Thanks Sheelagh. Will do. Good luck to Charlotte too 
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So, ladies: today was pretty straightforward. Into the oncology center. Taken into a radiology suite and given a front popper gown (as per usual). Into the changing room. Then called into ct scan. Iām guessing itās a similar set up to the actual radiotherapy machine as you are asked to lay with your arms above your head and hold onto a bar at the top. They make sure everything is supported and you are comfortable enough to stay in that position for about 15/20 mins.
The take lots of measurements, use a marker pen on you 
then you are ready for the scan and they leave the room. I shut my eyes through the whole thing as I donāt confined spaces. You whiz in and out of it a couple of times and it doesnāt take long.
After they were done, thatās when they did their tatoo dots. Iāve got 3. One either side (where your bra strap goes under your arms) and another inbetween on the breast bone.
They are absolutely tiny and the only one I felt was the breastbone one and it wasnāt bad. Tiny scratch.
They tried to remove all the pen, failed miserably. I had to do it in the shower and it took some doing!
Then youāre done! Back to get changed and out you go.
It took less than an hour. I also got another copy of my schedule and the receptionist gave me more info about free parking etc.
Bone scan tomorrow am! Iāll report back on that too 
Xx
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misswoof-88 sounds like im at same stage as you having had my planning ct appointment this week for radiotherapy. They drew on me but no tattoos!
When do you have your first treatment?
I have telephone appointment on 24th and first treatment 25th. I still dont know whether 5 or 15 sessions.
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How did the bone scan go today?
Radiotherapy appointment went really well yesterday, exactly the same as yours in fact! The only thing Iāll add was the breathing or rather holding my breath. Not sure if everyone has to do this but as my poorly boob was the left one they look to try and protect the heart. They do this by making you hold your breath for 15 seconds whilst they are taking the measurements. Itās just like taking a deep breath in as though you are smelling flowers and thereās a small screen to look at showing you when you breath reached the line abd then once it does they did a countdown. When I have the actual radio I will need to hold my breath for 15-30 seconds so they suggested I practice at home just so I get used up it. First radio is Thurs 2nd Oct and then for 5 days with a break over the weekend. Tattoos were okay, a bit like the scratch when having a blood test. Iām not good with pain but I think having the dye in the nipple area before the op has made me more brave when it comes to pain levels 
Been working long hours this week, think Iāve overdone it as Iām bloody knackered tonight. Letrozole is starting the night sweats again and they seem to happen 6 hours after taking the tablet so Iām gonna try taking it at lunchtime next week to see if that makes a difference. Whatās the first that can usions apart from me leaving the office door open and my colleagues shivering
Have a lovely weekend ladies 
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Thanks for the update Charlotte. Sounds organised and hopefully not too much hanging around. Are your tattoos tiny? Iām left breasted too and will need to practise the breathing exercise. I donāt know my dates yet but assuming in October. Iāve got my planning session on Thursday. Have a nice weekend everyone xxx
Thanks for the update. Is there any flexibility on dates/times if you canāt make one? Hope the bone scan went well yesterday. Enjoy the weekend x
I think so Amanda. If you get your schedule through before your ct prep appointment, and thereās some dates that are difficult, just speak to the ladies on the desk before you leave. They put their direct number on the bottom for me, for ājust incaseā. I expect itāll be similarā¦
I had the bone scan yesterday. Very, very easy. Different machine. Nothing like the CT tunnel. Donāt wear anything metal (not even bra hooks! I took my bra off in the loo 
. You donāt get undressed for this one. Just NO metal.
You lay on a bed, legs on a block for one pass. Legs flat for the other pass. Very quick.
She said results to my team in 7 days and they will call me with them
Hope that helps 
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Hi Suzy, yes, pretty much together hon! Welcome to the team 
You must be having your radiotherapy on one of the new, swanky, machines if you didnāt have the tattoo dots. I asked my onc about it, and she said āsadly not. Canāt afford another new machine right now (1.5million apparently 
). So it was the old dots for me 
. They are hardly noticeable though and I can always get them lazered if I want rid.
I start on 3rd October. With a weekend off and then Mon to Thurs the following week. Just 5 fractions for me. What about you?
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Must be the swanky one then i guess. I was expecting tattoos but there you go! I start on 24th with a telephone appointment and 25th is first treatment but i dont have any dates beyond that. I think they will probably tell me during the telephone call. I hope its just the 5 . Good luck with yours x
All very informative so thank you Charlotte. I have my appt with Oncologist on 25th. However it clashes with day I am booked in (day surgery) to have Botox in my bladder. Of course that would be easy if both were at the same hospital which of course they arenāt . Can I ask how all your poorly boobs are looking and feeling like (sounds like a question from a pervert) !!
How is everyone doing on their hormone therapy ?
Hello ladies!
Update on the antihistamine experiment:
So, I had a go at switching to the cetrizine type (thatās the older type ones that are supposed to make you more drowsy?)ā¦ shouldnāt have bothered!! Bloody waste of time. If anything, they made it worse.
I switched back to loratadine type ones after 3 nights of crap sleep and slept right through 
ā¦ no sweats either that night.
So, in conclusion ladies- Iād say that taking my anastrozole along with a loratadine antihistamine at bedtime is definitely helping me. It doesnāt stop me from waking up necessarily but it does definitely help me to relax back to sleep pretty quickly. And I have managed to get the odd night where Iāve slept right through, which is the holy grail for a lot of us isnāt it? ā¦ so itās worth a go lovely ladies.
Iām sticking with it 
I feel less stiff in the joints first thing too, when Iām taking it.
It isnāt stopping me being super crabby thoughā¦ Iām blaming the pills. 
When all else failsā¦ CHOCOLATE!!
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Chocolate sound great to me !!! Seems like youāve cracked the sleepless nights. Did u have to showcase your boobs when you went to see the Oncologist? I like to be prepared!!!
Hi Sheelagh, no, you donāt have to get your girls out for the oncology appointment 
I had a group talk about what to expect from the radiotherapy, then went in to see the oncologist to discuss how many fractions (sessions) and talk through ongoing treatments (ie meds/prefict scores etc).
Infact, I asked her something about my stitches, and she made it very clear that she an oncologist- not a surgeon (āalright love, calm down!ā ) lol!
So, no, definitely no boobage for that one!
When is your appointment?
Let us know how you get on
Hi there, I had an appointment with the oncologist last week, and I too initially had info given in a small group with slides to look at, before individual appointment with oncologist. (Same oncologist as 11 years ago for the other breast- howās that for continuity of care!) But just to say he did briefly examine me. He explained everything really well but I was glad I asked a friend to come with me in case I missed something.
Hi pervert!! 
My boob looks much much better this week. Iāve still got these āspitting stitchesā coming through but they quickly fall away after a bit of moisturising and a hot shower.
My scar is flattening out now (2nd surgery was 3/08) and looking less dark.
My arm pit is a do red line but nice & flat.
My old girl feels pretty normal now. Iāve got a flat/dent where the critter was, but itās not really that noticeable.
Itās very itchy 
ā¦ apparently a good sign that itās healing inside. I do think I might need some scratch mits if it carries on too longā¦
I told my hb and he suggested a straight jacket instead lol!! 
ā¦ bit bitchy
Must be my hormone induced snappiness getting to him 
Hay hoā¦
Howās your old lady looking?ā¦
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Ooo, thanks for sharing lovie. I guess we all need to be ready for anything with these appointments ā¦ mine wasnāt interested in anything āsurgical ā she was all about the radiotherapy and AIās.
I have to say, I did expect to have to get my girls out ā¦ I wore my front fastening āscaffoldā ābra and wrap top just incase.
Does this āget your boobs outā thing become a habit after a while?? lol!! I donāt want to end up going for a eye test and just whipping out on auto pilot
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Yes @smak my oncologist examined my breasts/armpit at the first oncology meeting. Iām getting used to exposing myself and flashing little and large (one is smaller than the other now)!!
Iām thinking of taking a dressing gown or a blanket for the RT treatments so I can cover up from the changing area to the machine and keep warm. Especially as it seems cold in these rooms. They offered me a piece of paper the other day during the planning sessionā¦ no gown, what use is that?! I just laughed as once you are lying on that hard slab in that uncomfortable position, all dignity is lost! Does anyone else feel like this?
@misswoof-88 unfortunately I did not get my treatment dates until the planning session last week, with a warning that the times may changeā¦ sooner itās done the better as Iām so pissed off with this crappy journey!
Enjoy all the chocolate treats! Visiting sunny Cornwall this week for a break! xxx
My appt is Thursday. They better not be grumpy !!!
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Yep, my hb had 39 fractions last winter for prostate cancer and I can tell you,with absolute certainty, your timings will change!
Be prepared for anything! My hb read a lot of books. Itās not unusual to turn up and they will be running late, short staffed, or got a machine on the fritz . You will probably find that they print off new schedules for you - a few times- on the reception.
Itās three weeks out of your life- just think on that. Head down, push on through, and the. You are free to get on with your life. Take a pill a day and move forward.
Thatās my philosophy, anyway.
I start mine on 3rd Oct, so Iāll report back in the gown ideaā¦ thereās no bloody dignity, either way. I keep thinking about Bella saying that she had men doing her treatments (there was a lady present) and that annoys me. We feel vulnerable enough without being manhandled- literally!!
Roll on Nov ā¦ we can all get our lives back 
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