Well that’s the first of five weeks of radiotherapy over. Breast a bit pink, warm and sore when I lie on my side but otherwise ok. I have an early morning slot so am in and out in 10 / 15 minutes. Find I’m needing a wee sleep in he afternoon tho. Hope everyone else is coping.
Good for you Finner all the best for the next few weeks, Good luck x
I have just had 7 sessions and have the weekend off. I have been attending the cancer unit in Preston and all my appointments have been at 8am. Like you, in and out and have the rest of the day to myself.
My boob is feeling very hot and firm and I am struggling to lie on that side. I have a skin care appointment on Monday so I can discuss my aches and concerns. This heat is killing me!
I am really looking forward to finishing treatment
Good luck with yours, Jan x
Hi Finner
Im glad to hear your treatment is going ok and you dont have a list of major side effects. I am due to see my oncologist Tuesday to discuss a three week plan.
I have read you need to be marked via permanent tattoo dots, Someone has recently told me you dont have to have these. Did you have the permanent marks?
All the best with the next four weeks for you.
Toni
x
Hi Toni, I am now a tattooed lady and was not given the option to refuse. They are not all noticeable unless I point them out.
Jan x
Hi Toni, I had my 15 sessions of rads in March/April. I don’t think the tattoos are compulsory but they are used by the radiographer s to make sure they get you in the correct position quickly, but more importantly, accurately, each time you go on the machine. They use them together with laser lines and old fashioned rulers to position you correctly. They are really tiny dots which just look like blackheads. I have 2 in my cleavage and 1 on my left (affected) side. They are gradually fading and I have difficulty finding them amongst my freckles. Hopes this reassures you, best wishes Pat x
Thank you coco0896. I’m glad to be having the weekend off and hopefully will get a long lie in bed tomorrow.
Toni, I did get the permanent marks but they are red/orange in colour and are so small I was worried the radiographer wouldn’t see them. They do! They also draw lines around them before each session.
Jan, I have an appointment on Wednesday which will be my eighth session to check my skin. the treated breast is definitely a pink colour now.
I take in a different cd each day to listen to during my treatment but I’m lucky if I hear two tracks! Hold on in ther ladies. We’ll get through it.
Yvonne
Yay 7 sessions completed and now only 8 left and fingers crossed all ok. Fatigue floors me around about 7pm and breast tender but holding together ok. Good luck with the next week of treatments girls 
Your nearly at the the top of the hill then hopefully you will roll down the other side!
Hello ladies,
Like you all, I’m one week into rads. No so bad, bit red and sore at times but keeping the aqeous cream in the fridge works a treat. Twizzle - 19.00 hrs has also become my nemesis - legs turn to lead and just go to sleep!
Enjoy your weekend off ladies. x
Hi
Thanks for the info on rad tattoo’s, really I guess shouldn’t be worried about a couple of spots considering and rather the radiographer be accurate each time.
In the leaflet I was given, it says a possible side effect is insomnia, but reading your posts, it seems a few of you get tired.
Good tip about the music. It’s nice to know you all get the weekend off, so enjoy it!
Toni
x
5 weeks of radiotherapy wow- is that standard practice where you live? Most ladies seem to only have 3. If you are sore now you will be very sore at the end of it. Try aloe Vera the 100% pure version and the gel. It’s very cooling and will help stop you burning x
My mum has just finished week two of roads and feels fine. I brought her aloe Vera gelly from forever living living and she said it is really helping. One week left and she is a free woman. I am still waiting on results so will be a while before roads as think I will have chemo.
Good luck ladies xx
Interesting to hear about aloe vera. I’m a big fan of aloe Vera, used it for kids chicken pox and sunburn (my husbands bald) but the radio therapist said not to use anything at all. I have a couple of tubes in the fridge so will maybe use them. Isn’t it funny how we just go along with whatever we are told To do.
Regarding the five weeks rads I’m not sure why some get 5 weeks and others gt three. My friend at work had four!
yvonne
I just finished 4 weeks of Rads on Friday. Hurrah. Feeling fine. Was expecting to feel tired but have had so much else going on that I’ve not really had time to sit and think.
All my rad appts were early @ 10 so it got me in the routine of getting up and out in a morning.
My skin is looking ok. Was very red n itchy after the first week but they then worked out I was allergic to the aqueous cream they gave me. Been using E45 and aloe vera gel since then and skin just a little pink.
I am finding my bra rubs the skin so comfier just wearing baggy t shirt.
Hi there Ladies, just a few tips that might be helpful as I finished my rad treatment 3 months ago. I felt fIne until the tenth treatment when I suddenly experienced a sudden draining feeling which came over me. It was just as if my battery had been unplugged. It would pass after a short time but if I started doing anything physical it came back so be warned. It lasted about a week . I had fifteen treatments in all over a four week period due to Easter Weekend.
I did experience sharp pains sometimes during the treatment and to help with this I took a couple of paracetamols about an hour before treatment. I also used a vest with a support top in it rather than a bra as I found it easier to slip down just as I got to the table without having to ‘undress’ in front of the radiographer who sometimes were men.
I used aqueous cream, putting it on three times a day, but once my breast got redder and hotter I switched to Aloe Vera gel 99% which was great as it cooled me down especially when I developed a prickly heat rash on the middle of my chest.
I developed a sore area under my breast towards the end of treatment and really did not know what to do so went to see my GP practice nurse who gave me a prescription for burn plasters. I did not realise it was a burn just thought it was a sore area. They worked like magic, stopped chaffing and healed the area within five stays. So if any of you get this get to you GP practice nurse straight away and don’t suffer! .
Best wishes to you all through your rad treatment , Katy.
Hi Katy
Thanks for the tips, love the idea of a supporting top, like you say you dont have to ‘undress’ if you wear that!
Did you buy your cream before hand? I was wondering as I have been told not to buy anything and wait to see what they say would be good to use?
Take care
Toni
Hi Toni, I knew quite a while before I started rads what cream the hospital would recommend, my BC nurse gave me a leaflet from the rads dept. It might be okay to use either aqueous cream or E45 for a few weeks before you start your treatment if you’ve time just to make sure your skin is really well moisturised to start with, then see what your hospital recommends, They all seem to be different. Regards tops, my rads dept had the delightful ‘hospital gowns’ but that did mean I could lie on the table then just expose the area they needed to treat rather than have to ‘get undressed’ in front of them. What ever cream you are advised to use, keeping it in the fridge makes it soooo cooling. Make sure you slather it on liberally 3or4times a day and go ‘topless’ as often as you can. I found that I did get rather itchy towards the end of the treatment but was advised by the radiographer to take a piriton tablet each day, it really did help. The radiographers should check with you each time that you are okay and have no skin reactions, do tell them if anything is bothering you, they should be able to help. Best of luck Pat x
NumberNumber 10 done, 5 to go and skin holding up thanks to e45 cream. Boob feeling very bruised inside and out and very odd pains after treatments but nothing you can’t deal with. I got given a breast care top to wear from the hospital and to keep whilst receiving radio. It has two flaps so means you keep your dignity throughout. All this bit been fine if only hot flushes would get better my life would almost be back to normal…whatever that was!!!
Day eight and my first visit with skin nurse today who still recommends using nothing as a moisturiser. Not sure what to do really. Might try nothing for a couple of days to see how it goes.
When I go for my treatment I get a piece of the disposable paper they use on the bed to cover my modesty. Works fine then it just goes in the bin when I’m finished and dressed.