Thank you for this video! ❤Former Radiation Therapist and breast cancer patient here. Radiation treatments have come a long way and many facilities are finding ways to treat cancer better with less side effects. In regard to left sided breast cancer, I chose to have my radiation treatment done with DIBH. This stands for Deep Inspiration Breath Hold. If your cancer facility has this, you are prompted to hold your breath which pulls your heart away from the treatment field and then the radiation beam comes on while you are holding your breath, sparing your heart. Then you will be prompted to breathe. If you can’t hold your breath long enough, the beam shuts off. This treatment is great for left sided breast patients. It is true that radiation can cause a secondary cancer but it is rare. I was a radiation therapist for almost 19 years and never treated an angiosarcoma. Lots of love to you all!💕
I had the breath hold as it was my left breast. A scan has shown some scarring on the lung or fibrosis and the report did say probably from the radiation. I have a question, one day the radiation therapist (he was not the team leader) did it different (I knew as I’d gotten to know the machine sequence and the 1st 2 breath holds were the longest and actually the breath holds were easier that day ) I asked him why he did that, his answer “ he was bored”, I am still livid to this day (it was 2020 3rd November). A few days later taking me in he says, oh I got into trouble for doing that, not big trouble, she just laughed and said stick to the plan (I’d had 2 & 1/2 hrs of Simulation/planning. Would that have mattered??? I’ve outed him on a forum, and there was a article called City News where I am, a man wrote about his wife’s treatment at the Hospital, so I wrote all what happened under his spool. Because I had to do all this without a support personI recorded all my sessions on my iPad which was in my bag in the room, so have him on there. Great app which picks up sound. Thing is the couple of times I tried to bring this up with the other rad/therapists I was pfft off or shut down.
@@L-ash777 Hello! So sorry about your experience and the lack of respect and professionalism from your therapist. If you are still uneasy about what happened, you could always call the radiation department and ask to speak to a physicist and have them re-look at your treatment plan, but most likely this has already happened. I hope this information will ease your mind but most radiation departments have weekly chart checks by the physicists where they can check to make sure there were no errors and that the full amount of radiation was delivered. The computers and programs are very smart and if the machine cuts off at any point or if the therapist had to stop for any reason, it’s noted where to pick back up. Sometimes different therapists may change your treatment order for various reasons but as long as all your fields are treated, you still got your full treatment. A good therapist, will let you know if they are starting on a different side or doing something different so you understand and don’t panic. When I had my DIBH treatment, the display that I had to watch for my breathing crashed and the radiation wasn’t coming on when it was supposed to. Lol, I think some of them got nervous because I was a radiation therapist on the table and the machine had to reboot. They assured me afterwards, their computers knew right where to pick up and they verified after treatment that everything was delivered correctly. I really hope some of this helps you and I hope you are doing well! Blessings to you! ❤️
I had 33 radiation treatments after breast cancer surgery ; no problems except skin blisters. Did leave me with soft bones under breast . Almost impossible to wear a bra for long . This was 17 years ago I call it a good job .
I had 35 radiation treatments for B.C. the first time 28 treatments the 2nd time the best advice given to me & would gladly share do not wear a bra or another type of garment I wore oversized mens' undershirts the tank type style as it did not keep the heat in and really lathered myself with the gel you would put on after a sunburn. GOOD LUCK THAT WAS IN 2005
Thank you, Dr. Griggs, for this insightful video! My 3 weeks of radiation went very smoothly and I had no issues. Just a light tan and some minor skin sensitivity at the end of treatment. I followed my low carb diet with no dairy and 18 hour intermittent fasting to support my treatment. It's important to talk to the medical team, ask questions and raise concerns to have clarity and feel more at ease about everything.
It's great to hear that your radiation treatment went smoothly. Communication with your medical team is indeed key, and it's wonderful that you felt supported and informed throughout the process. Thank you for watching.
Did you follow the low carb diet and fasting during the treatment or after you finishing the treatment? I am now 4 weeks post mastectomy (bilateral) and I have been eating and I gained a lot of weight. I plan to go on diet soon before I start my hormones treatment.
When i was diagnosed with intermediate DCIS i refused Radiotherapy but reluctantly had surgery.The reason i refused it was because my mam was diagnosed with CA of the bladder,was given 6 weeks of radiotherapy before having her bladder removed.Afterwards she went into Renal Failure as it had damaged her kidneys,ending up having to start on Haemodialysis.She also developed CA of her Pancreas which finally one day during dialysis her pancreatic tumour ruptured resulting in her having a MI,then latsr that day had a Cardiac Arrest and died in front of me.She was only 56 years old.I have just had my first year follow up and got the all clear but just slighty worried for the future.I will be 54 this year but i also lost my dad to cancer too.
Oh, you have had a lot of losses. One thing that is known to shape people's feelings about treatment is their experience of treatment in people they know. This is the case even when the side effects and risks are completely different. Wishing you the best.
After 4 weeks of radiation I had 2 areas the size of the palm of my hand become completely raw and the radiation onc didn't even want to prescribe SSD. I finally consulted a nurse who worked with burn patients and she helped me. I was in so much pain I would start shaking. Wound care was terribly painful. Now it is numb. The skin grew back but I have no feeling. Another dosimetrist saw pics of it and said that shouldn't have happened. The thing I'm most angry about is that after everything I went through I didn't get to finish radiation. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. Chemo was easy in comparison.
This sounds so hard. Thank you for sharing your story. It can be so difficult to feel that treatment didn't go as initially planned. It is likely that you did achieve benefit from treatment even though it had to be stopped early or interrupted.
I just completed mine a couple of months ago (stage 1; right breast; lumpectomy and removal of a lymph node). The first time was scary, and I had pain, redness and general discomfort for a while, but it became routine, everything has healed nicely, and everything feels fine except for some recent morning soreness, which my surgeon told me is fairly common, and for which she has referred me for some physical therapy. This is just my own personal experience, but hopefully it will take some fear and worry away. You got this! 👊
For myself as well, my radiation went incredibly well. Played tennis throughout. Fatigue hit me just after it finished and it took awhile to get my energy up. No burning. Good luck.
@@yerbba Yes please! This is something that was just mildly mentioned in passing and mostly dismissed! I feel like more information would have helped me get better help much faster & maybe it wouldn't have become another challenge. I can't seem to get a straight answer on if it's permanent or only manageable as to it's progression. And differences between scar tissue, breast fibrosis and muscle/tendon/maybe even lung fibrosis etc. and how those might be treated. Especially if there are self treatments, because finding a specialized PT therapist is out of reach for many.
First of all, thank you for your educational videos. I had 21 rounds of radiation therapy but was unable to complete the last 4 rounds due to severe burns all the way up to my collarbone and near my throat. This was the right breast and chest area but had issues on the backside of my right shoulder and redness to the middle of my neck. I thought it was "targeted" only to my breast and armpit but the energy waves must have traveled further for me. My oncologist was compassionate and did share that patients with psoriasis can have issues, such as I did. I'm mostly healed now and pray I can tolerate my aromatase therapy that I will begin this week.
I have been on aromatase inhibitors since Feb 2023 and have had minimal issues! I stretch and walk every day and drink lots of water. I get a spoon of yoghurt, stuff the pill into it and swallow as you are not to chew them. The yoghurt helps it slide down.
@@conniejohnsoncj8724 Thank you for sharing your positive AI experience! I'm 51 and perimenopausal, so I'll be starting tamoxifen in March. I'll be on it for about 2 years, after which I'll be switched over to the AI. The pills have been my biggest fear/concern about this whole experience. May I ask how old you are, and whether you are in relatively good health? My mom had Alzheimer's and osteopenia, so those are my biggest fears. My dad had heart issues too, so I'm just fearing all sorts of elevated risks that come with estrogen blocking pills.
RT doesn't treat cancer stem cells and may aggravate them. No mention of this? What about the problem radiotherapy induced metastasis whereby by radiation can make cancer more aggressive? Would like to hear more on these issues, Yerbba.
Thanks for the excellent question. In some animal studies, radiation therapy has been linked to increased metastasis, and older clinical studies also suggested this with subcurative doses. However, modern curative radiation doses generally reduce metastasis and improve survival. The effects can vary based on factors like radiation dose, tumor type, and timing, but overall, radiation tends to be beneficial. Regarding resistance, cancer cells can develop resistance to both chemotherapy and radiation. For chemotherapy, this can happen through mechanisms like drug efflux pumps and enhanced DNA repair. For radiation, resistance can occur due to factors like improved DNA repair by cancer cells or low oxygen levels in tumors. This is why doctors often use combination therapies and adjust treatment plans if resistance develops. You may also find our video on why we can't cure breast cancer helpful: [czcams.com/video/fLcq25CvtcM/video.html]
@@yerbba Thanks for your reply and informative videos. Radiotherapy based metastasis is a subclinical research problem that needs more discussion and more study. Those with P53 mutations should be getting tested. Understanding what aggravates CSCs is needed. Would love to see a video on this. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29159430/
Hi Dr. Griggs, thank you again for this important topic! I am in therapy of my breast cancer recurrence (stage IV). Most of it is happening at the (left) breast and the close lymph nodes (collarbone) at the moment. Mets are under control. I was told a second radiation could help me, but still am unsure. I once was told you can radiate the breast only once, and am getting Phesgo which could affect the heart as well. What are - generally - your experiences of a second radiation? Thank you and hello from Germany, Beate
Hello! Radiation therapy can be repeated if enough time has passed since the original radiation therapy. The required time varies according to the dose and the field (area radiated). In general, repeat radiation therapy will not be recommended if there are concerns about the time since previous treatment and the dose. Wishing you the best.
My father had Hodgkin’s disease when he was 19. He had heart surgery in his 40s and the stent couldn’t stay in place because of thickening of the heart arteries. Radiation therapy for this illness was only 6 months old at the time he had it
So hard to hear about the effects of any treatment, and you are right that things have improved a lot with time and advanced methods of treatment. Thanks for sharing your father's experience.
Please do a video on short term treatment with radiation in older women, such as the review studies of 5 days of radiation, whole breast vs partial breast in lumpectomy patients. It looks like a great option for women 70 and older. I'm considering this as I don't want 5 weeks of radiation. For me it's the issue of what level of toxicity is acceptable ? The less the better and maybe none at all.
Shorter courses of radiation therapy, called "hyper fractionated radiation therapy" can be highly effective if your tumor meets certain criteria. The side effects seem to be better without compromising the effectiveness.
Reaching almost 5 years is a significant milestone, yet it's clear you've had to navigate some tough side effects with lung and heart impacts after your treatments. It's a testament to your resilience, facing these challenges head-on. We hope you're finding support and strategies to maintain your health and well-being. Your journey is a powerful reminder of the strength and perseverance that lies within us. Thank you for watching!
Great information. Very informative.! I have question , the Radiation … can it hurt persons who are healthy? , I get nauseous when I’m around areas of radiation . From high power tv’s , pcs. . .. I can feel radiation in the air space of the location that’s put off radiation. .. any thought on this. ? ? And how. Do I treat. My self. Cause it doesn’t just go away. It’s hours. Before I awake and feel better. Help?
Some people report extreme sensitivity to electromagnetic waves. Scientists have not been able to determine whether this is a physical phenomenon, but the people affected have a really difficult time with it.
I was cancer stage 0 - had surgery and had 20 sessions of radiation,, it needed Sept 30 2023- I didn’t have much side affects , but it’s been about 6 months now and I still have pain on my left breast- the pain comes and goes ? Is that normal ?
My situation was similar. 25 sessions completed in April 2023. Still dealing with pain in left breast and ribs in area of radiation a year later. Radiation itself was relatively uneventful. No skin issues.
Thanks for writing. It's not uncommon to have this type of symptom even after 6 months. The hope would be that the pain would continue to get better. Checking with your radiation oncologist would make sense.
We're sorry to hear about your peripheral neuropathy. Make sure you're subscribed because we are releasing a video soon that goes more in-depth about long-term peripheral neuropathy. Wishing you the best in finding relief and support. Anyone else…please reply to this comment!
I think you mentioned the way radiation is done has improved..i had 33 rounds of radiation with boost on my left breast and axillary nodes..came out bit burnt, and definitely the skin isvery tight and uncomfortable.. im concerned about impact it had on my lungs (have diagnose of bronchiectasis) and heart 2 cardiac stents(length artery)..both pulmonologist and cardiologist indicated not related to the breast radiation..but i wonder. ? ..definitely # of rounds have reduced..what else ..thank you for wonderful and informative presentations Dr. Griggs..
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. With the current planning techniques, the exposure of the heart and lungs to radiation therapy is minimal. Nonetheless, care in treatment planning is obviously warranted. Your skin tightness may improve with massage, and it is worth talking with your medical team about this.
Current radiation therapy planning techniques minimize the risk to the bone, including the ribs. However, this is a possible long term effect of radiation therapy.
For our other viewers, LVH stands for left ventricular hypertrophy. This is a condition in which the left ventricle (pumping chamber) of the heart becomes enlarged. This is not a reported short- or long-term effect of radiation therapy. Recall that radiation therapy tends to make tissues develop fibrosis, which makes things smaller rather than larger. In addition, radiation therapy exposure to the heart is minimal, so cardiac toxicity is quite rare.
This sounds really hard. Without being involved in your care, it is difficult to know the underlying cause. The hope would be that your surgeon can help you through the healing process. We are wishing you the best.
There are some cancers that may result from chemotherapy or radiation therapy many years after diagnosis. These cancers are rare, however. If they happen to you or someone you know, of course, it doesn't matter how rare it is.
I saw some recent developments with radiation for prostate cancer where some locations use MRI during the process to better target the areas to be addressed. But as someone else commented, I imagine in the future it will be viewed as barbaric the treatments we employ today.
Advances in radiation therapy, like using MRI for better targeting, are promising and continue to improve treatment precision. It's true that medical treatments evolve over time, and future innovations will likely make current methods seem outdated. In the past people with cancer had enormous parts of their body removed, so we're already doing better!
This is my second BC. Two different types. The first I did not take an AI, only radiation. This time I had lymph node involvement. My question is should I take AI at the same time as radiation? Are there more severe side effects if doing this? I read a 2021 paper that said, there is "acceptable toxicity", but acceptable to who? Certainly not me!
I had BC with lymph node involvement, left mastectomy and lymph node removal 5/11. I started AI and abemaciclib some 2 weeks before radiation and continued throughout. My medical team said the two treatments can go in parallel with no issues, I had none.
For our other viewers, when a report describes "acceptable toxicity," it generally means that there are no moderate-to-severe side effects, only mild side effects. (On occasion, there will be small numbers of people with moderate side effects.) There is no reason to think that starting the AI along with radiation therapy will cause problems to you. The exception would be in someone who develops severe hot flashes with sweating. This can make it harder if you develop peeling of the skin from radiation therapy because of the excess moisture. In general, if this were to happen, a medical team would recommend holding off on the AI under radiation therapy side effects on the skin have resolved.
Great question. It's common to feel tightness and changes in the breast area after radiation therapy. These sensations can last for several months as your body continues to heal. If the tightness persists or if you notice significant swelling, it's important to consult with your radiation oncologist or nurse.
Im breast cancer pt..chemotherapy done surgery done going through radiations these days ..5 sessions of radiations done...but im feeling severe pain in my throat after my 5th radiation..finding difficulty in swallowing..plz tell what to do?also i feel low grade fever and pain in muscles bones
Throat pain and difficulty swallowing can be side effects of radiation particularly if your radiation therapy field was high up. It's important to talk to your radiation oncologist about these symptoms for appropriate treatment and relief. This should get better soon!
Great video! I had 4 wks of radiation (64 yrs, stage 0, calcification), lumpectomy and taking anastrozole. I recently had my follow up mammogram, and they are saying they found new calcifications (Suspicious calcifications in the upper outer and upper inner left breast). My question is if it is cancer again, do I have to have radiation again? I like to avoid it. I read somewhere radiation causes cancer. Could radiation have caused a new flare up?
Thank you for your kind words! We are sorry to hear about the new findings on your mammogram. It’s understandable to have concerns, especially after going through treatment already. In general, people who have a local recurrence after radiation therapy are treated based on the extent of disease and the location of the recurrence. In someone who has a recurrence very soon after completing radiation are considered to have had residual disease (disease that wasn't seen or removed initially). Removal of the area can be undertaken or, depending on the extent of disease, mastectomy may be recommended. Re-radiation soon after treatment is not considered safe because of toxicity to the skin. The risk of cancer from radiation therapy is very small although not trivial
Most tissues and organs in the body can indeed be treated with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is not used for widespread cancer unless there are specific symptoms or specific areas to be treated. That is, giving radiation therapy to the entire liver would not be recommended.
Hello doctor, I had 20 radiation therapy sessions 8 months ago, taking Anastrazole 20 mg a year and half ago, after partial mastectomy (right breast). After the radiation treatment (which included my collarbone lymph nodes) I have been always extremely tired and weak, like every month or weeks between I get some episodes of extreme fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath usually for one day. My oncologist says he doesn’t know why this happens, my count of white cells is always low which, I understand, is “normal” but how long is this supposed to last? Thank you, doctor. I’m just trying to get as much information as possible just to feel emotionally better.
Same here completed radiation in oct n still chronic fatigue, sensation in brain making it uncomfortable and left side breast feels tight and different, and putting weight specially belly and around neck.. all these only after radiation... Now m doubting hope it has not done more demage then benefit of reducing risk
This sounds really uncomfortable, and we can see why this is worrisome. It would be worthwhile talking with your primary care doctor to see if there are other causes not related to the radiation therapy. One of the things after cancer is that everyone attributes symptoms to the history of cancer and its treatment. Other medical problems can be missed because everyone has what is called "onco-vision."
Thank you doctor for your video. I just had my third breast radiation, and I start to experience seeing flashes of light during my treatment, is this normal?
Seeing flashes of light during radiation treatment can be unsettling. It’s not uncommon, though, as the radiation can sometimes stimulate the retina, causing these visual effects. However, it’s always a good idea to mention this to your radiation oncologist to ensure everything is progressing normally. Thanks for sharing your experience, and we hope your treatments go smoothly.
It's difficult to provide guidance without being part of your medical team. This would be a very reasonable question to ask your surgeon and radiation oncologist.
My mom is done with her radiation, no chemo for her due to her menopause so now she is under tamoxifen since last month but now she is having a very sharp shooting pain in her lymphictomy and arm. Is it normal??? Any idea??
Experiencing pain after radiation and starting on tamoxifen can be common due to various changes in the body, but it's important to report sharp shooting pains to your medical team.
There is no evidence that cannabis can replace treatments that have a large evidence base with thousands and thousands of people. Cannabis can help with some side effects of treatment.
Just had my first round of radiation treatment today. I really don't eat much but decided to drink protein shake ate a orange and 2 slices of pineapple and I vomited everything up should I be concerned since this was my first treatment and I'm already vomiting. Has this happened to anyone else and is this normal for day 1 treatment
Thanks for writing. Unless the stomach area is being radiated, vomiting and nausea are not common with radiation therapy. It is likely that your body was in flight-or-fight mode, which can cause vomiting. We hope your other treatments have gone well.
Hi hello i just wnt to ask i just finised my radiation last feb,i am on going for phisio terapy,and my consern is it normal that my breast itchy?thank you i am just worried
Thanks for sharing your story. Yes, itching is quite common as the body heals. If it persists for more than a few weeks, bring it to the attention of your medical team.
My mum is having radiation treatment in 2 weeks time she had neck cancer doctor is gone now shes 86 gad surgery 4 weeks ago doctor said she wont have any side effects can anyone know is this treament ok thanks
We're sorry to hear about your mum's situation, and we are wishing her a smooth treatment. Radiation therapy for this type of cancer can cause short term pain with swallowing. Her medical team will help manage symptoms if and when they arise.
Thank you for this video! ❤Former Radiation Therapist and breast cancer patient here. Radiation treatments have come a long way and many facilities are finding ways to treat cancer better with less side effects. In regard to left sided breast cancer, I chose to have my radiation treatment done with DIBH. This stands for Deep Inspiration Breath Hold. If your cancer facility has this, you are prompted to hold your breath which pulls your heart away from the treatment field and then the radiation beam comes on while you are holding your breath, sparing your heart. Then you will be prompted to breathe. If you can’t hold your breath long enough, the beam shuts off. This treatment is great for left sided breast patients. It is true that radiation can cause a secondary cancer but it is rare. I was a radiation therapist for almost 19 years and never treated an angiosarcoma. Lots of love to you all!💕
The cancer centre I went to in St Catherine’s ON - Walker Cancer Centre uses this technology and it makes you feel so protected!
@@conniejohnsoncj8724
Yes!❤️
@@juanitagee9511
Glad to help! 💕
I had the breath hold as it was my left breast. A scan has shown some scarring on the lung or fibrosis and the report did say probably from the radiation. I have a question, one day the radiation therapist (he was not the team leader) did it different (I knew as I’d gotten to know the machine sequence and the 1st 2 breath holds were the longest and actually the breath holds were easier that day ) I asked him why he did that, his answer “ he was bored”, I am still livid to this day (it was 2020 3rd November). A few days later taking me in he says, oh I got into trouble for doing that, not big trouble, she just laughed and said stick to the plan (I’d had 2 & 1/2 hrs of Simulation/planning. Would that have mattered???
I’ve outed him on a forum, and there was a article called City News where I am, a man wrote about his wife’s treatment at the Hospital, so I wrote all what happened under his spool. Because I had to do all this without a support personI recorded all my sessions on my iPad which was in my bag in the room, so have him on there. Great app which picks up sound.
Thing is the couple of times I tried to bring this up with the other rad/therapists I was pfft off or shut down.
@@L-ash777
Hello! So sorry about your experience and the lack of respect and professionalism from your therapist. If you are still uneasy about what happened, you could always call the radiation department and ask to speak to a physicist and have them re-look at your treatment plan, but most likely this has already happened. I hope this information will ease your mind but most radiation departments have weekly chart checks by the physicists where they can check to make sure there were no errors and that the full amount of radiation was delivered. The computers and programs are very smart and if the machine cuts off at any point or if the therapist had to stop for any reason, it’s noted where to pick back up. Sometimes different therapists may change your treatment order for various reasons but as long as all your fields are treated, you still got your full treatment. A good therapist, will let you know if they are starting on a different side or doing something different so you understand and don’t panic. When I had my DIBH treatment, the display that I had to watch for my breathing crashed and the radiation wasn’t coming on when it was supposed to. Lol, I think some of them got nervous because I was a radiation therapist on the table and the machine had to reboot. They assured me afterwards, their computers knew right where to pick up and they verified after treatment that everything was delivered correctly. I really hope some of this helps you and I hope you are doing well! Blessings to you! ❤️
I had 33 radiation treatments after breast cancer surgery ; no problems except skin blisters. Did leave me with soft bones under breast . Almost impossible to wear a bra for long . This was 17 years ago I call it a good job .
Thanks for sharing your story with the Yerbba community.
I had 35 radiation treatments for B.C. the first time 28 treatments the 2nd time the best advice given to me & would gladly share do not wear a bra or another type of garment I wore oversized mens' undershirts the tank type style as it did not keep the heat in and really lathered myself with the gel you would put on after a sunburn. GOOD LUCK THAT WAS IN 2005
I can't imagine my self not to wear a bra. But why? Does the skin become so sensitive and burned that we can't wear a bra and for lobg time?
My radiation went very smoothly. No side affects, not even skin burn. My team was awesome.
Having a smooth radiation treatment experience with no side effects is so good. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the Yerbba community.
That is so wonderful... I am so scared....
Thank you. 1 year breast cancer survivor 🎉.
Thanks for coming here to share. Know that you have a supportive community behind you. Wishing you continued health and happiness as you move forward.
Thank you, Dr. Griggs, for this insightful video! My 3 weeks of radiation went very smoothly and I had no issues. Just a light tan and some minor skin sensitivity at the end of treatment. I followed my low carb diet with no dairy and 18 hour intermittent fasting to support my treatment. It's important to talk to the medical team, ask questions and raise concerns to have clarity and feel more at ease about everything.
It's great to hear that your radiation treatment went smoothly. Communication with your medical team is indeed key, and it's wonderful that you felt supported and informed throughout the process. Thank you for watching.
Did you follow the low carb diet and fasting during the treatment or after you finishing the treatment?
I am now 4 weeks post mastectomy (bilateral) and I have been eating and I gained a lot of weight. I plan to go on diet soon before I start my hormones treatment.
When i was diagnosed with intermediate DCIS i refused Radiotherapy but reluctantly had surgery.The reason i refused it was because my mam was diagnosed with CA of the bladder,was given 6 weeks of radiotherapy before having her bladder removed.Afterwards she went into Renal Failure as it had damaged her kidneys,ending up having to start on Haemodialysis.She also developed CA of her Pancreas which finally one day during dialysis her pancreatic tumour ruptured resulting in her having a MI,then latsr that day had a Cardiac Arrest and died in front of me.She was only 56 years old.I have just had my first year follow up and got the all clear but just slighty worried for the future.I will be 54 this year but i also lost my dad to cancer too.
Oh, you have had a lot of losses. One thing that is known to shape people's feelings about treatment is their experience of treatment in people they know. This is the case even when the side effects and risks are completely different. Wishing you the best.
@@yerbbaJust cleaned my phone and noticed my reply had disappeared so in case you didn't get it.Thank you xx
After 4 weeks of radiation I had 2 areas the size of the palm of my hand become completely raw and the radiation onc didn't even want to prescribe SSD. I finally consulted a nurse who worked with burn patients and she helped me. I was in so much pain I would start shaking. Wound care was terribly painful. Now it is numb. The skin grew back but I have no feeling. Another dosimetrist saw pics of it and said that shouldn't have happened. The thing I'm most angry about is that after everything I went through I didn't get to finish radiation. It was one of the worst experiences of my life. Chemo was easy in comparison.
I'm so sorry you had such a horrible experience. Is there any chance of the feeling coming back someday?
@airamsipuola5045 I don't know. But I'm still alive and playing with my grandchild so I try not to think about the bad stuff. Thanks!
This sounds so hard. Thank you for sharing your story. It can be so difficult to feel that treatment didn't go as initially planned. It is likely that you did achieve benefit from treatment even though it had to be stopped early or interrupted.
This is good. I’m about tho start my first radiation today @ 2 pm.😢
I just completed mine a couple of months ago (stage 1; right breast; lumpectomy and removal of a lymph node). The first time was scary, and I had pain, redness and general discomfort for a while, but it became routine, everything has healed nicely, and everything feels fine except for some recent morning soreness, which my surgeon told me is fairly common, and for which she has referred me for some physical therapy. This is just my own personal experience, but hopefully it will take some fear and worry away. You got this! 👊
Well wishes to you! In no time you’ll be ringing the bell. And it will be behind you. Stay strong!
For myself as well, my radiation went incredibly well. Played tennis throughout. Fatigue hit me just after it finished and it took awhile to get my energy up. No burning. Good luck.
Don't worry, time goes by very quickly and you'll be done in no time)))
So scary I’m done with radiation 3 days ago I’m in pain now open skin under the skin :(
Would love a video about post radiation fibrosis.
Thanks for the suggestion. It's on our list.
@@yerbba Yes please! This is something that was just mildly mentioned in passing and mostly dismissed! I feel like more information would have helped me get better help much faster & maybe it wouldn't have become another challenge. I can't seem to get a straight answer on if it's permanent or only manageable as to it's progression. And differences between scar tissue, breast fibrosis and muscle/tendon/maybe even lung fibrosis etc. and how those might be treated. Especially if there are self treatments, because finding a specialized PT therapist is out of reach for many.
First of all, thank you for your educational videos. I had 21 rounds of radiation therapy but was unable to complete the last 4 rounds due to severe burns all the way up to my collarbone and near my throat. This was the right breast and chest area but had issues on the backside of my right shoulder and redness to the middle of my neck. I thought it was "targeted" only to my breast and armpit but the energy waves must have traveled further for me. My oncologist was compassionate and did share that patients with psoriasis can have issues, such as I did. I'm mostly healed now and pray I can tolerate my aromatase therapy that I will begin this week.
I have been on aromatase inhibitors since Feb 2023 and have had minimal issues! I stretch and walk every day and drink lots of water. I get a spoon of yoghurt, stuff the pill into it and swallow as you are not to chew them. The yoghurt helps it slide down.
@@conniejohnsoncj8724 Thabk you for sharing your experience! Feeling more hopeful now 😊
@@conniejohnsoncj8724 Thank you for sharing your positive AI experience! I'm 51 and perimenopausal, so I'll be starting tamoxifen in March. I'll be on it for about 2 years, after which I'll be switched over to the AI. The pills have been my biggest fear/concern about this whole experience. May I ask how old you are, and whether you are in relatively good health? My mom had Alzheimer's and osteopenia, so those are my biggest fears. My dad had heart issues too, so I'm just fearing all sorts of elevated risks that come with estrogen blocking pills.
THATS THE HARD PART. I DIDNT TOLERATE IT AT ALL. EVERY JOINTVIN MY BODY HURT SO BAD. I EXERCISED.I WILL NOT TAKE IT AGAIN. SOME PEOPLE DO FINE
@@kathysteiner9468 May I ask what you’re taking now?
RT doesn't treat cancer stem cells and may aggravate them. No mention of this? What about the problem radiotherapy induced metastasis whereby by radiation can make cancer more aggressive? Would like to hear more on these issues, Yerbba.
Thanks for the excellent question.
In some animal studies, radiation therapy has been linked to increased metastasis, and older clinical studies also suggested this with subcurative doses. However, modern curative radiation doses generally reduce metastasis and improve survival. The effects can vary based on factors like radiation dose, tumor type, and timing, but overall, radiation tends to be beneficial.
Regarding resistance, cancer cells can develop resistance to both chemotherapy and radiation. For chemotherapy, this can happen through mechanisms like drug efflux pumps and enhanced DNA repair. For radiation, resistance can occur due to factors like improved DNA repair by cancer cells or low oxygen levels in tumors. This is why doctors often use combination therapies and adjust treatment plans if resistance develops.
You may also find our video on why we can't cure breast cancer helpful: [czcams.com/video/fLcq25CvtcM/video.html]
@@yerbba Thanks for your reply and informative videos. Radiotherapy based metastasis is a subclinical research problem that needs more discussion and more study. Those with P53 mutations should be getting tested. Understanding what aggravates CSCs is needed. Would love to see a video on this. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29159430/
Thank you, Dr. Griggs, for your informative medical advice.
Thank you for watching and being part of our community.
Thank for explaining all
Thank you so much for watching. Let us know if there is a video you'd like to see.
Hi Dr. Griggs, thank you again for this important topic! I am in therapy of my breast cancer recurrence (stage IV). Most of it is happening at the (left) breast and the close lymph nodes (collarbone) at the moment. Mets are under control.
I was told a second radiation could help me, but still am unsure. I once was told you can radiate the breast only once, and am getting Phesgo which could affect the heart as well. What are - generally - your experiences of a second radiation? Thank you and hello from Germany, Beate
Hello! Radiation therapy can be repeated if enough time has passed since the original radiation therapy. The required time varies according to the dose and the field (area radiated). In general, repeat radiation therapy will not be recommended if there are concerns about the time since previous treatment and the dose. Wishing you the best.
My father had Hodgkin’s disease when he was 19. He had heart surgery in his 40s and the stent couldn’t stay in place because of thickening of the heart arteries. Radiation therapy for this illness was only 6 months old at the time he had it
So hard to hear about the effects of any treatment, and you are right that things have improved a lot with time and advanced methods of treatment. Thanks for sharing your father's experience.
Please do a video on short term treatment with radiation in older women, such as the review studies of 5 days of radiation, whole breast vs partial breast in lumpectomy patients. It looks like a great option for women 70 and older. I'm considering this as I don't want 5 weeks of radiation. For me it's the issue of what level of toxicity is acceptable ? The less the better and maybe none at all.
Shorter courses of radiation therapy, called "hyper fractionated radiation therapy" can be highly effective if your tumor meets certain criteria. The side effects seem to be better without compromising the effectiveness.
Why no mention of radiotherapy for advanced aggressive prostate cancer?
This video about long-term radiation therapy side effects focused specifically on breast cancer. We appreciate your understanding.
Almost 5 years out with lung and heart slightly damaged after 27 burns.
Reaching almost 5 years is a significant milestone, yet it's clear you've had to navigate some tough side effects with lung and heart impacts after your treatments. It's a testament to your resilience, facing these challenges head-on. We hope you're finding support and strategies to maintain your health and well-being. Your journey is a powerful reminder of the strength and perseverance that lies within us. Thank you for watching!
Thank you for this info.
Thank you for watching!
Great information. Very informative.!
I have question , the Radiation … can it hurt persons who are healthy? , I get nauseous when I’m around areas of radiation . From high power tv’s , pcs. . .. I can feel radiation in the air space of the location that’s put off radiation. .. any thought on this. ? ? And how. Do I treat. My self. Cause it doesn’t just go away. It’s hours. Before I awake and feel better. Help?
Some people report extreme sensitivity to electromagnetic waves. Scientists have not been able to determine whether this is a physical phenomenon, but the people affected have a really difficult time with it.
I was cancer stage 0 - had surgery and had 20 sessions of radiation,, it needed Sept 30 2023- I didn’t have much side affects , but it’s been about 6 months now and I still have pain on my left breast- the pain comes and goes ? Is that normal ?
My situation was similar. 25 sessions completed in April 2023. Still dealing with pain in left breast and ribs in area of radiation a year later. Radiation itself was relatively uneventful. No skin issues.
Thanks for writing. It's not uncommon to have this type of symptom even after 6 months. The hope would be that the pain would continue to get better. Checking with your radiation oncologist would make sense.
Had radiation 15 years ago, have developed peripheral neuropathy, anybody else ??
We're sorry to hear about your peripheral neuropathy. Make sure you're subscribed because we are releasing a video soon that goes more in-depth about long-term peripheral neuropathy. Wishing you the best in finding relief and support. Anyone else…please reply to this comment!
I think you mentioned the way radiation is done has improved..i had 33 rounds of radiation with boost on my left breast and axillary nodes..came out bit burnt, and definitely the skin isvery tight and uncomfortable.. im concerned about impact it had on my lungs (have diagnose of bronchiectasis) and heart 2 cardiac stents(length artery)..both pulmonologist and cardiologist indicated not related to the breast radiation..but i wonder. ? ..definitely # of rounds have reduced..what else ..thank you for wonderful and informative presentations Dr. Griggs..
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. With the current planning techniques, the exposure of the heart and lungs to radiation therapy is minimal. Nonetheless, care in treatment planning is obviously warranted. Your skin tightness may improve with massage, and it is worth talking with your medical team about this.
This there any chance radiotherapy fracture rib?
Current radiation therapy planning techniques minimize the risk to the bone, including the ribs. However, this is a possible long term effect of radiation therapy.
I was curious about the development of lvh after radiation (2 years). Is this something that occurs later after radiation?
For our other viewers, LVH stands for left ventricular hypertrophy. This is a condition in which the left ventricle (pumping chamber) of the heart becomes enlarged. This is not a reported short- or long-term effect of radiation therapy. Recall that radiation therapy tends to make tissues develop fibrosis, which makes things smaller rather than larger. In addition, radiation therapy exposure to the heart is minimal, so cardiac toxicity is quite rare.
I am from South Africa. My skin become very yhin. I loose one inplant because of seromas and the clips tear out. What is going with me.
Don't get implants.
This sounds really hard. Without being involved in your care, it is difficult to know the underlying cause. The hope would be that your surgeon can help you through the healing process. We are wishing you the best.
I read chemo and or radiation can cause a more serious cancer years,or decades down thru the years.
I don't believe you
@meahdahlgren6537 read and maybe you will become more educated.
There are some cancers that may result from chemotherapy or radiation therapy many years after diagnosis. These cancers are rare, however. If they happen to you or someone you know, of course, it doesn't matter how rare it is.
@@deborahbizzell1989 every person is different
@@yerbba will for some people
I saw some recent developments with radiation for prostate cancer where some locations use MRI during the process to better target the areas to be addressed. But as someone else commented, I imagine in the future it will be viewed as barbaric the treatments we employ today.
Advances in radiation therapy, like using MRI for better targeting, are promising and continue to improve treatment precision. It's true that medical treatments evolve over time, and future innovations will likely make current methods seem outdated. In the past people with cancer had enormous parts of their body removed, so we're already doing better!
This is my second BC. Two different types. The first I did not take an AI, only radiation. This time I had lymph node involvement. My question is should I take AI at the same time as radiation? Are there more severe side effects if doing this? I read a 2021 paper that said, there is "acceptable toxicity", but acceptable to who? Certainly not me!
I had BC with lymph node involvement, left mastectomy and lymph node removal 5/11. I started AI and abemaciclib some 2 weeks before radiation and continued throughout. My medical team said the two treatments can go in parallel with no issues, I had none.
I had both at the same time, no issues.
I started two weeks after I stopped radiation
For our other viewers, when a report describes "acceptable toxicity," it generally means that there are no moderate-to-severe side effects, only mild side effects. (On occasion, there will be small numbers of people with moderate side effects.)
There is no reason to think that starting the AI along with radiation therapy will cause problems to you. The exception would be in someone who develops severe hot flashes with sweating. This can make it harder if you develop peeling of the skin from radiation therapy because of the excess moisture. In general, if this were to happen, a medical team would recommend holding off on the AI under radiation therapy side effects on the skin have resolved.
Hi i am finish radiation last feb,for my breast how long i feel this way like they always to tight?i feel lije getting bigger?
Great question. It's common to feel tightness and changes in the breast area after radiation therapy. These sensations can last for several months as your body continues to heal. If the tightness persists or if you notice significant swelling, it's important to consult with your radiation oncologist or nurse.
Im breast cancer pt..chemotherapy done surgery done going through radiations these days ..5 sessions of radiations done...but im feeling severe pain in my throat after my 5th radiation..finding difficulty in swallowing..plz tell what to do?also i feel low grade fever and pain in muscles bones
Throat pain and difficulty swallowing can be side effects of radiation particularly if your radiation therapy field was high up. It's important to talk to your radiation oncologist about these symptoms for appropriate treatment and relief. This should get better soon!
Great video! I had 4 wks of radiation (64 yrs, stage 0, calcification), lumpectomy and taking anastrozole. I recently had my follow up mammogram, and they are saying they found new calcifications (Suspicious calcifications in the upper outer and upper inner left breast). My question is if it is cancer again, do I have to have radiation again? I like to avoid it. I read somewhere radiation causes cancer. Could radiation have caused a new flare up?
Thank you for your kind words! We are sorry to hear about the new findings on your mammogram. It’s understandable to have concerns, especially after going through treatment already. In general, people who have a local recurrence after radiation therapy are treated based on the extent of disease and the location of the recurrence. In someone who has a recurrence very soon after completing radiation are considered to have had residual disease (disease that wasn't seen or removed initially). Removal of the area can be undertaken or, depending on the extent of disease, mastectomy may be recommended. Re-radiation soon after treatment is not considered safe because of toxicity to the skin. The risk of cancer from radiation therapy is very small although not trivial
If ppl have had radiation to the breast 30 yrs.ago,and now have lung,or liver issues caused by cancer,can they receive radiation to those areas?
Most tissues and organs in the body can indeed be treated with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is not used for widespread cancer unless there are specific symptoms or specific areas to be treated. That is, giving radiation therapy to the entire liver would not be recommended.
I got skin cancer under my armpit 27 yrs.later.I received radiation to my breast after a lumpectomy.
Hello doctor, I had 20 radiation therapy sessions 8 months ago, taking Anastrazole 20 mg a year and half ago, after partial mastectomy (right breast). After the radiation treatment (which included my collarbone lymph nodes) I have been always extremely tired and weak, like every month or weeks between I get some episodes of extreme fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath usually for one day. My oncologist says he doesn’t know why this happens, my count of white cells is always low which, I understand, is “normal” but how long is this supposed to last? Thank you, doctor. I’m just trying to get as much information as possible just to feel emotionally better.
Same here completed radiation in oct n still chronic fatigue, sensation in brain making it uncomfortable and left side breast feels tight and different, and putting weight specially belly and around neck.. all these only after radiation... Now m doubting hope it has not done more demage then benefit of reducing risk
This sounds really uncomfortable, and we can see why this is worrisome. It would be worthwhile talking with your primary care doctor to see if there are other causes not related to the radiation therapy. One of the things after cancer is that everyone attributes symptoms to the history of cancer and its treatment. Other medical problems can be missed because everyone has what is called "onco-vision."
Thank you doctor for your video. I just had my third breast radiation, and I start to experience seeing flashes of light during my treatment, is this normal?
Seeing flashes of light during radiation treatment can be unsettling. It’s not uncommon, though, as the radiation can sometimes stimulate the retina, causing these visual effects. However, it’s always a good idea to mention this to your radiation oncologist to ensure everything is progressing normally. Thanks for sharing your experience, and we hope your treatments go smoothly.
@@yerbbaThank you so much for your reply. 😊
Plz tell me i can take multivitan during chemotherapy
My oncologist said it was fine for me. It probably depends on your chemotherapy. Ask your oncologist. I don't believe she could or should answer that.
If you need to take a multivitamin because you are not getting enough micronutrients, there should be no reason you cannot take a multivitamin.
How long does it have to pass to start manual lymph drainage after radiation therapy? Or it's safe to begin even during radiation therapy?
It's difficult to provide guidance without being part of your medical team. This would be a very reasonable question to ask your surgeon and radiation oncologist.
My mom is done with her radiation, no chemo for her due to her menopause so now she is under tamoxifen since last month but now she is having a very sharp shooting pain in her lymphictomy and arm. Is it normal??? Any idea??
Experiencing pain after radiation and starting on tamoxifen can be common due to various changes in the body, but it's important to report sharp shooting pains to your medical team.
what are your views on people with cancer using pure extract cannabis oil alongside radiation & chemo or instead of?
There is no evidence that cannabis can replace treatments that have a large evidence base with thousands and thousands of people. Cannabis can help with some side effects of treatment.
Just had my first round of radiation treatment today. I really don't eat much but decided to drink protein shake ate a orange and 2 slices of pineapple and I vomited everything up should I be concerned since this was my first treatment and I'm already vomiting. Has this happened to anyone else and is this normal for day 1 treatment
Thanks for writing. Unless the stomach area is being radiated, vomiting and nausea are not common with radiation therapy. It is likely that your body was in flight-or-fight mode, which can cause vomiting. We hope your other treatments have gone well.
I gonna have first radiation or treatment one week to go I have Everything be ok
Hi hello i just wnt to ask i just finised my radiation last feb,i am on going for phisio terapy,and my consern is it normal that my breast itchy?thank you i am just worried
Thanks for sharing your story. Yes, itching is quite common as the body heals. If it persists for more than a few weeks, bring it to the attention of your medical team.
My mum is having radiation treatment in 2 weeks time she had neck cancer doctor is gone now shes 86 gad surgery 4 weeks ago doctor said she wont have any side effects can anyone know is this treament ok thanks
We're sorry to hear about your mum's situation, and we are wishing her a smooth treatment. Radiation therapy for this type of cancer can cause short term pain with swallowing. Her medical team will help manage symptoms if and when they arise.
Can you have radiation if you have a wire in your mouth from once having braces?
Having a wire from braces does not prevent you from having radiation therapy.
Mame Barca test information share plz
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Thank you for watching!