Hi everyone I am new here and I am having an inner conflict in my mind. I had a lumpectomy in February this year and I should have had RT follow up 6 weeks after, but the department messed up. I am supposed to be going on Friday for the planning. I feel it is too late now as it is three months after. I am on Letrozole and some days are better than others for tiredness. I also suffer with Labyrinthitis which means I have incredible vertigo and nausea spells. I don’t think I could handle feeling wiped out much more and would like to know if anyone else has ever refused RT.
Hi Nonna
The world of breast cancer is very confusing and emotionally very draining so it’s hardly surprising you are feeling like this. Women who have mastectomies and chemotherapy don’t start radiotherapy for a long time. My mastectomy was mid-October, my radiotherapy began the following May. So it can’t be too late to have the treatment. I don’t think they would waste valuable resources on futile treatment.
It sounds to me that you are emotionally exhausted. You probably feel angry at the hospital, maybe there’s a lack of trust now, maybe a touch of resentment that they’ve ‘overlooked’ you in this way. It’s very hurtful to feel you aren’t important (although you are). You could ring your breast care nurse to talk about how you are feeling (that’s their job - and you won’t be the first patient feeling this way). They’ll help you find ways around the labyrinthitis fears. I suffer from panic disorder, including claustrophobia as a trigger - the hospital bent over backwards to make things ok for me and I found radiotherapy by far the easiest part of my treatment.
My oncologist told me that, of all the treatments, radiotherapy is by far the most effective in his opinion. I trust him implicitly so do try to keep that appointment and get tattooed.
The choice is always yours though. If you don’t want to engage with hospital staff, ring the nurses at the number above - they provide a wonderful, supportive service. You may find just talking about your feelings when you were left in no-man’s-land waiting and waiting may just clear you head and fire you up ready to be zapped next week.
All the best x
Hi Nonna
I totally get where you are coming from and I too questioned the need for radiotherapy. Like Jaybro My oncologist told me that she felt the most effective treatment was radiotherapy. I had quite a delay from surgery to radiotherapy. I had my first surgery in the April but because they couldn’t get clear margins I needed 3 lots of surgery and didn’t get my radiotherapy until the end of October. I also suffer with dizziness which is made worse by anxiety, I made the department know and they were super, they allowed me time to get into position so as not to provoke the dizziness and would only get going once I felt ok. I started to get tired towards the end but I just made sure I got plenty of rest and kept myself well hydrated. Radiotherapy is totally doable and I am glad I had it done. I think the department would be more than happy to discuss your concerns and hopefully put your mind at ease.
Big hugs
Belle
Hi @Nonna , welcome to our Forum. I hope you find the boards here helpful.
It’s great that some Forum members already shared their experiences with you 
If you ever wished to be in touch with our team of breast care nurses, you can reach us on freephone 0808 800 6000 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; Sat 9am-1pm), or if you prefer to stay right here on the Forum, you can post a question under one of these boards.
Sending our warmest wishes
Bernard