Radiotherapy

[Tabbycat64]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in May. I had the carcinoma which was about 5mm removed. Some adjuvant tissue tested positive and I am being treated with Letrozole. I start a course of radiotherapy on Monday (31st July). I have a very dry sore mouth and eyes and painful joints. Did anyone else have any other of these side effects? My other question is what should I expect from the radiotherapy? Did anyone have any side effects. I’m 59 and in the UK. I’m retired so no worries about work. The radiotherapy is only 5 days long- it’s the new protocol: more intensive. Any advice would be appreciated. I have been reading your posts and find them helpful. Thanks!

[Kerryd22]

I was on Letrazole for a short time but I’m on Exemestane now. The dry eyes and joint pain go hand in hand with hormone blockers. I had radiation for bone Mets and apart from a few issues with acidic foods when I had radiation to a vertebrae there are no long term problems. I was diagnosed stage four de novo so I haven’t had the same experience as you but my advice is that the fear of treatment is greater than the treatment itself.

All the best

Kerry

[Tabbycat64 in reply to Kerryd22]

Thank you Kerry. I was lying here worrying. I think it is just fear of the unknown. Best Wishes, Tabby.

[mariootsi in reply to Tabbycat64]

I found radiation an easy treatment during my original dx. Just had fatigue.

[PJBinMI]

I love your screen name! We currently have a tabby, a marmalade, two blacks, a gray with orange spots and a young wild thing who is white ith black spots, all rescues who just showed up! Our dog pulled his leash to get into a nearby marshy area where the baby wild thing was, with bite marks, a bandage wrap but no signs of his home. Our vet thought he was about 4 weeks old. We named him LC, for dog Louie's cat! I don't know if 6 kitties is enough to call us crazy cat people, Lol. I had stereotactic rads for cancer cells in a group of nerves going down my arm. I found the rad nurses to be very helpful about possible side effects and what to do for any of those. The only s/e I had was reddened skin at the rad site, and the nurse told me what cream to buy and use on it. I hope your treatment will be effective and that you will do well!

[Tabbycat64]

Lovely response. Thank you. I do love cats. From what I am reading the radiotherapy should be okay. Still a bit nervous. Take care, Tabby x

[TammyCross]

I had unbearable hip pain on letrozole and switched to anastrozole. Small difference: pain in groin and shoulders, dry eyes and tearing. I don't have mouth sores but my dentist said they happen with aromatase inhibitors, and she has some remedies; she said it can get severe so best to start addressing it right away. I think there are special mouth washes that help.

My screen name is for a tabby girl. Actually, I named her after the woman who helped me get a low cost spay for her after she had a litter, 4 kittens I got adopted and one who died. I realized after I chose this screen name in honor of Tammy the cat that I was using the name of a person, a cat rescue person. I am not Tammy Cross!

[JJJJ8]

Hi Tabbycat64.

Good luck! It’s over quickly.

Not to worry you, but I had the five day high dose hypofractionated radiotherapy at the Royal Marsden. It straightaway caused some lung damage (fibrosis) and breathing issues (luckily on right side, so no damage to heart.) But my radio-onco kept on saying it was too soon for it to be the radiotherapy and maybe I had Covid. Long story short, I ended up self referring myself to a private lung specialist (the onco did not once suggest it) and getting a course of steroids (Prednisolone) which reduced the damage and improved breathing. If I followed her steer, I’d still be on an inhaler daily and not able to climb stairs without stopping several times.

So, keep an eye out for shortness of breath. And go to a lung specialist if that happens! X