What to Expect From Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer: All You Need to Know 

I had radiation last time I had breast cancer. Everyday for 7 weeks. One good side effect…it permanently removed all armpit hair. I never have to shave my underarms. Gotta find the silver lining 👌🏽✨

I just finished up radiation therapy - 20 days - 16 days at one dosage and 4 "boost" days at a higher dosage. The 16 days were about 2-3 minutes and the "boost" days (higher dosage) were about 1 minute - very quick. The therapy itself is painless. You feel nothing when being radiated. You just hear a buzz noise from the machine and in my situation sometimes the table tilted. There was never a fear of falling off or anything like that. I was borderline since I am petite and small busted but my oncologist allowed me to receive the radiation FACE DOWN rather than laying on my back and FACE UP with your arms extended back. There was a cut out on the table for my left breast to be face down. It was an easier position and my organs - heart and lungs were more protected with the targeted radiation. I was tattooed only on my back - a small dot (a dot the size of a fine pen point) to align my position and make it exact each time. Lasers are used for alignment, coming from the left and from the right. Sometimes washable markers were used. It washed off easily. It's amazing how they can align you perfectly each time. Alignment was quick and easy They let me see what they saw when doing my radiation. It was really interesting. My oncologist prescribed Mometasone Furoate Cream USP (.01%). I applied that immediately after treatment as I was getting dressed to leave. You will have to wear a hospital gown and open it for radiation. I applied the cream at least three times a day and also used aloe vera calendula cream. You need to be clean (no cream or lotion) 4 hours before radiation. I ended up being a light pink. I am light skinned. I had no blisters, redness, peeling or discomfort at all. Skin types vary so this may not work for you. It really is an individual thing and I have great sympathy for those that have terrible side effects. I think the RADIATION DOSAGE plays the bigger role on being TIRED and RADIATION BURN. That's determined by your oncologist for your individual situation. I have to say the people that performed the radiation on me were fantastic - kind, caring and very patient focused and so was my oncologist. I can't praise all of them enough. One other thing, I was unsure about the side effects on my skin so I did purchase a couple MakeMerry bras. They are super soft, comfortable, fit well and specifically designed for comfort after breast radiation and for those that have a mastectomy. I was really lucky to get them on sale too. I would highly recommend them over typical bras and sport bras. See their website for details - shopmakemerry.com/ It was tiring but what helped me was, after getting home from therapy was, I'd go out for a walk - 15 minutes or more. I felt better and for me, being outdoors is relaxing. We have a woods near by - it's at the end of our backyard. We have deer, foxes and other animals to observe and enjoy and sometimes I'd walk back to the creek and see the fish etc.. Other times I'd just take a walk around the neighborhood and still see wildlife. I enjoy nature so this was distracting and soothing. It also helped with keeping a normal sleep schedule. I am also a Keto/Mediterranean dieter. I am very picky about what I eat. No sugar. No carbs - grain, wheat, flour ... I eat eggs, meat - steak and seafood - especially Salmon and lots of cruciferous vegetables. I think a clean diet makes a difference too. Avoid processed foods, junk food and snacking!

I'm glad I came across this video as I'm just starting my journey not only did I find the video helpful/ calming but reading the comments makes me feel more at easy and know that I can do this as this for me is very scary I try to keep up beat and not cry as much but sometimes the water works just comes out of nowhere . I pray that we all can recover and rid our bodies from cancer.

Had 23 rounds. Being pale was a benefit. Never had skin issues but I sympathize with those who do as they can be awful. The fatigue is so personally dependent. I had none but others do. Being active helps!!

I am just getting started on my journey, had lumpectomy last Friday, triple positive cancer. These videos are very helpful while I am very happy with my physician team and feel they are taking care of me. Sometimes your just too upset to remember what you are being told.

Just finished 20 treatments for stage 1 , node negative breast cancer after my lumpectomy. Had some redness and and sensitive nipple but three weeks later I'm doing well. The staff was wonderful. Not much fatigue.

Thanks for your informative videos. Helpful.

Thanks this has helped my understanding around this treatment

Thank you for your educational information.

Amazing!! As always!! I am battling breast cancer and her videos though me A LOT!! Thank you SO MUCH!

Thank you so much amazing information

I had my first diagnosis of DCIS in 2010, had skin and nipple sparing mastectomy and 8 courses of chemotherapy. Then a reconstruction. It was diagnosed again by annual MRI in August so the biopsy in the same breast, under the nipple , removed the cancer and had clear margins. So had 20 radiation therapy appointments that I finished yesterday.

Thank you for your video, very informative.

I finished radiation, 16 rounds last Thursday! I am so red and sore, trying to air out! Love watching your videos ! I’m from Toronto Canada!

Thank you, Doc. Your videos have been of tremendous help to me. I just completed my 5 weeks radiotheraphy last week after 10 rounds of chemotherapy and surgery. But had some peeling at the armpit and on the stitches to my chest. I was given Dermazin to apply on the spot. Also, my chest skin is so darkened now to the neck. For Lagos, Nigeria.

Thank you for this information, currently receiving boast tx. I do have skin changes, blisters, weeping. Also very tired.

This was very helpful. I have to do radiation after my chemo. Thank you for all the good information and all of your videos as well! ❤

I was just diagnosed with Paget's disease of the nipple and having surgery in 3.5 weeks. I will get 20 radiation treatments afterwards. This is the only video I have watched on the radiation. I found it informative and it gave me realistic expectations. Thank you.

Might want to take care to find a couple bras that don't rise up to far on the sides ( under armpits ) as your skin is fragile and sensitive. The rubbing caused open wounds in my armpit. Rubbing on bag balm really helped the condition. Yes Bag Balm is what a Vet would perscribe when your dairy cow has sore teats. Works good on people too

Stage 3 lobular breast cancer. I had single mastectomy in May, it's taken this long to get radiotherapy - started on Oct 19 for 5 consecutive days. I was told after my CT scan I had small nodules left after surgery and nothing to worry about as radiotherapy would get rid of them. However, a month ago I was at the breast clinic to get an ultrasound and was told they were considerably big and I should get a biopsy immediately. I explained I had an expander with port but decided against biopsy as she couldn't guarantee the implant wouldn't be damaged at the time of biopsy. I finish radiotherapy tomorrow. How long after should I wait to have a double biopsy on this same breast please, and why did nobody ever deflate or expander my breast implant during radiotherapy. I was told that was the specific reason I had to have that implant fitted with the port. However, the radiotherapy team said that wasn't the case and they didn't need to do anything. Why then do you think I was given this expander, knowing I would need an additional surgery after to remove the port etc. Would adjuvant radiotherapy be enough to get rid of a 4cm and 2cm mass they found a month ago? Any suggestions much appreciated in advance. My radiotherapy team were fantastic. I cannot fault them they were kind, polite, caring, professional, empathic and had a heart of gold. Didn't experience any pain from last 4 treatments to date.

Very good information ,I always thought that radiation was very painful .I'm supposed to have a procedure done on my back for severe back pain,but I will have to have radiation.im just scared to death ,im having second thoughts ,what should i do.thanks.

I start radiation soon and I’m really nervous about my skin irritation because I’m currently dealing with an eczema outbreak. I’m curious if anyone else has some suggestions for skin care.

What is "planning". Also how long after masectomy should we do radiotherapy?

Madam, what may be the ideal interval between mastectomy with axillary lymph node clearance and radiation? I have supraclavicular lymph node involvement.While giving radiation to it, whether it may damage the surrounding vital structures?

I'll start my radiotherapy tomorrow.i don't know what to expect. I'm a bit nervous.😢

I had my lumpectomy 6/23/23 doe to pagers disease of the nipple and dcis. Had my follow up yesterday and have to go back for more surgery to ‘clear the margin’.she said it would take about 10 minutes. I have consultation with radio-oncologist on the 19th. At 56, I still have a full menstrual cycle. Considering hysterectomy at next breast surgery. Can you give information on Tamoxifen? Possible side effects. I really hesitant on radiation and pills for 5-10 years.

What is the difference between photontherapy and radiotherapy? Is photontherapy more efficient?

I had 5 days of radiotherapy in Dec after lumpectomy I noticed different skin colour in 3 broad lines on my back. Is this due to radiation treatment?

My daughter 36 has had Chemo breast removed and is now about to start radiotherapy however she has been offered Proton Therapy which has best outcome???

I’m 3 sessions in with radiation on the right breast. Now starting to have mild chest/heart pain. My greatest fear! Developing heart issues… I don’t know if I’ll be able to finish. Don’t know what to do. Is this normal?

can I use soap for body can you recommend

I have pain all the round the edges of my right side beast after breast was remove I had radiation. 25 round . Now heal I still have pain around the edge

Since Juven has l-arginne and l-glutamine can you take while undergoing radiation. Doesn't cancer grow with these amino acids.

Recently had a quick consult with a radiation Dr to see if I would be able to have radiation a second time (16 years after first time). I was told yes. He said therapy would be twice a day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks. Is this something new, and will the skin issues be more pronounced?

Stage 3 breast cancer 4 mo of chemo n 40 days of radiation.had tissue expander s removed due to a infection in my chest wall .I won't go through it again .I'm done 👍.my bones hurt stomach hurts feels like my insides got cooked.

Madam, I am 4 months post radiotherapy after mastectomy.There is still fibrosis and pain in the chest, axilla and neck.I do excercise regularly.When would the pain be gon 10:06 e?When would the skin colour become normal? Ecpecting your valuable reply 10:06

Hi, what about hair loss?

Terrible side effects of 2nd degree burns and oozing. I managed to get through 21 treatments. I just could not finish the last 4 days due to the severity.

Dr,why my radiation take only 2 weeks and others took longer?

Just wondering how hard it could be to fix the clock? It hasn't moved at all through the entire video. 🧐

Can external radiation cause skin cancer?

Is blood affected with radiation

The DR told my relative that they would have a lil pain after radiation treatment was done. My relative said they’ve never felt this much pain in there life and they didn’t say it would last this long it’s been over a week and the pain is getting worse already on a scale on 1-10 at a 10 and fatigue not eating breaking out peeled skin areas of pain not recently there. The constant pain is draining. The Dr. Never said her pain would be Severe. Get this the Dr. also said Don’t go to the emergency room. Since when if you feel it’s an emergency. Are you specifically told prior to the pain not to go to the ER? If you are fine after Chemotherapy then leave at that don’t torture yourself with radiation treatment it’s seriously painful during. Then afterwards your body experiences pain that it has never ever felt. Oh and don’t forget your told not to go to the ER. Is this MALPRACTICE?

why don't you mention edema as a side effect?

What is the difference between photontherapy and radiotherapy? Is photontherapy more efficient?