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Radiation Rash
I now have a radiation rash on my chest. My technician calls them ‘speed bumps’ because the radiation is traveling at the speed of light. Everyone’s skin reacts differently to radiation, but I am told this is very common. It is more painful than it looks and is limited to the area seen in the photo. It itches and is starting to peel similar to a sunburn.
Last Monday, after 16 treatments, they changed my plan. For the next 2 weeks (10 treatments), radiation will be directed to the cavity from which the tumor was removed in order to let my skin recover. They call this narrowed field ‘the boost’. It is usually done at the end unless there are problems. During ‘the boost’, my treatments time is 4 minutes, almost half of what it was before.
After ‘the boost’, only 9 more treatments will be left (35 total) and with any luck, the rash will not get that bad again. Should end May 20-something.
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O, Ekan, i admire the dispassionate way you are dealing with this experience. You obviously ask
Comment by Allegra Ahlquist April 30, 2011 @ 8:08 pmquestions and in good Buddhist manner carefully
observe what is happening. Itching is one of the
more difficult things to deal with in my book
because the more you scratch the more it irritates. i do send you loving and compassionate
thoughts and wishes for a fortunate end to all this, so you can return to whatever else you want to do with your time. Love Allegra