Hi
This is my first time posting to the forum, although I have been watching since I was diagnosed in July.
I had a lumpectomy in August (only 4 weeks after my first visit to the GP, would have been sooner but we went away on holiday first). Luckily, the nodes were clear, so a straight forward WLE. The lump was on the outside of the breast, so easy to get at. The margins were clear, so I started radiotherapy on 17th October for 4 weeks, and I can honestly say I must have been very lucky, having had almost no adverse effects. I did get a rash after about 2 weeks, which was hot and itchy, but not too bad, and I have had a spot under the fold of my breast which looked as if it was going to break out but didn’t. I used copious amounts of Aqueous cream a couple of times a day, and took my bra off in the evenings when I was at home. I have read some negative comments about Aqueous cream, but I have been using it every day as a moisturiser on my legs for the last 15-odd years, as recommended by a chiropodist who was horrified by the dry skin there, and until I read on this forum about it thinning the skin, I had no idea people have problems with it. I certainly haven’t found this to be the case and will continue to use it daily.
Anyway, back to the radiotherapy - I worked all the way through, thanks to my very understanding employers who paid me for the time I was out, it was a 2 - 2 1/2 hour round trip every day for 4 weeks, but apart from the cost of petrol it wasn’t difficult, but I did find the disruption to my working day annoying!
Well, that’s my story, I haven’t been feeling tired at all, not noticed any difference in my energy levels, but I am aware that, being only 2 weeks post radiotherapy, it’s still early days.
I have been very impressed with the treatment I have received under the NHS, everything has been dealt with very quickly, which is very re-assuring, and I hope that once I finish my course of Anastrazole in 5 years time, that will be the end of this little episode !
Good luck to everyone in the treatment and recovery
Bucks Bodger