Many of you know that I will be starting radiation for cancer treatment soon. I'm feeling quite a bit of anxiety and wondering how many SoCers have had radiation, and if you'd share your experience. I'd like to know how many treatments you had and what side effects you incurred if you feel comfortable sharing. I will be having 30 treatments, traveling to the facility every (week) day for six weeks. I understand that some people have minor effects from treatment and some have quite terrible results. I also know that each person's experience is unique to them, but I am trying to mentally prepare for what's to come.
@Beth Gallagher Far from being a therapy expert, there are still a few things I am pretty familiar with concerning radiation and it's effects, both good and bad, on a human being. I exposed myself to X-Rays rather extensively as a young adult after I put together an operable X-Ray fluoroscope machine. I understood full-well the risks involved even then, and so limited both exposure time and intensity. I knew radiation has it's greatest affect on living human cells which are multiplying the fastest: reproductive cells, and bone marrow cells. Since marrow exists in most major bones of the body, I did little to prevent their exposure. I formed 1/8-inch thick lead sheet into a small "apron" which I hung from my pants belt in the front. The X-Ray tube was mounted on a shelf within our basement storeroom, which was an enclosure having 8-inch thick brick walls all around, as they supported the front porch above, which had a concrete floor. I chiseled out a single brick-size hole to allow the radiation to escape into the rest of the basement, where I set up a fluoroscopic screen; the X-Rays passed through anything placed between the hole in the wall and the screen, illuminating it in degrees determined by the relative density of the object so placed. Hands, the family cat, canary bird, etc. were all "looked through" thusly. Understand, this was not a daily "adventure", but in time my family and friends had become familiar with it. Knowing exposure time was one of the critical factors, it was limited to only seconds at a time; I was also concerned by how HOT my X-Ray tube became! The tube itself was originally part of a very old machine, possibly from the 1930s. Here is a picture of a Coolidge Tube identical to mine: The left hand end has a standard screw-thread like a light bulb to connect low voltage, 4 or 5 volts, to the cathode which glows white-hot, just as in an incandescent bulb. The right-hand end has a metal finned attachment which dissipates heat generated as electrons impinge upon the angled solid copper anode within. The anode has a Tungsten target embedded which resists degradation by the electron beam. 90,000 volts was applied across the two ends of the tube. Note the blackening of the glass envelope from years of service. The strength of a beam of X-Rays is a two-edged sword: Voltage applied determines the wavelength of radiation produced, more voltage causing shorter wavelength, and thus more penetrating power. The amount of current, in Amperes, determines the intensity of the X-Rays. Around 100,000 volts is typical of Dental X-Ray usage, while therapy utilizes much higher voltages, such as the infamous Canadian Therac 25, which produced 25 million electron-volts of energy, and is now removed from existence. Since X-Rays selectively kill fast-multiplying cells more than stable cells, malignant cells are more affected by them. That is the aim of radiation therapy. I never felt a thing when I exposed my hand or arm to the X-Rays I was producing. Their strength was only sufficient to penetrate enough to provide contrasting imaging on a screen, or to expose a photographic film. FWIW, my guess regarding the effect felt, @Beth Gallagher, is that it will be similar, you may feel nothing. Later, perhaps something akin to mild sunburn. Approach this new experience as you have the previous ones, avoiding fear and loathing if you can. It will not be as bad as you may be imagining it. A long life will be the pay-off! Frank
Wow, that's fascinating stuff, Frank. Thanks for sharing. The radiologist told me that I would not feel anything during the actual treatments but that the effects are cumulative and will worsen as treatment goes on. I'm hoping that a sunburn effect will be the worst of it!! Here's the information about my dosage, etc. I have no idea what any of this means... The volumes of interest, port selections, and provisional doses anticipated for this patient's 3D treatment plan are as follows: ================================================== Site |Technique |Modality |FX |D/FX |Dose =================================================== Rt Chest Wall |3-D plan |TBD |25 |200 cGy |5000 cGy Rt SCV/Ax Apex |3-D plan |TBD |25 |200 cGy |5000 cGy Rt Upper IMC |3-D plan |TBD |25 |200 cGy |5000 cGy Rt Med CW Boost |3-D plan |TBD |5 |200 cGy |1000 cGy Rt Lat CW Boost |3-D plan |TBD |5 |200 cGy |1000 cGy ==================================================== Custom blocking will be utilized for the following structures: lung, heart, humeral head, esophagus, and spinal cord. A custom electron cutout will be utilized.
I have already, so I won't go into details. Mine was for prostate cancer. I don't remember how many treatments there were, but there were three a week for what seemed like quite a while. I had no side effects while the treatment was going on, but there were some beginning a month or so after they were finished, diarrhea being the most uncomfortable. That went on for years, and I was thinking things would never be normal again, but it gradually began improving and finally ceased to be a problem. Sitting in a chair was another problem, and that continues to be a problem in that I have to rotate sitting in a chair normally, sitting in a chair with an inflatable cushion, using a kneeling chair, or using my standing desk. On the other hand, my cousin received radiation treatments for prostate cancer with no side effects whatsoever. But then, I was getting radiation for prostate cancer so you are unlikely to have these problems. While sitting in the waiting room for radiation treatment, I talked to people who were being treated for a variety of cancers, and it seemed to be a common theme that the complications would occur after the treatment regimen had been completed. Those whose head and neck were being treated seemed to have the most immediate problems, and they were in the nature of mild to very severe sunburn-type injuries. On the other hand, while I know a few people who have been treated with radiation following breast cancer surgeries, and who seem to be doing just fine, they have not shared any complications they may have had, just as I didn't tend to go around complaining about diarrhea, and probably wouldn't even mention it now if not for the fact that it's over finally.
I've read your thyroid cancer thread a couple of times but I haven't seen much about the prostate cancer. I'm sorry you have had lasting side effects from radiation; that is the scary part of this stuff. My doctor told me the radiated areas will still be "cooking" for a couple of weeks after the treatments are done, so some skin breakdown doesn't happen right away. There are some terrifying stories on the BC forum; one woman had a stroke after her supraclavical (collarbone) lymphnodes were radiated and damaged the blood vessels in her neck. Also some people have permanent damage to the brachial plexus which is network of nerves in the shoulder that carry movement and sensory signals from the spinal cord to the arms and hands. And of course the most common side effect is the breakdown of the skin... some people have severe damage and open wounds to deal with. I seriously need to stop reading radiation horror stories.
@Beth Gallagher You know, the worst is always emphasized, while the best is often forgotten or overlooked. Human nature. You will be just fine! Frank
@Beth Gallagher I had both external and internal radiation combined with chemotherapy for cervical cancer and I went six days a week for six weeks to our regional hospital which is a 45 minute drive away. The external radiation lasted just a few minutes and was done four days a week. The internal radiation was done once a week and took about fifteen minutes and chemo took almost a whole day once a week. I experienced a lot of the side effects of radiation and chemo: diarrhea, loss of appetite, tiredness, vomiting and hair loss. Eventually in 2022 I had to have a radical surgery called pelvic exenteration. All of my reproductive organs, all of my lady parts externally, bladder, urethra, colon and anus were removed leaving me with nothing down below and a colostomy and urostomy with bags on my tummy to collect poop and pee. In 2017 I passed the five year mark and am officially cancer free. Try not to worry too much Beth, you’ll be in good hands, we’re all here rooting for you and remember not everyone experiences bad side effects. You can kick this crap’s ass. You can PM me any time if you feel the need.
Wife and I wish you the very best, Beth and will be praying that everything goes nicely. This entire forum is with you!
Bibbi, you are a hero to have gone through so much in your life. I honestly can't imagine the things you have had to endure. For one thing, after having had 6 months of chemo I can't imagine having it at the same time as radiation treatments... oh my goodness. I'm glad you survived all that horror to be around today. Thanks for giving me a reality check.
I do not know of anyone who has gone through cancer treatment, so I have no input for you, Beth. It makes sense to me that you would not want to have to go through anymore pain and distress, after going through all of these months of chemotherapy. I remember you said that the chemo was supposed to be the worst part; so I am hoping that you will sail through this part of the treatment with no bad effects. As always, hugs and prayers are with you.
Thanks, Yvonne. I think the "worst part" of cancer treatment varies by individual. So far the chemo was the worst part, then the surgery was the worst part, and I expect radiation will also be the worst part. I'm sure I'll make it through but I'm hoping I won't have lingering side effects from it.
Frank, this quote from Hemingway sums it up for me... “The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave but one."