I had nausea, was really tired, my skin has burned and blistered, and after radiation to my neck my voice has changed. I've had radiation five different times on four different types of machines. I've had radiation anywhere between 1 week and 4 weeks with a booster at the end. I typically start getting nauseous a week or two into radiation.

Depending on how long radiation lasts determines how long I'm nauseous. It's easy to get ahead of the nausea by taking anti-nausea meds, such as Ondansetron, on a regular basis. I will take Ondansetron three times a day which is one pill every 8 hours, every single day. It's much harder to get rid of the nausea once it starts then it is to keep it at bay by taking the medication. For me if I do get some breakthrough nausea it helps to have some Saltines or a plain piece of bread. It also helps to eat small bland meals and eat 4 to 6 times a day instead of having three normal sized meals. If I have one week of radiation I'm usually nauseous for one to two months after radiation is completed. When I've had radiation for three and four weeks I was nauseous for two to three months afterwards.

Usually a week or two in I'll start to feel fatigued. Once again if it's a short-term of radiation I'll be really tired for a month or so after radiation is done and I'll need daily naps and then I'll start perking up two months post radiation. If I have radiation for 3 to 4 weeks then I tend to be tired for 2 to 3 months. At first I'll need daily naps and then after about a month I'll need a nap a few times a week and then it all level off to a weekly nap.

As far as the skin burns go it's important to apply lotion several times a day and right after each radiation session. All of the side effects can grow worse for a few weeks after radiation is completed because it's still actively working in your body for a little while after you've had your last dose. As far as side effects go, I will take radiation any day over chemo.

If you plan to have reconstruction done it's typically better to do the reconstruction prior to the radiation if you will be using implants. This is because your skin will lose elasticity during radiation and it makes it harder for the skin to stretch and accommodate an implant if that's the reconstruction route you go with. Most of the time if you opt to have reconstruction after radiation you'll need to do one of the flap surgeries where they take tissue from one part of your body and move it over to your chest, such as DIEP surgery or a lat flap.

I am left with terribly wrinkled skin, from burns from the radiation. I wasn't told to look after my skin before and after each session, so make sure you do

Thank you for that did you have any side effects?

It's your right and prerogative to get a 2nd opinion on any type of treatment. Radiation is typically recommended when the odds are high that some cancer cells were left behind after surgery, chemo, meds, etc. Some people do opt to skip radiation even though the risk of recurrence or metastasis is higher and that's ok as long as they are fully informed, know, understand, and accept that they're at higher risk of their cancer coming back. I personally believe in being as aggressive as possible when trying to kill off my cancers so if radiation is recommended then I'm getting asap. For me radiation has been the 1 treatment that has always killed off my cancer when surgery, chemo, and drugs couldn't accomplish the job. Without radiation I would have died years ago.

I think a second opinion is never a bad idea. I could confirm the plan or give you other options.
Ultimately, the decision is yours. If you chose to skip, and you are ok with risk of recurrence, maybe you have your answer. If not, maybe that is your choice.
Wishing you well!