Cancer Radiation Therapy - Description and Side Effects - What Cancer Survivors said about their radiation treatment.

• 39 treatments... Half of Chemo was done first. "all" side effects possible...but not as bad as chemo.
• The Radiation burned my throat and cause my taste bud to malfunction I had to be tube fed for about 4 months I will suffer for dry mouth for life I'm told.
• 11/06-12/06 tolerated radiation and low dose of temodar quite well until the 4th week, then he became extremely fatigued.
• 12 treatments to shrink the sacrum tumor 1/29 to 2/29 side effects none
• 12/06 to lower back, fatigue
• 15 days of 30 treatments. Extreme nausea-vomiting ribs and back hurt from A:cancer B:radiation C:surgery D: all above
• 2001 - Radiation
• 2002 45 mins a day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks. Burns
• 25 days of radiation. had to stop midway due to extreme diarrhea Finished treatment Wed 18,2009
• 25 External Rads 3 Days of brachytherapy, the worst experience, very painful, had to lay on my back for 3 days, when they removed the 27 needle implants it was most excruciating pain I have ever experienced. The pain meds in my pump made me very sick. I have had no lasting side effects from my rad treatments. I am very fortunate. Re-treated 2/16 thru 2/18 with Cyberknife for relapse.
• 25 rounds external, 3 internal, starting in October, 2007, finished in November.
• 25 treatments, 9 days in every 2 weeks - partial hair loss, starting 1st week in February this year, finishing March 18th
• 26 treatmenst
• 28 days after second surgery. Felt ok until the last week in which I was very tired.
• 30 days radiation
• 30 radiotherapy treatments starting 7th July finishing 6 weeks later. Grade 3 ulcers in mouth and throat unable to swallow
• 30 treatments from 6-23-2008 through August 4, 2008 Burning, blistering..think Iwo Jima
• 30 treatments in March/April 09 with headaches, loss of appetite, increased thirst, feeling of being hot
• 33 radiations finished Oct. 6, 2008
• 33 rads very little burning only the last couple boost treatments is all.
• 33 sessions targeted computerized radiation with mask began September, 2006 Side effects: extreme fatigue, partial loss of hair, dry itchy scalp, burned scalp
• 33 treatments
• 34 treatments - Oct. thru Nov. 2005
• 35 radiations. Side effects: severe burnt skin.
• 35 treatments daily for 7 weeks 1998
• 36 days straight on the last few I had to be remarked because my skin was liquid. August 2004
• 36 treatments - September 08 until November 3, 2008. Skin redness, very mild peeling in some spots, tightness under arm.
• 37 radiation treatments from late Sept to the end of November of 2007. Side effects all my saliva gland were destroyed. I can't hardly eat anythin because I have no saliva. swallowing is hard. I also have a different voice now. People call me sir all the time. And I stay tired still. Nerves are shot and now taking anti- depressants
• 37 treatment of radiation 5 times a week which meant 71/2 weeks of treatmen No side effects
• 5 days a week for 7 weeks. Severe radiation burns, unable to wear undergarments for at least a month.
• 5 days a week, for six weeks in December 2006 and January 2007
• 5 days of radiation Feb, 20-26 sore throat for 2 days tired
• 5940cg craniospinal radiation. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. New York, NY. 33 treatments. Start date: 02/14/96. End date: 03/30/96.
• 6 1/2 weeks of radiation in August, 2008
• 6 months of radiation to the right chest wall extreme fatigue 1/05-4/05
• 6 week daily course of radiation...September/October of 2008....side effects showed up later: exhaustion, dehydration, and eventually lymphedema as well as pneumonitis in right lung.
• 6 weeks completed 1-19-09
• 6 weeks external beam some localized skin issues,,,,,late onset diah, naus--- ***BRACHEYTHERAPY HURT LIKE A BITCH - MOST GOD AWFUL THING I EVER FELT IN MY LIFE - VERY SICK for a few weeks
• 6 weeks, everyday started in March. No side effects.
• 6-08 IMRT,
• 7 weeks (m-f) of radiation with one week off in the middle of treatment along with one day of chemo every week. Began treatment in Nov. 08
• 7 weeks / 5 days per..I have not started yet. Went for 1st simulation appt. Second schedlued for Friday. And Off I go shortly after that!
• 7 weeks of external radiation 59 hours of internal radiation (brachtherapy) 4 weeks of chemotherapy (Cisplatin)

• None either time.

• After chemo - 3 weeks of radiation was a walk in the park for me! I took up raquetball (not generally recommended by any doctor, other patients etc!)
• alot of fatigue, upset stomach, darkening of skin, irratated skin in area involved, sores from radiation--started treatment in February 2006 (28 sessions of external pelvic radiation)
• annoyed bowels, extreme fatigue
• April 20, 2009 thru June 10, 2009 (had to take a week off due to side effects) Side Effects; diarrhea, weightloss, nausea, abdominal pain and 2nd & 3rd degree burns.
• April 22nd 2008 through June 4th 2008. It's hell. But you're in a blur of misery. A few months later your a better person, grateful for the blessings you have in life. Still working on regaining my saliva.
• August, Sept, and Oct radiation. Side effect is lymphedema in my left leg.
• Bart has undergone whole brain radiation. Brain tumor surgery via Gamma Knife.
• Began Momocyte 5 immediately after the surgery but my breast was not big enough to tolerate it. then had 25 radiation treatments.
• Brachy radiation treatment (multi-catheter).
• Completed 8 weeks of radiation therapy on 9-13-06. Minor fatigueness in the afternoons.
• DATES: Jan06 - Mar06 Side Effects: Hair loss, metalic taste when receiving radition, nausea, sensitivity to sun
• Dec 06 to Feb 07
• December 2008 after second relapse: red, itchy skin, diarrhea
• every 5 days then off for two days for a period of 3 weeks. Loss of hair and VERY tired afterwards
• External for 3 weeks daily, Internal for 5 treatments and TOMO for 5 treatments. Internal was the hardest on Aimee because body parts had to be temporarily moved to get to the right spot. Darkening of skin and loss of skin in genital area.
• External radiation 5 days/week.
• Fall / Winter 2005
• Feb. 24, 2009 Gamma knife radiation perfexion treatment The procedure is nothing short of a miracle in technology, however it requires a metal `cage` to be attached to your skull. That process is brutal, as it the pressure release when it is removed. But they got em' so it was worth it :)
• Finished radiation Friday, September 21st, 2007! Skin is burned, sensitive, and very sore.
• first three weeks we're a breeze until we hit 4th week. she felt nauseous, blisters in her throat,mouth,and then when we hit the 5th week her skin broke open on the outside. from the bottom of her ears, to her chest. this is from june til july 9th 08
• five weeks radiation after chemo is done
• For me radiation was a breeze..I had no side affects outside of hairloss in the treated area. I also had 2 internal rads which seem to last forever but I made it!!
• from jan/08 to march/08 severe vaginal burning,fatague, loss of appetite,vomiting.
• gave in so family wouldnt dis-own me...november 07 ...sick for a couple months
• Had it Twice: Once after the radical neck and again after the radical tonsilectomy
• had no treatment
• Has to wait until after chemtherapy but will undergo 33 treatments.
• have not had yet until thru with chemo, then 35 treatments will follow
• Haven't started radiation yet.
• haven't started yet
• http://renalcarcinoid.blogspot.com/ read first few entries at the beginning, outlines everything.
• I am awaiting chemo/radiation. I had a stroke a week before I was supposed to start and just had gamma knife surgery to correct an avm in my brain. They found an anuerysm ,,, so sheesh, now I have to have that fixed and the ball will get rolling on the chemo/radiation
• I did six weeks of radiation starting on October 26, 2005. What a whirlwind those months were!
• I don't start radiation until after I'm done with chemo.
• I got celulistis of the breast towards the ends of radiation
• I had 30 tomotherapy radiations 5 days a week from June until August. The side effects were fatigue and nausea.
• I had 36 treatments of radiation. From July 8-06-August 16-06. I did get burnt and was applying aloe every day. I did get tennis elbow as a result of the radiation. I then had to have therapy for that.
• I had 40 days of IMRT from below my cheeck bones to above my shoulders starting in September 2006. Around day 25 i developed 2nd degree burns and was admitted to the hospital for about 10 days to recover. A mild case of Stevens-Johnson Synrome they said. Long lasting side effects are dry mouth and dificulty swallowing.
• I had my radiation for 38 days and I feel so tired most of the time.
• I had radiation for seven weeks five days a week, for about 45 minutes, some of my hair came out a little after starting to grow back after chemo, first of June, right after getting married in 1994, until end of July,bottom of hands and feet were black.
• i had radiation of the brain and spine every weekday for 6 weeks. i had severe migraines, lost weight, and i was vomiting. i had blisters and scabs on the back of my ears. my brain showed swelling and fluid build-up, which went away over time. and today, i have a big bald streak on the back of my head where it is so thin.
• I had the iodine radiation. No real side effects. worst thing was having to be away from my little one.
• I hear you're pretty pukey but thats about it. Oh and it melts your innards and body externally.
• I officially start radiation tomorrow. I do like my Radiation Oncologist. He is pretty cool.
• I opted for no radiation.
• I started readiation on christmas eve 2008. I felt a itching feeling in the area that had been treated but that was about it. As I have more treatments I will blog more info.
• I wanted another baby hopefully if chemo didnt kill my ability
• I WAS TOLD THE WAY IT LOOKS NOW ..NO RADIATION NEEDED
• I will receive radiation after one last large-dose chemo and stem cell transplant. Radiation will last for about three weeks and I'll get zapped five days a week. From what I understand, it's painless and takes 15 or 20 minutes.
• I will start radiation after the chemo ends!
• image guided IMRT starting 10/16/06
• IMRT started 7/7/08
• IMRT- 32 doses...if you've done this, you know all the side effects...
• IMRT: May 18, 2009 to June 26, 2006 - 5 days a week
• In process of getting everything set up.
• Intensity modulated radiation X 30 treatments, 7/28/08 through 9/9/08. Side effects included burning of the pelvic & rectal area with blistering, extreme pain with urination and bowel movements, nausea & fatigue.
• Jan. 4, 2007 Radiation Tatooing & positioning - 33 treatments (5 a week) Feb.23, 2007 - final treatment!
• July 6 Radiation and 1st Chemo begins
• July, 2004 to September, 2004 Sometimes when I swallow I start to cough. The esophagus was damaged. It will recover, but still hasn't.
• Just started radiation. No side effects yet but I have heard they are hideous
• Linear radiation March to May 2007. Three brachy-radiation treatments in June 2007. Side effects some bowel problems, diarrhea.
• Loss of taste, acute mucositis, loss of hair at back or neck, blistering of throat.
• Lots
• luckily for me , i don't have to undergo radiation
• Mammosite 5 day 2 times a day, a little sun burn.
• Mammosite Radiation scheduled for 9/10/2008
• Mammosite therapy, 6/23 - 7/3 Thickening, discoloration, burning, peeling.
• March - May 2004. 2nd degree burns and intense fatigue and sleepiness (no, those are NOT the same thing).
• March and April 2008 - part of my skin peeled just like a regular sunburn; tenderness months afterwards
• May 2-June 10th, 2007 Really scary, very tired,headaches & teary
• May of 2004; six weeks; breast raw for 1 week; I have alot of stiffness under my arm; I exercise it by swimming
• MD wanted to hospitalize me for entire round of 5 wk (daily) radiation for pain control but refused - took several months to get through it- terrible radiation burns
• Months of April and May. I had swelling of the feet. Not sure if it even worked.
• My husband had radiation at the site of his neck surgery.
• N/A
• no
• No radiation
• No radiation...was told on consultation for this that it would weaken my lung & esophagus & "may cause them to become cancerous!" Not for me!
• no treatment yet?
• Non
• non so far she hasn't healed from surgery
• none
• none
• None.
• Not many young women there. Duration 7 wks (after chemo started) Daily. Didn't burn at all. Doctor at conclusion surprised by that!
• not part of treatment
• Nov/07 PBR(partial Breast Radiation) 1 week = two times a day.
• November 1, 2006, 30 treatments M-F caused sever fatigue, cystisis and cramping
• Nuclear Oncology 41 treatments 11/08 no side effects
• october 2008,, no side effects yet
• Pelvic radiation; July - September 2006 Side effects became so severe required hospitalization during final week of treatment.
• Pending biopsy results. I may not need radiation.
• Plaque brachytherapy - July 2003. Plaque inserted on Friday morning and removed Monday night. Long, long weekend in isolation and having to carry a geiger counter around. Eye was puffy, bloodshot for a long time, painful and vision deteriorated quite rapidly. Now have retinal detachment, pretty lousy vision in that eye and grey areas on the sclera (white of the eye) that may be burns from the cauterisation tool or where the sclera has thinned due to the radiation. Last November (2007), it was noticed that the edge of the tumour is still growing in some areas and I have therefore had to have these treated with Transpupillary Thermotherapy (laser).
• Pre OP external beam radiotherapy to a dose of 50.4Gy for 28days to Pelvis from 04/03/2008 to 10/04/2008on 6MV Linear Accelerator.
• Pre OP external beam radiotherapy to a dose of 50.4Gy for 28days to Pelvis from 04/03/2008 to 10/04/2008on 6MV Linear Accelerator. No any side effect of radiation
• R-Chop R-Ice
• RA-131 74.4 Mci on June 5th. Side effects included swelling of my throat and neck, headache, nausea and eventually really nasty taste in my mouth. June 12th - full body scan, results were good, and follow up on July 24th with blood work.
• Rad 131
• Radiactive Iodine - February 2007.
• Radiation after surgery
• Radiation began in June 2008 for 25 sessions. Suffered anus hernias and a damaged tail bone. The hernias were treated with a sith bath and the tail bone recovered by March 2009. Minimal hair loss around the pelvic area.
• Radiation for me became a time of meditation and a time to just lay back and picture my cancer cells being burned to a crisp (along with my bladder, vagina, uterus, ovaries, and anything else in there)...sometimes I cried during treatment and sometimes I just pretended it wasn't really me...I had the best team and although I hope to never have to deal with this treatment again I know where I will go without a doubt - Wellspring Oncology in St.Petersburg Florida. I had six weeks of daily (mon-fri) treatments starting Sept 8, 2008 and ending Oct.20, 2008. I had pretty bad "burns" all over my vaginal and rectal areas, pain in my butt (haha), and my bladder was affected (frequency, burning)...I still have no confirmation of the extent of damage to my womanly organs but will in a few weeks...
• Radiation for pain management only, not for reduction of tumor.
• Radiation has been ongoing since 2/12/07. The first layer of skin around the anal site and vulva is gone and there is a great deal of irritation and pain,
• Radiation in 1991 to my right breast and in 1992 to my left breast. No significant side effects.
• Radiation is anticipated to begin the second week in July. Treatment plan will include 35 radiation sessions over a period of 7 weeks.
• Radiation October 2004
• Radiation on site of mastecomy (2002) Radiation on T12 and right hip (2007)
• Radiation scheduled for June 30 in Dallas. Body Scan scheduled 2 weeks after radiation. Goal is the radiation will kill any cells remaining in my body.
• Radiation side effects were just becoming exausted. I was pretty healthy until I got cancer, never had any health issues and never had to take any medication before.
• Radiation started 10/10/07 and I go M-F once a day for 6 weeks
• Radiation started in Jan 2009-lost my hair, pain in my arm went away but I lost the use of my left hand.
• Radiation therapy (RT), 2000 rads for 22 days, were given to areas of initial bulky disease. (middle of chest cavity)
• Radiation to esophagus and abdominal lymph node March/April 2008 Radiation to supraclavicular lymph node January/February 2009
• Radiation Tx for Vaginal Tumor - 4/20/09-5/5/09 (mom is fatigued, loss of appetite) Radiation Tx for Metastasis on Ribcage - 4/27/09-5/8/09
• Radiation was started immediately after the chemo (at my insistence, I wanted it all to be over with). My blood count dropped so low, even my doctors didn't want to be around me! I went for 37 times. And now I can say that I have 9 (prison) tattoos.
• Radioactive Iodine-dry mouth everything tasted like cardboard for over two months. Salivary gland infection.
• Radioactive Iodine: July 2004
• Rather not discuss
• right now 10 rounds on the one left in my brain, and the spots that the other 2 was removed from
• See my website
• See Profile cardiomyopathy
• Sept-Oct. 07. 26 treatments went well. Yes tired but not too much. Glad it is over. Hardly any burning. Used Lubriderm cream all the time; that helped. UPDATE AUG/08. Enjoyed the summer sun but made sure to use SPF 50 so as not to burn.
• skin down there fell off. over & over. friable skin that bleeds. No control over bowels..limited over bladder. skin that is tender...can't wear clothes. (no more underwear...except in public) Wear Oversize bottoms & boxers).
• Start date 10/28/08
• started 1/6/09: fatigue and upset stomach, loose bowels
• Started 5 weeks of external beam radiation in June of 2008. I had alot of nausea and loss of appetite, painful radiation burns. Damage done to ureters which caused me to have additional surgery in July and August of 2008.
• Started 7 weeks of radiation and 5 weeks of Erbitux on May 11,2009.
• Started external radiation on 2/4, to have 25 treatments; then 2 "internal" ones fatigue, but can't blame it all on radiation
• Started MammoSite on 15 May 2007. First treatment went without a hitch. Second treatment, I developed a "big" air bubble and treatment could not be done. Replaced the first "balloon" with a larger one and was able to resume treatment the following day...2 treatments a day for 5 days and all done!!! NO SIDE EFFECTS like traditional radiation. YEA!!!!! :)
• Started radiation Oct. 25, 2006 and finished up Dec. 14, 2006. Side Effect: breast pain, very tender. And Still very tender.
• Started radiation on 9/8/08. 5x/week for 6 weeks.
• Started Radiation on January 14, 2008 and finished on the 22nd of February, 2008. Just had experienced fatigue and a burning sensation where the radiation treatment was done.
• Starting April I had 25 radiation treatments 5 days a week for 5 weeks. It burned the outer part of me to the point that my skin blackened. I could not walk or sit without hurting,even standing made me weak. Then I had a two week break before I went into the hospital for internal radiation treatments.I was to have 5 high dose treatments done all in one week where i would go in the morning for treatment and at night for another treatment. Monday I went in to have it surgically put in,had a treatment...had another treatment that next day. Then the doctor decided it could be better so he took it out and made some changes.He had me come back 2 weeks later and finished up the last 3 treatments by putting me back in the hospital and surgically implanting the radiation device again.My doctor was very particular about how he did everything and he took such good care of me.
• Starting end of March
• Starting March 12 2009
• Starting radiation on Monday, February 23.
• still exploring options
• Still to come
• TBA
• To be determined
• to come
• Two weeks of radiation was fine. Fatigue.
• Vomiting Sleepy
• Weakness, fatigue
• Weill have gamma Knife radiation to brain lesions
• Well, radiation, wasn't to bad & yes if made me sick to my stomach sometimes. But I think the worst for me was the burn it left on my breast, that hurt the most. I was given cream to help the burn & it pretty much took care of it. I was lucky in that area, I only had to take 7 wks. of radiation & my mom & I had to drive 75 miles every day for it. I think that was the worst, casue with a sick stomach, the ride was not so good.
• When first I went for radiation it was as I was just bloating with fluid from chemo side effects so had to wait and when I went to re-do markers they said markers were now in place so I was able to continue so that was oct/02 or thereabouts... Actually I improved while taking rad as I was so sick to start and on oxygen 24/7 I had some burns at the site and was tired as I had been in advance.
• Will start radiation in mid-June 2009
• Yes 6.5 weeks worth. I had a bad burn.The fatigue was difficult.
• yes, 32 times, the 1st time and 32 time the second.
• yes, will need 5x/week for 7 weeks...started on 5/19/09
• Yes. 25 treatments.