Hi, I have just come over to this section of the forums as I finshed FEC chemo on 30th June and start radiotherapy on 22nd July. I thought I would say hello in advance before I jump in and post anything specific
Clarabel 
Hi Clarabel
I’m into my second week of radiotherapy. The treatment is a doddle after chemo. I get very tired and my scar has started to feel really hot but apart from that I’ve just got to say again a doddle after chemo.
I wish you well as you go through this.
Margaret
Hi Clarabel
You might find it useful to have a look at the BCC radiotherapy fact sheet. It can be found by following the link below:-
breastcancercare.org.uk//docs/radiotherapy_mar_06_0.pdf
I hope you find this helpful.
Kind regards
Sam
BCC Facilitator
Hi
Clarebel - I am starting rads on 22 July too. Every other day for 6 weeks - is yours the same sort of program? I will certainly feel like part of the furniture at the hospital soon. I am worried that my scar will hurt but it is 6 weeks since the op but I am still very sore and find a bra really rubs it painfully. However as I have had a mastectomy I cannot walk about one sided so have to wear a bra. Hope that the radiotherapy will not make me more sore.
Margaret - could I ask how long ago your operation was when you say that the scar feels hot?
Regards
Penn1
Hi Penn,
I think I may have misled you in my previous posting. I had my mastectomy in November last year. The only time that I have felt my scar hot is now while I am having radiotherapy. I have had seven blasts and the whole area around the scar from the middle of my chest to near under arm is going pink and gives a slight burning sensation. But aequeous cream helps a lot. I have also found it uncomfortable to wear a bra at the moment and opt for a support top and loose clothes over it to hide the imbalance! I have been told that cotton between the prothesis and wound does help while going through radiotherapy.
Just to emphasise that it is not painful just uncomfortable.
Hope everything goes well for you. If you think of any other questions don’t worry about asking.
Margaret
I am having 15 rads over three weeks.
Hi
I am starting rads in August so not quite with you Penn & Margaret, am having 15 rads each day bar weekends. I have some t-shirts already that have support ready for when I feel sore as have wired bras otherwise.
Hav e my planning appt next week.
Hope things go well - and yes I would imagine rads a dodddle after chemo - which I had Jan-May then surgery (ANC) in between.
Jan
thanks everyone
I am having daily sessions Mon-Fri for 7 weeks so I should be finished early september, have a holiday booked for 20th september to give me something to look forward to.
I had a WLE in late January so it’s a long time since my op, but have some aqueous cream as I’ve been warned about soreness and am expecting my scar to hurt as I am a bit sensitive in that area even now.
I dont mind the tedium of daily hospital visits, I may try and find the courage to pop into the chemo ward once in a while to say hello to some of the other patients I chatted to, but right now the thought of that part of the hospital literally makes my insides churn. I am just hoping I will end up with OK time slots so my entire day isn’t mess up with hospital visits, fingers crossed
Hi Clarabel
I’ve noticed that when I’m prepared for rads the actual scar is covered before they are given. So perhaps you will find this to be alright.
Margaret
Hi Margaret
Glad to hear you are doing OK and are 2nd? week into rads at Northampton. I will be there for my rads soon. Getting plan from Onc on Wed.
My surgery went well (except for needing ABs for drain site infection) and no nodes affected so no chemo, just rads and Arimidex.
Did you win on the Wakefield raffle? I won a bottle of wine.
Love Jo xx
Hi Jo
Good to know that your op went well. I’m so pleased that no chemo is involved. This week I started my third and last week of rads. Can’t wait for it all to be over.
The rads unit is excellent at Northampton, lady nurses only and you are treated nicely. The only concern is that sometimes there is a long wait. It’s a long way for you to travel daily isn’t it?
No I won nothing on the raffle…actually didn’t know how to check my tickets once I got home, and then forgot about them…and I bet I should have got the first prize!!!
Margaret
Good to hear the nurses are nice. Will you be on any tabs after rads? I’m on Arimidex as tumour was ER+ but keep hearing about the side-effects.
Simon is off work for August so will be taxiing me around - I thought there would probably be long waits (always are at BC Clinic) so he will go into town and I will phone him when I am finished. We are going to treat ourselves to pub lunches/dinners and have the W/Es away so we get some holiday this year hopefully.
I put my phone number on ALL the raffle tkts to make sure, but Simon had to go and pick the bottle up and said it would have been cheaper to buy it at the local offy!
Love Jo xx
Yes I will be on tablets for five years. Starting on Tamoxifen and then changing to Arimidex after several years. Like you I am concerned about the side effects, but intend to start them and see what happens.
You are usually told if there is a long wait, which is so much easier than just sitting wondering what is happening… As well Joe you can get a car park permit from them for as long as your treatment lasts , you need to ask.
I have been feeling quite poorly lately, nothing specific ,just not myself. Yesterday I felt most peculiar in the queue at Tescos and then promptly fainted. How embarrassing!
A great idea of yours for meals out and weekends away…enjoy. I am glad that Simon can drive you round because it does get a bit tiring.
At least the raffle proceeds went to a good cause!
Margaret
Thanks for telling me about the parking permit - I will ask about it.
So sorry to hear you are feeling poorly - fainting is not good - my Mum did that and broke her arm! Your poor body has taken such a beating recently no wonder you feel weak. I hope you can take a break soon - a relaxing holiday is my prescription.
Look after yourself.
Love Jo xx
Hi everyone
I’ve just finished chemo and will start rads “soon” - waiting for the appointment - you will probably have all finished before i start! … buti thought i should start swotting/ swatting …
does anyone know wehether you can drive to rads or not?
good luck
love FB xxx
Hi All
I have my last TAX on Tuesday then start rads on the 19th August and would be really grateful for advice/tips!
FizBix - really glad you made the decision to end chemo and end your suffering!
Hope you get your apointment soon. I have my planning one on 4th Aug - will let you know how it goes.
Anita
Hello all.
I’ve finished my TEC yesterday and got home to find my radioology appointment for Monday AM. Meant to be starting radio on 18th August so thought it was along gap until my start date from Monday.
Any ideas from anyone? But can let you know how it all went and any new stuff I didn’t know.
Speak soon
Kate x
Hi Kate
The first appt will be your planning appt - which from what I can gather is where they mark you and tattoo you. This can take a while. Mine is planned for 4th Aug with the rads starting 19th.
Hope this helps
Anita
hi all
don’t want to sound as if I am moaning but my surgeon did a really good job minimising the marking/scarring on my boob and to think I’m going to have a tattoo on it (I have never wanted a tatto although they look fine on some people - not me thanks) is really upsetting me … I’m sure I’ll learn to live with it but am still annoyed (deeply)
love FB xx
Hi FizBix
The tattoos are small pin pricks that look like blackheads! I’m sure they will be unnoticeable to anyone else. Nothing really in the grand scheme of things!
Anita
Hi,
Fizbix I drove to all my rad appts with no probs although only 15 mins drive. But I don’t see any reason that you shouldn’t be able to. I think tiredness is the worst thing.
I resented the thought of having the tatoos as well but they hardly notice…honestly!
Joe Do you now know when you will be starting your rads? How many will you have?
I cannot fault Northampton hospital I found another lump the other morning. Went to the rads appt at 3.30 and told them. A doctor saw me immediately even though I had an appt with my onc the next day. More tests now but he was reassuring.
Margaret