I will also be joining you on this journey starting radiotherapy on the 1st November, after an initial lumpectomy in July followed by another in August to gain clear margins (diagnosis of ER+, node negative, grade 3, invasive ductal carcinoma and high grade DCIS.)
Due to my age (48), high grade of disease and close margin status I’m having 15 sessions followed by another 5 targeted boost sessions, followed by 10 yrs endocrine therapy (Tamoxifen) which means I can dodge Chemo thankfully !
Planning scan & tattoos complete
Wishing you all lots of love as we face this together xx
I’m very happy to see this thread - thank you @cat2 for setting it up.
I had my planning scan and tattoos yesterday and am waiting confirmation of when my 15 days of treatment will begin. I’m 43 and was diagnosed with stage 2, grade 1 Mucinous carcinoma, LCIS and fibroadenomas in May. I had a single mastectomy at the end of June (no chemo due to low Oncotype score and prescribed tamoxifen for 10 years). My radiotherapy had been delayed as my reconstruction failed. I never thought I’d get here. I think I might have been the happiest person in the radiotherapy centre!
I’m keeping up with my stretches as after 3 ops my shoulder and pec muscle aren’t very happy. The stretches definitely help though and I’ve got to be strict with myself to keep them up!
@cat2@hopefulsl@Rach09@tessa11@Kitchendancer70 I hope I haven’t missed anyone out as I don’t know how to ‘reply all’. Had my CT scan & mini tattoo this morning. My 5 days of radiotherapy start Nov 7. Relieved to have the dates
I am currently having radiotherapy sessions…last 1 is tomorrow. I was diagnosed with grade 2 oestrogen positive HER2 negative invasive ductal back in July. I had a lumpectomy with 3 lymph nodes removed which all came back clear.
I have been on Tamxoifen for 5 weeks and have no side effects other than bloating. Long may that continue.
I’ve found radiotherapy easier than expected. I’ve been a bit more tired and skin feels like sunburn but other than that it’s been fine. Use plenty cream that they give you to keep everything well moisturised.
Great that you have your start date and you are all ready now. I am still awaiting mine. But hopefully will hear next week. I wish you all the very best for your radiotherapy. Take care x
Hi cat2
I’m starting 5 days of radio on 13th Nov. Have had scan so hopefully all being well, will start then. I also had the same, wire guided lumpectomy, then 6 sessions of chemo. I am worried about it all, but oncology consultant said after everything else i’ve been through, this is the easy part. When i had my scan, i have to admit the look of the machine terrified me, but it was ok, kept my eyes shut mostly, as machine goes round & up & down, but not noisy like an MRI & is smaller. They did 4 tatoo’s as a guidance for my actual sessions of radio, that was the worst part, how people have tatoo’s i’ll never know !! They make sure you’re comfortable too, as you have to keep still & keep the same position for each session. I wish you well & we’ll keep posted. x
Hiya
I am starting 15 sessions of Radiotherapy on Monday.
Hoping for minimal side effects but feeling nervous. Doing my post surgery exercises but still some shoulder stiffness present.
Hi and welcome. Good that you have a date for your radiotherapy. I start mine in 6th November for 5 days. So not too bad. I still do the arm exercises which I think do help with movement a lot. Bit nervous about the side effects but hopefully not too bad. Have bought Aloe Vera gel and Aveeno to put on afterwards. Hope the fatigue is ok though. Wish you well with your treatment. Xx
Hi everyone…having started this topic, I’m now not sure if I will be starting my radiotherapy in November. I had a really simple fall when I was walking home on Wednesday…but fell awkwardly on my left arm and I’ve fractured the top of the humerus bone (i.e. in my shoulder). Although my cancer was in my right breast, the planning session was carried out with both arms above my head. At the moment, I can’t move my arm…let alone raise it above my head! So - I’m waiting to hear what the radiotherapy team say…Good luck to everyone who replied, and anyone else who’s starting in November - I’ll either be joining you or starting a new thread in the future!
Hi, I had the 5 day radiotherapy treatment after a lumpectomy on my right breast back in October 2021. I had no problems afterwards, so I just wanted to encourage you. My husband drove me to the hospital each time, as it was some distance from our house, and we had a coffee together there before driving home again. Good luck! I hope it goes well for you. Sue x
I’m Sorry to hear you’re having such a hard time of it and I can completely understand why you would want to opt out of radiotherapy.
I was given the choice of opting out of radiotherapy as I had a lot of complications after my mastectomy and in my case my oncologist told me that taking tamoxifen was my main protection against reoccurrence and that the radiotherapy was “belt and braces”. I have decided to go though with the radiotherapy as I am physically feeling so much better than I was. For reference I had a grade one stage two mucinous carcinoma, ER and PR + and LCIS.
Hi Robin - I’m so sorry to hear about your DCIS and spinal disease. Everyone’s situation is different so it’s good you are seeing your oncologist today and can talk to them about your questions regarding your treatment, and how you’re feeling. Take care and good luck with the consultation today x
Hi Cat2, so sorry you had a fall and broke your humorous bone, not nice. I hope you recover well and can have your Radiotherapy at a later date. Let us know how you are doing xx
Hi
Waiting for a date, I had a lumpectomy back in March and full lymph node removal on the 6/7. Complications on op two in May led to a delay.
Met oncologist at the end of September and was shocked it would be December when I receive my tattoos and date for a 5 day course.
The waiting is horrendous and I should be used to it by now
Hi @louise67 - I’m sorry you’ve had problems with your surgery and delays to your treatment. Yes - the waiting is hard and I agree it doesn’t necessarily get easier. Something I’ve found helps me is to think of the time as the preparation phase - e.g making sure I am taking enough exercise (where any physical limitations allow), eating a healthy diet and getting the amount of sleep I know I need; building in treats e.g. a walk in nature, maybe ending in a cafe for a cuppa. I know this won’t work for everyone - does anyone else have any tips (this will also help me!)? Thanks!
Hi all, had my first day of radiotherapy today. It was not too bad to be honest. Had to wait quite a while past my appointment because of delays. But when I did go in, the staff were lovely and looked after me well. I was in there about 20 minutes overall, but most of that time was making sure I was in the right position and everything was lined up correct with the little tattoos. The actual radiotherapy was only about 5 minutes. I found it a bit chilly in there, so wear socks. The machine moves around you, but you do not feel anything and it does not touch you. It makes a little bit of noise, but it’s not too bad. Felt a bit lightheaded afterwards going home. But that could be just tiredness as up really early for work, to cover the time off. Got my time schedule for the week, so that’s good. I did have a laugh with the little gown they gave me. It had loads of poppers to do up and reminded me of a large baby grow. I couldn’t get the hang of it and it did look a bit weird once I managed to get it on. Off course, I had done it up wrong! I gave them a laugh x
Hello all, I had my first lot of radiotherapy this afternoon. I’d wrongly assumed they were treating a much smaller area than they actually are & it includes my hypersensitive nipple. So that’s an added worry. Also radiotherapist told me to wait in the waiting area when I was wearing that thick blue gown with no bra or top underneath. It was huge & hanging off me. The waiting area was full of fully clothed people so I refused as I felt exposed & vulnerable. The radiotherapist wasn’t happy with that & said that’s what ‘women’ do. What are other people’s experience? Why should only women be treated in this way & what about protecting dignity? Rant over.
Hiya
x