Well ladies - today is the day!! I’m done, fried, fully zapped - glowing in the dark and delighted to have walked out of the rads room for the final time. I had planning mid-march then a couple of weeks waiting then on to 25 x 4 zone blasts and 4 boosters later I’m a free woman.
Saw the BCNurse and got a bag of goodies … nothing really exciting just gels, creams and dressings. A list of dos and don’ts as long as your arm and a follow-up appointment for early June… helpline number for any concerns … and a big smile as I left the room.
I was a bit disappointed that there was no marching band hired to honour my final visit … they must have been fully booked today… but the sun did shine as I left the hospital so that made me smile.
So … after 4 months (very short compared to most) I am now fixed, repair, fully functional, battle scarred but victorious.
I would like to say a big thanks to the lovely ladies on here for their support since I joined … good luck to all who are waiting for test results, fingers crossed and hoping for good news for all of you. To all the ladies who are still in treatment - hang on in there, there’s light at the end of the tunnell.
I too would like to thank you for your advice along the way. I finish on 13 May (thanks to the added boosters!), 25 rads then 5 boosters, so will have had nearly the same length of time as you.
Make sure you do something really special tonight - hope you are not too sore and remember you still keep on baking up to two weeks after, so no smellies yet!
Well done! You won’t know what to do with your time now! I hope you keep on posting threads. You are always very positive and good to read. You still haven’t sent me the student radiographer but will let you off the hook. Have you kept your scrap of paper as a souvenir of your time?
Awww thanks for the comments ladies - this site is amazing, everyone cares and are not afraid to show it. I’m glad that I’ve managed to offer some help to others along the way… and I will still visit the site and chip in my opinion if I think it will help someone.
Just knowing that there are others out there dealing with the same thing is such a help.
Hi Lilacblushes,
Well done…Sorry not had the chance to meet you at Beatson…I have read most of your threads and you have help me a lot!!! I am struggling a bit with my rads, moved to morning treatments last week but machine broke down so missed 2 days. Started again this week and I cannot wait to finish my treatments…Thanks and all the best!!!x
Hi Lilac
Well done and thanks for the support,I have a slight infection in my wound so dont know when I will start mine, but feel like the battle is almost won
Sorry to hear that u are not having an easy go of things with your rads. I hope things get better for you. I’m delighted to hear that I’ve helped you … I will still pop into this site and see how everyone is getting on. when are you scheduled to finish your rads?
Thanks for your comment Annamarie - I’m glad I made someone laugh. My colleagues have commented about how I’ve made a joke of this cancer all along - I found it was the best way to get through the treatment.
As for being free - I’m glad that the daily visits to the hospital are over, it was starting to get really boring after all. I’m not classing myself as totally free as yet - there will still be check-ups etc so I am thinking more like I am on parole… but I’m planning to be a good girl and not give them any reason to revoke my licence and haul me back into the system.
Once again - thanks to all on here - I’ve gathered loads of good advice and had a good giggle at the posts from others too. I wish everyone good luck with their various treatments, and to those who are in the waiting zone I continue to hope that you are all in the 9 out of 10 catagory.
Only came to your comments late in my rads. Are you missing the journey to rads. think i know every pothole on the road to mine and which school crossing men to avoid if i want to arrive on time.
little tinks finish my 25 +5 on May 13th as well. doing anything special? Sorry if it sounds like gloating to anyone at the beginning of rads but take heart there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel
Sounds like you are signing off. Are you coming back? you have been a big part of this site for a while.
Congrats to you and best wishes.
love Andrea x
Hi Crispy - so you are on the final countdown then … how’s it been for you? How’s the skin … by that stage I looked like a lobster but no splitting.
I am most certaily NOT missig my daily commute to the hospital… I have decided in fact that I am going nowhere near glasgow for at least 6 months… well apart from the check-up at the Beatson in June!
It’s weird being out of treatment - I consider myself on parole at the moment with various times to have to book in with various departments.
Well done to anyone finishing rads and good luck to those just starting or midway through.
That’s me done too! Zapped beyond belief!!! I don’t think it has sunk in yet but I’m sure it will when I don’t have to make my accross city trip every day to the hospital. Just the small problem of the sore skin to sort out but I feel optimistic about that. Hopefully this beast will never show it’s ugly face again.!! For the time being I’m a free woman . . .YAY!!!
Well done to anyone else who has finished and to all the girls still undergoing rads. . . . .hang on in there, it will all be over before you know it.
Whey hey for you rarebird. Am delighted that you have completed your rads. Hope the skin behaves itself. Mine is at the flaking stage - worse around the scar area which I suppose it to be expected cos that was damaged already and then they gave that area 4 additional super blasts.
It’s great not to have to travel to the hospital every day. I’m free until early June when I get my check-up with the rads unit … that is unless the onc dept get in touch wanting me in.
Congratulations to all those finishing rads. I finished yesterday after 30 sessions. Not really sure how I feel - will defo be pleased not to do the commute - know what you mean - knowing every pot hole and bloody traffic lights. It will be good to have some time to myself - by the time I did school drop off - rads and back it was time to pick little one up from pre-school - so none of the jobs that I would usually do got done and more importantly no time to relax!!!
Skin definetly sore - especially to collar bone area and scars - will have to see - was told it will be at its worst in one week.
The rads itself was a breeze but my skin has been broken for a week now. The bit under the boob is the hardest to cope with. Have not been in a bra for days and it’s not pretty. (H cup) Hopefully it will start to heal quickley now.
Lilac bushes rads has not been a walk in the park (didn’t seem enough hours in the day as I kept working to fit in travelling, arm exercises and extra physio to deal with the nerve pain) Would certainly discuss the nerve pain with the BCN (mines been really helpful). Skin variable shades of lobster pink and definitely flaky. There are areas on my neck and axilla that look as if they are threatening to break down. Abandoned the bra and crop tops some time ago and am becoming expert at working out which are the softest tops.
However the nerve pain is now under control,i managed to get back onto the fells last weekend (first time for 6 months) and a friend has offered to drive me through for the last booster on Tuesday so life is improving.