Just wondering if anyone has heard of these side effects of radiotherapy. My mum had part of her breast and lymph nodes removed in march. she then had 3 weeks of radiotherapy, which she sailed through. But has now developed a burning red rash with blisters all over her body. She also has swollen arms and her toes are going so stiff she cant move them. I hope I dont alarm any others going through similar treatments and should be reasued that two doctors and a consultant have never seen this in their careers so its unlikely due to the treatment. But I thought it worth asking if anyone has experienced or heard of anything like this?
HI I FINISHED MY RADIOTHERAPY LAST WEEK,IT WAS TARGETED IN THREE AREAS IT WASNT TO BAD SO FAR
THE ONLY AFTER AFFECTS IVE HAD IS SORE SKIN ON MY COLLAR BONE AREA AND UNDER MY ARM IS VERY RED AND SORE,IVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT SHOULD HEAL IN FOUR TO SIX WEEKS HAS ANY ONE ELSE HAD THESE SIDE AFFECTS,IVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE HAVING SUCH A BAD REACTION AS YOUR MUM HOPE SHE GETS BETTER SOON
SANDRA
I had 6 weeks of radiotherapy and apart from being very red in the targeted areas and a bit of broken skin at the end I was fine. I sincerely hope that your Mum improves very soon. Is she on any medication as some of the hormone therapies can throw out some nasty side effects including joint stiffness etc?
Hello lilacblushes, Ive been reading all your advice, and its taken me time to want to come and talk to people who have what we have, because sometimes I think its best just to get on with it and keep it all inside, but the more I have been here - its got much harder, I have had a double mastectomy and just went for my results yesterday. I have to go for 3 weeks of radiotherapy and have been put on the tablets Arimidex for 5 years. The feedback from them isnt good, and Im a bit scared - cos I always think things will get better. But if you have had 6 weeks of radiotherapy and you feel fine, that gives me hope - thank you!
The following post is from new user Shirley
Kind regards
Lucy
Hello lilacblushes, Ive been reading all your advice, and its taken me time to want to come and talk to people who have what we have, because sometimes I think its best just to get on with it and keep it all inside, but the more I have been here - its got much harder, I have had a double mastectomy and just went for my results yesterday. I have to go for 3 weeks of radiotherapy and have been put on the tablets Arimidex for 5 years. The feedback from them isnt good, and Im a bit scared - cos I always think things will get better. But if you have had 6 weeks of radiotherapy and you feel fine, that gives me hope - thank you!
I’ve just finished 4 weeks radiotherapy and the soreness and redness has got worse over the first week afterwards and now subsiding. I’m now peeling really nicely and the itch!!! Creaming x3 daily.
Really sorry that your Mum is suffering so much. I just hope that they are keeping a close eye on her.
Have your mum’s doctors come up with any diagnosis for this condition? I doubt it would be directly related to radiotherapy but could be a sort of autoimmune flare up because of the inflammation radiotherapy caused or could just be a totally separate condition such as a virus or an autoimmune problem. Have they done any tests on her yet?
I’m 5 out 6 weeks through my rads and have sore itchy red rash but its on all the fields that I was zapped and nowhere else on the body. I hope your mum gets some relief soon.
Hi Judy, Ive been doing this wrong cos I had registered my name, so now Lucy (from BCC) has changed it to Bessie Boo! This is all new technology for me (my OH bought me a computer cos Im at home for a while), Its good reading everyones experience and knowing that you are not alone, because sometimes thats exactly how I feel
Hi bessie boo… you’ll soon be an old hand at this!!
I am 5 days post rads - i had 15 - and it is so itchy… i put aqueous cream on very often when it itches because it seems the only legitmate way i can rub it!!! GAH - the edhges are the worst for itching.
part of it is angrier than other parts… looks red and spotty especially where under boob would have been if i had not had MX… wondering if this a sign of skin breaking down… hmmmm goes off to read rads leaflets and info again… but this is some of the stuff they don’t tell you!!!
Hope the itching is easing off for you now? I was measured up for mine on Thursday and start on 5th Sept, still finding it difficult to get my arm in the right position - but doing exercises!
Has anybody heard that an after effect of Radiation is that your breast shrinks?! I was diagnosed in 1999, had a lumpectomy and 5 weeks of Radiation, followed by Tamoxifen for 3 years and Arimidex for two. I have been clear since then, but the breast that was zapped is now shrinking and is half the size of the other one. Went to my GP yesterday and he is arranging an urgent appointment at my local breast clinic. I am, of course in meltdown, but wonder if anyone else has ever heard of this and that I am therefore panicking needlessly.
it is mentioned as an after effect of radiotherapy in something I read, my breast swelled up to twice its size when I had radiotherapy so I had the opposite problem, however it is getting smaller again - I had my radio in 2004 though so maybe a few years down the line it will start shrinking yipes
I am in a trial to see if you can have smaller areas irradiated - and the take pics of my boobs every so often for the next 10 years to see the changes that occur.
Four years afterwards I have a hard thickening under the arm were I had radio and my breast still has its itchy, achey days- it certainly doesnt feel like the same pre radio one!