Happy Easter everyone, and sorry for not posting lately, and thank you all for your words of support, congratulations on finishing yesterday, and the bells Lady B! I would have been a lot harder to get through it without you.
As usual, things didn’t go smoothly yesterday. My appointment was supposed to be at 11.50, but they telephoned at 9.00 to say the machine had broken down again, so could I make 3.30 in the afternoon, and could I phone an hour before to check everything was OK? I phoned just as we were about to set off, and thankfully the 3.30 appointment went ahead.
So no more rads, but I still have to follow the same skincare regime for the next 6 weeks. They said that as long as I do that, I shouldn’t have any problems, although I should take it easy as the fatigue can get worse afterwards. It looks like I will be returning the gels and cream to the pharmacy unopened, so at least they won’t be wasted.
FiT - It is more than OK to have a wobble in our situation, everyone does. It is also hard not to panic when you feel a lump, even though you know it probably isn’t anything sinister. LadyB is right though, I think most of us have some scar tissue left over from the surgery which feels like a lump. I suggest that next time you see one of the consultants, get them to check it over, to put your mind at rest.
Kezzar - sorry I was not there to support you last night and glad that the others have been able to help. You are not alone - I felt much the same at the same stage. I nearly pulled out of radiotherapy at the last minute. I got myself into a state about side effects, skin reactions, whether I was having the best form of treatment, and whether I really needed the boosters. I was also frustrated about not being allowed to go back to work until after radiotherapy. I am glad I went ahead with it now though, because it hasn’t been anything like as bad as I feared. So far skin effects have been minimal and fatigue isn’t too severe either at the moment. I know what you mean about the tattoos though. The middle one looks just like a huge blackhead in the middle of my chest!
JoJo - yes it was my last one yesterday, and it will soon be your turn for the bells too. I think the Sainsbury’s crop tops are definitely the most comfortable ones I have come across so far. I wear one over a cotton vest to go out instead of a bra - this was a brilliant idea of Corinna’s. The only really comfortable, soft cotton bra I have found is a Sumpuously Soft cotton rich one from M&S, but I only managed to get one in my size, and they seem to have discontinued them so I can’t get any more!
Corinna - hope the Easter break will give you chance to recover, as well as doing other ‘normal’ stuff.
Rooty - I think the tears and rants are part of the process of coming to terms with each new treatment. Once you start you find it isn’t so bad. Follow the advice on moisturising and drinking, ask for help at the first sign of trouble, and you should be OK.
Jacquie and Snail - hope you have a good weekend. As you’ve only just started you should be fine as long as you keep slapping the R2D2 cream on.
Have a great Easter break everyone, and hope those of you still having a treatment will come through it without any problems. I will try and drop in from time to time to see how you are getting on.
