Tips for Coping with Breast Cancer Radiation Side Effects

I start my radiation in the next couple of weeks and also curious about side affects. Just finished Taxalt and have a small break before I start radiation. Any suggestions would be great..

Hello, I had 16 rounds of radiation in July of this year ( condensed fractions) I used Mepitel film, my radiation oncologist said it was ok to use without being in the trial(there’s been many trials). We purchased it from Mayo Clinic. You wear it 24/7, do changes every few days. You keep it on after treatment is done for 1-2 weeks. I did great, no fatigue, etc. I only had a bit of dermatitis the 2 weeks after I was done. I used eucerin lotion too. I also want to point out I changed my diet to high protein and whole foods only. I ate beans, lots of fruit and vegetables. I was hard to change my diet but I truly believe it helped combat fatigue. I also stayed well hydrated and exercised each.

Oh and no bra! Felt funny at first but worth it.

You're in the home stretch and showing incredible strength getting through these tough weeks. Many people in this community have found success with gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers like aloe vera gel, loose cotton clothing, and staying well-hydrated to help manage radiation effects. Consider reaching out to your care team about the headaches, as they may have additional comfort strategies to help you finish strong.