New to this. Last 3 rads to go. Had radio through my bra which makes skin burns worse and am in agony with at least a week until it peaks. Any advice gratefully received.
Hi Caroline , I had a sexy rads bra too (which I torched in the BBQ on my last day!!).It does seem to increase chances of skin problems ,I looked like I had severe sunburn and skin broke down and blistered under my boob and then got infected .Although it’s very uncomfortable for a while it does settle down surprisingly quickly once you finish,I had antibiotic ointment and Melolin dressings for the broken skin areas .Pat ladies with large floppy boobs need bra to keep breast in same place for treatments otherwise they struggle to get you in right postion ,mine were borderline too floppy !!!Had to get the supervisor in to decide!!!They chopped up the bra I was wearing customised it aka Madonna with holes and slits in it and sent me off home hoping I wouldn’t have to stop for any reason and get out of car with boobs flapping round my waiste !!
I wonder if there should be a “large and floppy” thread on here somewhere?! A good heads up for me that I will need a Madonna bra for rads when it’s my turn. I had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on Weds last week and results this Friday.
Sue, good luck with your lumpectomy. My handy hint for the day, for any possible large and floppy friends out there, is to wedge something soft between the boobs in your bra at night. I picked up the hint by scanning the forum in the wee small hours. Has made such a difference to my sleep and minimising discomfort. Xx
Thanks Cassie. Soft cotton knickers were the go to the first time. I found a silky scarf the other day. I’d long forgotten the wonders of muslin, so thanks for the tip and I will pick some up x
Evening all:) Last of my routine 15 sessions this afternoon and I’ve been marked up for my boosters. I’m sporting a number of less than attractive black marker pen crosses covered with Cavilon spray and I’ve been given very strict instructions not to wash them off… Bearing in mind these have to last until next Tuesday, that’s a big ask! I’m going to have to be careful with clothing as a couple are quite high and could be seen very clearly as I walked out of the department this afternoon - serves me right for wearing a v neck top I guess. Top tip to anyone with booster treatments on the cards and a fairly high tumour site - wear a high necked top to your marking session or take a scarf/pashmina to wear afterwards! I’d not even thought about having to have extra marks for these booster sessions, never thought to ask and wasn’t told. Doh! My skin is red and itchy and I’m now unable to slather on cream all over - aaaaargh! Just booked a flight for a few days away - I promise I’ll be good and keep out of the sun - well - I want brown legs but I’ll keep my chest covered. Hope everyone is ok:)
I found the same…whipping your top off in front of a couple of young men becomes very normal. :mansurprised: They were so kind and caring and never made me feel embarrassed. Also, once in position, they always carefully covered my other breast. In fact the whole team were really great. A real credit to the NHS.
Pat xx
Phew. Just had 4th booster of 5. One last session to endure tomorrow morning. Following a fairly sweaty weekend (gardening and just generally living), I had to have my pen marks completely redrawn this afternoon which incurred a few grimaces and senior staff being brought into the room. That would all have been fine but none of them even said hello as they wandered in let alone introduced themselves… On the plus side, for the first time ever (!), I had my non affected side covered by one of the older female radiographers. Roll on 09.05 tomorrow morning when I’m due my last session. Can’t come fast enough. Hope everyone going through rads still is ok:)
Well that’s me done:) I took in a box of biscuits to show that although I’ve not been the ideal ‘patient’, I am a grateful woman. It feels ever so slightly odd that I won’t be going there tomorrow, and the next day…! My skin is itchy and red but now I don’t have to be careful of the pen marks marking my booster site I can slather the cream on again. Phew. Good luck to you all but most of all - a big thank you for being with me on this journey, for keeping me sane and for invaluable advice. It’s been amazing support from total strangers. X
Hi ladies, sorry I’ve been quiet on here. Got friends staying from the US so it’s been lovely but at same time very tiring! They leave tomorrow so I can have a good rest.
I’m doing ok though. Been two weeks on Anastrozole and last night had a HUGE hot flush. Good God I thought I was going to pass out.
My breast is still pink but not nearly as sore and the feeling around the surgery site, which was numb, is starting to have feeling back.
I’m glad to see you are all doing ok although sorry Elizabeth that you have had an infection.
Hope everyone is ok,
All the best,
Pat xx
Afternoon all:) I’m now 10 days post routine rads and 3 days post booster and wow - talk about fast healing! I’m back in a bra (good job actually as I was fed up of drooping!) and I’m all but healed. I have a square of redder skin where the boosters hit me and a pink boob which is healing fabulously thanks to copious applications of moisturising E45 and organic coconut oil for overnight. The burning pain has gone, the rash that developed has gone, the itching hell has disappeared and I’m feeling on top of the world - even with regular doses of Tamoxifen! So hope you’re all ok and life is beginning to reappear as normal for you all too. Take care and have a great weekend. Jay xx
That’s great news Jay, so pleased for you. Thanks for posting, gives hope and encouragement to know that this hot, sore itchy stage is not going to be as long as I was dreading! Just two more to go for me. Xx
How about you Pat? How is your skin? Have you got over the fatigue you were suffering from? Hope you’re not missing your friends too much now they’ve gone back to the USA xx
I’m doing good thank you. Fatigue is much better. Breast is healing well. No longer hot and just a bit itchy. It has shrunk a bit which oncologist said it would. I look a bit lopsided mainly because the nipple is now higher than the other, but that’s from the surgery, and fine with a bra on. It doesn’t bother me. Just glad to have the cancer gone!
So far I seem to be doing ok on the Anastrozole. Had one big hot flush and times when I feel very hot but it’s manageable. I’m still slathering on the E45 on breast and very pleased I haven’t had one skin break.
Hope everyone has a good weekend and are doing well,
Pat xx :catlol:
Congraulations and well done Elizabeth xx. What a relief. I finish mine on Tuesday, can’t wait. What a shame you won’t be able to make the most of the spa facilities, but you can enjoy lounging about (hopefully with a glass of something nice) and enjoy the company of your sisters and as you say, a nice head massage and maybe a pedicure. Fingers crossed the sore heals up quickly. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on with the healing xx
Congrats Elizabeth and for you tomorrow Lesley!!! Make sure you do something nice to celebrate!
It’s really odd when you finish…I couldn’t quite work out what I usually do! But soon becomes absolute bliss not having to get yourself to the hospital every day!
Give yourselves huge pats on backs for getting through it.
All the very best,
Pat xx
Hi ladies, It’s been over a month since anyone posted…and I hope that’s because you all are ok and getting on with life???
I’m doing well. I’m still getting some sharp shooting pains through my breast and hope (HOPE!) that it’s still recovering from radiotherapy and surgery. The numbness of the surgery site is slowly going although it’s still numb directily where the scars are. I see the consultant & BC nurse on 24th Oct.
I’ve had a few problems with side effects of Anastrozole…hot flushes at night, some aches and pains and problems getting to sleep…but actually so far it’s not as bad as expected. Fingers crossed it won’t get worse.
Thinking of you all and hoping eveyone’s recovering nicely.
All the best,
Pat xx :smileyhappy:
Hello Ruth and Mary. So nice to see other MSers on here! (I just edited this as of course it’s not nice for anyone to have BC let alone BC and MS! But what I mean is nice to network with others in same boat).
I think for me it was fatigue that got to me during rads, but I’m ppms so unfortunately no let up!
YES RUTH my breast still does hurt on a daily basis. Electric shock type pains and some dull low-grade pain. It is still numb around the actual cuts & I still have a blue patch from the dye!!! I had surgery May 20th. I am also dreading mammogram as it will hurt! I go to breast clinic on 24th of this month so think I might have it then.
I think, having ms, we have advantages and disadvantages from having BC. The advantage is that we have already been through having one diagnosis and perhaps take the cancer diagnosis a bit better (or is that because I’m older…I’m 63?). The disadvantages being that ms reacts to anything so I think the treatments make our ms worse…as with you MARY having a relapse.
RUTH I think you should go to your GP about those black holes! Even though not weeping or anything I think a GP should look at them just to be on the safe side.
Hope you are both doing well today and nice to ‘chat’ to you both. :heart:
Pat xx