January 2018 Radiotherapy

[Mishy18]

🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔 ruth well done ringing the virtual bells for you xx

[Fiona2901]

Hi Ladies

Was recommended 2-3 litres but will cut it back to 2 today and see how I go but I've usually drunk 2 litres by the time I leave work at 12:30.  

Do they keep drawing on your boob during treatment as I feel like the tatooed lady at the moment lol??????

x Fiona

[Ruth.J]

Re clip they put mine in when they did the biopsy at my first appointment. So it was see consultant, mamo, then ultra sound put the clip in biopsy, another mamo and then saw the consultant again. This was all on my first appointment. I found the lump myself. Hope that helps xx

[Ruth.J]

Thanks Helena glad it’s over exhausted going to have a lazy day doing nothing xx

[ladybowler]

I knew from my 2nd set of biopsies that I had a titanium marker in my breast, the consultant told me that they would be putting one in. xx

[ladybowler]

Ruth

Woo hoo you are finished,  Sorry I am posting so late but been caught up doing a tapestry and did not realise the time.

Ringing the bells for you tonight xxx

[Charys]

Yes, full toasting I should think for all 15. I didn't know I had the clips until I saw a scan the consultant was looking at, I always wonder why they never tell you this in advance - many people never seem to know. Of course you might not have them I guess ?!

[Alibobs]

Sorry yes i dont think i have those markers! But im not having any boosters just 15 rad sessions. So will they just fry the whole boob?🤔

[Charys]

Sorry Alibobs, a bit unsure of your question.....the booster sessions are aimed at the tumour bed, the ones prior to that do the whole breast area. Are you saying you know you have no titanium clips in place?

[Alibobs]

What if you didn't have the titanium marker clips do they just toast the whole boob???

[Alibobs]

I can't wait for that to be me too!!!! Wish you all the best! x

[Ruth.J]

Well then that’s me finished WLE re excision 15 rads and 5 boosters so relieved to be finished my skin is toast as half way through had a reaction to the aloe Vera.

Wishing everyone going through treatment the best of luck

Ruth xx

[Mishy18]

Thus is my final part had surgery chemo then these so i will be so happy next Tuesday its been going in since April if i include biopsy 😨

[Charys]

Yeah, I figured it all out. Its such a drag this final few....are you moving on from here to any other treatment or is this the final part?

[Mishy18]

Apologies for my predictive text blunders 😂 buy I guess you know what I mean x

[Mishy18]

Well I would never have known i had it till today as the only Ct scan i thought i had was the planning one for rads i only got mammogram and ultrasound sound biopsy when it was diagnosed nevrr had a mri or anything it was quite strange seeing it it actually looked bigger than i thought it would

[Charys]

Ah interesting to hear of the variations..........wow you had ct scan during surgery! I guess the need for movement of the rt machine is dependent on size of tumour, location and other assorted variables. Mine was totally static as I said and it did a couple of direct 'blasts'.

[Mishy18]

1st booster was ok although after 16 blasts now im gooshed and red so red!!
Only a few pictures taken as Ct images were used i think they were from surgery as they showed me exactly where tgr tumor was!! I didn't realise they took Ct image's during surgery!!
It was a little different today in tems if treatment the didn't have the cage thing on it only moved twice and i had five zaps in total tge also used 5ge sane beam as was used in regular rads x roll on next Tuesday i can't wait to finally get finished

[Charys]

Yes, your electrolyte balance can be affected....they say if you are going to have that much to make sure it's well spaced out and not all in one go. I'm no medic, but just as you mentioned it i felt obliged to check really. Mind I guess there are other factors like your physical size and the amount you are used to drinking. Sorry, if you come back and feel worried by what I've said - thats not my intention. After all 3 litres is the amount recommended for most men, so doubt it could be much of a problem.

[Optimissy64]

Yes, Charys is right. I remember reading some years ago - nothing to do with bc - that someone was quite ill through drinking too much water as it washed away all their potassium salts (or something). I'd have thought 2 litres was well enough. Hope the rads continue OK. XXX

[Charys]

Hi Fiona....did they recommend 3 litres to you a day ? Only asking as that's quite a lot above recommended intake, which NHS states as 1.2 - 2 litres. I know that's intake needed without additional requirements taken into account like heat and exercise...but just checking really as day after day that's a lot.

[Fiona2901]

Good morning Ladies

One down - 14 to go!!!!!

Everything went OK yesterday and back today at 5:18pm.  I'm drinking plenty of fluids and had 3 litres yesterday - just have to try and keep it up.

Hope everyone else is getting on OK.

x Fiona

[Mishy18]

Thanks for that I'll let you know tomorrow!!

[Charys]

The consultant or other specialist looks at images (scan) taken of the titanium marker clips, which were put in place at the outside edges of the removed tumour by the surgeon. In my case there was a pen marker circle drawn on my skin around a plastic circular template by the consultant, she mused over the scan images and moved the template round till she was happy. Then a radiographer traced that onto a paper template, including the location of the scar lines and transfered it to plastic (which they lay over you later on). I think they might have also taken a picture. Do you know, I'm now wondering if I've got that process listed totally correctly....and at what point/if the plastic acetate sheet was then used to set the machine? I actually had all the marking up for the boosters in the planning for the whole rt session, but I know some people who have it just before the first booster.

I guess there could be some variation in how people do this booster mark-up thing....so I'd be interested to hear if yours is different?

[Mishy18]

Xo yiu have pictures taken 1st then silly question but how do they know exactly where the tumor bed was?!

[Charys]

The boosters are done slightly differently Mishy, they kind of put a cagey type box over end of the machine (which usually moves around you) where they are targetting. Then rather than the machine moving around you, they mount the small cagey thing with something that focuses things onto the exact area and it stays static. This probably makes little sense, and is incredibly hard to explain - it'll make sense tomorrow - I'm only presuming all boosters are done the same way ?! At least I guess, you know that there will be no more rt in the under arm area - though that sounds very sore.

[Mishy18]

Hi ladies had no 15 today (breast and axilla) start boosters tomorrow skin under arm is 😲so sore and red and purple had clinical review given extra creams some dressings etc told thst for next 2 weeks it will get worse not looking forward to that as its bloody sore already apparently the boosters are just to target tumor bed
Im still not back at work yet Mai your a trouper working through them x

[Crocrazy]

Hi Fiona and Mai,

Me too, I asked for afternoon appointments so I can work in the morning then rest in the evening after being zapped.  I have got to travel 45 mins each way to the hospital everyday so it is going to be duff traffic wise as I am likely to come out just in time for rush hour.  All bar one of my sessions are either 4.00 or 4.15.  I am hoping to work 6.30 to 2.30 everyday to give myself over an hour to get there.  Roll on 26th which is when I am due to finish. 

Good luck to everyone starting this month x 

[Mai7]

Here's the other article I read on NAC: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/amp/320127#ampshare=https://www.med...

[Mai7]

Fiona, I'm doing exactly the same. Work in the morning and rads in afternoon. I've had a cold all Christmas which has left me with a cough so I hope I'm going to be well enough to cope with it all.

I found research on NAC for protection from rads which is quite interesting.
Has anyone else been looking at the research around NAC? There is also research suggesting it reduces some markers associated with poor prognosis to reduce recurrence risk. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/08941939.2011.560237

[Fiona2901]

Thanks Charys - puts my mind at rest for the moment lol but will keep you posted.

x Fiona

[Charys]

Don't worry Fiona, even if you do have 'issues', they will be keeping a daily check on your skin and reactions to ensure you don't get to a critical point. Even though appointments are surprisingly short when you get into the pattern of it (I was in and out in 15 minutes on a couple of days including changing), the radiograpers do have time and expertise to check you (that is part of their job), answer your questions and refer you back for checking by the appropriate professional if need be. Your access to appropriate creams, lotions, potions and dressings can be managed by them. It does sound like you are a wee bit - err - prone to reacting lol

[Fiona2901]

Thank you Ladies.  I have my appointments in the afternoons so that I can go to work in the mornings and then just relax when done.  Guess I'm worried about how my breast will react to the treatment as I have very sensitive skin and after having had an infection in the wound after my lumpectomy and then fat necrosis a couple of months later I think I may have issues lol!!!!!!!!

x Fiona

[Charys]

...and plenty of rest!

[holiday]

You will be just fine don’t be worrying. I made friends with some lovely people during my three week treatment plan. Lots of moisturising and drink plenty of water xx

[ladybowler]

Fiona

Welcome to the thread.  Any questions I am sure we will be able to answer them for you.

Helena xxx

[Fiona2901]

Good afteroon Ladies

I start my treatment on Tuesday - 15 sessions - seems a long time getting here as my initial surgery was back in July but just glad to be starting and there being some light at the end of the tunnel.

Good luck to everyone else starting or finishing this month.

x Fiona

[ladybowler]

Mai

What a spectacular way to see out this year.  Not long now and we will be ringing the bells for you finishing active treatment.  I must admit it is hard to believe that on 19 January it will have been a year since I finished active treatment.

Sending you all very best wishes for a fab 2018 and that your cold gets better very quickly.

Helena xxx

[Mai7]

Hello Ladies, I've had 7/15 rads so far (no boosters as I had full mx and node clearance as I had a very large lump and 9/12 nodes positive). Due to have last rads on 11th January.  So far I've found it easy except for feeling a bit low in mood at times but I've also picked up a nasty cold which makes everything harder, breath hold, energy levels, mood.

We're going to be lighting this tonight as an "up yours 2017" extravaganza: 42 shots at the alien that is cancer! May even be accompanied by an epic classical symphony!

[Nuthatch]

My tuppence-worth on tattoos: on the side where I'd had full lymph node clearance, I couldn't feel the prick at all - still completely numb! So that was an advantage! I did feel the other two but they were very very minor and I agree that insect bites are probably worse. X

[Charys]

Hiyer, as others have said the word 'tattoo' makes you think of a tattoo parlour and all sorts of buzzing and noisy painful needles. The fact is that they just need to make a teeny prick under the skin surface and put a dot of ink into that layer, (so that it isn't in the top layer of skin which gets replaced regularly by the body and therefore the mark would be lost). It is literally a weeny incredibly short prick, the experience much like a finger prick machine used for testing blood for diabetics...except this doesn't even draw blood so obviously doesnt even go that deep! its over before you know it. I was expecting something entirely different and actually said 'is that it' ? lol You will have had far worse midge bites on a summer evening.

[Crocrazy]

Thanks for the positive post Holiday. It is a bit scary waiting for it to start. Your experiences have put my mind at rest that all will be ok x

[Crocrazy]

Hi Alibobs,

My planning appointment was about an hour, but half of that was getting used to using the machine to hold my breath.  The tattoos were fine, mine are tiny.  I thought it would be a special bit of kit they did them with but mine were just a wipe of antiseptic, a drop of ink and a tiny pin prick.  The one in the middle of my chest was the one that I could feel the most, but even that was only the tiniest sting.  I am a complete wuss with anything like that.  Honestly you will be fine. Happy new year x 

[Alibobs]

Thank you holiday for sharing your experiences and for telling us about the markers. You gave set my mind to rest! I do hope my rads go as well as yours seemed to do. I am going away 3 weeks after for just a weekend break. Hope I don't spend it sleeping!!!!🤔

[holiday]

Hi don't worry the tattoos are not painful at all I didn't even know when she had done mine. It is a tiny pin price and I can't even see them on my skin. My planning appointment lasted around 30 minutes and is nothing to worry about at all. Best wishes xx

[holiday]

Hi everyone

This is my first time posting anything on here but just thought I would share my radiotherapy experience with you all.  I completed my 15 day course of treatment on 14 December and each session went fine having to hold my breath for 20 seconds around 4/5 times a session.  I was given cream on my first visit and applied this twice a day over the whole breast area, collarbone and back of shoulder.  My skin was perfect throughout the treatment although 4 days after went very red and burnt along the collarbone.  The nurse gave me heat pads which were fabulous and can be used over and over again just by adding cold water and taping onto the effected area.  My skin has now started to clear up and is just itchy like peeling sunburn.  I used the crystal deodrant as recommended by the hospital which seemed to be fine.  I have suffered a bit of fatigue 2 weeks after treatment which comes and goes.  Good luck to everyone who is starting their treatment soon I was initially very worried about it but need not have been as I sailed through it as I'm sure you all will do.  Best wishes everyone xxx

[Alibobs]

Good luck everyone who is already going through their rad treatment. Wish you all the very best for the New Year! Can you tell me if the tattoos were painful? How long did your planning appointment Take? 💕

[Charys]

Hiyer Dot, Alibob and crocrazy! ( hope names are spelled correctly as I ve had to remember them for 20 seconds whilst adding a comment on my phone )

[ladybowler]

Dot

Hello and welcome to the forum and thread looking forward to hearing from you over the next month

Have a wonderful New Year xxx

[Crocrazy]

Hello,

I had my planning appointment on 27th.  I am breath holding as mine is on the left side.  I was really worried about whether I would be able to do it, but after a few practice goes I managed 30 seconds.  Tattoos done too, and they are tiny, I can only just see them.  I was worried about that too!

Got my dates this morning too, I start on 8th January for 15 sessions, so should be finished by 26th.  

I have bought some aloe vera gel from H&B and some natural deodorant.  I have been told not to shave under my arm for the duration of treatment plus a couple of weeks afterwards.  So I have a vision I will be a stinky (I like an industrial strength deodorant normally!!) hairy beast by the time I am finished. Nice! 

I have opted for late afternoon appointments as I am trying to keep working while I am having it done.  Roll on 26th.

X