Cooking in September/October

[annalou24]

I think they ask to give you an opportunity to speak up if having any problems...they probably have to do it as part of the routine. Same as asking your DOB and address every single time!!!

Carol I didn't know anyone in SATC got BC, although I didn't do much other than dip into the series from time to time, and see the film. I do know however that Cynthia Nixon who plays the red-haired one (Miranda?) has had BC "in real life".

Am thinking of taking the whole family out for dinner to celebrate end of rads, half term holidays and the fact that I am too tired to be bothered to cook! Now where did I put those Tesco Clubcard Deals vouchers ????....

Have a good weekend everyone

Anna xx

[chipper]

do they ask how are you out of politeness or is it a real question ? I wondered that - I always said fine,thanks as I was usually fine,but don't know whether more was required !!

[Guest user]

thanks anna and dot, well done anna on finnishing. I am working my way through Sex and the City dvds as I never watched it when it was on, I have got to series 6 and one of them gets breast cancer, just what I needed to see today, I think I need a cocktail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!they were supposed to chear me up x

love

Carol xxxx

[dotchas]

Well done Anna, I hope things don't get too bad before they get better.
I'll just be so glad not to have to get up early after Monday.
Overall the radiographers are nice,but I just get the feeling when they ask " How are you today" you are just supposed to say "fine thanks".
I feel better today after my nap yesterday ,I was just utterly exhausted.
Have a great weekend,
Dot
xxx

[annalou24]

Hi all
finished rads today but don't think I'll start cheering yet as am prepared for things to get a little worse before they get better... Nevertheless, It's a relief not to have to make the trek and sit in the bloody carpark queue every day!
I took my team a tin of biscuits because overall they were great,friendly, efficient, always let me go straight in if I got there early etc.
Skin and boob a little sore but not too bad .Really tired for the past 2 days and wish someone in my house would acknowledge this and actually help out a little !!!!!!!!!!!:( ( rant!!!)

Carol, Dot, sorry you are feeling rubbish. I hope things get better over the weekend.

Good luck to any newbies starting soon

Love

Anna xx

[dotchas]

Carol, I was well warned that things will get worse after it ends.I was very low yesterday and cried a lot.
((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))))))
Don't be hard on yourself ,our bodies have been attacked by the rads and need all their energy to heal.I was sooooo tired yesterday,tireder than I have ever been before.I feel a bit better today so will just have to have naps when i need them.
I hope you feel better over the weekend ,maybe treat yourself!
Love n hugs
Dot
xxx

[Guest user]

Dot, you are nearly there

I finnished two weeks ago and I am still shattered, boob is killing me and me whole body is bloody sore and im fed up feeling like this.

anyway rant over, just feeling sorry for myself today

hope everyone has a fab weekend

love and hugs

Carol xxx

[Guest user]

hi
thankyou all,think i better ask
christina we can compare notes on how we get on

chipper yes it is very confusing, wish they akk did the same

sally, my taste buds are not back properly, and as for pins and needles, think it takes awhile to get out of our sysyems,i will get some cream too

dot well done 1 left

hope you all have a lovely weekend julie x

[dotchas]

Well I only have 1 left to go on Monday.
I would say I am well cooked now.My underarm is quite burnt now.
So I am slapping on the aqueous cream over the weekend(don't tell anyone!)
Yesterday I was completely knackered,I couldn't fight it any longer and had to take to my bed in the afternoon.
I hope everyone has a lovely weekend,
Love
Dot
xxx

[Guest user]

Hi,Julie i am starting 28.10 and i aslo have 25 rads so i already started agueous cream i read my leflets and it say no deodorant nothing in the water when you have bath ect so iam prepered not to put anything on me only that cream....good luck to everyone Christina

[chipper]

it's confusing - wish they'd stick to one thing - best to ask your bcn I think Julie, just to clarify what your hospital's recommendations are.

[Guest user]

Hi All

Julie.....nice to see you on this thread and welcome.

Yep that me all done have a red chest area (had a mascetomy) and is a little itchy but thats all just put loads of E45 on morning and night.

I must say the redness has really come out since finishing the rads.

Hows your taste and mouth Julie cos my taste still isnt fully right and have recently developed a cracked tongue just over the past few days and am now wondering if its related to the rads but i did have it on chemo but it seemed to clear up but has come back.. has anyone else had this.

Off to sons harvest festival later, nice finishing chemo as I can now do this kind of thing.....

off t put some face on

take care all

Sally xx

[gocat]

I was told differently to you Chipper. Not allowed to use any soap including simple soap and allowed to use a deodrant called Pitrok .

One week since I finished rt and today my left boob feels like it is on fire. Skin under the boob has split a bit. Went to my GPs nurse (BCN too far away) and she has given me some jellonet and gauze. Feels better already. Got something called gelliperm too that I put in the fridge and can put on the breast to cool it down. Well that is doing overtime today lol.

[chipper]

no deodorant during rads I'm afraid -only Simple soap and lots of aqueous- probably a good idea to get in the habit of doing it now. Am sure that after chemo you'll find rads relatively breezy.

[Guest user]

hello everyone
since i was last on this thread wow most of you are cooked well done and thankyou for all the advise, i start on the 28th oct 25 sessions, but no-one mentioned wether or not to put deoderant on or wether to start cream before hand, can you help

sally cannot beleive you have finised and i havent even started, as when on chemo we were the same

all you ladys going on your hols enjoy
have a good day julie x

[aliceblue]

Hi everyone, don't forget prescriptions are free and your GP can prescribe aqueous cream - big tubs of it! Also rads staff provided tubes and said to ask for more whenever I needed it. Found it handy to keep small tube in my bag in case itchy moment on route somewhere.

Day 24/25 for me tomorrow, finish on friday. So relieved it's not been like chemo, and has raced by.

Spoke to someone today about the whole feeling fine thing, now I've finished chemo and rads (still have herceptin until July and tamoxifen starting soon). She said to look at it as feeling better (emotionally and physically), but not yet feeling well. Long road, small steps.

Love to all. Alice x

[Guest user]

HI All

Nice to see you Pauline..im all done now.

I know what yo mean Carol i feel deflated now the rads are finished,I think I should be celebrating but I dont feel like it, I know i see my onc in 3 weeks to talk about the herceptin but its sort of 'ok what now'

I have found that some people who know me vaguely think that now treatment has finished that im fine and back to the way i was before, but im not. I dont think I shall feel like me again until i look like me again even though im the same inside.

Oh well now doubt i'l feel different tomorrow lol

hope everyone being zapped are ok and those that have finished are recoperating ok

Sally xx

[only1chris]

Carol i am already thinking i shall miss seeing my oncologist !! I know exactly what you mean...

[only1chris]

wow thanks Carol! that can be the one i keep in the fridge then...

[Guest user]

hi only1chris, you get a big tub from bodycare for £1.19 if you have one near you

good luck with rads

I feel a bit abandoned now ive finnished!!!!!!!!!!!! we are never happy

love

Carol x

[only1chris]

hi Pauline, (crossing to the rads thread with you) 2nd November for me! Advised to use aqueous cream starting 2 weeks before to mositurise area and get it into good condition before zapping. Bought huge tub £2.99 i think from Tescos (pharmacy) and have started twice a day morning and evening. Thought you might want to do this also in advance...

[Guest user]

Hi Pauline, welcome to this thread, it is amazing how quickly rads goes in, I cant believe I finnished 2 weeks ago

you will be all done and dusted before christmas

love

Carol xx

[hollymeg]

hi everyone, been for my planning today and will start 25 rads on the 9th of november, wish it was sooner so i can get it over and done with. Wasn't given any advice on creams etc, probably tell me when i go for the first one. will be following you ladies with interest. Take care everyone luv Pauline x

[dotchas]

Good luck with the planning Chris.
I only have 3 to go!How many are you having?
My skin is very red/brown.I have a really sore patch under my arm which is very very dark and very tender.Its where the hair grows!
I am wearing a very loose soft t-shirt with no bra around the house but will have to find something more respectable to wear tonight as we are going out for a meal!
I love retail therapy,I am always on the look out for a bargain.Its just a shame I am on half pay.But still my bargain hunting skills are coming in handy.I have even started Christmas shopping.
Irene ,glad to hear the skin is improving.I was well warned yesterday that it will get worse before it gets better.
I am looking forward to getting some long lies next week!
Love
Dot
xx

[Guest user]

Thanks for the welcome Dot, I hope you have a great weekend away. Off for the planning this afternoon, I want to get on with this last hurdle and then hopefully back to work etc. How many more rads have you got to go? I was diagnosed in August with grade 2 mixed 1 cm tumour, found on mammogram. I had WLE, Arimidex and now due for the rads.

Quite agree about the retail therapy, there really is nothing like it to boost the mood and provide a welcome distraction. Have a glass of vino for me lol 🙂

Chris

[only1chris]

well done Sally. Have a great weekend Dotty. Well done Anna nearly there now... Well done all of you.
Will be with you all soon, far too soon methinks; but once started will be nearer the finish s'pose... Love C

[Guest user]

Hi Dot,

Glad you are feeling better today and looking forward to your weekend away. Just a short post to let you know that almost four weeks post-rads today for the first time my skin seems to be settling down. No itching, all sore bits more or less healed, so there is light at the end of the radiotherapy road. Still using aquaous cream tho to stop skin drying out.

Hope you have a nice time at the weekend.

XX Irene.

[dotchas]

Congrats Sally on finishing.Hope your skin bears up.

I saw my Onc today who said my cough could be from the rads but it is rare.I feel a bit better about it now.Yesterday was a very low day.No idea why I was so down but I ended up crying myself to sleep!

Got some aqueous cream from the nurse for after rads finish.Didn't like to tell them I have been using it since last week.She only gave me a wee tub,it'll be handy for going away this weekend I suppose.
They said if my skin breaks down to get Flamazine from my GP.I like the sound of these gel pads though.
I get stabbing pains too,I even sometimes get them in my back from my LD recon.Its weird,sometimes even if I scratch the skin on my new boob I can feel it in my back!

I am feeling a bit cheerier today so I did some retail therapy on the way home.Why does spending money feel so good LOL! I got 2 tops and a cardigan in Sainburys of all places!
So I am all ready for my weekend away! Saves ironing!
Good luck to everyone,raw,part-baked or fully baked!
Love
Dot (not so spotty)
xxx

[Guest user]

Hi,

gocat, I got my gell and pads from the nurse who was doing the rads treatment, she gave me some every time I asked for more, my nurses were all very good and helpful. Had a 2 reviews between my treatment.

Still get tired at odd times and still putting on the aqueous cream, I finished t'ment 3 wks ago .

sunset

[Guest user]

Hi All

Well thats me cooked to a T... had last one today yipeeeeeeeee.

I saw my onc yesterday and also see her again in 3 weeks. isnt it strange how different health authoriteys vary in there treatments.

Well i must say that im really surprised i dont have any soreness only slighty red,area feels tight but just doing exercises again and nothing else, oh very occassionly i have a little stabbing feeling just like someones poking me with a sharp thing but nothing causing pain or anything, did ask about it and was told because ive had a masctomy the rads can make the nerve ending tingle abit.

I wonder if its because ive had a mascetomy but i did ask the nurse and said no it dosent make any difference, guess im just lucky. mind you thing carry on cooking for a while after so theres time for things to change

take care all and keep slapping the cream on LOl

Sally x

[annalou24]

Hi all
There is a woman at my dad's work who had bc about 2-3 years ago. She warned that she still gets the odd stabbing pain from radiotherapy even now.... sorry:(

Dot I am sure I have been told that breathlessness or a dry cough can be SE from rads. Sorry you are/were having a bad time. hope you feel a bit better now.

My rads team are all nice, apart from this one bloke who doesn't say anything and just seems to stand in the room for no apparent reason, which I find a bit freaky!

Has everyone else seen their onc during rads for a review etc ? I was timetabled for 2 reviews, but at the first one they had muddled up the timing and he wasn't there. At the second one he was supposed to be there but was off sick. So as I finish on Friday I will have gone through the whole thing without seeing him at all...

Take care everyone

Anna xx

3 to go!

[gocat]

Hi sunset. Thanks for the advise. The sore under my breast is not too bad at the moment. Where did you get the gel from, was it the GP or BCN?
Carol, I was warned I might get stabbing pains in the treated breast. So far havent got any but was told not to worry if it happened.

Hope everyone else is cooking nicely xx

[Guest user]

congrats Lesley on finnishing, yep it is stabbing pains im getting, sometimes they take the wind right out of me, I will give it another week or so and if its not any better, I will make an appt for the doctors.

does it ever end???

love and hugs

Carol xxxx

[Guest user]

Hi Carol, I finished my rads yesterday - I have a very sore boob and it's very burnt, also burnt around my superclavicular area and underarm, but I can't honestly say I have any pain 'in' the boob. Having said that I was told by the radiographers that sometimes you can experience sharp stabbing pains - is that what you're getting?

Lesley xx

[Guest user]

hi to the girls that recently finnished rads, did any of you have a lot of pain in your boob when rads finnished, I cant believe how much pain I am in, is this normal?

thanks

Carol xxx

[Guest user]

hi all,
Gocat. Just like to jump in hear abour ur sore boob, the week before i finished my rads my boob started getting sore underneath, skin peeling off and getting raw, I was given intrasite gel in liitle containers which you sqeeze under boob then a non-adherent absorbent dressing on. it got so raw (as big as a small saucer) under the boob and onto the chest wall,then given intrasite conformable dressing which already had the gell on, the smell was auful when changing the dressin, of rotting skin. I wore support vests from M@S very good.

Thankfully it all cleared up in 3 wks now waiting for my follow up app.

hope all goes well with the new ladies

sunset

[Guest user]

Hi Dotchas, sorry you are having down days know how you feel. The last week of my rads I felt quite short of breath and like you was told it had nothing to do with the treatment. Sorry,I think it was caused by treatment and I still have a dry cough at times even three weeks after treatment has finished feels more upper respiratory rather than chesty, as you say a dry cough.

I am sorry the radiotherapists have been less than nice, I went to the Beatson in Glasgow and I must admit thought they were really nice, maybe just lucky. I was told to take plenty of fluids even after treatment finished which I am. Still very tired at times so I guess that too means that cooking is still in process.

The imagination runs riot at times and finding the sensible head can be very difficult. Will be thinking about you still getting your treatments and hope you will feel a little better tomorrow. Treat yourself to a nice glass of wine and try and relax. (easy to say)
Irene

[dotchas]

Nobody told me not to drink during rads.I have read that its good to up your intake of fluid so I suppose too much alcohol would not be a good idea.
Ness,The article doesn't say whether its red or white wine,maybe we should go for Rose LOL!
The more I read ,I am sure my cough is due to rads.Its a very dry cough and I have no other symptons of a cold or infection.However my mind is working overtime and assuming the worst today as I am feeling down.
I'll have a glass of vino tonight,purely for research purposes of course.
Chris ,welcome and good luck with the planning appt.
Love
Dot
xxx

[Guest user]

Hello ladies, I have been reading this thread with interest as I am due to start 15 rads on 3 November, the planning meeting is this Wednesday 21 Oct. I have kept an open mind as I have a tendency to think all will be fine, but I doubt the expirence will be without its ups and downs. I'm so sorry Dot that you have been treated with scant regard I know to them its a daily occurance (as it is to us now I suppose!)but a bit of empathy doesn't go amiss. I hope you get some reassurance re your cough asap. The last thing you want is to be worrying about that.
I understood that we shouldn't drink whilst having rads, maybe thats not true? Also that it can kill off your red blood cells and thats what makes you so tired, therefore it is advisable to increase your intake of red meat. The very thing we are advised to cut back on now we have had breast cancer!! All rather confusing.

Chris xx

[gocat]

3 days since I have finished rt and getting more sore under the breast. Have been advised not to use any cream whatsoever there and just put some folded gauze to absorb any moisture coming out. Still creaming top of breast and nipple and that is not too sore. Axilliary scar is also a bit sore. Other than that, not too bad. Bit tearful at times but I think that is to do with the Tamoxifen as much as anything.
Now where's that wine lol.

Sorry the rt staff were not nice to you dotty. Had good staff where I went.

[Jellylegs]

Hi, I like the sound of the way the Italians cure their rads side effects,is that red or white wine. lol
Oh and I just read my treatment plan and it says quote....inflammation of lung(cough and difficulty breathing)so try not to worry too much Dot Only 13 more to go Ness

[dotchas]

Lisa
Like you I had planned to take something nice in for the radiographers but I have changed my mind.I would never ignore it if one of my patients was upset.
It was actually just as well they didn't comment as if they had been nice to me it would have opened the floodgates and I don't know if it would have stopped.LOL!
I am just having a down day today and it just didn't help that they couldn't care less about me and my cough.I have read loads of websites and it seems a dry cough can occur in up to 7% of patients.I see the Onc on Thursday so will see what she says.I realise it will probably ease off after treatment but a bit of reassurance would be good!

Some good news I found, a study in Italy found that wine can help with the effects of radiotherapy................glug glug!

Love
Spotty coughy dotty
xxx

[lisa_lisa]

Hi Dot sending you big hugs wish Id have been there to hold your hand , I also felt like a piece of meat and always stuck up conversation with staff so that they remebered I was there ,
I have finished now and you will soon too , When I did finish I tuck in chocs for girls on reception because they had been fab but didnt bother with the girls who treated me because didnt feel they went above or beyound the call of duty ( im sure they were waiting for me to give them some thing lol!!!)
Keep putting cream on when finished ladies Im now peeling and soar
Lisa x

[Guest user]

Hi Sally,

Thanks for the advice will try evening primrose. Been for session 9/23 it seems to be a never ending cycle. Had a bad weekend, very tired and weepy. Get stinging pains every now and then. Chest feels tight at the moment but not sure if that is due to lack of nicotine.

[Guest user]

HI everyone

Dot.Sorry to hear that the nurses werent very sympathatic, i also feel just like a peice of meat when im on the table, I also have a cough but im hoping its because ive got a cold, well the cold has nearlly gone but still have the cough. feel quiet yuck today, bit of an upset tummy but taking imodium and anti sickness pills that id got left from chemo. got a yucky mouth again. having 14 of 15 today and seeing onc.

im suffering with the hot flushes today as well they are normally just at night but have no temp.

off to hospital soon

take care all

Sally xx

[dotchas]

As expected the radiographers said my cough is nothing to do with the rads.Oh dear,now I am worried its something more sinister.
I actually started to cry during my treatment,I was just feeling tired and low and the staff had been so dismissive of my worries.I was lying there feeling like a piece of meat with tears running down my face into my ears! But the staff ignored the fact I was crying.Nice eh?
Has anyone else had a cough or been told its a possibility?
Love
Dot
xxx

[dotchas]

Hi,well here goes for another week.I have only 6 to go.

At the weekend I developed a funny cough it almost sounds like whooping cough I think.Could this be from the rads?
My OH remembers them saying some lung tissue could get damaged.I will ask today but I did mention a tickly cough before and the radiographers said no it wouldn't be rads...........but then they did tell me to put talc on my rash!
I am so tired.........too tired to be coughing.
I'll let you know what they say.
Good luck with the cooking girls,
Love
Spotty dotty
xxx

[annalou24]

Lisa, just had a look and the next one is in Kent ! Then other faraway places like Scotland etc ! I am so naffed off that I missed the Bham one, it sounds really good and free(?) as well !!!

Anna xx
Don't want to go to rads tomorrow....!

[lisa_lisa]

Hi Anna what a shame , there were around twenty something there and I was told they could have up to forty attend .so there were places avail also one of the ladies was from shefield I think , It tells you on here under young women but call to see where the next one is age range is up to around 45 I think .
Carol we can peel together good to know that the tight feeling is normal .
Lisa

[annalou24]

Hi Lisa

How do you find out about this young women's forum thingy?? Do I count as young at 43??
I could easily have gone to the one in Brum...not too far from Sheffield, and all my family live there.

Not looking forward to going back to rads tomorrow. Nipple is sore and underarm feeling tight. And it sounds like it'll get worse !!

Anna xx