Ok as per title…starting my first session tomorrow (I got 5 plus 4 breast boost). Anything I should know that I haven’t already read? Anything that helps not to freak out?
I feel like I am ok- I really like and trust the team (they are male which I am not bothered by, and by chance they are from my (small) home country so we can even speak our language, we are the same age, and I felt I was being extra taken care of during CT)….but I am afraid I will last minute freak out when I’m alone in that big machine (also need to do breath holding cause it’s left breast).
Any tips on how to psychologically deal with it? Also bad luck is that my husband is out of the country (and friends are working and I didn’t want to bother them to take time off) so this is the first thing I am going to go to alone. Thanks lovely ladies
I, too, had to go on my own after the first time it wasn’t scary at all. Your team will support you through everything including the breath holding. My team were amazing
Just be kind to yourself, remember to cream and listen to your body.
Take something to read or listen to as sometime you can end up waiting for a while if the unit are running behind.
Hello. I understand the panic I was exactly the same. It’s only because it’s the unknown. The treatment itself only lasts a few minutes. The longest I was in the room was about 15 minutes. Although they’re not in the room they’ll keep talking to you. I don’t know if all the machines are the same but mine was around me rather than me being in it if that makes sense. As for the breathing, I was rubbish at it. We all ended up having a laugh about it. They will let you have as many goes at it as is necessary. Your team will but you at ease and it will be over before you know it.
I’ve just finished 5 out of 15. The staff are really supportive. Don’t worry about the breath hold. I usually lose it completely towards the end. If it’s like mine, the room is blue, green or red. When you are doing it correctly the room goes green. You do it at your own time as the machine stops when room is red or blue. Hope that helps. Also no pain or soreness just remember to slap on the moisturiser. My rad team gave me flamigel RT. All the best with your treatment
I didn’t have to do the breath hold though I had practiced it but was so nervous that I turned up for my initial planning appointment a day early - but I needn’t have worried.
As others have said the staff were lovely . The treatment itself takes far less time than the planning . The staff were able to talk to me but there was also music every day and I love music so I concentrated on that . If they are able to play music and you think it would help as you are all from the same country maybe they could play something from home that you like ? Worth asking.
One thing that has been an issue for some people in some centres is privacy / dignity . I had a little room to change in and was given a hospital gown to wear to walk to the table but this has not been the case for everyone . I would recommend wearing a camisole / vest/ stretchy crop top that can be pulled down to your waist at the last second and pulled up again to walk back across the room .
Directly after the treatment I felt a bit tired - like coming off a night shift . I had a coffee and and a piece of cake at a nearby cafe before going home and was then ok for the rest of the day . I had 5 treatments and drove myself every day about 40 mins each way . Xx
I was given some paper roll to use but I did find it a bit disconcerting initially and the radiographers were a couple of young lads but then I thought, come on how many breasts have they seen. It’s just another bit of body to them. It is very dignified though.
It’s good that you feel comfortable with them and at least there is so e provision for modesty but there is no reason why you shouldn’t wear something that you can pull down - you shouldn’t have to ask but avoid anything with metal in it . Hope it alls goes well xx
I was scared too and my mind was going mad the way I got through it was to have a subject like fruit and start at A go through the alphabet thinking of fruit ,I did a different subject each time I got friends to think of something, most of the time I only got to f and it was over .
Thank you ladies . I am not entirely sure about the covers, as well as music- I failed to mention that my treatment is happening in Switzerland (I moved recently from UK, so it’s been also a bit of a situation with a healthcare system you know nothing about plus my German is pretty basic, but all went well so far) and the Swiss are a bit nudist (like having communal showers in expensive gyms is normal…prison style )…so thanks for the vest advice.
Ok so I survived . Couldn’t for the life of me think of a fruit starting with C in any of the 4 languages I tried. Now I remember “cherry”. Lol.
It was super easy, no light, like literally nothing much happening. Was over in a few min. Breath holding was a piece of cake. And no nudity- they covered me with a cloth on the way from dressing room and while adjusting. There was music playing- I couldn’t choose songs but it was Taylor Swift so fine . Thank you all for the support, now fingers crossed for no side effects
Good to hear your esperience so far has been so positive Keep-up the moisturing and, in due time, you might be invited to learn post-radiotherapy exercises, to help keep your arm and chest mobile. I do mine still, 3 months after my least session. Side-effects can happen for some time afterwards, I was told. Good luck!
I know this comes a couple of days late but I would just say keep putting moisturiser on everywhere from your neck and collarbone, nipple to under your breast and Drink LOTS of water.
there is also a really good video on Instagram by “askanushka” . She explains all about radiotherapy and how it works very clearly.
Also I found the neck stretches on the “Marcie yoga” website really helpful in her yoga for breast cancer section really helpful.
Almost 3 years ago I had my diagnosis of breast cancer (rare Apocrine triple negative). It was caught early and was small with no lymph node involvement. I had surgery (wide local incision) and then 5 x full breast radiotherapy and 5 x boost to area where the cancer had been.
I had been told to moisturise the breast well before and after to stop the skin being adversely affected. This was well worth it! I also didn’t worry about the breath holding as I’ve done yoga for decades. I went to all sessions on my own - drove myself - and it was fine. It was a lot less intimidating than I thought and if you do as advised, you will be just fine. The skin felt a bit hot around the wound for a few hours after but otherwise all ok. They did say that I would feel very tired some months down the line and for sure radiotherapy is the gift that keeps on giving in that regard!
So my advice is to go into it with an open and positive mind. The very best of luck. Xx
I start my Radiotherapy tmrw too, and what a brilliant idea on alphabet, thank you, though my sessions are short. Once in an MRI I recited a lovely cake recipe to myself, I had only just put the cake in the oven to cook at the end of the scan!
I hope it’s going well for you! I’ve been mainly ok- breast a bit tender and swollen and a bit red…had fatigue on day 3 in the afternoon. But I also went to gym and played tennis on day 1 and 2 so maybe I over did it.
Sessions also ok except one where the breathing monitor (I am doing left side)was too high then machine stopped and couldn’t go around and started beeeping, then the monitor’s battery died….I somehow managed to survive that one and then had a complete meltdown that day, had a massive fight with husband…someone did mention they got fed up with the whole cancer thing during radio seems it’s true.
Now I have 4 breast boosts. Let’s hope uneventful
Also- other than fruit I listed vegetables, capitals, ski resorts…tomorrow I might do sports
. I am not entirely sure about the covers, as well as music- I failed to mention that my treatment is happening in Switzerland (I moved recently from UK, so it’s been also a bit of a situation with a healthcare system you know nothing about plus my German is pretty basic, but all went well so far) and the Swiss are a bit nudist 
(like having communal showers in expensive gyms is normal…prison style 
)…so thanks for the vest advice.
. Couldn’t for the life of me think of a fruit starting with C in any of the 4 languages I tried. Now I remember “cherry”. Lol.
it’s always Taylor Swift. Every appointment and on radio in radiotherapy. Living The Fate of Ophelia!