Radiation was the easiest part of my treatment
Don’t be afraid of radiation. It was the easiest part of my treatment in my opinion. Yes, you have to go daily (5 days a week) but it’s quick and painless. Be sure to keep the area moisturized with aloe Vera and aquafor (or whatever moisturizer your radiation oncologist recommends). I did 3 weeks of radiation for HER2+/ER+/PR+ breast cancer and had no issues. I did a lumpectomy which is why I also needed radiation. I did not experience any side effects from my radiation.
I agree with you, and I did have a side effect. I developed radiation fibrosis, which was mostly alleviated with physical therapy. Even so, I was so concerned about radiation that I almost elected to have a mastectomy rather than a lumpectomy to avoid it. I worried about getting burned and being tired for weeks or even months, but like you I found the process quick and painless.