Hiya,
Thanks so much ! Ok so when I see the onc (see I am getting good at this site now!) I need to let him know I will work through it all !
My mind is in a better place now loss of pay etcfor a few hours a day wont be as bad as five weeks off again !!!
Sara x
Hi Sara, might be worth checking whether you would actually lose any pay, as per the Equality Act 2010 under which you are protected, your company/organisation should make what they call a reasonable adjustment and allow you to go off for treatment and still pay you your normal salary. If this is not the case speak to your breast care nurse who can advise you on financial help and advice from Macmillan centres. Also, on the publications on this site there is a useful handout. www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/financial-practical-support
Good luck, Simone xxx
Hiya
This all soooo confusing, isnt it ? And I thought this was supposed to be the easy bit !!!
Have been tattoed-up in prep to start on the 20th and when I asked about Aqueous Cream I was told to only use it when I actually start treatment !!
Confused of Berkshire
Hi Madge,
It varies so much between radiographers I think. Mine said I can do what I want up till I start rads - then nothing but aqueous cream and simple soap during rads. Someone on here told me about Aloe Vera gel - but my radiographer said no. All you can do is just fall in with what your hospital policy is, as they are very varied.
kaj
xxx
I know what you mean about confusing. I went for my Rads planning on Jan 27th and nothing was mentioned to me about using creams before treatment. It’s only from reading posts on here that I know I should use it. My physiotherapist said I should use cream when I massage my mastectomy scar so I bought some Aqueous cream. I am hoping that I don’t have any stupidly early appointments - I won’t get my schedule until I start on Tuesday. I have a number to ring if I want to change appointments so I might ring them on Monday to see if they can make them all early afternoon (before visiting times)
Hi all
Just jumping in to say that you may find this interesting.
share.breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/aqueous-cream-thins-the-skin–t32353s12.html
My hosp only recommended aqueous cream. I refused to use it and used E45 and H&B 99% Aloe Vera throughout 25 sessions of rads.
I had no skin breakdown at all.
Do heed the advice to drink lots.
Good luck.
Dx
Hi Supertrouper
I asked for my appointments to be late afternoon so I could work in the morning then go home and rest and the oncologist agreed. All bar 3 sessions are at 4pm.
It might vary from hospital to hospital but they should be quite accomodating.
All the best
Anne
Hi Anne,
I had my mastectomy on 11th January, don’t need chemo, but am starting radio therapy on 27th February. Had my initial appointment yesterday for measuring and tattooing, which was fun, and am now looking forward to starting my treatment!
Julie.
I had my first zapping yesterday. Was in and out in 15 minutes, getting me lined up took the longest time and then it was just three 1 minute long zaps. I got my schedule of appointments and all are afternoon or early evening. Latest one is 8:15 pm this Friday! I was told to use aqueous cream or E45. No deodorants or products with fragrance as they can contain metals. Amongst all the appointments are two meetings with my oncologist.
I asked about using aloe Vera gel and was told I could. So far so good. One down fourteen to go.
Hi. I am three weeks post rads. I had severe burns by the end of treatment and they got steadily worse the week after treatment. I was given gel and paraffin gauze to dress it. I kept up the dressings for just over a week after rads had finished. The good news is that about 10 days after last treatment I seemed to heal very quickly and now my skin is just a little pink and very slightly sore. I tried the aloe Vera but found that my skin was still dry so I have gone back to aqueous cream. The paraffin in it keeps the skin softer. I shall put that on for a week and then give the aloe Vera another go,
I suppose what I am trying to say is that even if your skin does break down, although it looks vile and you think it is going to take ages to sort out, if you get it dressed properly healing after a week post rads is often rapid. My nurse said that the rt continues to work a week after last zap.
X Sarah
Hi everybody, hi marksgirlJulie,
Glad to hear the zap went well Supertrouper. Think there were a few ladies that had first zap yesterday or today.
Over the half way through for my rads now (finish next Friday) and can see a slight pink tinge and a stripe after treatment which goes away quickly. Boob a bit tender but not hot although in this weather it might be quite nice!
I have continued working albeit from home throughout. Also kept up some yoga and pilates and using aqueous cream twice a day and continually drinking water. I try to ignore the fact that I probably whiff a bit due to lack of deodorant on the basis that it’s their problem not mine…doesn’t always work:-)
I did ask the radiologist why there is conflicting advice about Aloe Vera and she said that even some of the AV gel that claims to be pure actually aren’t and could affect the rads treatment. She did say it’s OK to use but recommended the Holland and Barrett 99% one only.
Let’s keep fingers crossed for good weather. Glad to hear you are on the mend Cromercrab…best wishes to all…Zax
Second zapping done. They took photos (xrays) today - I meant to ask why but forgot. Has anyone else had this done on their second zapp?
Hi all,
I’m now 6 zaps in with 9 to go. So far just a little pinkness which goes away overnight. I am using the aqueous cream regularly, and have found a cool damp teatowel on the site for half an hour in the evening helps.
Lynda
I had xrays s every now and then. Don’t know why.
Yup x-rayed as well and I did ask…and promptly forgot the answer! Right head, wrong planet!! I guess it means it’s nothing to worry about
Had my 3rd zapping today. Unfortunately managed to embarrass the young man who had to line me up on the machine!! I told him “Don’t be gentle with me, I’m ticklish, get a good hold of me and shove me around”!!! ooo errr missus!!! He did go a slight shade of crimson!! I did apologise, but hopefully, at worse, I provided him with a funny story to tell his mates!!!
thanks for the teatowel tip Lynda, will keep that in mind
Hope everyone’s doing ok, Simone xx
Yes, I’m ticklish too so jump every time they move me around.
Poor boy!!! (if anything like the ones at my unit no doubt a boy and not a man, or is it just that I am getting old).
Lynda
Dear SRIF12 ladies,
I’ve got my first rads appointment for Wed 22 …this will be where they assess me and do the tattoos so i dont suppose i’ll start until a little later …days rather than weeks …hopefully I’ll be able to join in here if you’ll have me.
Mary M
Hi Mary and welcome.
i was so pleased to see the rest of your nodes were clear. I don’t know if it is the same in France but here I had to wait two weeks between planning and starting RADs so that “the oncologist could plan the treatment”.
Lynda
Hi
I’m 4 weeks post rads now and I asked what the X-rays were about and was told that as I was being zapped from two different angles and they had to move the machine, the x-rays were to check that I wasn’t moving. The first week they came in and also checked the lining up of the tatoos inbetween.
About 10 days after my rads finished I hit a wall of tiredness that didnt last very long, but tied in with going back to work, which wasnt good. Back to work full time next week, feeling a bit tired but really grateful to be returning to some sort of normality.
Anne