The Top Things That Helped Me Through Radiation Therapy
I didn’t worry about radiation therapy during my breast cancer journey. I worried about a lot of things with breast cancer: the actual diagnosis, getting chemo, and losing all of my hair. In fact, I was so busy and distracted reading everything I could about chemo that I hardly spent any time learning about the effects of radiation—which is maybe why I was never that nervous about radiation therapy. I wanted to write this piece because in hindsight, there are several things I wish I’d known before starting radiation. I hope this helps you in your breast cancer therapy journey.
The Nitty Gritty of Radiation
Do you know, technically speaking, what radiation therapy is? I didn’t, until I started treatment. Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Unlike chemo, which affects your whole body, radiation affects cells only in the part of the body that is being treated. Breast cancer radiation therapy may be used to destroy any remaining mutated cells that remain in the breast or armpit area after surgery.
You might be wondering why you need radiation, if you already had chemo. It’s basically used to destroy undetectable cancer cells and reduce the risk of cancer recurring. A radiation nurse explained it to me in this way: Think of chemo like using a sprinkler on your breast cancer. It treats everything—on the surface and inside, healthy and unhealthy (cancerous) tissue. Think of radiation like weed killer, targeting specific things below the surface that can’t be seen.
You’ll usually start radiation three to four weeks post-surgery. It is administered daily by a radiation oncologist (yes, you now need a radiation oncologist in addition to your medical oncologist) at a radiation center for four to six weeks. You’ll either get external beam radiation, where cancer-killing rays are delivered by a large machine, or internal radiation, a newer treatment that injects radioactive cancer-killing treatments into the affected area. I received the first one.
PHOTO
Finding a Groove with Radiation Therapy
The week I started my radiation therapy was the week we hit Stay at Home orders here in Colorado due to COVID. So my experience will be slightly different than the “norm”—whatever that means these days! Still, hearing about what it’s like might help put your mind at ease, so I thought I would share a little day-in-the-life of getting radiation therapy.
Check in with the front desk, get my temperature taken.
Answer questions: Are you experiencing any COVID symptoms? Have you come in contact with anyone who has? Have you traveled outside of the state in the last month?
Walk back to the changing area.
Change from the waist up.
Put on one of those lovely colored hospital gowns, open to the front.
Walk back to the radiation room.
Unwrap the robe. You will likely feel vulnerable being naked and exposed. I wish I had great advice here, but honestly, I could never get used to this part. But the nurses were always so sweet and compassionate, which made it a little easier.
Lay down on the bed.
Stay for less than 10 minutes while a machine aims radiation beams at the cancer site. It’s similar to getting x-rays done at the dentist. The machine moves around you without touching you.
Done!
I didn’t feel anything the entire time, during any of my 19 radiation treatments.
Making It Easier
While there is nothing inherently painful about the radiation treatment itself, it can do a number on sensitive skin, causing sunburn-type irritation; red, dry, tender, or itchy skin; breast heaviness; and a bruised appearance. Here are three products that I used religiously during the entire radiation therapy process to help my skin stay calm:
BeautyCounter Baby Daily Protective Balm: I applied this immediately following radiation, before changing back into my clothes. It is the ultimate hydrating powerhouse, formulated with a soothing blend of organic shea butter, sunflower seed oil, and jojoba seed oil to help soothe dry, sensitive skin. This was my holy grail of products, and I continue to use it on my psoriasis and my kids’ sensitive skin, so it’s a win-win!
Tamanu Oil. I applied this ointment every single night after my shower or bath. (I showed it to my radiation oncologist prior to radiation to make sure it was OK and she gave me the thumbs up.) The oil (make sure it’s 100% tamanu) is extracted from seeds of a tropical evergreen tree, and has antibacterial, skin-rejuvenating, and wound-healing properties. It is a little messy, so wear an old shirt after your apply it.
Seamless bra. Radiation can cause rashes and irritation, but I found that seamless bras made with soft fabric, like this Modern Micro Seamfree Bralette and Matte & Shine Seamfree Bralette helped with a lot of the redness and tenderness that can accompany radiation.
