Hi Girls
Today the rads machine played up big time. 3 times they lined me up , moved the machine into place to start and the alarms all went off because the machine malfunctioned.3 times the engineer said he had sorted it out. Eventually they got to a point where I was a third of the way through zapping and the alarms went of again, they then took me to another machine to get finished. All together this took an hour and a half so you can just imagine how many people were waiting. They put a notice on the wall that the wait was indefinate!!
I hope that today will prove to be the only day that there are problems, on friday I need to get back to my own hospital for Herceptin a delay with rads will be a major problem.
I hope everyone else had an uneventful day
Andie
Hi ladies and welcome Lynn. 4 down and 11 to go! Andi, which machine were you on today - I was on Elekta 5. Appt was 8.40am, went in on time and was back in the car by 9! Am same time tomorrow so hope it runs smoothly - unless the machine is playing up! No Lynn, I can’t say I’ve noticed any SE other than boob a bit pink and warm to the touch, and a bit bigger. Sounds like could be tamoxifen. Check with onc or dr. Hope all goes well for everyone today. love Pat x
just had session 6 of 19 and feeling a bit sore again. Also loosing more movement in my op arm but will see physio tomorrow and hope she can help. I started tamoxifen 9 days ago and so far side effects are hot flushes and night sweats getting worse, more tearful than usual, dieting and getting fatter by the day and itchy chest and back of shoulder blades which rads team don’t think is down to them! Will see Onc next week and discuss and will report back if this is all normal on tamoxifen!
Take care Ladies.
Jo X
Hi All. Today was a breeze - several available parking spaces and less than 10 minutes behind schedule going in. I feel dog-tired now so will be going for a nap. I hope everyone’s side effects get sorted out
Phili x
Hi Pat
It was Elekta 5 that broke down. My appointment was at 11.45. I have been in touch with the appointment clerk to bring my friday appointment a bit earlier and in the course of conversation she said that 2 machines broke down today.
My only latish appointment is next monday at 5pm all my other late ones they have managed to move for me. Do you have far to travel and where on earth do you park in the vicinity of Guys.We have to hunt for a motorbike space!
You mention that your boob seems a bit bigger have they said that that will go down again when the rads are finished.I thought I was imagining things but obviously I’m not.
Take Care everyone. Good luck in the morning Pat
Andie
Hi all
Thanks Pat for advice about sore throat - am seeing onc tomorrow so will check then.
Foxy - yup I think feeling tearful comes with tamoxifen unfortunately.
My problem is that I’m shrinking! I’ve been measured three times now - mainly because swelling from the operation keeps going down.
Lynn
Hi Jo,
Sorry to hear that you are having a bad time on tamoxifen…have you asked whether you can switch to the Nolvadex D brand as the side effects are supposed to be minimal.
Ladies…how long did it take before you became red from the rads?
Foxy
Hi Foxy
I started going pink last week, round about rad no 8-10 I’d guess. It subsided over the weekend, but has pinked up a bit again after today’s session.
Phili x
Hi all, Andi I do hope the machines are up and running tomorrow! My sister-in-law had radiotherapy last year (for lung cancer) and a few times, when the machines broke down, she had to go to St.Thomas. Fingers crossed… I live in Rotherhithe which isn’t too far from London Bridge, 15 mins in the car, less on Jubilee line which I sometimes use. I don’t drive - my husband drops me and sometimes waits round the corner, or if he comes in with me parks across the road in car park. Other times I go by tube which is simple and quick. As for boob, I’m sure I read it is a possible side effect, it had just started to get to a similar size to the other one and now it’s getting bigger again, plays havoc with bras! I’ll check what time I’m in on Monday, thinks it’s an afternoon one too. Foxy, my boob was actually quite pink after the first session, but at the mo it’s not painful or sore. Keep slapping the aqueous on ladies. Hope everyone else ok. BTW how you doing Sandra? Lynn hope throat clears up soon. Well, let’s see what tomorrow brings. Pat x
Hi all, gosh hope my machines in hosp don’t all break down,only 3 there,would end up having to go to another country ! lol, think this the only place that does rads in North Wales.
Well, am hale and hearty and drove myself in again today,I am sure they must be blasting me with happy drugs as I feel great ! Been on the tamoxifen for 5 weeks now( not even nolvadex,but cp pharmaceuticals) and don’t have any side effects either, am just waiting for all these side effects to sneak up on me and bite me on the bum when I’m not looking ! However, am just enjoying the moment !
Boob is firming up,was told that it just won’t be the same as before… just feels a wee bit warm at the mo but am only slapping on the aqueous and the cabbage is still in the fridge !
Sandra x
Well, my machine broke down today too! I had to lay there while a technician came in and fiddled around. One radiotherapist had the presence of mind to cover me up as I wasn’t allowed to move.
Day 6/21 and just a bit pink with no soreness. Got told off for using baby lotion instead of E45 but in the next breath told that I might blister whatever I use…love that positive thinking… However, beginning to swell on the back of my arm. Feels uncomfortable and will need to contact the BCN again.
Caved in and got a sick note to cover me for the next 3 weeks. At least I don’t have to worry about putting my foot down on the motorway going home. Work will have to wait.
Now, who’s going to be the first to blister? Hopefully no-one!!
Hi Foxy
I started to go pink after session one - the radiologists were quite worried and thought I may have picked up an infection so I had to see a doctor. After 13 sessions it’s very red but hasn’t cracked yet so I may be OK Feels very hot though. I’m using aloe vera (99.9%)and aqueous cream - slapping this on immediately after treatment.
Lynn
Hi ladies, another early appt and thankfully Andi, machine was okay - hope this stays the same for the rest of our treatments. I was on 5 again, two girls that haven’t seen before, and they just couldn’t get me lined up. I was pushed, pulled, prodded and poked - then, because it STILL wasn’t right they did it all over again! I’ve heard ladies on other threads talk about feeling like a piece of meat, I know what they mean! Andi, I have a similar time appt for Monday but am going to see lymphedema nurse first. I will look out for you. Popped into my office (which is upstairs from radio) and asked manager to contact Occ Health for me to discuss going back to work. She said it could be a month before I even see them. Will start back p/time at first but hoping my energy levels won’t fall too much from the radio. Sandra, glad you’re feeling so good - please pass it down the line! Well, sunny but windy day again - had to hold on to the wig going into the hospital! Hope everyones treatment goes well today, and hi to everyone else. Take care, Pat x
Good morning all!
I hope your days all go smoothly - nice weather, no traffic or parking problems, and certainly no machine breakdowns!
Phili x
Hi girls. Had 1st rads yesterday. Surprized I already ache in breast and was a little red beneath breast when I woke up today. Is this normal I didn’t expect reactions for 2 weeks?
Welcome Moonwolf, my boob went a little pink after the first session. And it feels warm to the touch, no soreness yet though, I know you can get a reaction up to a couple of weeks after treatment finishes. If it’s sore slap lots of aqueous cream of aloe vera gel - must be 99.9% - it’s on offer at Holland and Barrett. Or at rads they’ll recommend what to use. How many sessions are you having? Pat x
Hi all and moonwolf, well that’s me a third of the way through,whoop whoop 5 down 10 to go. Got told my skin seems to be holding up ok at the mo, boob just feels a lot firmer and a wee bit warm but not sore or itchy …yet…
Thanks Pat for letting us know about the H & B offer, there should be a post made that recommends products or special offers, would make things a bit easier if folks wanted some advice.
Got an earlier session tomorrow and physiotherapist booked in for appointment too, do the rest of you have that scheduled in during your treatment? Hope it is all going well and not too burny burny.
Sandra x
Hi All
Appointment cancelled at last minute today because of machine breakdown. Got a phone call this evening to say it will still be broken tomorrow so now have to go Friday evening and on Saturday - fed up with all this.
However I can definitely recommend the Aloe Vera Gel from Holland and Barrett - very soothing.
hope all your next treatments go better than mine.
Lynn
Hi All
What a difference a day makes. I arrived a bit early and got seen early. They lined me up easily and the machine was in perfect working order. I actually left the department done before my real appointment time.
Today is the first time that my skin has looked a bit pink but at the moment it is not sore at all. I am putting on the cream as instructed several times a day so hope that change of colour is the only reaction.
Good Luck for tomorrow everyone
Andie
Hi Lynn
Did they manage to get hold of you before you actually left for the hospital. The machine that malfunctioned during my treatment yesterday was back up and running today, but I understand that the machine that broke down at St Thomas’ yesterday has still not been mended. Very frustrating for everyone due to be treated.
Take Care
Andie