Well I made it to the 13th rads before my skin under my breast broke down and started to blister. The radiographers made me an appointment with the nurse who gave me some dressings which really help, and I’ve been told to go braless, which really isn’t a good look when you have breasts as large as mine!
My hair has put on a real growth spurt over the weekend, I think the cold weather has shocked it into action unfortunately it is white/grey so I will also need a trip to superdrug…may try a shade of blonde as a change from my natural dark brown, after all blondes have more fun, and I think I’m due some of that
Angie - I’m glad you have managed to speak with someone at last. It is ridiculous how the treatment differs from trust to trust across the UK. I had an appointment with the radiotherapy oncologist yesterday and was told I would have a follow up appointment at 6 weeks, 6 months , 1 year and then once a year for the next 5 years. st James also offer a weekly ‘bridge clinic’ for everyone finishing treatment, this covers various topics such as coping with fatigue, nutrition, relaxation , etc and you can sip into as you need it.
Fecinora - lovely to hear from you again sorry that you have to have additional surgery though
Mel - really looking forward to the last rads tomorrow
Moira - good luck on your last rads session today
Kate - I hope the delay was a one off for you.
Pauline - didn’t the nurse give you any of the special dressings?
Hope everyone else is ok and hope everyone has a great day
Hi Judy
Our posts crossed, glad you have got clear margins and your rads treatment sorted you will also have time to make a decision where to have your reconstruction. I must say that I have been impressed with my treatment at the institute of Oncology at Jimmy’s , which has a very calming and reassuring felling to it and all the staff that I have been In contact with have been lovely.
Kim x
I’ve just got home from my last rads session. Yipee, bring on the champagne! Hello Amber and Philomena! Going out to celebrate the end of treatment with my two daughters, their husbands and five assorted grandchildren. Piccolinos here we come!
Boob isn’t looking too bad. Bit pink and spotty. But the registrar oncologist I saw yesterday said she’d cancel my appointment with the nurse because it was looking so good and all I had to do was keep slapping on the aqueous cream.
Just been to pick up my real hair wig that I bought a while ago. It’s been for a wash and brush up ready for my friend’s wedding on Thursday. I’m really looking forward to a good old-fashioned knees-up. Her one stipulation for wedding attire is that everyone must wear something pink - she had bc seven years ago. OH is fine in his pink shirt but because my dress is brown with peachy coloured flowers, I’m going to wear bright pink knickers -which obviously won’t show!
Well done Angie on getting your voice heard
Kim and Mel. I’ll be looking out for you on this ultimate platform tomorrow!
Feeling elated at the moment. What am I going to do with all this free time?
I’ve had a busy day spending money :smileyvery-happy: bought a new car this morning and booked a holiday in Portugal this afternoon :womanvery-happy: Have just arranged atravel insurance for the princely sum of £28.44, including cancellation cover through www.payingtoomuch.com
wow Kim that’s some serious shopping! you go girl.
Judy glad you got clear margins, and hope you come to a decision about hospital.
congratulations Moira on arriving at the rads platform enjoy your champagne you deserve it.
good luck to everyone nearly at the end of rads.
My skin is now very sore under my breast, where i hadn’t really put aqueous cream as i didn’t think they were doing that bit! hasn’t blistered yet but rads nurse said expect it to get worse over the next 2 weeks. I’m also having to go braless which i’m finding uncomfortable. 12 down 5 to go! i’ll be off the rads train next tuesday-hoorah! -but back on the chemo train on the friday.
debra -i’ve got 2 more cycles to go. when are you trying again with the CMF?
My 15 yr old daughter is doing the race for life in October with 2 friends. She’s just started her web page. sending sleep fairies to you all love Mel xxx
Welcome back Fecinora. What a lovely idea to auction things off for bcc. I hope you’re feeling ok after your surgery. How are you feeling now Judy?
Angie the goody bag is great from LGFB isn’t it. I’ve really made a dint in mine.
Well done Moira for reaching the platform. Enjoy your celebrations.
I’m loving all this spending money! A car and a holiday Kim - fantastic!
Not long to go now Mel. Good for your daughter for doing the run.
My son is doing the Seussical show next week at Manchester Opera House. The cast have 48 hours to learn the show before the performance to raise money for cancer research. With Katie-pops doing her run and you Amber I’ve got to say that our kids must take after their mum’s in being awesome
I hope Lori is ok. She’s not been on for a while.
Amber you know how to strike an image -lol. Are we adding pink thongs or granny pants to that image?
Choo choo ! Incoming! I’m off that treatment train - woohoo! Just a little bit pleased
Carol -you’ll be there before you know it! I’m still getting aches and muscle stiffness, especially when getting up. I’m hoping its still a chemo SE and not a tamoxifen one.
Pauline I was just told to use aqueous cream or E45 and nothing else. I’m slapping the stuff on at every opportunity. They did say today that if my skin breaks down don’t use anything, just let air get to it - I’m sure that would be a pretty sight!
Philomena enjoy your new car. They’re keeping you waiting for that angio aren’t they. Can you chase them up to make sure they’ve not missed you?
Well done Angie, 2 rads left and hopefully changed the way of doing things in Inverness. Just goes to show what a bit of constructive criticism can do.
The new car is defo the granny wagon at the moment as most of the family have gone down with a really nasty cold. I’m playing nurse to them! Great thing is will be able to cart the lot of them off to the doctors at once
Xx
Well I met the surgeon for a second time yesterday and he was lovely. He explained a choice of reconstrutions 2 of which would have to be done by plastic surgeons at Leicester and sounded really macarbe with huge scars as they take flesh from either tummy from hip to hip or from the back. Both surgeries can last up to 6 hours and after having chemo first and still feeling poorly I feel the least time I am under anasthetic the better. So I have chosen the tissue expander inplant which basically gets filled over around six months for me as I’m only a A-B cup size. Then when the required size is acheived the expander is taken out and a permanent implant is fitted. I then have a nipple tattoed on and that’s it hopefully. No rads as the tumor has shrunk to 3-6mm and the MX will take away alot more than the required margins. The operation is scheduled for the 3rd of Oct and my BC nurse called me to say that not only will my surgeon be present but also the head surgeon will be working at the same time which should further reduce surgery time. OH and I Just can’t fault them at all.
I was so scared explaining what I wanted and how I felt. OH and I was in with the surgeon for nearly an hour and he let me talk and cry and helped my pull myself together called in the required BC nurses and then hovered outside the door so that OH and I could talk about the options.
Debra - Your last cycle tomorrow. Go for it and a huge happy dance after.
Angie - Well done explaining to them how you feel. We are still human after all and only a good bedside manner will aid recovery and it costs the NHS nothing. Everyone wins.
Philomena - Thanks for your text. And youre absolutely right we are all truly awesome. Enjoy the new Grandtruck .
Judy - So pleased they got clear margins. I can’t wait till they have got it all out of me. That’s when I will have my happy dance.
Carol - I feel about 80yrs old at the moment. Like you I get up off the sofa and have to wait for the pain to go in my muscles before I can walk, it really takes my breath away.
Lori - Did you have the expander implant? Or any other of our angels I would be interested to hear how it went or still going. SE’s etc.
Everyone on rads or have just finished. I just hope your all holding up. I know the weather isn’t the best but we are getting nearer to meeting up in April. Take it easy. Lv & Hugs. Sandy.xx
4 down 11 to go, today was the first that was on time, yesterday was an hour and quarter late! Wish I had all first thing appointments but unfortunately they are all over the place, ho hum, 2 weeks to go.
Angie, well done on getting them to listen, hope you are looking forward to the end tomorrow and home.
Sandy, I have an expander implant which I had installed in March when I had my mx, it took some getting used to but once it had settled down I have become very attached to it! It’s more or less fully inflated now but not quite the same size as my other one (E cup) but I manage with padding in my bra (asda comfort bras which have removable oaddng) on that side and none in the other and they are pretty close to equal. The main thing I notice is the ‘port’ they use for inflating means I can’t wear under wired bras but I got over that fairly soon! I am seeing my cosmetic consultant in late October to decide which option I replace it with and when…tummy tuck sounds like a replacement for the diet I never go on!
Debra, go for it tomorrow and then do a happy dance all weekend! Hope you can see the light at the end of the tunnel and you can then start planning your future.
I’m off to put some aqueous cream on…luckily no one is around to see me walking around topless for a while!
Debra- is this the 1st one of the last cycle? go for it, only a week more and you’ll be done. You’ve been so strong, Look how far we’ve come! it’s all going to get better from here. sending love and hugs xxx
Judy- I was told not to soak the boob in hot baths, but I have sat in the bath to wash, as I find it easier than a shower with the picc line. skin is holding up but v sore- much easier than chemo though, at least it’s just one pain in one place, not loads of bizarre se’s. Several people have mentioned muscle pain- Sandy and Carol I think- are you all on Tamoxifen? is it a side effect?
I haven’t started yet but will be on it too.
Angie- were there any other foods we should avoid if oestrogen +? I am too and love cashew nuts- shame!!!
3 rads left for me, it’s gone really quick. Sorry you’re having long waits kate. I’ve had a few too but mostly on time. Usually it’s just a long wait on Friday because I see onc as well. Fortunately there is a volunteer run tea/coffee shop and i seem to see the same people every day so lots of chatting and comparing notes - it passes the time!
I read some stuff about the phytooestrogens in foods and took that in moderation they aren’t known to cause any concerns, I think if we followed everything that is ever said about what causes certain cancers there wouldn’t be anything we would eat and nothing we would do…perhaps that’s the problem no one knows what causes some individuals to get cancer and others not to.
The hot flushes I get are the same as yours Mel, start on my head and sometimes move to the rest of my body and other times don’t, I believe these are tamoxifen related as prior to starting tamoxifen I just had hot or cold all over. My lack of hair doesn’t help as I think I’m more aware of my head starting to sweat! :-). My joints stiffen up when I’ve been sat down but aren’t painful when I stand they just take a few seconds longer to get moving than they used to, believe this is tamoxifen for me too as it only started in the last couple of weeks and I’ve been on it since 7th August…but I haven’t spoken to Onc yet to confirm.
5 rads done, 10 more to go. They were only about 15 mins late today but lots of people in the waiting room were commenting that they had been cancelled yesterday as they were running more than 2 hours late, I was lucky as had been done before all the problems started - phew!
Angie, hope your last session went okay and you are now home and looking forward to some relaxation in your own bath and bed!
Afternoon Angels ,
5 down 14 to go. Got taken right on time this morning, and a nice man have me a parking space things are looking up, simple things. Congratulations to all if you who have finished treatment today. And welcome to the platform Debra, still here for you Mel.
All the talk about oestrogen’s and soya and what we can and can’t eat is confusing me one seems to say one thing and then there is someone saying the opposite . I am er+ I had been eating a lot of green beans and the only bread I have been eating was multigrain thought I was being healthy doh!!! Will speak to onc. When I see her next . Hope you all have a good weekend Lynn x
Did not mean to upset anyone, sorry you feel I was getting at you Angie not the case just saying I was confused as so much different info. Hope you all have a good weekend angels , take care x
Angie you’ve not upset anyone at all. The only way we can find things out is by sharing information as we have done all along and you’ve kindly shared the advice you were given. I’m sorry if I’ve upset you by posting the above link, I just thought it would help if everyone knew there was a bit of a controversy about soya and different professionals are giving different advice.
I hope you’re ok after your rads and have a nice weekend planned. Well done for reaching that finish line. xx
Just to add to all the controversy, I’ve just stuffed down a Tunnocks caramel wafer and 2 bags of ready salted and now we.re off out for a slap-up deep fried fish supper at the local sit-down chippy. Might even stop off for a swift half on the way back home, I’m doomed!
To change the subject, yesterday I took to the wash in, wash out hair dye. I bought the darkest brown because I thought it might have a bit of a hard time colouring all that white stubble. Needless to say, my stubble is still white - but at least my scalp is orange! I kid you not! Oh well, it only cost me £1.29 in Superdrug and at least it’s out of my system, if not my head. Now I intend to wait the requesite 3 months or 1 inch, which ever is the sooner.
Had a wonderful time at the wedding, yesterday. There were lots of cheers and tears and laughter. The 54 year old bride looked absolutely stunning and after the men had given their well-prepared amusing speeches, she stood up and shared with everyone her darkest fears from when she was diagnosed with bc seven years ago and how marvelous she feels at the present time. I blubbed. By the way, it was quite a chilly day yesterday so the knickers were the belly-warmer variety. Luckily I wasn’t asked to show what “pink” I was wearing!
Feeling tired and achy today. Don’t know if it’s the excesses of yesterday or just the post rads fatigue. Boob is getting more uncomfortable. Worst thing is when it feels itchy and I know that if I scratch it the skin is likely to split or blister.
Welcome to the platform Mel, Angie and everyone who has made it this far. Hope you gritted your teeth and saw it through to the bitter end, Debra. Hope you’re not in too much discomfort Pauline. You must be almost there. And Maisiecakes - back to bloody chemo! We’re all waiting for you!
Moira - that sounds like my sort of night! I’m on my 3rd glass of wine so a good friday night is in progress!
Angie - I’m sure you haven’t upset anyone, I’m happy with everyone putting their view on here as thats how we all learn as we know there are differing levels of support, treatment and info across the country so every little bit extra helps. We are all big enough to make our own decisions on what we should/shouldn’t do using all the info we gather - well I know I am big enough to ignore anything I don’t want to hear!
I’ve just arranged lunch on Sunday with a friend that moved away 3 years ago so it will be a great catch up, unfortunately she lost her sister(mid 30’s) to adrenal gland cancer earlier this year within 6 weeks of diagnosis which is quite frightening.
Hope you are all doing okay and looking foward to a relaxing weekend
Thanks for that image of me, Judy! It made me laugh out loud! Thankfully most of the orange head was washed out this morning but I reckon it’ll take a couple of days to properly get rid.
Amber, I’m on Anastrozole. I’m a bit miffed at the moment because the pack they gave me at the hospital was the branded one - Arimidex which came packaged like the contraceptive pill marked with days of the week. The ones I’ve just got from the local chemist on my repeat prescription come without the days of the week so I’m likely to not remember whether I’ve taken one or not. At the minute I don’t know what day of the week it is anyway. So far I don’t think I’ve had any problems with them but when I think about it my knees do seem rather stiff. I’d just put that down to age.
Kate, sad to say we had to give up on sit down fish and chips because the queue was out the door. Had take away instead so able to watch Corrie at the same time - always a silver lining! And the beer came courtesy of the fridge in the garage.
Moira - the image of the orange scalp also made me laugh. I was looking at the hair dyes yesterday ready for giving them a try in a couple of weeks. Can anyone remember the toner colours that we used in the late 70 's , I wonder if they would work?
Judy - i was already experiencing hot flushes before i was diagnosed but they increased and were far more severe whilst I was on chemo but they subsided after the last dose. They don’t seem I have got any worse since starting to take tamoxifen.
Angie - I’m sure you haven’t upset anyone, the beauty of this group is that we can all share any info we have gathered so that we can all make better informed decisions suitable for our individual lifestyles.
Since finishing g rads on Wednesday all the skin on the underside of my breast has now broken down and is weeping, although it isn’t sore. The special dressings that I was given at the hospital really seem to be working, but I will have to make an appointment with my GP to get a repeat prescription as I can’t see it healing up any time soon.
unfortunately it is white/grey so I will also need a trip to superdrug…may try a shade of blonde as a change from my natural dark brown, after all blondes have more fun, and I think I’m due some of that 
