Joining the Rad gang

I shall be joining you all soon. October 3rd is the first session. Its been interesting reading the posts as I was dreading the start of rads, dont know why. But the thought of finishing and then on with life is so appealing.

margaret - I start mine 2 days before you -how many are you due to have -I’m having 15. Lets go through this together!!!

Hi Margaret

Please don’t worry, I have just finished rads and was scared stiff before hand, the machine looks very daunting but actually it is not once you get used to it…the tiredness is a pain and I find I am sleepless too…the staff are lovely and you are no sooner on the couch then off it again, it takes longer to get undressed than the actual zapping, I used to be in and out within 5-10 mins depending on which radiographers I got…I had 25 and my skin was just a little sore and itchy so I took antihistimes to releive the itch, now I have a suntanned looking square on my boob.

take care best wishes

Love
Pam XXX

I’ve had the 7th of 15 rads today and am OK still. It’s fine and as Pam says the staff are lovely - fantastic in fact. it makes all the difference to have a cheery reception every day. It’s all over really quickly and away home for lunch. And you’re right, it’s nearly the end of the treatment - not long now. Good luck with yours
Sarah
X

Hi Kelyn,
I have 20 sessions to have. Ive had my pre rad meeting and been "measured up" and "marked". Its a 20 mile drive each way for me and Im hoping to be OK to drive myself some of the time.
Where are you having yours? I`m at Northampton.

Hi Margaret
I’m in Wales and will be having mine in Singleton Hospital - its about 10 miles away and takes about 30 minutes each way. I’m actually starting to look forward to them as I know when they are done I can then start thinking about getting my life back on track
what are your tattoos like -one of mine is like a big black head that needs to be sqeesed!!!

Thanks for that Kelyn - I’ve got something else to look forward to now !

Maddy x

Hi Margaret

I am 19 down with 14 to go! There is absolutely nothing to worry about, I am even starting to enjoy the drive over. I tend to meet the same people everyday so going for rads is quite a social occasion. As yet no pain, but my breast is getting quite swollen and turning pink, but isn’t sore to touch. They should give you some cream to put on and you might find getting a larger bra more comfortable but I’m sure they’ll tell you this.

Good Luck for the 3rd

Nicky

Hi Maddy - I’d better add that the second tattoo looks like a beuty spot (well if I use my imagination!!!)

Hi All, I’m due to start my rads on 8 October very apprehensive how I will feel. Some of you recommend using E45 cream before hand - should this be to just the area to be splatted or all over?

Hi Dot,

I used E45 all over the chest and underarm area. I have just started to use aquerous cream and am actually preferring it ( and its cheaper)

Kelyn-

Beauty Spot - Ladybower Dam? Cresswell Crags? Worm’s Head? Sorry - still can’t get the blackhead out of my mind - but at least I’m not thinking about surgery tomorrow ! Am I ? Oh well - wherever you lead, I’ll follow

Maddy x

Well I’m now leaving the rad gang having had my last therapy today. No effects other than a small red patch where my bra has been rubbing, I’ve been so lucky I know. Another couple of weeks and on to the next lot of chemo hey ho, at least my hair is coming back :slight_smile:

Hi Kelyn,
how did it go yesterday.??
Mine starts tomorrow. I`ve just had a weekend away visiting my grandson. Now its settle down to the 20 sessions.

Had my first session today. Relieved it didn’t take so long as the pre-rad took. I was in a lot of pain after the pre-rad due to a torn rotator cuff in my shoulder, which I am waiting to have an op on, once rads have finished.

Had my second one today - no problem at all - it is so fast and you cant feel a thing. I did notice that last night the zapped area was quite warm to the touch and today it looks as if I have been sunbathing withourt any cream. - hope yours goes well tomorrow Margaret

Had my rads planning two days ago and must admit it made me feel unexpectedly emotional. I got a shock when I had to have the CT scan and it brought back a flood of unwanted memories about the dx back in Jan. The staff were fantastic though and gave me a free gift!LOL . A lovely striped robe to wear! You must all know the look~ties around the neck and fetchingly reveals your bottom!(Well it does mine anyway!) Am due to start next Thursday~ although there was some hurried discussion about this being too close to the planning session~so as I left they did warn me that my start date might be moved back a couple of days !! The journey up to St Thomas’s was the worst part. It took me over 2 hours due to a signal failure at London Bridge! (Will have to look into a different route) So have I passed the initiation? Can I now be one of the Rads Gang? Haven’t been in a gang since primary school! We modelled ourselves on the Secret Seven! AM looking forward to having the ginger beer and biccies in the comfort of the garden shed!!! groan ~ am really losing it!!

Hiya Marcos
you are now officially part of the gang - welcome!!!

why did they so a CT scan as part of the rads planning - did they say???

Welcome and Good luck to those of you just starting your rads.

I have now completed 28 and just have 5 to go. Beginning to go a little sore underneath but nothing to complain about and the skin has stayed intact. I have a very large brown square over my left breast and a paler part of a square on my neck, which has begun to itch. But as yet no tiredness. I was told today that my extra 8 sessions were special boost ones and that they are different than normal ‘boosts’ as they have to go deeper than usual for me! No idea why!

One week of treatment left and then it will all be over (apart from Tamoxifen!) and I can get on with my life again. Have begun to prepare to go back to work, have been helping out for an hour a day. Due back on 29th October - Can’t wait. I just want my life back to normal.

Wishing you all a great weekend free of travelling, waiting around and zapping!

Take care Nicky

Hi All
I think the CT scan has something to do with positioning !!! Doesn’t everyone have it?
Actually they phoned me from the hospital yesterday and changed my start date and all my treatment times due to them wanting me to go on a different machine. So instead of the 11th being my start date it is now the 16th.
I’ve been itching to get back to work too. I managed a couple of 2 hour sessions but was really tired out afterwards so haven’t been back~ am now worrying about the tiredness too! It’s only 5 weeks since I finished FEC so perhaps I’m expecting too much too soon.
Anyway am off to look at Universities this weekend with my daughter ~ something so far removed from BC I’m hoping to forget all about it for a few hours. How do you rate my chances?
Hope you have a great weekend
In touch soon
Margaret