I was wondering how people have done with radiation. I have read alot about chemo side effects and am curious about any insights and experiences there have been with radiation. So far I have heard it isn't as difficult as chemo...but I have only heard that from breast cancer patients that I know. Any insight??
Everyone is different and each experience will be different. My radiation experience was ten times harder then chemo. Chemo made me weak, tired, and muscle athrophy. Radiation was a quick progression. My tumors were in my neck and chest, so I was radiated at my throat. At first, it was like I had a tight throat, but I ignored it. Then food would get stuck. I spoke up about it and they had my take a break (that was after 8 treatments). Long story short, I was admitted because I didn't get any better...it progressed to fevers and losing the ability to eat. It took a while to get back on my feet. I was a rare case, and prob one of the extremes. I didn't do a good enough job researching side effects and what could happen based on where I was getting radiation. So props to you for asking before :)
Also, not sure if you know this yet, but they will be giving you a few tattoos for radiation. They are markers so they make sure they get the exact spot. They aren't that bad...even though they are blue and I am a pale skinned girl. Just good to know before you go in for the first meeting.
Hi -
Radiation was too easy for me. I didn't take it seriously enough because I didn't feel many effects beyond being tired. The gel I was given to treat the radiated area was applied daily but not as often as I should have. I felt the most after I was done with the treatments. My muscles were stiff as if cooked in place. (Sorry to be so literal, I just haven't found a better way to put it.) My neck is still getting darker and I have itchy skin 9 months later. I like jewelry but I have to think twice about my necklace. What kind of material and how does my neck feel?
If you are not working, continue to stay home and rest and feel good about treating yourself well. If you are working, consider staying home. The better you treat yourself now, the better you will feel long term.
I had radiation to my neck and chest. The first two weeks were a piece of cake; the last two weeks were hell. I couldn't talk and could only whisper, and I couldn't eat, drink or swallow without it feeling like my throat was on fire or that I was swallowing crushed glass. The doc wanted to give me a pain pill prescription to help with the pain, but I declined since I hate the way pain pills make me feel (I was also working at the time, had to be able to drive, and was coaching my son's baseball team so I couldn't afford to feel loopy for any length of time). I also didn't take the magic mouthwash - tried it once and the thought of taking it again made me want to toss my cookies. Once treatments stopped, I gradually got better each day. In about a week and a half the sore throat was barely noticable.
Good Luck!
Thanks for the insights. I feel like I need to bulk up a bit and be ready for a liquid diet. I really appreciate knowing that you felt better every day once it stopped so I will have that to look forward to.
Hi all,
I should be starting radiation next month after 8 ABVD treatments (last ABVD is Aug 26th). I am curious to hear more about anyone's experiences also. Is there anything we can do to prepare for this? The thought of adding something new to the mix right now is very depressing...
Can anyone suggest food, drinks, meds, etc. that they thought helped ease the side effects of radiation?
Thank you all,
-Paul
Paul,
For me, anything salty or acidic (vinigar, tomato based) burnt a lot more going down than bland boring food. But even the boring stuff hurt immensely - it was just a matter of degree.
I drank a lot of cold smoothies during my last two weeks of radiation. It hurt too much to really eat much of anything, but the cold liquid really helped numb things down for a while. Ice cream also helped a bit.
Pete
I was irradiated from the bottom of my ears to my belly. For me it was the fatigue and feeling like I had a really bad sore throat. The first few weeks weren't too bad, but it got progressively worse as things went along. But my treatments ended about the same time I felt like I had reached my limit. I didn't lose any hair during my chemo, but I did lose the hair on my neck below my ears during radiation. As for food, soft things felt the best, and milkshakes were a godsend. I never did the magic mouthwash, but it must work for some people.
I know it sounds bad, and it is not pleasant, but radiation meant I was in the home stretch. I hope that it means the same for you.
Scott
Chemo for me was hell.... but radiation was a little OKAY. I just hated seeing my neck, back, chest, and underarms getting darker. And i felt like i just wanna sleep the whole day after the therapy because it was making me weaker.. but eventually i got through it. YOu will too. Just eat healthy foods. Laugh and love a LOT. ♥♥♥ ☺☻☺
I did not understand how much the radiation had permanently damaged me. I have like a constant sunburn from nerve damage. Looking back, chemo scared me. I chose radiation then a few years later went back for chemo. I was stage 2.5, it left me on the border. I chose rad. If I could do it over I would do chemo. But there is no way I could've known. The radiation has left me with permanent sunburn feeling where radiated. It is very hard to live with. Perhaps you should wach this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye4N8EH3dog&feature=related
There are no certainties either way you go. A spiritual path I reccomend either way, along with healthy diet.