show up and they will set you up in the position exactly as you were on SIM date, and when they feel confident it is the same position, everyone leaves the room and turns on the machine. You don't feel a thing during this time; it is like getting an x-ray - only the machine is on longer (a minute or 2). Gradually though, over the course of the treatments and entering the 2nd or 3rd week, you may begin to notice some side effects. The most common of these is diarrhea +/- cramping, which can be treated with Immodium (would get some when you are about to start your second week!). Otherwise, there isn't much else. Occasionally some people notice a small amount of blood in the bowel movements or with peeing. Skin changes - such as redness or burning - are generally mild to non-existant, but if they occur it is in areas where there are folds of skin or creases. If this becomes irritated, most people start with a fairly mild Glaxol-based cream, but have a low threshhold to show your physician to ensure it doesn't look infected.

Overall it is very likely you will tolerate the treatments quite well, and the biggest pain will end up having to come in every day to get them.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Try not to worry about it. I've done radiation for BC twice and it is a piece of cake. The other responder was correct that there will be a set-up appointment and it will take a while because they want to make sure everything is positioned correctly. You might want to take a tranquilizer for this visit because most people find it the most stressful. You may have to hold a position for longer than is comfortable.

You might have marks so that the radiation machines can line up correctly for each treatment. I had tattoos, but they are wee little things like a pencil dot. It is possible that they may do 2 or 3 fields, which just means that the machine is moved and they treat you from a different angle.

When you go in for a treatment you will change into a gown and be positioned on a table. The technicians will leave the room but they will be able to hear you. The machine will swing around and whirr for a minute or so, and then maybe move again and then whirr again. Then you're done. The whole thing will likely take no more than 10 minutes and most of that will be spent in alignment.

My first time I got a burn sort of like a very mild sunburn, it faded after a few weeks and didn't hurt much, sort of itched. My second round I used this lotion GlaxolBase I think it was called. You shouldn't use it before treatment, but put in on right afterward - like in the change room. Some people like pure Aloe Vera gel, but I found it a bit sticky. Talk to your radiologist if you take any supplements, I think they wanted me to stop Vit E or D or something (I've forgotten).

You may well get a bit tired toward the end of your treatments, like the last week or two. Try to pace things so your life is not too hectic during that period.

Cancer is the pits and radiation is a bother, but it isn't painful, and is only scary because it is unfamiliar. Good luck to both of you.

Answer 3

It's like having an xray. It's feasible that they're going to make a masks for you that is helping maintain you continue to. You are in a room on your own. It simplest takes mins on a daily basis. Feeling worn out will obviously be your simplest part end result. It is feasible that you simply would later have dental disorders so I might advocate that you simply see the dentist earlier than you begin radiation. Radiation fairly works and your brian can manage radiation larger than some other side of your frame. Radiation helped my daughter beat a melanoma that she used to be instructed she might now not live to tell the tale. Don't be scared, it is not anything like how the films painting it - you will not emerge as a mutant.

Answer 4

if your are rating between The chemo and surgery, radiation i a piece of cake. You will have an appointment and They will line you up under the machine and mark your body then make small tattoos with a needle, this is where they can set your body up for the treatments each time so that they know where to use the radiation. Then you will go each day except Sat and Sun until you have all treatments. I Begin to burn just a little around The 29 th treatment, they will recommend that you keep your skin moist and also treatment with cream if you Begin to burn too much. no deodorant no lotion before treatments. My treatments lasted around 15 min. each day. There's no pain, no nausea, just the patience to lay still for those 15 min. and not move. Hope every thing goes well for you. I will keep you in my prayers.

Answer 5

I can understand your shock and fears. Initially you'll have a CT scan that will allow the Dr to set up the correct area to be treated and help him figure out the correct dosage. This appt. will take a couple hours. Then they'll take some xrays to make sure everything lines up correctly.

Then they start the treatments. The treatments themselves usually only last a few minutes and initially are no big deal. Depending on the location and intensity of treatments, after a few weeks of treatments you may develop some sunburned or actually burned skin but this starts healing quickly on weekends and after stopping treatments. You are given various creams to keep down the irritation, infection and discomfort. Treatment might last 4 to 6 weeks with daily treatments.

If you get too upset over all this consider taking a tranquilizer before the first long appt. or two. The treatments themselves will soon become routine and you will just waiting for them to be over. Go ahead and get started and be done with them. good luck

Answer 6

Someone in my family had radiation, he lost his hair, you may have different effect because is different with every case. But you may experience nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, desire to eat certain foods,you may feel weak. Radiation is just for a few weeks and then is over. Hang on to God and let him be your guidance and doctor in your journey. There is light at the end of the tunnel, you will go through this journey temporarily by this time next year you will be helping others that are going through similar situations as yours. But be strong and trust God!! I almost forgot to tell you that my family member is a cancer survivor and doing very well. God Bless you!

Answer 7

Greetings, try not to be depressed or worried, try to think of it as healing you. It's not as bad as you think. Basically it's a hot feeling like being in the sun and sometimes you get a burn which they will give you different products for, but that's pretty much if your skin is sensitive to start with. Chemo is alot worse so be thankful you are treatable with radiation.

Answer 8

I was so surprised to see your question as I was just about to type the same one. I had a hysterectomy on Oct. 10, 2007 and am about to start radiaton, also. I, like you, would love to know what to expect as this is all so new to me. I would just like you to know that my prayers are with you and your family. One thing that I do during procedures that are unpleasant or painfull is pray. I feel, for the first time in my life, that I have no control over this situation. It comforts me to know that God does.

Answer 9

I know your afraid, but radiation is fairly simple. If you could tell me what kind of radiation you will be getting, I can answer some of your questions. Vaginal implants are much different then beam radiation and they take longer and are more invasive and require a hospital stay.

Answer 10

Rads was a cake walk next to chemo.

It did make me REALLY tired.

Expect to have something akin to a bad sunburn for about a month. ALOE. PURE ALOE--not gel, nothing with alcohol in it, helps A LOT. Also, babypowder with cornstarch in it.