AUGUST '17 Chemo Starters

[Ali S]

Hi Butterfly. Well done for ditching the hat. I've been going out without my wig for a couple of weeks but still wear it to work. I'm finding the wig really uncomfortable now. I'm booked for a trim and colour on 28 so will be ditching it for good after that. I can't wait.

Glad your tummy troubles are sorted. Hope you are enjoying the sunshine.

Love to you all
Ali xx

[Sue C]

Hi Butterfly

I had my hair cut 4 months post chemo and it looked fine. You'll be surprised how quick it grows from here onwards. My hair used to be long before all this madness started! so I'm aiming to get back to that. I'm now a year on from the first cut and by Summer I will have a decent bob. It's still a bit wavy at the ends and thicker than it was before, but I can see my old hair returning. Sadly, the grey hairs have also returned!!

Best wishes

Sue xx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi ladies, hope everyone is doing ok..it’s been a while! Pleased to say I found the cause of my tummy trouble, it was the brand of Letrozole I changed to, have switched back and am settled now 😊

With the sunshine yesterday I felt extremely brave and ditched my hat for the first time outdoors! Still only a very fine covering and no fringe at all, salt and pepper all over but quite neat. I guess to strangers it looks like a very short cut! Maybe the warmer weather will speed up the growth! 

Hugs to you all xx

[Cathysid]

Hi butterfly,

maybe it's a virus? We are more susceptible after chemo and with ongoing treatments.

i found my stomach/bloating and iffy digestion really improved after starting to drink a green smoothie every day?  Hope you feel better soon xxx

[Butterflyflyfree]

I’m fed up. 

Weeks after chemo finished - last cycle 5 Jan. Having Herceptin and Pertuzamab every 3 weeks still - no.8 tomorrow with Zometa for the first time. Been on Letrozole for 3 weeks.

My tummy had really settled down, wasn’t perfect, but never was as have IBS. And then twice this week I’ve had 💩 issues very much like I had when on Docetaxol. What is happening? I know side effects linger on..but I feel this has come out of the blue. 

Sorry but thanks for listening. Xx

[Camilla9]

Thanks for your helpful comments.

I look forward to some sprouting soon!

Good luck with your onward journeys.

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi Camilla I typed a reply last night but it’s not posted 🙄

My hair is coming back but seems to be slower than Jo and Ali. I had 4 EC that might be a reason, so hopefully yours will follow their path. I’m not quite ready to go hatless just yet!

But your taste will return a lot quicker, I think as soon as the 3 weeks of your last cycle have gone you’ll notice a difference. I too had no respite between cycles like others have had, was lucky if I got a couple of days.

Good luck with your last cycle, and then you’ll have a little breather before your op. I opted for a mx as I wasn’t convinced the chemo could have completely killed everything and didn’t want to risk anything being left behind. But as it turned out my pathology report was completely clear! So feeling so wretched for 6 months was (almost!) worth it. I have rads starting after Easter, and continue with TP every 3 weeks until October. 

Hope all our August ladies and other readers are doing ok. Xx

[Ali S]

Hi Jo. I've just checked out the cancer research post. You looked great with your bald head, far better than I ever did. Well done for telling your story to help others xx

[JoG83]

Hey beautiful ladies!!

Missed you all!!
Camilla - sounds like you’re storming through it. My hair started growing back after chemo had stopped and now it’s a growing machine! Same with the taste, all of a sudden you’ll notice you can’t taste again. It doesn’t take long.

Ps if anyone wanted to see my bald head back then, I’m the girl Cancer Research UK has just posted on Facebook. A bit weird seeing it all again but I’m praying it’s a blessing to those who need hope. X

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi Camilla, I have a similar treatment plan to you although I had 4 each of EC and DTP. I had my last D in the first week of Jan. 

I would say my hair began to be softer rather than spikey, very gradually, at the start of the year, about 3 months after my last dose of EC. Am now 5 months post EC and it’s coming but still not as quickly as I’d like! Haven’t been brave enough to go hatless outside yet, but as I had very short hair before all this started I’m hoping I’ll be ready once the weather warms up a bit. I think that’s also the reason why I’ve found my wig so hard to accept - it’s got too much hair!

T was another problem altogether - I agree with you, my taste went completely and even changed from day to day. It was horrid. I lost a little bit of weight, but am sorry to hear you’ve lost so much you poor thing. I’m glad to say that the taste returned pretty quickly once the T stopped. So hopefully it’ll be the same for you once you’ve had your last cycle and the 3 weeks have passed. I had no respite weeks at all with either regime, I was lucky if I got a couple of days in the week it all kicked off again. 

It’s my nails and my feet that are still suffering. Have lost 3 toenails so far, with the rest to follow, and still feel like I’m walking on hot coals sometimes. My fingernails are very ropey but I’m hoping they aren’t going to go the same way. Have bought Sally Hanson Nail Rehab today to see if that will help?! 

Good luck with your last T. I had my op almost 5 weeks after and felt ready. My taste was definitely back by then as the Marmite on toast I had when I came round was the best taste ever!! That was 6 weeks ago and I’m now waiting to start rads. 11 more TP to go. Xx

[Ali S]

Hi Camilla and welcome

My hair started to grow back once I started on the T. If yours hasn't started to grow yet it should do soon. 4 months on and mine is ready for a little trim.

I can't really help with the taste thing. I was lucky to continue to have the respite week. I ate and drank anything strawberry flavoured during the bad weeks as its the only taste i could tolerate. I hope yours improves soon.

Good luck with the remainder of your treatment x

[Camilla9]

Hello everyone, I'm jumping in from the Dec thread with a couple of questions.

I am on FEC T followed by op, rads and 18 X 3 wks herceptin inj. Currently halfway thru 2nd of the 3 T. Can anyone tell me where, on this journey, my hair might start to grow back? It didn't bother me to lose it but I wld like to know?

Also, since starting the T I've had 5 wks of horr taste in mouth , hard to eat and all food tastes awful. ( Have lost 12 kilos since starting chemo) When might taste buds return to normal? On FEC there was a respite week but I don't seem to get it now.

Any response much appreciated.

Thanks

[Mellylew]

I just wanted to say thanks to you all for the support and advice through this challenge. I hope you are all doing well or at the very least coping with all that this experience gives us. I have finished all treatment and I am now in recovery mode. Having lots of palpitations but I’m putting that down to fatigue. I’ve had all the tests which are fine. I’m taking each day as it comes and trying not to push myself!
I wish you all well in your future endeavours and I’m sending you all love and healing.
Xx

[Mishy18]

Jo im having terrible trouble sleeping too im not on any hormone blockers putting it down to the chemo induced menapause
Hoping everyone is well after treatments and getting back into real life whatever that is now!!!!!!!

[Xena75]

Oh also, my menstrual cycle has returned...with a vengeance!
My last chemo was 1 Dec and cycle finished 22 Dec, and I'd say I had signs of ovulation from new year. I hadn't had any hot flushes for a month or so either.
Finally my period arrived early Feb and nearly lasted two weeks!!! Was like nothing else heavy too! Fortunately I had read they can be heavy when they return, so as soon as I started I rushed to supermarket and stocked up on the biggest of everything I could get, even bought some maternity pads!!!
So just letting you know in case any of you feel things may be starting back up again, so you can be prepared!

[Xena75]

Hi Jo and all the August ladies! How lovely to hear how everyone is doing. 

I am starting to get back to "normal" now. I finished Radiotherapy last week, WOOOHOO, so now feel I have lots of time on my hands! Still a little tired but on the whole it was fine. Skin is returning to normal ish colour in places and nipple sensitivity has died down thankfully. I even had a haircut!!! Now sporting an Ellen type pixie crop.

SE wise my fingers are a bit sore, though this could be due to not working (hairdresser- so normally my fingers are really strong and I feel I've lost some dexterity)

I have some muscle fatigue, I'm sure this will improve as my activity level does too.

I also have some tinnitus though this could be down to a blocked ear that hasn't really shifted in 4weeks? It started after my first week of rads but don't think its connected.

On the whole nothing too rubbish to be left with.

I also had a lovely complementary massage at the Big C, so maybe worth checking if you are entitled to it too?! I'm allowed 6 treatments (either massage or reflexology) and so is one nominated person, so i will take my mum to the next one!

Im so thankful for this website, it and all of you, really helped keep me sane when I had some heavy stuff going on. Unbelievably, two of my co workers have had BC diagnosis since I started my treatment,so I recommended them here.

Your all on the home straight now! Haven't we done well!!!

[Ali S]

Jo, I have 20 sessions of rads to do 15 normal and 5 boosters.

I have disturbed sleep too. The hot flushes wake me up as does the pain from the neuropathy and the nerve pain from the shingles. I've been given amitriptyline to help but that doesn't stop the hot flushes. Does anyone take anything for the hot flushes? xx

[JoG83]

Lovely to hear how you are all getting on.
Mary-Kate- here’s to a quick recovery for you!
Ali- how many weeks of rads do you have?
Butterfly- woohoo that’s such good news!!!

Just a question - does anyone experience sleepless nights? I’ve read up that the menopause causes it which was induced from chemo. I’m also on tamoxifen so not sure if it’s that too...?

[Ali S]

Mary-Kate, hope all went well with the op today. Hopefully you will have a speedy recovery and this is just a small setback on your road to recovery from the BC.

Had meeting with oncologist today and she did the paperwork for my RT. Hope to have planning within next 2 weeks. No news on whether I will be offered more chemo. The lead oncologists are going to discuss the study and let me know if they are going to offer it xx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Wishing you all the very best for today Mary-Kate. As you say it’s not what you need after everything you’ve gone through, but hopefully this will be an easier recovery. Xx

[Mary-Kate]

So glad to hear your good news Ali and Butterfly, so good to hear positive news!  Hope Radiotherapy goes well for you when you start Ali - there's light at the end of the tunnel for you...

So whilst trying to move on from Chemo and Radiotherapy, I've now been told that my broken ankle needs surgery, really hoping it's not because of the Chemo...  So I'm back in hospital tomorrow, but it's already been rearranged once as no beds, so just hoping it'll go ahead.  But the thought of more surgery and anaesthetic after 4 Op's already for BC is quite hard to cope with...  Just keep having to remember that this is fixable and nothing in comparison to what we've all been though - only a temporary delay in getting back to 'normal' and another few weeks of rest and recovery....

Hope everyone else is doing OK xxx

[Mishy18]

Fantastic news butterfly thats very good news 😊
Heres hoping everyone is good doing ok aside from the fatigue Ali i hope you get RT dates soon so you can also start to move forward 💖

[Ali S]

That's really good news Butterfly I'm so pleased for you. I hope you get some relief when your seroma is drained, sounds like it's really uncomfortable.

I'm still playing the waiting game. Not heard anything about my radiotherapy at all. I have an oncology appointment tomorrow, no idea what it's for. Hope all you other ladies are all well x

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi Ladies just thought I’d share my good news..my consultant surgeon just called me to say that my pathology results are completely clear. No sign of cancer in any of the breast or scar tissue taken. (Almost) worth the agony of the chemo! So pleased it did it’s job.
Not sure where I go from here but will find out in the next few days. In the meantime he’s going to drain my seroma tomorrow which will be a relief.
Hope you August ladies are doing ok whatever stage you are at. Xx

[Sib]

Hi chaffinch17, i am on herceptin, now having injections but started on infusions with chemo. Not sure how many I have had as I had breaks in my chemo due to side effects/illness and know i needed a further booster dose at one stage.
Dont think im getting side effects from herceptin but im still suffering other ses 4 weeks post chemo especially neuropathy and fatigue!! But happy to join. X

[Chaffinch17]

Just popping in from the October group. Hope you ladies are getting on ok post chemo. Sorry to hear about the broken ankle Mary-Kate that’s the last thing you needed. Hope it heals soon x
Just wondering how many of you in this group are having Herceptin as part of your treatment? I’m trying to set up a group in the Targeted therapy section for help and support. It is called February Herceptin starters? I had my first injection on Friday and so far so good. I would welcome input from any of you who have had several treatments already either alongside chemo or as injections afterwards.
Thanks, wishing you all well x

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi Ali 

Glad you had good news from your surgeon today and I hope, like you, that the CT scan is just for reassurance. Sorry you’re back to the waiting game again though. 

Unfortunately my pathology results weren’t back 🙈 my surgeon was very apologetic and so I’ve been rescheduled for next week. He did remove the dressing, and I’m pleased how neat the scar is, although I’m a little nervous now it’s out in the open! He doesn’t seem worried by the seroma, says he’ll drain it if it becomes any more uncomfortable, and there’s nothing I can do (or not do) to make it better (or worse) It could take 12-18 months to go which is annoying but as there’s nothing I can do I’ll have to try not to stress. Exercises going well, with a little grimacing and plenty of painkillers!

I’m really pleased I’m feeling quite good now chemo is over - 6 weeks since my last cycle. Get my 7th Herceptin and Pertuzumab tomorrow. 

Hope you ladies are doing ok. Xx

[Ali S]

Hi ladies. How are we all doing? Butterfly did you get your results today? Mary-Kate, how's the ankle? What bad luck for that to happen.

I had a very positive meeting with my surgeon yesterday. There was nothing of concern in the extra tissue she took so she is signing me off for radiotherapy. We discussed the pathology of the lump and i was pleased to hear that there was no vascular invasion. She is very positive about my future and the chances of spread or recurrence. However we also discussed my aches and pains and my little trip to a&e and she said she thought she should send me for a CT. I'm hoping she is doing it for my peace of mind and not because she suspects anything.

So I'm waiting for an appointment for that and for my radiotherapy planning. I'm seeing my oncologist next week so will find out if he is going to recommend more chemo. It seems never ending.

Work is going ok but is aggravating my neuropathy, especially in my hands. It's very tiring though.

Hugs to you all xx

[Mishy18]

Happy valentines ladies 💖💖💖💖

[CK]

Food to hear from you Mary Kate. I dont know, a broken ankle now, oh well, just a little discomfort, painkillers and then hope it will mend soon.
Well done for finishing treatment. I have my onc app tono morn to see when rads will start. Its 3 weeks since I had ANC and surgery clear margins.

Hope all doing well and moving on to stage or completed treatment.xx

[Mary-Kate]

Hi August Ladies

Hope everyone’s doing as well as expected.  So I started Radiotherapy a few weeks ago and compared to Chemo, found it so much easier to deal with, although quite hard doing the breath-holding as the Radiotherapy was to my chestwall on the left and they want to reduce the risk to the heart and lungs - hadn't realised before...  My skin hasn't suffered too much thankfully but have lots of swelling under my arm, they're hoping it's just reaction to the Radiotherapy and not the start of lymphedema, not what I want…  Managed to work all the way through the treatment, quite good as a distraction but so tiring…  Also started tamoxifen last week, for the next 10 years and so far it's been OK, except for hot flushes, but it's early days...  So, I’ve finally finished Radiotherapy – left that hospital like I was walking on a cloud!  Nearly a whole year of treatment - 4 operations, 5 months of Chemo, then Radiotheraphy, and treatment is finally over and that feels amazing!!! 

But, I can't believe my bad luck since then... So, on my first day after finishing treatment I only went and slipped on mud in the woods and have broken my ankle – aghhhhhh!  Not what I need right now – more enforced rest and recovery, so frustrating.  After a CT scan they’ve decided not to operate and see if it’ll heal naturally, so in a non-weight-bearing cast, but they did say that Chemo can make your bones more brittle and can make broken bones harder to heal.  Life can be very unfair sometimes - but trying to look at it as a minor set-back – this is fixable…nothing can be as hard as Chemo in the scheme of things….

But on the good side, had my first hair cut (very short and grey), now have a full head of hair and almost have a hair-style again – no more wig or hats!  Such a good milestone to reach – a step in the right direction towards ‘normality’ again.  Looks like the cold cap did work after all, I only lost about 50% of my hair and it might have helped with the re-growth, I think.  Can’t wait for my eyelashes to grow back too.

Lovely to hear how you’re all doing. Great to hear of good results - Butterfly, JoG83, CK & Mishy18!  Sib, so glad you've finally finished - it must feel like a marathon, glad you've got a holiday to look forward to.  Ali, glad your 2nd Op has gone OK, hope the results are good when you eventually get them and that your shingles starts to clear up soon, it sounds like you’ve had a tough time recently - good luck going back to work too, let us know how it goes.

Take care and hugs to you all xxx

[Mishy18]

Well done for surgery butterfly, eeh you ladies are not far behind me im post treatment by 4 weeks now not doing bad still get tired but doing ok, hairs doing great have a very short pixie (grey😂)
Jo fab news, and you too Ck what a lovely feeling 💖
I know our posts will become a little less often but good to hear everyone is doing ok xxx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi Jo and the other August ladies, hope everyone doing ok. Well done Jo, final leg around the corner for you.

I had surgery last Wednesday. Left side mastectomy, my choice, and SNB which was checked while I was in surgery and found to be clear, so no further nodes taken 😊 

I get the pathology results on Thursday this week, which will determine what happens next. 

I was out the same day and haven’t been too bad. I think after chemo, nothing is ever going to floor me again! I am taking regular painkillers, and it’s noticeable if I forget a dose. Have a lovely heart cushion from Jen’s Friends which I heard of in this forum, and which I am finding comforting under my arm. Have been a bit distressed over the fluid that’s filled my breast space..not completely, but it’s very noisy as it swooshes around! I’ll see what they say on Thursday when I see the surgeon again. Quite numb and have lovely blue streaks from the dye but I’m hopeful that the numbness is helping keep the pain at a lower level. Sleeping well and really enjoying that my taste is back so am making the most of some yummy food! 

Hugs to you all. Xx

[JoG83]

Hey girls!

How’s it all going?
I start rads at the end of Feb for 4 weeks and can’t wait to get it over and done with.
I’ve also started tamoxifen for 5 years.

What’s the update on you lovelies?
Jo xx

[Cathysid]

Ali,
Hoping you are doing ok. Can’t believe you got shingles. Not fair!!!
Hugs and get well wishes,
Cath x

[Mishy18]

Hi Ali i too have acid reflux which started with 1st chemo and hasn't gone away yet take medication for it so I know how you feel x
Were you surgery 1st i think as it was so long ago before chemo started im my case the mind can wander a little as we don't have the fresh reassurance thays its all gone as that was the case for me but every so often my mind will tell me it might have come back!! Even though I know it hasn't hope you are feeling better soon and good luck with getting rads started xx

[CK]

Hi Ali S
We do have to go through so much but it will be worth it when we get those good results!
Going back to work is great. Take it easy and dont let the emotions take over. Ive cried a few times at work which is good to get it out but then I felt silly afterwards...and wondered if it made others unco fortable. Better to cry at home.
Glad your hair growing well. Ive seen mine come thrkugh and they look grey...arghhhh! Too much stress!!! Cant wait for lashes to grow as my eyes get dry and itchy.
Let us know how work goes. Keep going.xxx

[Ali S]

Hi all. It's so lovely to hear that you are all doing well. I'm a little jealous as I've not felt well since Christmas with one thing and another. I've had chest pain which my GP thinks is caused by acid reflux, a painful swollen eye and then the shingles. Yesterday I had abdominal pain and went to my GP who phoned an ambulance to take me to a&e. The ambulance ladies told me that the GP thought I had an anurysm in my main artery in my abdomen and my blood pressure was sky high, hence the ambulance. So after 4 hours in a&e, blood tests, ECGs, a dreaded canula, an ultrasound and lots of prodding the doctor told me that everything looked fine. He thinks the pain, and my rib pain, is caused by the shingles. Once he had reassured me my blood pressure came down instantly.

Of course I had already decided in each case that the pains are caused by the cancer having spread. I'm also not getting the results from my second operation until 14 Feb, which will be almost 4 weeks which I'm annoyed about as it's delaying my radiotherapy. Sorry to moan ladies but it's all getting a little on top of me at the moment. It really helps to be able to share with you all though.

On the plus side my hair is growing well, my eyelashes are back and my eyebrows started to come back all of a sudden. I'm going back to work on Wednesday which I'm really nervous about.

Hope all you August ladies have a great weekend xx

[CK]

Good to hear from you Cathysid
Results will be good next week as youve kicked ass!!!
Regards eyebrows I had mine semi permanant brush stroked and everyone she has done look fab. Let me know if need her contact. Shes in Handforth.
Since my lashes dropped out my eyes get so itchy and dry. We dont realise how they protect our eyes. Hopefully they grow back soon.

My armpit still numb and a little painful after op but taking paracetomol.

Got the form for Moving Forward Course in March but wont know rads start till 21st Feb so need to know what time its on and see if can do both.

Right, going to make some spinach and potatoes now.

Hope all well.xxx

[Mishy18]

Goid to hear yoyr well after op don't worry about the brows that happened to me im 12 weeks post chemo now sporting a fab pair and lashes had nothing at xmas also have a very short pixie quite thick too good luck for results x

[Cathysid]

Great to hear so many good results!! The chemo has been doing what it should and beating that cancer!!! What a relief. Makes the last 6 months worthwhile 🙂

I get my results next Thursday so fingers crossed...

My op went well. Can’t believe it was two weeks ago. A couple of complications post op - the ever growing seroma, now holding 350ml even though it’s drained every three days, and some cording that needs 🙆‍♀️ stretching a few times a day or its a bit restrictive on arm movement.

Also my eyebrows completely fell off last night. They went crispy and brittle then departed! 6 weeks since my last chemo so what’s going on there????? Armpits are regrowing nicely though ;-!

Hope you are all well and coping with emotions and seeking help if needed,
Love cx

[CK]

Well done Mishy
Now concentrate on you and your emotions....but dont leave us here!!!😘😘

[Mishy18]

How lovely you are all getting such fab news onwards and upwards for us all treatment for me is over just recovering from it all and sone help from my Maggies Centre with the emotions side of it all but hey we did it!!!!!

[CK]

So my mum who lives overseas and my daughter who is at Yourk uni are over rhe moon and today Ive had a visitor. Ive not wanted visits but my mood is different now and better company.

JoG83
GO GIRL! IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! I hope our good news brings more good news for other ladies!
This is amazing!

Butterfly
You too! Fabulous! Omg, its so nice to hear good news and I hope its giving hope to our ladies who are following us.xx

Ali S
Hope rhe shingles have gone and on the way to recovery.xx

Xena, Mishy, Sib, Helen
Hope treatment going well for you all😘😘

[Butterflyflyfree]

More good news Jo that made being an inpatient worthwhile! So pleased for you. Glad you’re home now. Take care and stay well ready for rads. We’ve done the hard bit!  Xx

[JoG83]

Yes CK!! Get in!! I bet you’re well chuffed!!

Well I’ve just got out of hospital from being in for a couple of days due to fevers. However had my surgeon appt too whilst I was there!

I also have NO MoRE CANCeR! My surgeon, despite all the odds of me having small boobs got some clear margins and he’s well happy!

I cried so much my face hurt!!
Rads to start soon then tamoxifen tablets and we’re back on the road again.

Take hope girls, we can do this xxx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Fantastic news CK hope that smile lasts a long time!
We’ve all had a tough time but it’s great to know it was worth it when you get great results like that.
Keep up the good work in recovering from your surgery. Got mine next Wednesday. Xx

[CK]

Posted on September thread too ladies!

WOOP WOOP! One of the best days of my life!!! Saw my surgeon with a big smile on his face, so kind of knew it eas good news! Back in August he didnt smile! He sat down and his first words were 'Good news!!!' Well I wanted to get up and cuddle him to bits but held back and just repeatedly shouted 'Yes, yes, yes!' Like a crazy woman!!!

Chemo worked well!
All 18 lymph nodes clear!
Margins clear!
O.5mm DCIs all gone!
No more surgery!
No cancer!

Will see Onc 21st Feb to discuss Rads which will hopefully be March some time.
Need to work on exercise to avoid stiff shoulderand Lymphadema!

I was buzzin so much I forgot I had Herceptin, so had my 5th one today too!

Ladies, I need you all to have this amazing feeling at some stage, Ive had a big grin on my face all day and not sure what to do with myself!

There have been times when Ive been so down and my mind wondered but thats normal and I was bricking myself this morning. Its really not nice not knowing and waiting for results but we can do it, will do it and even though it doesnt seem like it at the moment, its to give us a better quality of life!

I chose to forget about statistics, how long or what chance, etc! Treatnent and drugs are getting better and advanced all of the time, and if they give you a percentage, are you part of it, will you know? No!! So get healing as we have lots to do!!!

Still rads and herceptin and hormone treatment but give it to me. Thank you for your words of support.

To all trestments this week, the best of luck and least SEs.xxx

[CK]

Helen
Thanks for tbe advice. I will look into that cream as rads is on the plan after recovery from ANC.xx

[HelenP]

Hi ladies!

I'm day 11 after finishing radiotherapy.  I was told the symptoms would continue for a couple of weeks after the end of treatment but I underestimed this, so take note ladies if you are working!  My skin got redder, warmer  and more sore for a good week after the end of radiotherapy especially below my armpit which has been really sore.  I was close to taking painkillers but managed without.  I found it really uncomfortable to wear a bra for long periods too.  It has begun to peel now but my skin has stayed dry without weeping etc.  Today is the first day symptoms are slowly subsiding.  I've been putting on some good cream every day for the full 20 days and since finishing and it'll last me another week I reckon.  I bought it on Amazon, it's from France - BIAFINE which is for burns and is about £15.  I found out about it on the radiotherapy thread on here, it's been excellent. It 'absorbs' quite quickly so I'm not having to wait too long to get dressed - I'm all about the practicalities!!  

It is great to see us all being post-chemo at last, I know I'm coping so much better by reading all your posts, thank you so much!