Hi all.
I’ve just had my pre radiotherapy appointment arrive for 31/8. What am I to expect from this appointment? All I know is it’s a chat and papers to sign then to another await another appointment at a different hospital for an ultrasound? And tattoos then radiotherapy will start. What questions should I ask at pre appointment? Anyone at the same stage and want to be a rads buddy?
Positive thoughts everyone xx
Is it with the oncologist? I had this meeting on Monday and he went through with me about the radiotherapy and also the hormone treatment I am to be prescribed (are you ER+?).
He gave me a lot of detail about possible things that could happen at the radiotherapy and possible side effects of the hormone treatment.
I signed the consent form. I got weighed and my height measured - don’t think I have grown taller or shrunk in height since 1st August when they did it for the pre op!
He then wrote to my GP and I have to go and see him to get the tablets (Anastrozole_) _and wrote to the (different) hospital where I have the radiotherapy so they can set up the planning meeting - which he said he wants to be next Tuesday but may depend on whether they have a free appointment. At the planning meeting I will get given the dates and I guess a bit more of a lowdown on what to expect. I am expecting (hoping) to start around the 2nd week in September - happy to be a rads buddy. I am only having 3 x weeks though, how about you?
x
Hi LadyMontegreen. Thanks for your reply. Sounds like are timings are very similar. 31/8 is my first meeting with oncologist. Then like you I have to wait for another hospital to send me an appointment. I am having 3.5 weeks or rads. Have you had chemo as well? Be great to be rads buddies x
Hi LadyMondegreen
No I didn’t have to have chemo. It went for oncotype testing and came back very low (5%). Where are you having rads I’m at QE Birmingham.
Hi Ollybobs, at my appointment I met with my radiotherapy consultant. She discussed my treatment - length of, and the area to be treated. She checked arm movement to cope with the treatment as you need good mobility to hold your arms above your head for a length of time. I didn’t need physiotherapy. She explained the side effects, from very likely to unlikely. Produced consent forms and a prescription for my hormone inhibitor. She organised a CT scan to check everything was OK, and I was measured and tattooed during this. I say tattooed but it’s just black dots to line up with the laser beams on the treatment bed. Lots of measurements are plotted and marked down on paper charts. These are used to line you up each time you have treatment. You will have a pre treatment session with a nurse to go over everything on your first session. You will get some cream to put on 2x day. I was asked my preferred treatment slot (am/ pm). My appointment sheet with dates, times, treatment room number and tel number for the rads room was posted out. Hope this helps. X
Thanks for your replies. Great that we will all be going through this at the same time. My op was 16/6 but due to oncotype testing and then my holiday I’m not starting rads until September. I’ve been prescribed tamoxifen.
hi all i had my op on 4th august , just got my sergions letter no tabs needed as HR0 go for pro radiotherapy app on 8th sept,dont know what to expext realy. ?? i was told to have radio then possibly chemo as i had grade 3.i am going to york for pre op but radiotherapy will be in hull.
Thanks for the tips ladybowler I use Bionsen so guess that I will ok x
So interesting how much difference there is depending on where you get treatment! I noticed this all through my chemo too - people seemed to get a whole range of different advice.
I had a very slow start to treatment - so diagnosed 20th February. Didn’t start chemo until 30th March because I had a positive lymph node so they wanted to do all kinds of scans and wouldn’t start until after those. My last chemo was 11th July and then suddenly everything started to speed up… Got 5 weeks between end of last chemo and operation, and then my planning CT for rads 9 days after op. My first rads will be exactly 4 weeks after the operation.
I am lucky in that I had virtually no pain from the operation (WLE and sentinel node biopsy), so was able to “assume the position” for the planning scan without any discomfort. It was quite quick and painless - although they did three little permanent marks, one just under each armpit, and one on my sternum right between my breasts. The side ones didn’t hurt at all, just little pinpricks but I said “Ouch” rather loudly when she did the one in the middle - I think because the skin is thinner there with no padding!
I have had no advice at all on things like moisturisers etc., and I don’t like using products that are tested on animals (which rules out E45 and most aqueous creams) so I may be having a chat with the radiographers on the day of first rads ;) I like the Lionsleaf creams, and have the calendula one that people recommend for radiotherapy, so hopefully they will be OK with that.
I use the Lush solid deodorant bar, again no alcohol or aluminium so hopefully that’s OK too.