After 3 FEC and 3 TAX, I am staring RADS Monday 16th June (for 4 weeks) not sure what to expect as I have read various people’s comments in the forums, like chemo some people seem to sail through RADS others have problems. I hope I will be the former.
I am anticipating that it will be less harrowing than the chemo! But will have to wait and see.
Is there anyone else out there who is staring RADS? If you are a RADS newbie and you fancy a chat please feel free join me.
This is phase 3 of my treatment and the end is in sight? Yipppee. It’s been 6 months since I was first DX Dec 13th, (yes it has gone quickly never thought I would say that at the start!)
My first challenge tomorrow will be getting up as I seem to sleep for ever at the moment.
I have my list of inevitable questions for the radiographers!!!
and my pass for cheap parking whoopeee, at least there’s no worry about veins!!!
Good luck with your rads, I start mine tomorrow! I had my marking up last week and my chest looked like a David Hockney painting and I now have six tiny tattoos too.
I was dx in September and had 4 EC and 4 Tax from October followed by a bilateral mx. I too feel now as though the end is in view.
You might think about getting some pure aloe vera gel to use as this will soothe and cool the skin and certainly not do it any harm.
Hi I am on week 2 and started a thread on how i felt if any of you have read it,its called first week done but-- there is also another one on anger.Anyway week 2 and feel ok today,skin ok,some tingling.i also got a small hand held fan from pound shop which has been great.
Best wishes to all you rads newbies , I start 19th June for five weeks . Have three tattoos! had WLE rt boob … 18mm non palbable tumour also SLN 1/7 showed cells
What i don’t understand is underarm of left boob tattooed. Should have asked but could’nt get out of the room quick enough. Staff lovely but felt extemely embarrassed and uncomfortable. Was hoping to have a little dignity restored by having one boob exposed but no two have to be on full view. Keep in touch whilst we are being Barbequed. Love to all Bobbiexx
Thanks for all good wishes, I was “done” today and all went well. I only have 3 tattoos too, I was a little worried as I was marked up in Feb. and I could not see them but they found them and duly circled them with felt tip!!!
I had to wait a while before I went in but then I had a chat with a radiographer and then was taken into the room, I was surprised by the crowd of 4 radiographers they manouvered me into position and then zapped me twice the zapping only took about 1min and 30 secs, I was surprised.
I think they mark the left boob Bobby to align the machine up with the cross and the green rays I thought it was a bit like Star Wars or a lasar show!!! They are definitely only zapping the right one because I asked.
Thanks for tip on Aloe Vera will get some of that too. They told me not to use deodorant or even deodorant wipes because of aluminium it affects the radiation.
I bought some non wired bras after my operation I bought sport bras but stopped wearing them after a while, think may have to dig them out again.
Good luck Dawn, Nic and Bobby for your first days this week.
Glad you are feeling a bit better about it this week Mary, perhaps it was good you got it out of your system last week.
I’m now puzzled why I have six tattoos, I can only see four but remember six being done, I did make a remark about dot to dot…it’s been many moons since I did that!
I found the felt tip marks quite stubborn to remove with soap and water, anyone else used anything else?
Bobbie, definitely ask why your other boob was tattood, you need to know for peace of mind.
I recently bought a sloggi crop top which is comfortable to wear but only if you are not ample sized, it was £9.00 if that helps.
Mary, I hope you are managing with each zapping, let us know how you’re getting on.
Must go now, important date with late morning coffee and sticky bun!
Hello Ladies
Had my first zap today. It doesn’t take long at all does it?
I must say though,since I’ve come back home my poor boob has been aching like mad!Is that normal? They haven’t cooked me too much have they?
1 down 23 to go.
Good luck to everyone going through their treatments.
xx
I had my first zap today and like you greenpea I was amazed at how quick it was. I have got sciatica at the moment which is driving me mad and it took me longer to get on and off the table than to have the actual treatment. I felt like a beached whale, and probably looked like one. The one member of staff was lovely but the other one didn’t have a lot of patience with me so I am not looking forward to tomorrows treatment. Am off to eat some chocolate to cheer myself up.
Just got back from first session (having left the house four hours ago)! No wonder I couldn’t see all tattoos, one is in armpit and needs to be redone as nobody could see it. I am now sporting green lines around each tattoo.
Forgot to say I have bought a couple of vest tops with hidden support from M & S. They are so comfortable and were £8 each. They haven’t got great support but they do me ok - I’m 32DD. Down my way they only do black and white but in the bigger stores they might do more colours. I’ve tried other makes but they’re not so comfortable. I’m going to try the Sloggi crop top too that Dawnflower suggested. I can’t bear the thought of putting a bra on my boob at the moment and this is only the first day!
Hi
Another one done,skin starting to go pink, so plenty of cream.I use baby wipes to get pen off
The bra gets unleashed as soon as I get home
Good Luck
Thanks Dawn, greenpea, Sarah and everyone else who I don’t mean to not name individually (we’re a fast growing club ladies!!).
One down, 19 to go. Will look into sloggis tomorrows! Thanks. Survived today with a cotton/spandex tank top that has one of those faux bra “shelves” (I’m sure there’s a name for it…)
Corsa, good luck tomorrow on your first zap!
It’s nearly end of week so here’s to everyone getting through the rest for a well deserved no-rads weekend!
Bless you all for your caring thoughts. I am in a bit of a state tonight Rads appt 9.40 tommorrow . Hope I do’nt have to wait to long to be called. When I get scared I am really horrible to OH and find myself wanting to pick an argument , anyone else get like this??? Had a few stressful days been running around Docs and hospital with OH , seems like he had a kidney stone that passed into the bladder, he has been in agony for four days but is feeling better today thank goodness. Also had a nasty reaction to penicillin although he has had it before. For the larger ladies WITT do a vest top with bra support up to size 22, thought they would be ok when at home , wish I was a 34b but that ai’nt gonna happen. Always wanted boobs reducing never liked them , like them even less know through cancer. Having said that I would never dream of having reduction now, have’nt got the courage anymore. At least I can start counting the days off as from tommorrow. All being well should finish the day before my 62nd b’day.
Good luck to all especially my fellow rads newbies!!! Love Bobbiexx
I had 3 tattoos - one on each side and one in the middle - they use these to line you up with the laser beam to mke sure you are in the right position.
I found the felt tip a bit stubborn at times too - some more so than others. Alcohol wipes lift the marks off without any scrubbing. I was given a handfull when I commented about going to a wedding and hoped I could get the pen marks off.
Well that is the first week done. Glad you are all fairing well and surviving. I have not been on here all week as Mum got admitted to hospital on Tues night. So all my time and energy has been diverted to that, so am now at hospital 3 times a day!!! Have not had time for investigating boob (think they are still there!!) or aqueuos solution several times in fact I forgot yesterday I was so tired.
Just out of interest I mentioned Aloe Vera to the radiographer and she said not to use it, any one else been told that as it can cause a reaction!
I have not had a problem with the felt tip it just washes off in the shower.
Hope yours went ok Bobbie and you did not get too stressed?
Anyone finding their eyes are streaming?
Had a really good blart on Wed night after leaving Mum at hospital I thought is this my BC causing me to be so emotional?? Couldn’t stop all night.
Anyway I will unfortunately be at the hosp all weekend visiting Mum.
So hope the rest of you have a good rest.
Has anyone else got an appointment to see a Radiographer who specialises in Lymphodema as I am seeing one MON, as part of the course?? Will let you know what happens.
Hi Sarah
We had an arm class this week with a physio who gave us exercises to do and a lyphodoema specialist who talked us through the ins and outs and how best to avoid getting it
Sarah, very sorry to hear your mum’s in hospital, what a worry for you. Whilst I was having chemo Dad told me Mum had fallen and fractured her pelvis so I know how hard it is to not worry. My mum’s 250 miles away and that made it harder.
Try and get some rest if you can, you need to look after yourself too.
I’m reading all your comments with interest as I’m going for rads planning on Tuesday.
A bit worried that some of you found that it made your boob ache. 6wks post surgery and my boob is really sore and aches thats before rads.
Is the room big as I can get quite claustrophobic in a small area. I know that I’m left alone while the rads are delivered.
Reading all your tips are useful.
Thanks
