Did you have side effects from cancer treatment from radiotherapy or tamoxifen?

Radiography affects different parts of the body at various levels of damage. What it does is kill living tissue as it passes through the body. But flesh is quite robust and recovers quite well over time. Bone is normally killed dead so is avoided if possible by the device. Generally it does little harm to the main torso besides the burns short term. You may get very uncomfortable burns that get nasty towards the end of treatment and for the following period afterwards. There are some excellent burn treatments to reduce the discomfort. 

Some people suffer worse than others, an American going through treatment for the same therapy had to spend half time on radiography as an in patient and fed through a tube. I lost 6 stone but managed to stay out of hospital, cured my diabetes as a bonus. So being overweight was an advantage over a young fit American serviceman.

Tamoxifen. ''Tamoxifen (brand name: Nolvadex) is a medicine that is very effective in preventing the recurrence of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer. But it does have side effects. The most common are menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, low libido, mood swings, and nausea'' NHS.

So Tamoxifen does not sound that bad and it is radiography that may cause real long term issues.

Elaine59,  I still am tender more than two years later. Sore to the touch right around the side too.   Think the feeling is coming back into my arm though, which is a bonus :-)                                                                             Just wondering  if others are suffering in this heat.  Most of the time I can't do much as I start to sweat badly and it makes me feel ill. 

I'm certainly glad it's a bit cooler today.

Have a good day everyone x

I'm taking Tamoxifen, I'm having quite a few flushes now. Quite uncomfortable whilst the weather was at it's hottest.

Last shot of radiotherapy was 4th April. Still having pain in my breast tissue. 

Now also got the dreaded dema. ?

I haven't experienced any hot flushes yet from tam but I get them anyway lol

What's Dema? 

 Yes what's dema??

Thank you everyone for your replies.  Certainly has made me feel a little more relaxed about everything.  I find it so difficult to share so tend to bottle up everything, so yes, feeling so much more calmer now.  Have a great week x

(dema) Lymphedema, swelling of the arm where my lymph nodes were removed. My arm is retaining fluid. Very uncomfortable.

Lymphedema (dema a term I did not recognise) is one of the major issues I am left with after my throat cancer treatment. The radiography killed off my lymph system in my neck so fluid builds up everyday. I have to go through various neck massages exercises everyday as it swells up and like you say very painful.

What I use in conjunction with massages is a medical/sports injuries tape that compliments the massaging. I use as well a vibrating neck pillow and a vibrator which also reduces and helps removing the fluid. Your Lymphedema nurse that can be accessed through your GP can advise on helping to reduce this fluid through various methods.

In my investigations on helping to reduce the build up of such fluids I came across various devices on EBay to treat Lymphedema issues. Mainly aimed at torso, legs and arms but involved a pumping system and jacket that fills with air to provide the essential massage. So it might provide that important regular massage to reduce Lymphedema fluids. This did not help me because there was no fitment for my neck but may be useful for those of you with swelling and fluid build up in the Torso etc.

This is one of my life changing 'bug bears' post radiography and a solution still yet to be found. I have come to the end of my treatment with the Lymphedema nurse under the NHS. I am now expected to carry out neck massages on my own daily. But as I age and through work, my hands are getting pretty useless, so a long term solution is a concern. Looking to old age, infection from this fluid could become a serious matter, the NHS answer is simply 'sink or swim' and no long term help.

Has anyone else had issues and how did you resolve them as it is a major long term side effects of cancer treatment. Lymphedema nurses have only recently been expanded, access is short term and limited new treatment available.      

Gosh this sounds awful to have to go through after all your already been through. X