Hello I Don’t Believe It, and good to hear from you. Sounds like a good plan to move nearer the hospital for the next few days and hopefully you won’t get any days delayed. And it sounds as if your skin is bearing up really well. Day 13 for me today. I have clearly defined pink areas where my treatment is, but no soreness. Under my arms is a bit tender from friction of skin on skin, but I put a cotton hankie across there and that really helps to minimise the rubbing. Glad to have no nipples to worry about!
I’ve got a reflexology session booked for tomorrow morning which I’m really looking forward to. Have you got any complementaries on offer? Xx
Well the day has arrived I start the first of my first Radiotherapy, the next step of this journey (Would rather be traveling to the Bahamas but hey ho cant have everything lol).
I bought Alovera gel from H&B Saturday do i put this on after the treatment?
I am going to be staying down there to have my treatment as it is forcasting heavy snow and no way I will get out of here if it snows lol, added to the fact we are at least 1.5hrs away from the hospital and thats on a good day, plus with all the road works going on would take me longer to get home as my appts are at 3.24pm each day so would be mayhem. Much easier for me to just stay down there and come home Friday evening (weather permiting)
Hope everyone doing ok xxx
Hello Peanut. My sentiments exactly. Bahamas indeed, especially with this weather forecast. So glad in one way for you that you can ‘stay’ but it’s always nicer to be at home too.
I was given cream on day one at the hospital. It’s called Zerobase so they may give you something. It’s very similar to E45 that everyone else is using. I would say definitely moisturise in some way and don’t put anything on to your skin at least 2 Hours before treatment.
Things get a little warm after a few treatments so that’s when you may use Aloe Vera. I have not used it yet by day 11over. I have been exposing all for a few hours after treatment so has cooled things down very effectively.
I too am heading nearer hospital for my last few treatments. Going to my daughters mind you so will have 3 year old grand daughter to distract me so that’s a real bonus. Woo Hoo. Gran is coming for a sleepover so she is excited too. Daughters birthday on Wednesday so don’t want to miss that either.
I have had a long journey too each way, lots of country driving and the last half hour city so glad that will be over but it has not been that bad. Have some good music a drink and some goodies made it easier.
Good luck with your treatment, drink loads, eat well and moisturise as much as you can and all will be well. We are nearly there! X
Hi folks
I had session 13 today and it was an odd one because apparently I have changed shape. So they had to do new X-rays/scans to see what I look like inside, and then call in people from medical physics department to have a look and decide what to do. As I only have two more treatments to go, they decided to stick to the existing dosage/distribution. Has anyone else had this? I can see that my external shape has changed - harder, more fibrous maybe? Certainly my non existent chest sticks out more than it did previously! X
Hello,
Session 6 done for me today. I feel weirdly elated I am down to single figures…9 to go! X
Hi Ladies, thanks so much for the honest and open sharing of experiences on here, it’s just so encouraging for newbies. I had my planning meeting today and am booked in for 15 sessions. So far on this rollercoaster of a journey I’ve avoided google and forums and other people’s tales (if I can!) and just dealt with one thing at a time but now I feel like I need to know a bit more just so I can be prepared. So all the hints and tips are very much appreciated xx
Hello everyone - it is really good to read all your up-dates and hear how you are getting on. I start my 15 sessions on Thursday and want to get on with it now so that it is soon over and another bit of treatment crossed off the list. I am trying to plan something nice to do on each weekend just so I have something to look forward to …not easy when you are not sure how you are going to react to the radiotherapy. Have any of you organised to do anything during your treatment as a bit of a treat? Or other tips for keeping positive? I’m taking Tamoxifin and felt quite down and weepy last week but picked up since, Wishing you all well x
Hi Shefgirl
In response to your query about planning treats during you radiotherapy … the biggest treat for me at the weekends has been having free time! So I have deliberately kept them free of any timetable. Then I’ve been able to garden, or walk, or go out for lunch or coffee, or to the cinema - but the main point for me was being able to choose what to do depending on what I felt like - and not having the weekend days punctured by appointments like it is in the week! And I don’t think you can know how tired you’ll feel, so that was another reason for me not to book things up. Just maybe make a list of leisure things you like to do, and choose at the time? Hope this helps a bit. And hope it goes well on Thursday. X
Hello Ladies
Feeling fed up and flat this morning and can’t stop yawning. Slept OK last night and really can’t be a***d to go to the hospital this afternoon for number 10. Anyone else felt/feeling like this - just want to check to make sure I’m not going even more round the bend lol!!!
x Fiona
Thank you Charys, for reassuring me about my change of shape! I’m firmer, harder and bigger on one side now, but within their tolerances it seems. Nearly done now, yippee. X
Thanks, Charys. I’m not sure why one side is behaving differently to the other though. Double mx so I thought I’d be more or less symmetrical. They said it might be to do with earlier seromas, just after surgery, but I had those on both sides too. Puzzling, but not troubling! X
Hi all I have been reading your posts with interest. I have my planning appointment tomorrow. Getting quit nervous about it and worried about the weather today ad it’s snowing heavily!! We have an hours journey each way to the hospital. Can you tell me roughly how long the planning appointment lasts?
No need to apologise Charys! The human body is an odd but wonderful thing, yes. I’m sure there are lots of other parts that aren’t symmmetrical! Seems odd that both sides have the same treatment but react differently, but hospital don’t seem concerned so I’ll put it down as a foible. Xx
Hi again Charys (just been offline having my tea!)
Enlargening sounds like exactly what I’ve got. Other side has only got tomorrow to catch up! ? But maybe changes keep happening in the days after rt stops. Anyway, take care and thank you for your reassurance. X
Thank you Helena and Charys. You are so good reassuring us all. ??.I hope we will be ok driving as hubby has 4 x 4 so fingers crossed!! My actual sessions don’t start until 8th February so I guess I will move over to the thread for February’s rads. Thank you again.x
Afternoon Charys,
Number 8 for me today. So once today is done I will have less to go than I have had done, over that halfway hump. Hurrah! Skin is red and blotchy and sort of hot feeling inside (but not on the outside it that makes sense). Slapping on the aloe vera and keeping up the fluids. Feeling a bit weary but that might just be the January blues! Never mind, on the way to the finish line now.
Hope everyone else is doing well too. X
Am finished, yippee! Parting advice from radiographers was to go out and enjoy life. So I am celebrating with millionaire’s shortbread in John Lewis. Skin seems ok - no breaks or blisters, just pinkness. Two weeks more of creams and water and then returning to a (new) normal. Feeling good so far. Hugs to all and thanks for all your support. xx
Congratulations Nuthatch just look after yourself I have found it tougher since rads have finished exhaustion wise. I think while we go through it we know we have and then when it’s finished my body just felt ok you have had enough just sit down xxx
Planning appointment done!! Got there ok as snow had all but melted!! Felt weird going into the unknown but the staff were lovely. Ct scan and 3 little dots. No bother!! That’s it now until 8th February so may see you on the other thread!! If not wish each and every one of you best of luck and all good things ???
Well done Nuthatch, brilliant news. x
Thanks Ladybowler, I am waiting for those bells! x
Thanks Charys, that explains the internal heat but not hot thing exactly. It’s funny I have been saying I am going to be cooked! I’ll try the flannel trick. x
Well done Alibobs, another hurdle over with. x
Hope everyone else is doing well too. x