How Do People Endure Radiation Treatment?

I wore a men’s t-shirt 2 sizes larger than me & cut off the hem on the collar, bottom, & sleeves. I didn’t wear a bra & just used silicone stickies to cover my nipple. My doctor prescribed silver sulfadine cream & gave me dressings called “cool magic” that helped. Make sure you drink a lot of water & moisturize after radiation.

It is hard and everyone’s treatment journey is different. I had 5 weeks/25 treatments and it did get rough. My radiologist gave me some different ointments to help & forget wearing a bra! The ointment was silvadene & hydrocortisone cream if it was itchy. I treated my mental health too by getting a treat after each treatment & crossed out each session with a big red X on my calendar! God bless!

Did anyone with DCIS not have radiation after lumpectomy? Does anyone know the actual risk with or without radiation ...for cancer return? I hear people still get return even with radiation...so? (For someone I know going through this DCIS and treatment decision.)

You sound like you're having a rough go of it. I'm so sorry. My hospital covered acupuncture visits while going through chemo and radiation, which I took advantage of. Discuss your physical side effects with your radiation oncologist, as they might have some suggestions. I was told hydrocortisone for itchiness, which helped somewhat, and because I couldn't wear a bra, I cut up an old but soft pillow case and placed it below my breasts and between them. My breasts are large and could easily hold the fabric when sitting. It helped the pain from being raw to avoid skin to skin contact.