painful radiation treatments can happen

JM

Hi I've just read a few posts on radiation tx and I just finished last week. I was dx this past October '04. Had a double MRM. I had 9cm tumor and 16+ nodes on right side, stage 3C and also 12 cm tumor and 18+ nodes on left side, stage 3C. I had dose dense AC/T then a 4 week break and started 7 weeks of rad tx, 5.5 weeks of external with bolus where I was to be hit from 3 angles on both sides from top of each collar bone down to bottom of ribcage and from under each armpit down the side and across the chest, on each side. Plus the standard 1.5 weeks of electron boost to each scar line. Each tx lasted about 40 minutes from when I actually got into the machine and they started coloring. I was to finish rad tx on May 16,2005 but at end of week 5 of tx, a Friday afternoon around 7pm, of course, I developed third degree burns on both collar bones, under both armpits and down the sides and across the upper part of my chest. I had second degree burns along the bottom of my ribcage on both sides. There was oozing and bleeding and I could count 5 layers of missing skin under both arms and across the top of my chest on both sides. It was so bad and painful I was sedated for much of it. I had to be medicated to change my bandages, 5X per day, and to take a shower each day to wash off the dying skin and old medication. It was horrible. Having said that I am grateful that science has made it possible to have treatments for me and I WOULD DO THE RAD. TX AGAIN if I had it all to do over. I need to give myself the best chance I have. I was worried that I might get skin cancer when this was all done, my rad onc. said I had burns of someone who had survived a house fire, it was painful but that it would heal and that I didn't have to worry about skin cancer or any cancer returning to those areas that had been radiated. I don't want to scare anyone but I think it needs to be known that while rad tx are usually a breeze from a pain perspective, sometimes people can have bad reactions. I am fair skinned and 45 years old. My rad onc. said that having chemo of AC/T made my skin more vulnerable and that was why we waited 4 weeks after chemo ended before we began rad tx. I finished my last tx last Wed, June 1st. I have since developed second degree burns on my chest and scar lines. It hurts some, but it isn't intolerable and, I know, it will get better. The worst is behind me and I am just looking to feel better soon. Hope this is helpful,
Jan
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JM Age 44
DX9/04 Lobular
10/04 Dbl MRM 9 cm tumor & 16 pos nodes on right side & 12 cm tumor & 18 pos on left
Stage 3C ER+/PR+ HER2-
11/04 AC-T
3/05 -6/05 Rads under arms,sides & chest, collarbones to last ribs. 3rd degree burns,lost 5 layers skin
4/05 Tamoxifen-Is it hot in here or is it just me?

leo · Owner Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Dear Jan,

Thanks so much for posting. You must be a very strong woman, as you definitely have gone through a lot and still keep this kind of attitude. As you mentioned, Medicine is a risk/benefit decision. Radiation patients do well most often, but you never know when things might go wrong. Still, you received your dose of radiation, and in the end you are giving it the best shot.

best regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

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