hi ladies i am about to start 29 sessions of radiotherapy and i am scared and worried about what is about to happen to me. i live in Spain and the information is limited. they just said i will be fine at the end of this!!! what should i expect. i guess im going to be tired and my emotions are all over the place. had a lumpectomy 4 weeks ago and just got over that and off we go again!!
i would be so grateful for a little advice as i feel very alone.
what should i expect and how should i handle any things.
thanks for any help
julie
hi giblady for me radiotherapy was tiring but really ok ,my skin became red and sore but used cream and not too bad please try not to worry too much really, take care x
Hi Gib lady sorry you find yourself here but I guess there will be other ladies up to offer advice too. I had rads after chemo/surgeries last August. What I found helped was keeping really well hydrated lots of water to drink before during and after rads. Also ladled on a load of acqueous cream up to 4 times a day ( found out afterwards that this was recommended prior to rads too)It maybe that you can ‘bare all’ and put loads of cream on when you return home and have a lie down if you are tired too. My journey took an hour each way and I was struggling with an abscess ( other area too) so felt a bit tired Be kind to yourself Good Luck J xx
Hi Giblady
We have a publication on the subject of radiotherapy which you might find a helpful read whilst your waiting for others to share their experiences.
Here’s the link:
breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/bcc_radiotherapy_final.pdf
It can be either downloaded or ordered through the site.
I do hope you find it useful.
Best wishes
Louise
Facilitator
Hi Julie, I’m 14 sessions into radiotherapy and am feeling fine. Slightly pink skin but not too bad. Have kept the cream and aloe vera gel slapped on it and really doesn’t feel too bad. I’m not particularly tired so far, though I guess that could happen yet. In and out really fast and the thought of it was far more scary than it has turned out to be so far. Hope it goes well for you x
hi
I had 35 rads last June.I found rads far easier than chemo and did not have too many se,s.As others have said drink plenty and keep hydrated and use the cream before starting the rads and loads during treatment.I found aloe vera very cooling,I know this is easy to buy in Spain as I always buy mine whilst on holiday.As you are in a sunny climate take care to keep the treated area covered from the sun.In fact you will find rads cause you to burn far easier.I went to Canaries following rads and spent most of the holiday in the shade because i got sunburnt through my clothes!
Take things easy and try to rest as much as possible and you will find you soon get through the treatment.It passes quicker than you think.
If your skin does get sore you can get moisturised soothing pads.Not sure how you get these in Spain.I can,t remember the brand name but can find out for you.I am sure there is someone else who will know what they are.
Most of all be kind to yourself.Sending hugs and hope your treatment goes well. xx
Hi Gib Lady just seen another thread called radiotherapy eased might help too. Also sorry forgot to say am fair haired and skinned and only went a bit pink but kept on sloshing on the cream J xx
hi julie. iam a year on from rads, i had 15 lots over 3 weeks. i sailed through with little se.my bust became a liitle sore but they gave me cream for it. aloe vera and e45 are good for the area. the sooner you start with the cream the better. before you know it you will be at the end of your rads. good luck with it. hope you sail through like me xxx gaynor
Hi Giblady, you’ve realy nothing to worry about over radiotherapy ‘its a walk in the park!’ as everybody else has said pile on the aqueous and drink as much water as you can. i’m 2 years on from rads and the only remaining marks are the tiny tatoo dots you have to line you up to the machine.wishing you all the very best, at least you’ll have some sunshine to brighten your day with living where you do. Its very dull in England this week. xxxx
Hi Giblady,
I’ve found radiotherapy easy - just go along, remove upper clothes, lie down, get lined up, lie still while machine makes slight noise.
My skin has gone pink and onc says it will continue to get worse over next couple of weeks. Stated to feel tired now I’m in fourth week - but that is all.
Planning appointment takes a little longer. I had three tiny tattoos - one - hardly felt it.
Travelling everyday and time taken for short appointment is the main thing.
You really don’t need to worry about it, just keep slapping the cream on and be pleased that it’s killing any lurking cells.
Good luck. Stella xx
Hi Giblady
My experience was much the same as Stella’s - the treatment itself is very quick and you feel nothing, the machines don’t even touch your skin. I put on plenty of aqueous cream and had no skin problems at all. The main SE for me was tiredness which I continued to feel for months afterwards. So it’s just a matter of being gentle with yourself and not pushing it for a while.
Good luck-after a few sessions you’ll be whipping your top off for complete strangers and not think a thing of it!
Lilac x
Lilac, thought it was just me. I get my boobs (and lack of) out at the drop of the hat these days and flash them at anyone in a white coat. Heaven help any dentists and lollypop men, I think it has become automatic! x
I’m not on rads yet but will have that delight later when chemo is finished. Can someone clarify - is E45 an aqueous cream and can you use aloe vera straight from the plant or is it better to have (presumably) purified bought stuff?
Thanks
Hi sky2sea
Aqueous cream is different from E45 although they both moisturise. Don’t know why but radiograhpers at most hospitals seem to recommend aqueous. You can buy it over the counter at any pharmacy and it’s dirt cheap. If you want to use aloe vera make sure you buy the 99% pure stuff, for example the one from Holland & Barrett. I found the aqueous cream better than the aloe vera for soothing things down. [And I can’t avoid thinking of Vera Duckworth when I hear the words “aloe vera”!]
Sarah x
Hi
Staff were all lovely and very helpful with advice on any skin issues. I also asked to see my treatment plan to understand what was going on.
I was told I could use either E45 or aqueous; aqueous cheper at supermarkets where there is a pharmacy like my local Sainsbury. I started using before RT started to help get skin into as good a condition as I could before boob was zapped.
I have lost underarm hair on zapped side (well have a tuft left at top). Although axilla not zapped the beam did go over the skin of the underarm. No soreness just no hair. Only need to get the top bit waxed at the moment. Apparently it may or may not grow back. I haven’t missed it.
I still use aqueous as a soap substitute; leaves skin quite soft. I completed my RT in March this year.
I did itch a bit when having sessions and for about 10 days after; I was told to use anti-histamine tablets (Piriteze). Do check anything out with your radiographers.
I also used Crystal Rock deoderant on both underarms; as no metals it was OK to use; as I worked full-time whilst having RT it was Ok not as effective as normal stuff.
When boob got a bit hot I kept aqueous in fridge; also given some gel patches as nipple was quite sore in week 2 & 3 and for week following after sessions ended. I did use aloe vera but found it took too long to absorb in morning when rushing to get to work. I used it when I got home after sessions as I could just let it soak in. Not sure it was any better than the aqueous.
Ended up having diprobase cream prescribed as aqueous not effective when nipple peeled.
Now everything settled down; been back swimming & joined the gym.
Take care
Lynne