Hello everyone,
It’s interesting to see that your reactions to rads are similar to mine. I’ve just had my 11th of 18 and am slightly pink and a little sore around my nipple.
It’s certainly easier than the chemo but I’m finding it a bit uncomfortable when I move in bed, have been wondering about wearing a bra to restrict breast movement.
Deb, that sounds like a tough decision to make, especially at such late notice. With all these treatment decisions I think you have to make them and then stick with them rather than possibly looking back and saying ‘what if’. It sounds like you have made an informed decision, good luck with the rads.
Eyebrows and lashes are sounding very thick on here. My eyebrows amount to two hairs on each side, luckily my wig has a fringe 
Good luck to eveyone on rads,
Gill x
Hi
Hope everyone is okay.
Well I finished my rads yesterday, yippee!! no more travelling to Leeds everyday although I must admit once you get used to going everyday it becomes part of your routine, like going to work and it has flown by, don’t know if eveyone else felt like this.
My boob is okay, just a little reddish in places but not sore. Hope it stays that way. Rads has been a walk in the park compared to chemo. It is 7 weeks since my last chemo and I can now take the dog for a walk without getting out of breath.
Hope rads is going okay for everyone else, are we all coming to an end or have we finished them. I am just glad the chemo part is finished for xmas.
Deb - have you started yours on the new machine yet, what a decision for you to make. At least the Onc looked into the new machine rather than just going for rads on the normal machines.
I forgot to ask the nurse on Tuesday when I can start wearing deodorant again, does anyone know? I know the skin can still flare up, up to 2 weeks after rads.
Anyway I will have to go now, have to pick my daughter up from school.
Take care everyone. Amanda xx
Yeay for Amanda!! Brilliant that you’re through. Must feel a bit odd though - I’m like you, have got so into the routine of going to the hospital each day, it’s going to feel mighty strange when I don’t have to. Not sure what the wisdom is on deodorant - maybe call BC Nurse? I’ve got one week left after this one. They’re a bit worried by how red my skin is though, so are keeping a careful watch. Fingers crossed I’ll get to the end, but Amanda you already have, so go celebrate! You deserve it. xj
hi Ladies.Ive not posted for a while but want to let you all know and inspire you hopefully. I had a mastectomy 15th Nov and went for a follow up with my surgeon today. Ive been given the all clear!!! and dont need to go back for 6 months. I know what your going thru cos ive also been there but pls pls pls keep positive I am living proof that this shit can been beat.
Hi all
Satp, glad you are doing well
Finished my first week of tomo therapy. It seems to take less time now which is good. I just lie in the machine listening to my iPhone. The only problem has been having a cold and having to lie still for thirty mins. Skin is fine so far. I think I have a bug though, as both oh and I have felt sick for about 10 days now, yuck. Can’t blame the rads for that I suppose.
Take care debx
Hi all,
Hope everyone’s doing well.
Hope you are better Deb and that the rads are going ok.
Joxx
Blimey it’s quiet on here. Hope that’s a good sign… I finished my 25 Rads on Friday, so yippee, but I have horrible burns - skin falling off and blistering, so youch. I think I might have an infection too, as my temps going up. Off to the Doctors again in a bit to see if they think I should throw drugs at it.
Hope everyone’s okay out there. xj
Congratulations Julie! You won’t know what to do with yourself everyday, I know I didn’t.
Hope you get something sorted for the burns and the temp. Last thing you need is pain when you want to do you xmas shopping and enjoy the run up to xmas. I have been lucky up until now, I haven’t been that sore and I am nearly two weeks since last rads. My boob just looks like snake skin, really weird! Because I aren’t sore I keep thinking they didn’t measure me up properly and the rads missed the boob area.
Has everyone else been really sore?
Hope everyone is okay. Amanda xx
Amanda, don’t get paranoid! Honestly I was warned I’d have problems with my skin by Onc; even before I started she was saying it. My tumour was close to the skin, so they targeted the rays closer to the surface than normal. I had 25 Rads too, so it was a bit full on. Still relieved to be through, but am a bit miffed at how little help I’ve had from the Nurses. They gave me ointment, but no dressings, so my clothes stuck to the skin and keep pulling it off. Ouch…
ps: You’re right, for the first time ever, I yearn to do Christmas shopping! Feel mightily hacked off that I don’t feel well enough to venture out yet. GP has given me horse size antibiotics to clear the infection, so am hoping once those kick in I’ll be able to enjoy life again. Hope you’re indulging. Brilliant you’re feeling okay, even if you do have snakeskin! x
Hello everyone
Well, I finished rads last Friday too, Dec 3 and as you say - feels odd to be out of that routine, trudging into the big city every day. The opposite to Juile though - my rads went right through and have sunburnt back as well as front ! all very itchy some days especially at nape of neck. but lucky not to be sore or blistering. Underarm is kind of tight sometimes and a bit sore if clothes catch , but have been doing the exercises I found on the net, similar to those they give us for after the op but additional ones too. No idea if they are helping but any exercise good I reckon especially this weather when scared to do proper walks - now have osteoporosis as well, dont want to fall down ! Try to remember the cross trainer too but its in the unheated conservatory BRrrrr. .
Havnt tested with an uphill walk since last week but hospital was up a hill and breathlessness was getting worse , not sure if its longer term effect of chemo or the rads taking its toll - can general fatigue have you out of breath? Guess need to wait till January and follow up appts to see if all back to normal. Hope it gets warmer soon, feel the need for long walks.
Hope everyone recovers quickly from all side effects. re deoderant , I was told to wait till skin felt back to normal.whatever that means. At least this time of year not so bad for that !
Am so pleased to have my eyebrows and eyelashes back ! Head hair is growing very weirdly on top - doesnt seem to know which direction to grow in , so giving it a go in all directions - Help !!! other hair very slowly coming back, except the unwanted areas (facial) and that was the first to grow back - old age not good in that respect !!
Hi all
I finished rads last Friday. Boob pink but otherwise fine. Tomotherapy does take quite a bit longer than ordinary rads. I found lying still for thirty mins everyday quite hard luckily my iPhone saved the day. Had a problem with nausea so the did a ct scan of my liver, which was clear thank goodness. Onc thinks it may be stray rads irritating my stomach as my tumour site is right in the centre of my chest.
Hope everyone is well and soreness has settled.
Debx
Hi Deb,
Great to hear you’ve finished. The liver scan sounds scary, thank goodness it was clear.
I hope the nausea settles down soon.
Joxx
Have just had a flick thru, is that everyone done with active treatment
now? If not, who is lagging behind and when do u finish as I think we need to post a round of applause!
My eye lashes and brows are back too but not back to their former glory yet. Hope they do get there though. Body hair ridiculously rampant. Head hair v v short but getting nice and thick now. Going out uncovered! Have posted pics on my facebook, a few of us are on it. Pm me if you are on it and want to be my friend!
Love and well done to all
vickie
Giving e everyone a clap and wishing you a healthy, happy Christmas.
Debx
Huge cheer from me to all too. Aren’t we amazing to have got this far?!
Vickie, my brows are back, but they’re very random. Not sure whether to pluck or not, as it’s so lovely just to see them!
xj
Ee clapping here for everyone who has finished “active” treatment.
had a go at applying for holiday insurance on line, how do you cope with questions about treatment ? I mean - many of us are on drug treatment now, (for 5 years !) hormone therapy etc I bet the insurance companies mean chemo, surgery or rads when they say “treatment” - is there a definition ? I’ll forget it about till after Christmas , then try booking a holiday and will phone them about insurance details.
But first - HOLIDAY TIME. Hope everyone has a relaxing time and can leave any concerns till after the holiday - with new found confidence having survived challenging times and finding this HAVEN.
Happy Christmas.
Hi
Hoping everyone has now finished rads and chemo and are feeling better, ready for the festive season. What a year it has been ladies but we have got through it, well done to all of us.
Wishing everyone a great xmas. Enjoy!. Here’s to a better 2011.
Love Amanda xx
Merry Christmas all,
Joxx
Merry Christmas every one xx
kirsty just spotted your post re travel insurance. I already had an annual policy and they covered me for everything else but anything cancer related was classed as a pre-existing illness and would not be covered. Its easier to talk to an advisor than do over the net. I was transfered to the underwriters who at least knew what i was talking about .
Well done to everyone for getting through the treatment xx