Suzy just popping in to say my reaction to my Herceptin was back to normal this week i.e. Didn’t notice it really, so it’s just the ones during & shortly after rads that have been hard. I’m 5 weeks post rads & managed to play tennis for half an hour yesterday. Golf is still hurting though, so exercise seems to be another ‘feel your way slowly’ thing. Hope your rads are nearly done now & that you are not too tender. Have a nice weekend all. xx
Hi Bibi, still got a week to go. Skin holding up well. Saw onc today and he thinks thr combination of rads and Herceptin have aggravated my asthma and have to go back on inhalers. Have not needed them for several years so a little peeved. The alternative is worse. Hope it’s only a temporary issue. Glad you’re getting on with tennis and that golf will come back slowly. Onc said I’m ok to start my upper body work at the gym but slowly. All in all a good day. Have a lovely weekend. xx
Good point Suzy. I’m asthmatic & do have inhalers & my lungs did not appreciate rads one bit. I had a terrible, non stop dry cough for 4 1/2 weeks after. Started a week after rads, day & night …in the end I increased my preventative inhaler & it’s just stopped a day or two ago. I asked the BCN & she said she hadn’t heard of that, but it is listed as a SE. Started having lung mets dreams, even though I knew logically that it was the rads. Woke up one night in tears, I had just been in the middle of fighting off the chemo team from starting me on lung mets chemo. Mad or what! I also asked the chemo nurses about the Herceptin hitting you like a truck on rads. They said they had never heard of it, but you, me & Ange have had it, so obviously not too unusual. How’s the seroma? xx
Seroma has gone. Hurray. It was the onc who brought up the link with asthma. He did say it normally hits after treatment has finished. He thinks it may be s combination of both that’s causing the problem. It is worse just after rads and eases at the weekend. I’m glad I haven’t imagined it being bad with Herceptin. I, like you have been imagining that the cough was lung mets. Had to have a good talk to myself that I’d have other effects as well. Just want it to finish soon. I almost gave into the Google monster about bc and lung mets. !!! Feeling ok now. Xx
Ha glad I am not the only one with an overactive imagination! I seemed to have a lid on it during the day, when rational brain was in charge, but it definitely used to run riot whilst I was asleep if my dreams were anything to go by. Hope you had a ta ra seroma party. That’s really brilliant news. Keep slapping on the cream next week. It really heals quite fast once the week after rads is over. x
Am keeping the frozen cocktails until the last rads on Tuesday week. All gels and creams kept in fridge so super cold when they go on. Not sure about the slapping on, more gingerly rub. Xx
Well done Suzy???
Hi all you April rads ladies
Today had rad number 3 out of 15 ( haven’t needed chemotherapy so any side effects will only be associated with radiotherapy)
Am aware of the side effects of sore skin and tiredness which apparently happen more as treatment goes on. Just wondered if anyone has felt a bit shivery when they get home and then at times through the day- that is what’s happening to me but don’t know if it’s cos have got bit of sore throat that was starting just as I commenced rads on Tuesday( only a mild one though) … Or could it be the radiotherapy? Any suggestions welcome. X
Had my second rad treatment today - second time around for me. I’m having a whole brain radiotherapy for secondary brain tumour breast cancer - cannot believe how tired I am slept most of yesterday and all afternoon today! Anyone else having the same threatment?
Was due to start rads on 11th April (15 rads and 5 boosts), but than the team changed their mind and decided to give rads with integrated boost. I went in on 11th for a second planning session,then started on 13th April with 15 rads with integrated boost (so no boost at the end). Anyone else had experience of integrated boost? It makes the session longer, and the position I am in makes the other shoulder (not the side operated on) very painful. Am now on extra strong pain killers (co-codomol and tramadol together) which delays the pain until the last few minutes. No side effects yet, except for feeling a bit tired.
Hi Lizaki. I finished rads on 19/04. I had a boost fir the first 8 sessions. They taped a gel pad to my chest. Once I was in position it was ok. I was extremely tired by the end of the treatments. That is starting to ease but I have had blistered skin in several places. It has also split. The area they used the tape on has been the worst as I have an allergy to the tape they tried first. My shoulders were ok but felt very stiff immediately after. Hoping that the rednesss starts to lessen soon. All the best with the rest of your treatment. Xx
T3D, so sorry you are dealing with brain mets. There’s a very active, supportive and informative board for those diagnosed with secondary bc (I have secondary breast cancer). I know you will be warmly welcomed and find information and support there. Hugs xx