Hi there,
My girlfriend’s mother is going to have a lump removed on Wednesday and then is going to have 5 weeks of radiotherapy following the operation. Her mother is putting up a brave front on the whole matter but my girlfriend suspects that she isn’t telling it like it is. Is five weeks of radiotherapy a normal or average amount to have? What can we expect of the next month or so?
Any advice and help would be much appreciated.
W
Hi Willemms,
I suspect if your gf’s mother is having a lump removed and the radiotherapy (you don’t mention chemotherapy) that her oncologist isnt in full possession of the facts just yet as to the nature of the tumour so it is still a bit of a waiting game. 5 weeks (i.e.25 sessions of rads) is fairly normal. Each session only takes a few minutes - the exhausting part of it is the travelling back and forth and waiting around every day! I have had radiotherapy on two separate occasions. The first was 35 sessions and the second was 30. So much depends on the size and position of the tumour. Some people do find it very tiring. Depending on skin type the area can get quite sore towards the end of the 25 sessions but the hospital will keep a close eye on that.
Dawnhc
Hi W
You will find that many of us on here have had the same thing and variations of treatment. I also had lumpectomy and 4 weeks Rads, but I also know of people that have had lumpectomy 5 or 6 weeks Rads and Chemo, so there doesn’t seem to be any pattern but each person may vary with size of lump location etc.
Your girlfriends mom will have to wait until her wound has healed before Rads, but they will guide her on that, it’s usually a few weeks so it maybe after Christmas. Nothing to worry about with the treatment, it’s very quick and quite painless. It can be tiring but sometimes that can depend on how far you have to travel. You may or may not know that the treatment will normally be every day (except week-ends) however that could vary. In my case it was a 70mile round trip and as I don’t drive I was given hospital transport, but all that will be mentioned to her when she gets her appointment with the Radiologist. It does seem a lot to take in, but honestly when the ball starts rolling it moves very quickly and is nothing that isn’t ‘doable’
Maybe putting on a brave face is how she is coping, so best not to push. I found that there were times that I wanted to talk and times that I didn’t so just be patient and be there when she needs you. Show concern but don’t overdo it and try and keep her life as normal as possible .
This is my opinion anyway and it worked for me.
Wish you all the best of luck;-)
Norma x
Hi Willemms
Breast Cancer Care produce a fact sheet on radiotherapy which you may find helpful. You can find this leaflet by following the link below.
breastcancercare.org.uk/bcc-forum/?CommentID=124525
I hope you find this useful.
Kind regards
Lucy
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care