Radiotherapy SECRETS Every Breast Cancer Patient Should KNOW | Dr Liz

If you're having radiotherapy for breast cancer, this video will tell you everything you need to know.
Why you have it?
How it's give?
Is it safe?
What the side effects are?

00:00 Introduction
00:16 What is radiotherapy?
00:43 Why do we give radiotherapy after breast cancer?
02:39 Does everyone need radiotherapy after a lumpectomy?
02:58 When do you have radiotherapy?
03:41 How is Radiotherapy given
04:38 What happens at your first appointment?
05:21 What happens at a Radiotherapy session?
06:18 Is Radiotherapy safe?
07:01 Does Radiotherapy cause side effects?
07:15 Immediate side effects
09:58 Late side effects

I'm Dr Liz O'Riordan, a breast cancer surgeon who's had breast cancer three times. I'm an expert in all things breast cancer. If you've got a question - I'll answer it for you

I’m now an accredited Trusted Information Creator!

The Patient Information Forum (PIF) has awarded me an Individual PIF TICK, which means my health content is:
✅Accessible
✅Evidence-based
✅Information you can trust

♻️References

Author ‘Under The Knife’ and ‘The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer’
Podcast - So Now I've Got Breast Cancer
👉Instagram @oriordanliz
👉Twitter @Liz_ORiordan
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[mfinn]

Thanks Dr Liz for doing this utube. You are a mine of trustworthy, medical information and an excellent communicator. We all appreciate what you are doing.

[meraaiki]

I had terrible throat pain during radiation. Had difficulty swallowing & could only eat soft foods. And now (8 months later) I find that speaking a lot, or speaking somewhat loudly leads to discomfort & pain in my throat. It is dismissed by the treating doctor. And I think they do not necessarily understand that it is worrying and sore when over-exerting the voice. I do understand that in the long run & compared to all the other side-effects it is not really an area that get much, if any, attention. But when you are in a profession where you need to be able to talk, it really is a problem. Thank you for a very informative channel with real, honest answers & advice. And thank you for your openness & sharing your journey. ❤

[julielineham]

Thank you so much. I have been diagnosed with breadt cancer 3 days ago.

[ogeeic]

Dear Doctor, You presented answers to the questions that I didn't even know to ask. In plain language and with nothing hidden. " What to expect" is the best part of your presentation. When I finally started to notice the changes in my body, I recalled that you had already given me a heads-up. Bless you, Doctor.

[gilscot]

Thank you Dr Liz. I am 2 years post lumpectomy but still find your videos extremely helpful. I did develop lymphedema a year later and wear a compression garment from dawn to bedtime and go to a lymphedema therapist every 2 weeks in the summer when the high heat (California) causes more swelling. I want to emphasize to others please, please keep up with the life long PT for arm and shoulder as painful as it may be in the beginning. I stuck with it and even when the lymphedema developed have retained full motion.

[despoinachatzaga]

Thank you! I had my lumpectomy 5 weeks ago and will start radiation (3 weeks, 5 days/week) in January. My overall experience at St. Bartholomew's Hospital has been excellent and all doctors and medical staff have been compassionate and very informative. Nevertheless, your video provides more assurance to me of what to expect. I am a little worried about reduced white blood cells as a side effect, as I have experienced this on and off throughout my life.

[akingramsey]

You are the Best Dr Liz. I love all your videos. Thank you 🙏

[vintagelingstitches]

Thank you Dr Liz, this is such an amazing resource you have provided and it's helped awnser some of my questions and will help me be better informed about what questions I need to ask when I meet with radiotherapy once I finish chemo. Thank you so much

[carolinewigin]

I am surprised that you do not mention tiredness. I thought this was an established side effect. Ditto I still have sore skin which makes my bra uncomfortable 6 months post treatment as have several of my friends

[SR--BOND]

😍THANK YOU
THANK YOU THANK YOU …. Dr Liz if you only knew how much this information helped my restless mind, I can’t thank you enough!!! ❤ forever.

[mjfanta]

I'm really scared of all of these things. All through my journey, every "rare" outcome seems to be happening. My mother also ended up with a shrunken fibrotic breast after radiation, so I am concerned there may be something hereditary involved.

[traceypage]

Thank you Liz 🤩. I had chemotherapy for grade 3 triple negative BC and I've had a lumpectomy. I'm now on Capecitabine awaiting radiotherapy. The video was really useful to understand the next stage. Would you think it's better to have a break in the capecitabine to have radio therapy as soon as possible or wait until I finish 6 months of capecitabine? My lumpectomy was in August and I started capecitabine in September. I’ve got my first appointment with the radiotherapy consultant at the end of November.

[victoriahughes]

I finished radiotherapy 5 days ago, and I would like to add a few points:
I was told that the effects take 10-14 days to develop, and would get worse before they got better.
I did not want to have a tattoo, and was advised they are NOT compulsory, so opted for marks made with a pen, which will fade.
I did the shoulder exercises diligently twice a day after a lumpectomy and removal of 3 lymph nodes(the latter of which turned out to be perfectly normal with no cancer in). I still got a seroma, sepsis and cording. Even though I had difficulty moving my arm on the operated side and adhesive capsulitis on the other side, I could still have the treatment with one arm down.
Best of luck to anyone else going through this cancer nightmare❤

[ybigirl]

Dr Liz, you really need to be including stats, both absolute and relative results. Without those numbers to educate patients, they have no idea what "rare" or "unlikely" means... plus maintaining a lack of knowledge is one more way MDs control their pts behavior via a paternalistic hierarchy.

[carolinewigin]

Deep inspiration breath hold is something that does need covering. It is very common and often causes women to become tense. I know you can’t do everything in a short video but it is worth stressing that practice at home is needed before your first session.

[myramckiddy]

I had a bilateral mastectomy with positive cancer in sentinel lymph node. My insurance BCBS FEDERAL denied radiation treatment even though my oncologist recommended it. I also take Femora for 5-7 years.

[dmp]

It took me ten months after surgery to do radiation. I am worried because I do not know if waiting so long it is effective. Why it took so long? Well after doing mastectomy private I just could not afford radiation, the cost for it privately was exorbitant so I have to go through the government passionate care program.This took quite a while .

[Mostly_Harmless]

Thank you for this practical information. It’s helpful as I face the process. PS. That vase behind you is kinda distracting LOL!

[annitafonken]

Thankyou for this information. I was wondering about the red dots on my skin you say are blood vessels from the radiation therapy. That did ease my mind for sure because I was worried about them being skin cancer.❤❤😊😊👍

[shailendrajadhav]

Thanks for wonderful information. You mentioned dose of radiotherapy as 40 grey divided into 15 fractions. What is radiotherapy dose for say five boost fractions?