waiting

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1

Can anyone give me an idea how long the wait is from first oncology appointment  to getting planning apointment.

 

every stage in the treatment has waiting, then more waiting, then you wait some more.

 

I had my oncology appointment on 4th April, signed the concent form and they said I would get a letter with my planning apointment. But I would like an idea of when it’s all likely to start.

 

Keeks

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Hello Keeks, I can’t tell you exactly how long you will have to wait, but can tell you of my experience. I had my oncology appointment on Feb 15 th last year and had my planning appointment at the radiotherapy dept on Feb 28th. I started my 15 sessions of rads on March 14th and finished them on April 5 th with a break for Easter. How long you have to wait will be influenced by how busy your local rads dept is, mine, St James in Leeds is a large but very busy dept. Hope this has answered your query, best wishes Pat x

3

Hi Meeks
I had my Oncology appointment on March 12th then planning appointment on 19th March. Started my Radiotherapy on 3rd April all quite quick I thought. I am sure it depends on the hospital.
Take Care
Angie. X

4

Hi Keeks

 

I waited nearly two weeks for my planning appointment after seeing oncologist and still hadn’t heard so I rang the radiotherapy department on a Monday and they got me in on Wednesday the same week. I’m going to The Churchill in Oxford which the oncologist told me is very busy. Your hospital may give you an idea when you’ll be called. 

Hope you get your date soon.

Kathy

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Hello Keeks,
After the first appointment with my oncologist it was a week later that I had my radiotherapy planning set up appointment. I started my 15 sessions of radiation treatment two weeks after planning appointment.
The hospital I attended for radiotherapy was extremely busy so I thought my waiting times were very reasonable.
Hopefully you will get your letter this Friday.
M x

6

Thank you ladies for the info

 

looks like 3 to 5 weeks, I still have an open wound so I might have to wait a little longer. 

 

Keeks

7

Got my letter today, planning appointment on Monday, rads start two weeks.  I feel like screeming. I have an open unhealed wound, still getting it dressed by the nurse twice a week.

 

if one more person tells me every thing’s going to be ok I’ll get jailed for assault. 

 

sorry for the rant.

 

Keeks

8

Thanks Magical Moon

 

I had my WLI  in Feb and when I read the leaflet I got at the time I just tick the list of things that can go wrong saying " got that"

 

Having been told by every one that my wound has to be fully healed I know I’m not ready for rads, 120 mile round trip to the hospital and will probably get sent home.

 

or is it that emotionally I’m not ready?

 

Keeks

 

 

9

Thanks for the tip Butterfly

 

unfortunately I’m not near the stage of being able to toutch my scar yet. Still very open and being packed by nurse. Maybe when it’s closed I’ll give it a try.

 

It stopped bleeding last week once the metal clip came out. 

 

Take care

 

Keeks

 

10

Thank you both very much for your replies.

 

I have very sensitive skin, (scottish red head) because I have had dressings on for the last five weeks I have areas which are sore and weeping.  this is all worrying me as I just know my skin will break out during rads.

 

my bc nurse said may have had a scan when I saw the oncologists last week to check the healing inside but it was never mentioned at my appointment.

 

I will make a point of letting everyone know my worries tomorrow so at least when they do the scan I will know how the internal healing is going. I am also going to beg them to delay my treatment. Let’s see if anyone is listening.

 

I phoned on Thursday to arrange my patient transport to the hospital and got a letter on sat which I assumed was confirmation, unfortunately it was a leaflet requesting a minimum ‘donation’ of £25 per trip.

 

my course of rads will cost me £400. In travel if I want to use the service.  I will be able to claim most of the money back as went on to ESA when I was dx and the leaflet suggested I get a macmillan grant.

 

I normally have no problem with forms but somehow the post bc me gets so wound up about this kind of thing. 

 

I sound like a real moaning Minnie and normally that’s not me.  

Saw my breast for the first time yesterday as the nurse put on a very small dressing on friday and at last I have no swelling.  It’s not bad. A couple of big dimples,  thats about it. When I can get back to my normal bras should be fine. 

 

Rant finished for today, or at least until the next worry pops into my head, 

 

Keeks

11

Hi Keeks

 

I had my WLE and SNB Mid December and the wound took ages to close, was still bleeding several weeks later and had to have two courses of antibiotics for infections.  Eventually started my rads in early March. I  have psoraisis and a skin that burns easily in the sun so was nervous that rads would cause me major problems.  I used E45 before the rads to make sure the skin was well moisturised, then aloe vera throughout and I went pink and the skin texture changed a bit but that was all.  Then after the rads my scar got a bit crusty but persisting with the aloe vera seems to have made that go away after  a week or so. So fingers crossed that you have a similar experience and not as bad as you’re fearing.

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Thanks for the reply GB

 

it’s always nice to hear when something goes well, after all I’ve been through I expect the worst and hope for the best.

 

I know that the nurses will keep a close eye on me and won’t do anything that will make things worse , I have followed the rad threads and am preparing myself but still hoping for the best.

 

glad to hear your treatment went well. 

 

Keeks