Hello South Coast beach Girl
Good to hear from you. I had session 5 today and it is going well, no real S/E although it may be a bit early yet. Main S/E is very thirsty so drinking pints of water, probably running to loo all the time is making me tired!! Loading my skin with the cream and using it to wash the area too so hoping that does the trick. I have double checked with my radiography team and they say no deo other than a brand called Crystal which they say Lloyds sell.
The staff are all lovely and answer all my questions which get more technical by the day. Had delays 4 of the days, today being the longest as nearly an hour but it is a busy city unit and takes patients from all over the region so only to be expected. I spoke to MacMillan advisor today and am going to book some free alternative therapies and she also told me about a course for when treatment ends. I think the end of the rads may start the hardest part of my journey. People keep saying to me that it will all be ‘done and dusted’ by the end of May, but for me I think that may only be the start. I have been very positive and upbeat so far and intend staying that way but all the appointments and meetings etc etc have meant the past 4 months have flown by. I think that there will be more time to reflect on the diagnosis, treatment and future.
I have developed a really annoying all over body itch, has got worst in last week and I can’t stop scratching but BC nurse says it is most probably a side effect of Anastrozole and she will speak to oncologist but thinks it will settle down and to take anti histamine tablet.
Good luck for tomorrow, it’s absolutely fine. Hope you journey to hospital is not too far so it doesn’t eat into your day. Let me know how you get on and how you are feeling.
Hi
Just back from my seventh Radiotherapy session, so nearly half way through. I have been following all your experiences with interest. So far I have nothing to report. The boob in question may look slightly pinker than the other, but then again it may not! I am using Aquaeous (that doesn’t look right!) cream, Simple soap and no deodorant - just hoping I am not too whiffy - I think not but others may disagree. As soon as I lie on the radiotherapy bed and am told to keep still I start itching everywhere, but that stops as soon as i can move again. Picked up my anastrozole prescription yesterday but won’t start until the 16th. The doctor’s surgery called to book me into the “Chronic Illness” clinic for a 30 min appointment next week - a new initiative apparently, but I don’t like the sound of “chronic” and feel fine physically so really don’t know how we will fill 30 mins.
I do hope your chins are well and truly up and your treatments are going well.
BFN.
Hi everyone
Had 9 of 15 rads today. Managing well up to now with them just a bit pink and hot for a while but 100% aloe vera out of the fridge seems to cool it down. Got some painkillers for the pain inside boob that I still have from surgery but doesnt seem to be helping. I am seeing nurse again on Tues after treatment so will tell her again. If it wasnt for that pain I would be swimming along nicely as rads seem to be no problem ( up to now anyway )
Ann W xxx
Hi everyone First post for me since starting rads on Thursday. 2 down 17 to go! So, here’s my experience… First session felt rather scarey as meeting the strange machines for the first time. Different machines to the ones they do the planning scan on and slightly claustrophobic but all went very quickly. Afterwards felt slightly weird & spaced out. As the day went on ( session at lunchtime) I felt heat building up and skin felt hot to touch and looked slightly darker. Also woke very thirsty in the night. Second session I took my own music and felt much better and less intimidated by the machine! My daughter has taken to calling rads the sci-fi sunbed and that has somewhow normalised what feels like a very surreal situation. Afterwards again felt very spaced out. Actually drove off from a petrol station without putting the petrol cap back! Heard it bounce off down the road some way from petrol station so did a u turn and went back to look for it. Found it on the pavement. Think my luck is turning!! Relieved to have the weekend off and have been enjoying a few glasses of wine. However this evening felt slightly sore and when I checked in the mirror, have found a sore patch at one end of my scar
Think I went on too long in last post as my last bit wasn’t visible. Too much chat lol
Hi everyone , reading how you are all getting on and sounds like not bad at all and all doing the right things especially having those few glasses of wine Southbeach girl!.
I finished my treatment two and a half weeks ago and just beginning to feel more myself again. I had a sore area under the breast right at the end of treatment which gradually got bigger. Anyway saw nurse in my GP practice who said it is a burn! . She gave me a prescription for special burn plasters which did the trick in about five days. Skin now healed and I am just putting a antiseptic cream on it . Had quite a few sharp paints in the breast as treatment keeps working for approximately two weeks. Mine is still just about there as keeps getting warm and itchy at times but so much better which is a relief.
That awful tiredness I was warned about did not happen until the tenth treatment and lasted about a week. It was a draining feeling as if my batteries had run out. Still feel tired at times but I have kept busy so maybe it is that.
When you get to half way it is a good feeling and also not going on that journey every day is a relief. I felt sorry for all those other people there who had more severe stages of cancer. Funny isn’t it as desperate as you feel by having cancer I am so relieved I did not have to go down the chemo route? . Next stage is seeing the Oncologist in a couple of weeks time. I suppose that will be it for awhile? . Six long hard months but feel as if I am coming out of the tunnel towards the light at long last. I know I shall be monitored closely for the next few years but it will be something that you have to live with everyday. Determined to get fitter and hopefully Anastrozoe wil be bearable. Best wishes to you all and keep positive! Katy.
Katykookubura…
The burn sounds nasty but glad they sorted it quickly. Interesting to hear about your tiredness, everyone seems to say it is worse following the end of radiotherapy. I get tired late afternoon but don’t give into a doze as I find I sleep really well at night if I don’t.
Think keeping fit very important, I have continued jogging through treatment (albeit it slower than before if that is possible) and I am some friends are doing the Race for Life on 23/06.
I have to go to an ‘arm exercise’ class after my rads on Tuesday, did you have this?
Southcoastbeachgirl…
Glad all under way and so far so good, nice to have the long weekend break. I couldn’t believe it when I read about your petrol cap incident, not only do we have v similar diagnosis/treatment plan but it would appear we are suffering the same side effect. I filled up on Tuesday on my way to hospital and as I drove out of the garage I hearde frantic horn beeping. Can’t be me as I haven’t done anything wrong, I thought, only to find out when I stopped in the car park later that I had not put my petrol cap back on!! Fortunately mine is attatched to the car so didn’t have to go searching for it like you. radiotherapy brain??
I am booked in for 3 complementary treatments a week on Monday, reflexology, reiki and hand/arm massage so that will be relaxing.
Enjoy your weekend and hope you get to the beach!
I was advised NOT to use aqueous cream at all, provides no protection and can’t remember why now could aggrevate. I used 100% aloe Vera gel which was soothing and natural product. I had no burning, no itching and healed quickly. When in Caribbean the leaves from the aloe Vera plant are directly applied for sun burn and its fab. Worked for me and I would also use it for any other skin problems. Must be 100% though to get the natural benefit. X
Radiotherapy brain? The side effect that no one mentions… How strange that you did the same thing VAB 
. I have been walking along the beach today. Did a 5 mile walk. Was gorgeous but properly tired afterwards. Well done you for keeping the jogging going. Not sure I’d manage that at the moment. No break for me this bank holiday weekend. Rads as usual tomorrow. Hoping to fit in a pub lunch afterwards though. The cream I have been recommended is Sorbaderm. I mentioned it to a GP friend & she hadn’t heard of it but apparently it acts as a barrier during rads. Will let you all know how it goes when I gtheir from chemist on Tuesday. Tempted to try Aloe Vera after your comment Carrie. Others suggest it too. Must also look into complementary therapies. I could do with something to ease my aching Anastrazole joints. X
Going today for no 13 of 15 so nearly at the end of all that dreadful travelling. Very red and still sore boob and nipple even though BC gave me flaminal cream for nipple which hasnt worked. Seasidesusie told me to try nipple covers which I am going to buy today. Anything to make that terrible tenderness easier.
roll on Tuesday
Ann
Hi VAB, no exercise glasses for me just a DVD and booklet. To be honest I just used my arm well within reason. I had a neighbour who did my ironing and I someone else did hoovering. I only has one node removed though so don’t expect to get many problems. I expect you we’re told to make sure not to offer the arm on your affected side up for blood tests or to be used for BP check?.
Seems you all coping well and coming through to the end of the treatment without too many problems which is good. Southbeach girl can’t believe you are still running well done ! .
It three weeks since I finished rad treatment and except for burn under breast not feeling too bad. Still get sudden sharp pains and I get tired but not as bad as I thought it was going to be. The Anastrozole is causing really unpleasant hot flushes and a few headaches but again not the all the time. I am on a very small amount of anti- inflammatory medication for arthritis and I think it is helping with joint pain anyway so not noticed any increase in pain . I would suggest if anyone is suffering joint pain to see their GP and get some medication rather than suffer it.
Hope you all have a restful weekend and be strong you are all nearly at the end of the rad treatment and life can start getting back to normal whatever normal is of course? Katy.
Hi Katykookaburra, saw your post and thought I must defend the fitness of our friend VAB. It is she who is still jogging - not me! Can’t take the praise there I’m afraid lol. I have completed 7 of 19 rads now and while I am quite tired, seem to be managing ok overall. Generally quite hot and a bit sore in the evenings but all quite copeable. I think the Anastrazole is the worst thing as I am very stiff and sore in shoulders neck and elbows and do get the hot flashes too. Seeing onc again on Thursday as had to make a fuss about lack of contact from him yesterday. Saw him a month ago when he told me on top of everything else, that my blood test showed liver abnormalities and high cholestorol. Had to have ’ an urgent liver scan’ since when no contact whatsoever! Guess no news is good news but fairly irritated by his lack of care
Hi Ann
RaLife cream is excellent during RT. It is a moisturiser and also has things that controls redness and its absolutely fab for stopping itch!. So much better than just aqueous cream which doesn’t work and better than using lots of things like anti-histamines for the itchiness.
Sorry looking at the dates of this you’ll have finished radiotherapy now - but might help others. Try googling it - but you can get it from ******** website or your chemist.
K xx
Please advice me on what really is the best kind of treatment available for radiotherapy burns… Am from Sri Lanka and it is quite sad to know that most of the medicine prescribed are not available in our country. My mum did undergo radiotherapy and is just after 20 sessions. It is really embarrasing to see the suffering she is undergoing coz of the burns. We did counsult many doctors but nothing seems to work. There is liquid oozing out from the burns. Please help me out
Hi shazmifaz. Sorry to hear your mum is suffering. I found aloe Vera was good. I think you might be able to get it in Sri Lanka, maybe not as a gel but as a plant. It grew in my yard when I lived in Arizona and grows in dry areas of Sri Lanka. You can peel off the skin and dab the plant directly on the sore area. You might be able to buy the gel from an Ayurvedic medical practitioner.
Hello ladies I just want to let you know I had finished my rads 8th September and had done really well compared to some of you with the side effects. I seemed to sail through the treatment with little side effects, but this last few days I have been getting “itchier” and a little sore in the crease under my boob, even though I have followed instructions and plastered myself in Aqueous cream to moisturise the skin and antihystemine cream they gave me for the itching. It had started to sting and the skin had broken, I took tips from here and rang BCN they said “if skin is broken stop using creams, try to keep area dry, use cotton hankie between bra and skin to stop irritation, keep area clean, use non perfumed products, pat dry do not rub area. If possible lay on your bed for couple of hours without top on to let air get to it.”
I have done this and it is feeling better and not so red and itchy, she said I was about right 8-10 days side effects will be at peak and then subside, it is quite normal to get the soreness under boob. Only time to seek medical help is if you know it is infected. Continue with creams when area all clear and dry. Hope this helps any newcomers good luck to everyone hope side effects are as few as mine have been. Maggie XX
Hi Maggie,
i was also warned that if there was the slightest stinging on applying cream then the skin was broken so to stop straight way, moisturised skin being like wet tissue paper and more prone to tearing. If it did happen I was to immediately request a gel which would seal the skin and prevent further tearing. Fortunately for me I didn’t need it but unfortunately that means I don’t remember what it was called - I’m sure someone else will be able to jump in with the name.
Hugs,
Kitt
x
Hi everyone, I had radio in april 15. I asked for the shorter term with higher units & did not suffer high burns. However, I found vitamin E cream the most effective after using the hospitals sorbalene & my own Ego QV cream & also the aloe vera plant gel. I still get itchy under & between my breasts 6 mths down the track which surprises me since the redness is long gone. Just wondered if others r still itchy? Blessings to all, Rhonda
I had rads in July and was given hydrocortisone to apply sparingly when itchy. It only lasted a few weeks after rads stopped.
However, I’ve been really itchy this weekend for no apparent reason. Very difficult to get relief from scratching a numb boob!! May I’ll dig out that cream again.
Hi I have just finished 3 weeks of rads to the chest wall. Some itching began in the first week but they said they could see nothing but it worsened so eventually got given Epaderm cream (was using E45) It is a lot richer than E45 and seems to cool things down a little a couple of hours after application.
At the penultimate treatment I was given a Metiplex dressing which I kept on all night just in case I scratched as there is not yet any evidence of skin breaking down. I mean I just wanted to complete the treatment asap so I would have done anything to stop skin going. However the instructions for this dressing state it is to be
used when the skin has broken and on the last day I was told to get as much air as possible to the area
(it is below my armpit) so I have left the dressing off for now .They told me to expect things to get worse
over the next 2 weeks. Crickey! I have therefore got a prescription from my GP for more of the dressings
just in case.
I wonder 2 things. First I doubt if there really is any treatment that fully stops the itching at least until the skin has fully healed when you can try more things 2. there is so much contradictory advice eg keep it dry or moisturise it that no one really seems to know.
If the itching continued more than a month after treatment then I think I would ask to see a dermatologist
Oh And I find it hurts as well so alternating between soreness and itching. You have my sympathies