ChocDrop - I hate to imagine how tired you must be! I’m not even driving myself to Rads - because the carparking is so horrendous, I didn’t want that stress on top of 60 mile round trip every day! I’m not having to visit someone else in hospital either - I know how tiring and stressful that is! I’ve not even got to cope with early mornings because all my appointments are 2.30ish! Yet still I’m tireder than I’ve ever known. Hope you get some good rest soon! Hugs, C.
Bless you, JCJ, for your kind words. Yes, it is tiring visiting - but my father, very elderly at 95yrs is in a Residential Home. However, I do spend a lot of time with him, particularly over this weekend as he has been very poorly. Unbeliveably, he’s still hanging on!!! I can’t see me getting much rest over the next few days at least but will do my best. At least I don’t have family/husband etc to look after and I have some very good friends, who keep providing me with meals!!! I still think I’ve had it lightly re breast cancer, no chemo and little or no side effects from Rads, so far! Could have been so much more difficult, eh?
I’m sorry you feel so tired but it is most likely the Rads and also the emotional stress that you, and others, have had to endure. Coming to the ‘end’ of treatment, as such, you are perhaps starting to ‘wind down’ a bit, hence feeling exhausted. I hope your OH will soon appreciate how exhausted the treatment, both physically and mentally, causes you to be. Perhaps he could read some of the literature available from the hospital, or read up on internet the side effects of all the treatment you’ve had, and the emotional aspect too??? He needs convincing!!! 
Good luck to all of you. Keep in touch
Julie (aka ChocDrop)
Hello Ladies
I finished my last session on Wednesday and have a few weeks off before I have to go back to Hospital for a check up. I am feeling so tired and exhaustes at the moment and have rather pink skin and a lot of stabbing pain, especially under my arm. Oh well it will pass with time and hopefylly my energy levels will return as well. Shame that the weath er is not playing ball at the moment. We are having a rather lively gale blowing since this morning - so I took the decision to stay tucked up on the sofa with Fat Cat and just do nothing.
Choc I hope you are doing okay and I will be thinking of you over the next few days.
A hug to all of you from Alanaa and Fat Cat xxx
Hi everyone,
On the whole everyone seems to be coping well with rads, we are feeling tired and have some discomfort, but all appear to agree rads is easy peasy compared to chemo. The downside is having to go to the unit daily Mon-Fri, but in my case I shouldn’t complain as the unit is only a few miles from home, however my appointments are mostly around 4.40pm and my journey back home takes forever, as in city rush hour.
I was given cold pads by my unit and they certainly help the itching. Tomorrow is my second booster after which I’m seeing the nurse to get something to help prevent my skin from breaking. Aren’t the radiographers’ wonderful, they are so concenrned for us to be as comfortable and side effect free as possible.
I saw mujum a couple of times last week at the unit which gave us a chance to catch up, she’s always very positive and agrees with me that we are in good hands at Leeds. Hope to see you this week mujum.
My last booster is Thurs, yeah! I shall be so happy knowing no more daily visits, and my birthday is Friday…so a double celebration.
Teresa, I don’t have any contact details for you, the ones I had were in the pm you sent and pm’s are no longer retrievable. Hopefully once the site is fully updated I can pm you.
Take care everyone, and I wish you all trouble free rads. Choc, I hope your father is feeling better this week.
Hugs to all,
Libby x
14th, of 15, zap today. ‘On treatment review’ - got my boobs out for 2 more complete strangers (becoming a habit 
- better watch myself in the park?? :)) They were impressed with how well my skin’s doing and told me “If it doesn’t break down in the next 10 days it shoulde be OK”. Good news I suppose! They gave me a letter to take to my GP if I have any skin problems so that he knows what gel to prescribe and I won’t have to schlep all the way over to Coventry again. Another example of how thoughtful and wonderful the radio therapy team are!
Apparently, I have to see my oncologist in 6 weeks time, and here’s me thinking that. after tomorrow, I wouldn’t have another hosp appointment until the 6 month one already booked for September! Hey Ho! Start Tamoxifen on Wed so I may actually want to see her by then anyway!
Hope everyone else gets through the next coupkle of weeks with no more than tiredness and a little discomfort!
Chrisx
Hello everyone and hope you are all well and smiling 
I have just got back from number 20 which was the last boost. I am feeling really good - yes a little tired - but my skin has held up beautifully. The department now refer to me as the red wine lady as I shared some research undertaken in Italy where one half of patients were given a glass of red wine every day throughout radiotherapy and the other group were given nothing. They saw a reduction in side effects from the red wine ladies!!! So I have forced (hahaha) myself to drink one glass of red wine every evening and say no more - job done.
I was surprised at how emotional I felt saying goodbye to the team - I filled up. They work so hard but remain kind and caring throughout the challenges of broken machinery. I bought them some lush biscuits and chocolates although they did say they were expecting red wine! I dont think the NHS responds well to gifts of alcohol. So on to the post active treatment - I am looking forward but do still feel slightly anxious but I am hoping that those feelings will begin to fade. I have a bone scan tomorrow and a follow - up with onc early August. Hope to continue to touch base with all of you and catching up as we all get on with living our precious lives. Take very good care of yourselves. Much Love Marian
Glad last one went well Marian. Mine did too, though I was very emotional as well. Sort of in a daze.
I had a bad night with dreams and waking thoughts playing over all that’s happened. All those consulting rooms and conversations and all the associated feelings. So I got up in an emotional mood, only to be told (not to my face - he shouted upstairs while I was still trying to get myself together!) OH was off to London until Thursday. His brother lives there, and is ill, but he said yesterday that he wouldn’t go until “At least Wednesday”.
This is 2 hours before I thought he was taking me to hospital!! 
Too late to try to organise a friend, and certainly too late to use public transport, so I had no choice but to drive myself!
I set off really early to allow loads of time for the horrendous hospital traffic and parking, and luckily, today it wasn’t too bad. I had to drive through torrential hail storms on the Motorway which was a little scary, as the visibility was virtually nil in some places!
Back safe now - driving through more storms. Sore and tired. Can I sleep for a fortnight now?
Start Tamoxifen tonight and making appointment with doc about Zoladex, so on to the next phase of treatment.
Wishing everyone well with the rest of their lives. Keep in touch! Chris xx
Had to wait almost an hour today for # 11 - unusual and they were apologetic. Today and tomorrow are the only times when my appointment is morning/mid-day, all the others have been around teatime and somehow they seem to have made up any delays by then. Only 4 more to go, and skin standing up well so far. It’s been good to bump into Libby twice recently - nicer to catch up with news, than read and wait. For the first time I do feel tired, probably because I didn’t get to sleep for ages last night, and I do seem to need my 8+ hours right now.
Good that everyone seems to be managing well - driving through bad weather/rush hour probably more stressful than the treatment. We see the radiotherapy onc on Friday, and it will be useful to check that all is well.
Beaming troublefree treatments for all. Hugs, Mujum
Congratulations to everyone who’s just finished rads. Hope you get your energy back quickly. Just had Monday and Tuesday off this week, which was nice as had my birthday on Monday. Will have to get back into the routine again today.
Hello Ladies, hope you are all doing fine with your treatment/aftercare. My wound has opened slightly again and the big blister under my arm has opened as well so having a loving relationship with paracetamol at present. Gosh I am so tired it is horrid. Slept most of the weekend and might just do the same again today.
Gail belated Happy Birthday to you. Hope you had a lovely day with loads of hugs and cuddles. At least we sunshine today so that should brighten up the spirits. Thinking of all of you who are still getting treatment this week.
Hugs from Alanaa and Fat Cat xxx
Soooo tired. Every time I think I’m starting to have some energy and I try to do something, I realise how tired I still am! The Tamoxifen is giving me chronic wind - or that may be partly due to time of the month - 3 weeks overdue and come with a vengeance - not helping with the fatigue or stomach pains!!
Today I’ve had my first Zoladex injection, so let’s hope I’ve not got any more side effects to contend with! The doctor said most people are fine and not to LOOK for side effects. Good advice. I must try to heed it! At least time of the month will soon be a thing of the past. There’s a plus I can especially appreciate at the moment!!
My skin stayed intact throughout RADS. After they finished, it got gradually redder and redder and the redness spread to all over the breast right up to SNB scar (I didn’t have to have armpit rads!) for the next few days, and felt a bit tender and hot. I kept my bra off, (unless leaving the house! - then I use an elastic extender (pack of 4 from ebay under 2 quid!) to make the bra a bit looser,) and just wore loose fitting cotton tops. I’ve also been slapping on the aqueous cream several times a day.
Now 6 days post-rads and I think the redness seems to be reducing and the skin has stayed intact, so hopefully, I’m through the worst - except perhaps the fatigue!!
I’ve been on Tamoxifen for a week, Zoladex started today and I pick up my REACT trial meds (anti-inflammatory or placebo) tomorrow. So I feel I’m nearly on the last phase of treatment now.
Onward and upward! When I’ve just had another little lie down! 
I hope all the other April ladies are doing OK. Hang in there! We can do this thing!
Hi ladies
I hope everyone is doing well and the soreness is all manageable.
I had my last rads session today. It was almost postponed as 1 machine was down and the other 2 were playing up. While waiting, I bumped into a lady I first met back in October in the non-wired bra section of Asda, so it was good to catch up with her although she did suffer eye-brow envy as hers are taking a while to come through. When I came out of my zapping, 2 fellow patients gave me a little round of applause, but I had to sit back down to wait for a letter and next appt.
My skin has come through fairly well so far. definitely brown rather than red, although I am a little sore on my ribs underneath my (reconstructed) breast. I find is a bit uncomfy to go unsupported, so am experrimenting with different levels of support. I just have a crop top on right now, but I may go back to the inside-out hidden support vest tops for a couple of days.
Seems strange to “only” have 2 hospital appointments in my calendar, especially as one is with the reflexology lady, so hardly counts as medical. What will i do with all the spare time? Apart from sleep or fail to sleep at night. I did buy a 4.5 tog duvet on the way back from the hospital today - I find a thicker one just makes me too hot and just a sheet and fleece blanket not enough in my cooler phases. I’ll see how I get on with it tonight.
Hope everyone’s tiredness starts to wear off soon.
Last rad was on Monday - felt very strange to be walking out for the last time. Took the team a big bag of fresh fruit as thank you - they have been excellent throughout, so professional and caring. Skin seems to be standing up fine so far, although last evening underarm got a bit itchy after getting sweaty, mowing the lawns - quite pleased with myself to manage that, and they do look better, they were rapidly becoming wildflower meadows … I have been told no sun on rads site for 6 months, but chemo susceptibility to sunburn recedes after 3 months. And message has been repeated by radiologists, radiotherapy onc and radiotherapy nurse, very consistent. Also advised to wear hat and keep neck out of sun if possible, and if not, use factor 50, on both neck and rads site. I asked about swimming and they said that as long as skin was not split/flaking at all, OK, but rinse off afterwards to get rid of chlorine/salt, depending when swimming. Looks like legs will be the safest exposure, so shorts OK!
OH took me out for celebratory dinner afterwards, with champers beforehand, and for a change did not operate as diet/alcohol police - lovely meal, with superb home made ice cream specially the rum and raisin …
Alannah, hope you heal quickly, sorry to know you have that to cope with. Carrie, how are you doing?
Hugs to all, Mujum
Good evening to you all
Mujum my Radiotherapy team and my Onc told me to keep my rads site and the neck covered with total sunblock and use a scarve etc. for the next few years. Yes they did say years as I asked twice if I had got it right. I shall check with my nurse tomorrow once again as it does sound a heck of a long time. Glad you are finished too and delighted that you are doing okay so far. My nurse got me a gel pad today and it is so soothing and comfy. Another day gone and another day closer to the finishing line.
Hope you all manage to enjoy the nice weather one way or another and that the treatment is kind to you over the next few days.
Gentle hugs all round from Alanaa and Fat Cat xxxx
Have been trying to post all week with no success.
Alanaa - The advice I had was to keep rads site out of the sun for at least a year. Not that it’s usually a problem in this country (current weather excepting).
AmysMum - Hope the duvet is helping you sleep. What’s the other hospital appointment for?
Chris - How are you getting on with all those meds? How will you know which one is giving you any SEs? You must feel like a walking pharmacy.
Finished rads yesterday. Now fairly red, but they think the skin will hold out now. Have a nasty rash next to rads site and it’s now spreading round my back a bit. The doctor who checked it wasn’t sure what it was and is going to speak to my surgeon. They might see if it goes away by itself or take a sample. Due to see surgeon next month anyway and hoping Mx will go ahead then. As it came up just after starting rads it’s probably just a reaction but would like some reassurance that it’s not skin mets.
I do feel like a walking pharmacy, Gail. If I jumped up and down (as If I would!) I’d rattle!
I staggered starting the different meds to hopefully show which caused what SEs, but as some SEs may take time to appear… who knows?!!
I’m currently feeling very uncomfortable in my trousers (all of them, even ones that were comfortably loose recently!) - it feels like PMT bloating - and I’m really hoping this is due to the temporary heightened oestrogen levels caused by Zoladex and not weight gain ALREADY - if I’ve piled on this much in 2 weeks, lord help me over 2 years!!. Both Zoladex and Tamoxifen list weight gain as side effects.
I have always been considered overweight - since birth!! But my size has been stable for at least the last 20 years and, if anything, I seemed to have lost weight since diagnosis in February! Until this last week.
I’m going to have to buy some bigger summer ‘bottoms’ - but that feels like admitting defeat. My friend, bless her, said “treat yourself to some new clothes and just cut the size labels out! But keep the old ones in case it’s just a temporary adjustment to the meds.”
Sounds like a good excuse to go shopping… and my energy levels are improving!
Good evening to you all
dear me it has been raining most of the day and it does not help to keep the old spirt up I have to say. Not sure why but I am still feeling so exhausted and dizzy since I finished rads on the 9th May. Has any of you ladies experienced similar side effects. Spoke to my GP and the nurse about it and the usual answer was it will take time. Hope you are all doing okay with your treatment - mind a lot of us April ladies should be finished by now , hooray - and that the side effects are kind to you all. Hugs from
Alanaa and Fat Cat xxx
Hi Alanaa, I too feel very tired and I had my last rad on 4th May. I just think it takes time for the body to recover from everything they’ve thrown at us. On another note, my skin has now healed completed, but it still seems to be a bit itchy where the rads were but that may be more to do with getting used to wearing a bra and boob than anything else. Isn’t it hard when you have to worry that every ache and pain could be something more sinister, my shoulder has been aching a lot recently so now I’ve been thinking well should I say something or not? I’ve got my follow up with my onc on 20th June so will say something to him if it’s still a problem then.
I hope everyone is getting on well, lots have moved over to facebook when the site got changed, but I still come on here most days as I prefer it to facebook, but I’ve never been much of a fan of facebook. The site has improved much now and I think it is almost back to how it was but with a different layout.
It’s raining here, what happened to the sunshine? Oh well, got to do some more work, I have been back to full time working but mostly working from home still at the moment, just coming into the office a couple of days a week, I find it very tiring when I have to come into the office, today is a day at the office so better go do some work.
Weme
Back at work today! 4 months from dx and 4 weeks from last rads. Still VERY tired, but that may be due to Tamoxifen and Zoladex, not just rads. I felt like I’d done a week’s teaching by the end of today, not just one day. And I didn’t even have to do any marking today. Very glad I’m on a phased return and only doing Tues & Thurs this week and Mon, Wed, Fri for next 2 weeks. Also grateful to supportive and understanding colleagues who are doing their best to help me ease back in gently (not that that is really possible in school!)
Hope all you other April rads ladies are managing to get back to some sort of ‘normality’.
Chris x
Hi Ladies,
Sorry I’ve not posted on this thread for a while. I had my last rads session last Thurs. Still having problems with my skin, but it’s bearable. Haven’t been as tired as I thought I would be - of course, I will not be saying this when I see my doc next week in the hope of another sick note!! I just need a few more weeks before I go back to work to get my head together now I’ve finished my active treatment (apart from the hormone therapy for the next 5 years). I feel a bit weird now the treatment has finished - I’ve had all these people looking after me, monitoring me, for the last 3 months, and I feel a bit flat and weepy now it’s over, and I’m back in the real world. There also seems to be so much in the news recently about breast cancer - or perhaps it’s that I’m more aware of it now it’s personal?
Anyone else feeling the same?
Caroline with the post BC blues,
xx