Experiences with Radiation
Radiation therapy is one of the most common drug treatments that uses high-energy particles or waves to destroy fast-spreading cancer cells. Radiation therapy is often used with other forms of treatment. Radiation therapy is given in two ways: external beam radiation therapy and internal radiation therapy. Common side effects for radiation therapy include fatigue, skin changes, and loss of appetite. Some patients experience no side effects; side effects depend on diagnosis, stage, where you get the radiation, and your body. Because everyone’s body is so different, what you’re really wondering is - ‘How will my body react to radiation therapy?’.
One of the first rules of undergoing radiation therapy treatment is to keep your doctor informed about every side effect. Some of the side effects may be normal, but it is important to pay attention to any rare side effects. WhatNexters have shared that they have been fatigued, had to change their diet, nausea, mouth sores, and some have had very little side effects. Radiation therapy may seem like a shot in the dark. The side effects are hard to pinpoint, and you may not know what you’re dealing with until you get right in the middle of treatment. The best insights on radiation therapy come from all the members that have been through it themselves. Search what others have experienced, post your questions, and get firsthand insights on what you may be able to expect with your specific radiation therapy.
Don't forget to view our Beginner's Guide to Cancer.
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External radiation
Radiation
My mother had the most difficult time just "trying" to get radiation for the tumor on her brain. It was an incredibly painful exper...
0 CommentsPainless Experience: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
External radiation
Radiation
I got a major increase in wrinkles on my forehead and permanent hair loss to the front of my head. I wear my hair pinned up/forward ...
0 CommentsPainless Experience: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
External radiation
Radiation
Having to rearrange my radiation schedule so that my red angry blistered skin can heal some. I only have 8 zaps left but switched t...
4 CommentsPainless Experience: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
External radiation
Radiation
I lost my appetite (first time EVER in my life I've experienced this) and I suffered from extreme fatigue all the time. No pain, j...
0 CommentsPainless Experience: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
External radiation
Radiation
As radiation was painless,it takes away all of your strength and leaves you exhausted. But I was told of the side effects and went ...
1 CommentPainless Experience: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
Internal radiation
Radiation
Somewhat painful sensation during treatment, and now have blood in urine which is very painful. Treatment had to be postponed until...
0 CommentsPainless Experience: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
External radiation
Radiation
This was the most Radiation I had ever. I had 2 tumors in the LF knee then they found one growing on my hip. I started 12/15/2014. F...
0 CommentsPainless Experience: Strongly Agree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Agree -
cyberknife radiation spine
Radiation
Effective treatment; 9 months stable so far
0 CommentsPainless Experience: Agree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Agree -
Radiation and chemotherapy together
Radiation
Distance made treatment difficult; chronic side effect diarrhea
0 CommentsPainless Experience: Neutral/NA Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree -
External radiation
Radiation
My first two weeks were mostly uneventful, I continued to work full-time, attended my graduate school class, and maintained a somewh...
1 CommentPainless Experience: Strongly Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Strongly Disagree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Strongly Disagree -
External radiation
Radiation
The surface where one has to lie down motionless is the worst hard surface ever! Worse than all the other tests I had to do before (...
5 CommentsPainless Experience: Disagree Minimal Side Effects: Agree Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Neutral/NA -
Radiation
I was ok for the first 15 days then heading into the last 2 weeks I became very sensitive & began blistering, I was prescribed a cre...
0 CommentsPainless Experience: Neutral/NA Minimal Side Effects: Neutral/NA Minimal Impact to Daily Life: Disagree