Now comes the question of boost. After treating the whole breast you will be given an extra amount of radiation on the spot where the tumor was. This boost is given at the area where the tumor was. This does not require hospitalization and really you may not notice anything different other than the technician has told you that you are getting a boost now. There is another type of boost where they actually under anesthesia of some type, put in a radioactive implant and is usually left in for 36 hours.
One of the most common side effects that you do hear from patients is fatigue. I recall saying at the time I was going through radiation that I was tired, bone tired. It almost felt like it took too much effort to breathe but of course you do. This will dissapate with time. Some also experience some kind of skin reaction and your tissue does feel different after radiation. It actually may look like you sunbathed on just one side. You may continue to have some tenderness or soreness but that also will decrease over time. After you have completed your radiation treatment, your radiation oncologist will continue to see you as wil your surgeon. That is what boost does mean and I hope that this cleared some of the cob webs for you on this subject.
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Making it a great day! S