Starting a new thread for those ladies who are continuing into July and those starting their rads in July.
Helena xx
I just recently got diagnosed with DCIS in situ right breast cancer. I have had my biopsy and my surgery. Due to start my radiotherapy very soon. I am new too all of this and feel afraid and vulnerable. All friends colleagues family have stopped talking too me and feels wrong,
I would really appreciate some positive comments please xx
Pembertonrose. I was diagnosed late April had surgery in May and am also due to start my radiotherapy in July. Yes these are scarry times but you will find lots of support on here from many lovely ladies who are going through exactly the same thing as you. I think sometimes people don’t know what to say and so avoid saying anything for fear of upsetting you. The other side of this is that people say well meaning things and you could quite literally strangle them. So my advice to you would be keep coming on here and share how you are feeling.This is a roller-coaster journey but the longer your on the ride the better you understand the journey you will meet some amazing and inspirational ladies on here who will help and guide you. You are not alone. Hope you are feeling a little better. Have you had your planning meeting yet?. I think that once the plans are in place you will have a target to aim for and will also probably get the opportunity to meet face to face with others who are on a similar journey. Sending you hugs and positive vibes Chris
Hi all July rads starters. Again I imagine you are feeling the good ole feeling of fear of the unknown ? Don’t worry and try and relax because the more relaxed into that bed you are the better and quicker it is. My advice is once on that bed and neck is comfy relax your chest as much as possible into your back and the bed. Once the first one is done it’s a breeze honest. You get to know how to get on the bed and almost lines up. Today for me was hilarious as girl measured on the right and said 7.9 before the other nurse measured I said 9.1 and out of line. I was bang on to her measurement. Shuffled a bit and 8.4 x 8.3 in seconds. That’s how precise it is. As Helena says if the department is running to time 15 mins from getting changed, zap, dressed and out. Drink lots and take a bottle with you and drink it. Lots of cream again take with you and put in prior to getting dressed but not before unless it is all soaked it. Best not to put on before. Look after your skin and the rads will look after you. Keep excersising specially if you suffer from achy arms and keep walking to beat the fatigue. I set my phone every hour for a ten min walk. The fatigue will not beat me!! Before you know it the 15 or 20 depending on how many you are having will be gone and active treatment complete. Have a good weekend and good luck all with your rads. Hope this helps. I and 18/20 and finish Tuesday. PS. If you are breath hold don’t worry that to is fine and is approx 20/30 secs max.
Hi all. I’m starting rads on Monday for 4 weeks. Im thinking the travelling from school run to hubbys work and then to hospital will be the worst part as it’ll be an hour long trip there each day. There’s some good tips on here so will pop back to read and post once I’ve started.
So here I am heading in to my last week. 5 rounds left, 2 normal and 3 boosters.
Lots of love and luck to everyone starting this month.
So much advice has been given already and it was the same advice i followed when i started on the 13th June.
Pembertonrose, I too had a DCIS in the right breast and had my surgery in early May. I went back to work for 3 weeks but emotionally I couldn’t cope so got myself signed off. Im taking the time out to just get my head straight, go for walks, do yoga and spend time with friends and family. Work can wait!!!
Had surgery for high grade DCIS in left breast at end of May just waiting for radiotherapy appointment. Had DCIS right breast with no radiotherapy in 2010. Dont know what to expect.
Hi all. I’ve just had my first week of rads and so far it’s been fine. The only thing I seem to have is an ache in my shoulder blade mainly at night in bed. Not sure if it’s due to having my arms up while having rads or if I just pulled a muscle the other day but will keep stretching each day as still ache from docetaxel anyway.
I am waiting for planning appointment. Had oncologist appointment over a week ago.
Hi Camilla I haven’t put any cream on yet and have had 5 sessions so far. I was told that after about 10 days I would feel a bit sore like sunburn and to use natural products like coconut oil on it. I’ve not felt fatigued by it yet either and hoping not to! Hope yrs goes ok tomorrow. X
Hi Camilla. I have just finished 20 rads and I applied cream 3/4 times a day. One immediately after treatment but not before as skin needs to be clean. I used aveeno and skin is looking very good. I am 6 days post last treatment and skin is trying it’s hardest to dry out but keep putting cream on. Also drink gallons as this really helps. I use aloe Vera on the crease part of my boob as that is now looking quite angry from the 5 boosters. I have had no se’s other than a bit of itching. My advise is keep applying the cream as my rads team complimented me on my skin so must have been working. Se’s they say kick in around 10/14 days then peak 10/14 days after treatment is finished. The latter I agree with as you can see the changes now where prior I couldn’t. If you are having boosters then this will be an even darker colour. Boob will look nicely tanned. Cream/drink and go with the flow is my motto. Hope all goes ok for you and times does go quickly.
Lotty and Camilla. Bit more advise. Keep doing arm excercise again this helps. Also get to know how you get on the bed and if you dont feel comfortable or right (and you will know this) tell the team as it is about you being comfy. Also by number 5/6 you can get on that couch almost measured correctly!! I know we are all different but hope what I have just gone through helps. And yes 6 days post I am still excersising, still drinking, and still applying cream 3 times a day. Remember to take cream off before putting fresh on also.
Hi annieapple. Mine was left breast also so would imagine you will have to do the breath hold. Nothing to worry about as it lasts for approx 20/25 seconds. I practiced prior and got to 45 secs holding breath so was pleasantly surprised when it was on 25 secs. Practice taking a deep breath but from the chest not the stomach and just hold. Worth doing as if not correct they stop and ask you to do it again. Only happened once with me but that was whilst measuring up not why treatment was taking place. Also themmachine will stop if you breath well the team will see your chest drop. But it is fine believe me. Hope this bit of info helps.
Gill thanks for the advice. I shall get myself some aveeno cream then. Have been doing daily stretches and will continue. I am going to be having 5 boosters on top of the original 15. I will make more effort to be comfortable during treatment too.
Hi, finished on Friday and now enjoying some time away from it all in Cornwall.
Bit of a nightmare with the hot weather and keeping covered up but needs must! Im applying the factor 50 sun cream and making sure and have brought myself a fab wide brimmed sunhat. Keeps the sun off my feet!!!
I was told by the Rads team that the s/e’s are can continue to develope after treatment stops and can settle after 2 weeks. Hence I continue to drink loads (and need to in this heat as well) and apply Aloe Vera cooling gel or moisturiser in the evening after washing off the suncream.
I haven’t felt over tired or fatigued but then i haven’t been working and my boyfriend did the hospital run with me. Also, I only have my kitty to run around after so I can be totally selfish which may have helped!!!
So for you lovely ones now starting, the advice follows from what everyone else says, heaps of moisturiser right from the start and keep it in the fridge, don’t lift anything more then 5kg on the side that your procedure was, drink heaps, apply moisturiser as soon as you can after your session and keep up the arm exercises. I do yoga and I think endless rounds of Sun Salutations and Down Dogs have secretly built up my arm muscles over the years so thankfully no shoulder pain.
That really is it.
Thank you Helena for ringing the bells for me, you really are fab xxxxxx
Had planning appointment today- much better than I thought. Don’t have to hold breath and marks were pain free. Onwards and upwards to 26th when I start my treatment. Will I be tired- all the time, some of the time? Any other side effects?
Now just need to work out the multi-storey car park
X
Have my planning meeting later today will be glad to get that over and done with and ticked off the list. Bone scan was on Monday so hopefully apart from the Rads sessions that should be the end of the hospital appointments for a while. I noticed that a number of threads mentioned feeling depressed. I have been getting more and more down this week and so am quite relieved that it’s not just me. I am also getting a bit annoyed with the family as clearly they have been having conversations about me and how they perceive I am coping. Upshot of this is that husband and I had a blazing row in the car last night whilst waiting for the traffic lights to change. I was quite animated so heaven only knows what the people in the cars around us thought anyway think he got the point and I did feel a bit better for the rant. It does help me to be able to come on here and see other people are having similar experience. Sorry if this is all a bit disjointed but feel better for committing some of the feelings into words. Good luck to everyone having treatment today and enjoy the weekend. Chris
Planning meeting done and I am now all marked up and ready to start treatment on Monday 30th July so I guess I’ll be joining the August thread and ladies. Have to say the staff today were brilliant and kept me informed though out the whole process. Managed to hold my breath and everything with no issues and the tattoo’s are so small you have to look really hard to find them. Was so worried about today but I can honestly say it was a piece of cake let’s hope the coming weeks are the same. Take care everyone and have a fab weekend x
Well don mcn. The light at the end of the tunnel and end of active treatment. Advice cream cream and more cream 4 times a day from beginning and continue after as the 10 days after when all peaks it’s all worth it as from my experience it does peak. After 15 normal and 5 booster which have been a breeze. 10 days post treatment and lots of changes. How this works after treatment done is incredible but all very doable. I have a little skin breakdown but nothing to shout about but have to keep clean and dry but with big boobs and this heat isn’t easy. Boob looks almost black but all ok so be aware for the changes that may take place when treatment is complete. Just my experience and others have been absolutely fine but think good to inform of what may happen and a little prepared because you have read about it. Good luck and it is a breeze and the 15 or 20 sessions do go quickly. Just a pain towards the end going to the hospital every day but equally as strange when it all stops. Take care