First Treatment

Starting to burn…

Peeling

I have to admit I was weary of radiation & contemplated forgoing it completely. I had already developed lymphedema as a side effect from having lymph nodes removed & knew that radiation could further aggravate the lymphedema in addition to causing the onset of new side effects. However, when my radiologist explained to me that following surgery the odds of my cancer returning were 80%, following chemo those odds dropped by half to 40% & following radiation they would be further reduced to just 7%. I’m no mathematician but 7 is a lot lower than 40, so I was all in.

About two weeks before I began radiation I was fit for a mold & had a CT scan of the chest area so they could better map the areas to focus on. Basically three specific areas were targeted for my treatment. Since I had a full skin sparing mastectomy all of the breast tissue had been removed, however not every single cell can be removed along the chest wall & skin so those would be the first two places of focus. The last area was the lymph nodes; the area I had really hoped to avoid. I learned that one of the three cancerous lymph nodes removed indicated that cancer cells had begun to escape the node, making it essential that this area be radiated. Again, while I was reluctant at first, I was on board once I had all of the facts laid out before me.

Getting my CT scan & fit for my mold prior to starting radiation

Temporary markers before tattoos were added

Compared to chemo, radiation is a breeze. Yes, it’s inconvenient to go every single week day but it’s fast & it’s easy. I just walked in each day, said hello to the receptionist as I walked by who would check me in. Always keeping them on their toes with my multitude of wigs! I went right back to the changing area, got ready, put my belongings into a locker & waited in the ready waiting room never for more than 5 minutes.

Once I was called in, they’d take me back into the actual radiation area where I’d lie on the table in my mold, with my arms above my head. Once they had me in perfect position, they’d then leave the room to initiate the actual radiation. It never took more than 5 minutes at most maybe 10 on X-ray day which was once each week, as well as I saw my radiologist once a week.

Treatments 3-7

I was surprised when, a few treatments in, they added tattoos onto my sides & eventually onto the breast as well. The purpose is to help line everything up in the exact position necessary each time. They’re just tiny dots that are hard to spot if you don’t know what you’re looking for. It’s not done with a tattoo needle, but with the poke of a medical needle followed by ink. Not too painful but obviously not exactly pleasant, nothing major.

Radiation tattoo on my right side

Radiation tattoo on my left side

Toward the end of the treatments there was a “boost” period where they focus on one area more directly. I was worried initially because I was already feeling pretty crispy & burnt from the radiation & the word “boost” to me sounded like there would be an increase in the radiation. But not really, it actually refers essentially, to more targeted therapy. This is great because it means the rest of the field they’ve been treating can begin to heal! As soon as my boost started the rest of my burns began quickly to heal.

Treatments 13-16

The side effects for me were few but all pretty intense. I had the basic burning, which starts like a sunburn & progressively worsens, eventually peeling. I wasn’t able to sleep on the treated side or wear a bra at all once it became uncomfortable. There was a lot of pain in the end, my previous surgical sites would ache in addition to the burn, as well as my arm from aggravated lymphedema & nerve pain.

Toward the end I also became very exhausted. I had radiation first thing each morning at 8:15AM & I was lucky to make it to dinner time without needing a nap. I was in bed or asleep on the couch well before my kid’s bedtime most days no matter how much coffee I tried to drink. I literally felt like it was sucking the life out of me near the end.

Treatments 22-26

Thankfully the burns heal very quickly. I am almost all healed already just three weeks following treatment which is amazing! I am slowly getting more energy every day, though am not back to my old pre-cancer self but I will get there!

Treatments 27-31

The most important things to remember in effort to combat the radiation side effects are to hydrate & moisturize. I am a water drinker at heart so hydration is never an issue for me given the amount of water & coffee or tea I drink on a given day. As for moisture, my radiologist recommended Aquaphor, which I used religiously & basically kept myself covered in anytime I wasn’t at radiation or out in public where I wouldn’t want to be seen as the chick with the greasy boob!

Bleeding through shirts as the peeling heals 🙁

Serious peeling… Ouch!

I proudly rang the bell upon completion of my 33rd & final radiation treatment in October. Aside from hormone therapy, it concludes completion of cancer treatment for me.  Here’s hoping that the pain & suffering was worth it & all of those nasty cancer cells have been successfully annihilated!