"What side effects can I expect after finishing radiation therapy?"

Do you mean symptoms ot treatment?

Treatment

I’m new to this. In radiation. Completed 14 of 28. I asked today and they just said I will be monitored every six months. Oncologist wants to put me on ibrance again. I was on that in beginning and blood counts fell so low they had to take me off

I’ve had three hematology/oncologists. They keep leaving the network I feel like it’s like pulling teeth to get answers

Had mastectomy in May. No reconstructive yet.

I had my first oncologist leave too. I finished radiation and now am taking anastrozole. I see oncologist every 6 mos. I had DCIS.

After radiation you typically start taking oral medication to prevent recurrence. I’m on tamoxifen. I have a follow up with radiation oncologist one month after last session. I also follow up with medical oncologist a month after I started tamoxifen. I already have MRI scheduled for early November as ordered by breast surgeon in time for 6 month follow up post surgery.

I finished 26 radiation treatments on 7/1. Started anastrazole and kisqali 7/15. Will see radiation oncologist in 1 year. Told me that since I will be seen more regularly by medical oncologist until I'm stabilized on drugs, and plastic surgeon in 6 months to follow up on how radiation affected me, that there was no need for them to bother me until then. 😊

Thank you so much for responding. I feel like I was just rushed through everything and needed to find the right questions to ask. I was on ibrance for less than a month and my platelets dropped so far that they took me off of it. Now my NEW oncologist want to put me back on it after radiation.

Finishing 28 radiation treatments soon. Considering reconstruction. They didn’t put expanders in. Would they tell me if they did. Where my mastectomy was the skin is stretched very tight. Is everyone a candidate for reconstructive? Like I said above I had 3 cancer doctors because the doctors kept leaving the network. Getting answers was crazy. Idk about reconstruction. I’m not sure if I want to be lopsided forever or not

I opted for immediate reconstruction, so the expanders went in during my double mastectomy surgery. Was filled to the size I wanted to be during chemo. Opted to have them swapped out for implants in between chemo and radiation. I think everyone is a candidate for implants, but they will probably make you wait. I was told that most plastic surgeons will make you wait 6-12 months after radiation to work on the area based on what the radiation does to the tissue. For example, my plastic surgeon will see me 6 months after radiation ended to see if I need a touch up based on how the radiation ends up affecting the area. Keep massaging the tissue and using lotions or oils (plastic surgeon recommended fractionated coconut oil) after radiation to help break up any scar tissue. Ask lots of questions and tell them after anything that feels 'off'. My team is super supportive and addresses everything so that I'm not left 'freaking out' about anything.

Hello 😊, Connie here, just started radiation treatments (now 2 out of 15). Concerned about whether I will have side effects as I understand that fatigue is the most common one. Really do not know what to expect.

I have finished 24 of 28. Just really really tired. No side effects. A little skin darkening on left chest where breast once was. That’s about it.

My expander was placed during mastectomy. Two rounds of chemo prior to surgery, 6 weeks of radiation daily, five days a week, with expander in place. Weekly visits to gradually expand the expander to the desired size, then surgery to replace the expander with the implant and “even up” the opposite breast. Honestly, knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t bother with reconstruction. Doesn’t even look anywhere close to real or normal. Been taking Aromasin for 5 years now with 6 month follow-ups with my oncologist and more MRIs and CT scans and mammograms and blood tests and bone density tests than I care to think about. Appointment coming up this month to mark my five year anniversary.

I completed 3 weeks of radiation 9 days ago and am having shooting pain at my surgical incision. It started over the weekend. Anyone else experience this?

Rene, yes. The shooting pains are you nerves growing back.

I had similar pain the radiation oncologist told me it was typical and would stop. It did.

Did anyone have a bad rash after radiation?

I had a fairly bad rash that started the last week. My skin first got dark in spots then parts got red and painful like a sunburn. They gave me miaderm with lidocaine and that helped with the pain. In 2 weeks the red was gone. I did not blister or peel. It is back to normal now

Hi Grace. I just finished radiation (28) today. This weekend I got radiation burn and it hurt. I have two little spots on my neck where the skin is kinda rubbed off. So glad to be done. Did mometasone cream and eucerine

I’m glad to know yours is back to normal. Hopefully mine will get there too!!

I had a rash as well. It healed once radiation ended.

How long for fatigue to go away?

Erica, could you tell me more about your journey through radiation and endocrine therapy?

Post-radiation side effects can vary from person to person, but many people experience fatigue, skin changes, and other effects that may continue for weeks or months after treatment ends. The care team can provide specific guidance on what to expect and when to contact them about any concerning symptoms, while connecting with others in this community who've been through similar experiences can offer valuable support and insights.