Hi im starting radiotherapy in next few weeks . 5 days whole breast after a wide local excision then reexision for better margins .
I had high grade dcis. As hormone tablets would only provide very small benefit the consultant happy for me to not go on them.
I do have to come off hrt though .
Any tips on the radiotherapy i would be grateful for and if anyone else starting it too be nice to compare notes/have good rant .
Happy sunday . 
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Hi @circleoflife I have just had my first four of 15 sessions.
So far it’s been fine, I think I feel a teeny bit ‘bruised’, but not sure whether that’s more in my head at the moment!
I had WLE and node clearance following grade 3 IDC and DCIS, with complete response.
They take you in and shift you about on the bed until you’re lined up properly with the laser lines from the machine. Then they leave the room and the machine scans you. Once that’s done and scans are good, the same machine delivers the radiotherapy. It’s not noisy, and the panels of the machine are not too close.
You have to breathe in and hold your breath, but if you need to breathe again you just do it and the machine automatically stops. It’s all quite clever really!
My hairdresser did give me the tip of freezing aloe Vera gel in to cubes, then if you start getting sore use those, which I though was a good idea.
Make sure you keep your exercises up (I feel like my arm is tightening slightly), and moisturise loads!!!
Fingers crossed we get through this bit with minimal side effects…
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Hi
I have just started my radiotherapy, 4 days in out of 10. I have had a sore pink breast and tightness and yesterday i was very fatigued.
The treatment its self is ok, the staff i found are efficient and kind. Its a little daunting on the first seeing room and machine and laying there being moved about but it really ok.
I agree with @leelee1 do the excersises and make sure you have a nice moisturiser- moogoo udder cream was recommended to me by lots of individuals, its very silky and i also use aveeno.
The radiologist information i got was to avoid cold or hot temperatures.
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Hi
I had 9 sessions in January. My advice is moisturise loads, I did 4 times a day and used flamigel. Drink loads of water. Also some advice I was given was to let the air get to the treated area. I put a nightie on each evening and made sure that the area was exposed. I had a little pinkness but no skin breakdown or blisters. I found it to be the easiest of all the treatments I had.
Hope it goes well.
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@bigpickle thanks for the tips
Ive had 2 of 15 and so far so good. Ive nothing more to add really to the previous excellent replies. I just wanted to wish you well on this next step of treatment. Hope all goes as planned for you xx
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@susynight thanks for your reply an to everyone else too.
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Starting radiotherapy next thursday 5 days whole breast. Had planning one today wasnt to bad though the table was hard and room freezing . Tattoos are tiny . Thanks for all info in preparation.
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I had 5 treatments of whole breast after my lumpectomy which was areola incision…can’t see it now. I’m fair and my breast(s) have NEVER seen the sun. So after the treatments, what I noticed was one boob was tan! I mean the nipple/areola were now a light brown. I had no other effects. The Biggest effect I’ve had (I believe) was the aridex/anastrozole medication I must take for 5 years to block estrogen production from fat cells, is my hair is now in ringlets. Now I am NOT complaining, but this is a recent development and I didn’t have chemo. My MD said menopause, but that began 22 years ago. This is my 70’s surprise what with having to learn to care for it differently than my hair before. I posted asking about curls, but no one has responded with quite this result. I wish you the best of luck through your radiation!
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@amazonwomyn thanks for your reply. Isnt that strange about yoir hair i hope someone can shed some light and give you more info.
Hope you are doing okay now
I had a 5 day course of radiation treatment in July. Felt very tired but I have just started to feel better, my hair is very dry I found the range of Moo goo is great for my skin hopefully you won’t feel too bad Lesley
Thank you for asking this question. I have not got my treatment plan yet as only 3 weeks post op for Mastopexy and Mammoplasty but I too will be undergoing Radiotherapy for High grade DCIS and Ive no idea what to expect. Hearing about creams and the expectations has been so informative.
I hope your treatments go ok and good luck with your next steps xxx
All my love Chelle xx
Ask them if you can choose music to play during your sessions - this was great for me and loved thinking of what to have playing each day
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Thanks again for a the tips. Ive been using the moogoo cream i was recommended its lovely . Hope everyone has a lovely weekend though its windy as anything here in Liverpool.
Hi best tip i had from this formum was flamigel rt…i didnt have it when i actually had the treatment but used it afterwards and the rash and slight burns cleared pretty quickly…if u can get it before or during the treatment it might really help. Good luck with everything and be kind to yourself…
Best of luck with your radiotherapy.
All I would say is if you struggle without your HRT it is still your choice. There is a FB group called HRT After Breast Cancer you might find worth joining.
The book Oestrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming is also an excellent source of info on hormones and it’s a very easy read. Yes am oncologist and breast cancer surgeon.
I managed to get a copy out of my local library
Ill have a look for that in my own library. Thanks @josie2
@kenya thanks ill have look for that. Ive been using moogoo in preparation.
I had 16 rounds and went to work afterwards. As I got closer to the end of treatment, the fatigue did start to get to me. I was prescribed mometasone cream and told to mix it with Banana Boat After Sun Lotion and use it three times a day. Try finding that in November! I have really fair skin and was lucky that I only had a dark nipple and some redness but no bad reaction to the radiation.
I also had high grade DCIS and tried anastrozole but quit after 3 weeks. The depression and joint pain were too much on top of my clinical depression and osteopenia. My oncologist was unhappy but my surgeon and radiologist assured me that the small benefit wasn’t worth it. I was 67 and couldn’t see living out my old ladyhood with a negative quality of life.
I’m very cold natured and someone on this forum said she cut off sleeves from and old sweater and wore those to treatment. I wish I had thought of that. Such a genius trick!
I know you’ll be well and it’ll be over before you know it. Peace to you. 