I had my first radiation treatment this morning at 7:15 am. The picture is of a linear accelerator, the machine used for radiation treatments. You are stationary on the table and the machine moves around. My entire breast and underarm area are getting radiated and toward the end of the six and half weeks, I get a little extra in the area of my incisions.
Side effects from the radiation start in around week two or three and will consist of fatigue and skin irritation (redness, swelling, blisters... any number of things can happen). I am still experiencing fatigue and muscle weakness from the chemo so I hope it doesn't get much worse.
There are also long term effects from the radiation. It is my understanding the radiated tissue may feel thicker and be changing over the next two plus years. The lymphedema in my arm could also become worse since they lymph system will get some scar tissue from the radiation. I am not sure how the lymphedema in my rib area will be after treatment.
That is all I have for today. Cheryl
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