I’m new to all of this. I now understand what radiation does to the leftover cancer cells. What I don’t understand is what does it do to the healthy cells and tissue in my body?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Anne
I’m new to all of this. I now understand what radiation does to the leftover cancer cells. What I don’t understand is what does it do to the healthy cells and tissue in my body?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Anne
Hi Anne
It’s interesting how our minds wander while we’re undergoing treatment. I can only speak from my experience. Radiotherapy doesn’t really distinguish between good and bad cells, like chemotherapy. That’s why they spend so much time getting the alignments right, so it does least damage to healthy tissue. They use a shield (we can’t see any of this) to protect the heart However, it does damage healthy tissue and it doesn’t always recover. Everyone gets scar tissue at the top of their lung but this is not problematic - you’re just advised to warn anyone xraying your lungs that you’ve had radiotherapy to the L/R breast.
Nearly three years on and my remaining breast muscle and ribs targeted are still tender so I take pregabalin for neuropathic pain. It’s unlikely this would have happened were it not for the fact that chemo had a good go at me. My mother, on the other hand only had a lumpectomy and she had no adverse effects. Both of us found it an easy treatment with few, if any, side effects but I know others have found it quite difficult.
My advice would be to go with no expectations, moisturise with an oil-free cream frequently and see what happens. But the fact is, in order to save us from breast cancer, some damage is done which we have to live with. I hope it goes well for you xx