Before I share my personal journey through radiation, I wanted to offer a crash course in how radiation works. Please note that I am not a doctor or oncologist. I am sharing this basic overview of radiation based on limited research and personal experience. If you want more information, I recommend looking at breastcancer.org or cancer.org There are many types of cancer, different types of radiation and the side effects vary greatly, based on the site of radiation. In general, radiation works by using a beam of energy that targets cells as they are dividing. Cancer cells divide much more quickly than normal cells, so they are destroyed at a higher rate than healthy cells. All cells spend time in development prior to dividing, which is why radiation is scheduled over many weeks. Normal cells divide at a much slower pace than cancer cells, so they are not damaged as intensely as cancer cells. Unfortunately, good cells are casualties of radiation, particularly skin cells, but the damage is generally limited to the site of radiation and typically the side effects disappear a few weeks after the radiation treatment ends. As I was lying on the radiation table today, I took a moment to reflect on my journey through 25 radiation treatments (only three to go). I realized that this past five weeks has been the easiest part of the process. The hassle of driving to the cancer center every week day has been inconvenient, but my commute is only 20 minutes. My radiation nurses are incredible kind and they work so efficiently as a team to get me in the proper position and zapped quickly, so I can go about my day. My skin is very red and peeling, but one positive aspect of having a mastectomy is that my skin is still numb. I can’t feel the burning or irritation anywhere except in two small places. I have slight swelling under my implant in one small area, but it is manageable. I have stayed very active during the entire process (I walked three miles before radiation this morning). I tend to get more tired at night, but it hasn’t impacted my normal routine. Overall, my journey through radiation has been manageable and much easier than I anticipated. I’ve attached a picture of me lying on the radiation machine this morning, waiting for treatment #25. For my fellow warriors who have radiation in your future, please try not to worry. This is the easiest part of the journey for most people. That being said...I am super excited to finish this journey next week! Thanks for reading! Beverly McKee (The Breast Cancer Warrior) For more information about The Breast Cancer Warrior or if you know a 40 year breast cancer survivor, please visit my website at www.breastcancerwarrior.org. You can follow me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thebreastcancerwarrior) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/bcwarrior40) for the latest updates about my journey through breast cancer and the latest studies about breast cancer prevention and treatment options.