I completed my first round of radiation treatment 4 days ago. On the fourth day of treatment, I noticed some minor swelling in my left hand (the entire palm was irradiated). By the next day, the swelling was all but gone. Starting a day after treatment ended, I started feeling pain in both hands (more in the left hand, which had a larger radiation area). Two days after treatment ended, the pain got worse. I started taking Advil to take the edge off. The pain feels like a deep aching feeling...it is not nodule tenderness. I liken it to what I assume arthritis in the hands would feel like. I have noticed that the pain gets worse as the day progresses. I assume this has to do with the fact that I spend much of my day typing. It starts off fine in the morning. By 10AM, I need to take two Advil. By noon, I need two more Advil. By late afternoon, the pain continues to worsen to the point where my hands feel quite uncomfortable, heavy and tired. I contacted my doctor, and she advised me that some patients do experience pain for 1-2 weeks after therapy. She suggested I continue with the Advil and said that I could also try heat to see if that helps.

I have also noticed that I've been very tired since starting therapy. (I took several-hour naps each day during treatment.) Hands don't appear to be terribly dry; however, I have noticed just the smallest of blisters beginning to appear in my left hand.

On the plus side, it would appear that one of my nodules has started to shrink. I would estimate that it's about half the original size. The other four nodules appear the same at this point, but it's still quite early.

I continue to remain hopeful that this treatment with stop progression and potentially shrink the nodules. Even with the side effects, I would do radiation therapy again given the aggressiveness of my disease. The side effects will be gone soon...hopefully the nodules, too!


Just sharing my experience in the event it may be of interest to someone considering RT in the future.

EasyRhino:

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That is quite the reaction, compared to mine.

You state that your nodule(s) have shrunk - that's exciting. Mine have not, but I'm hopeful.

Thanks for the information.

brucergoldberg:

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my hands hurt like HELL the first week after the RT. i think the RT helped me but i still have these PAINFUL knuckle pads. If your hands are swollen, it will subside. The truth will eventually be told if it worked for you.

EasyRhino:

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But, I would take 60+ Gys instead of 30 Gys if they thought it would kill the DC.