November radiotherapy anyone?

[Janey2]

Good luck to all of you starting or finishing in November. I've just had my last booster and now waiting, feeling a bit surreal, for some reflexology courtesy of our local cancer charity. Once the first session happened, the month went quickly. Things I have learned and wanted to share:

This forum is superb
Cream lots
Drink lots of water
Do the shoulder exercise
Say yes please to all offers of lifts
Cream again
Give yourself quiet time
Seek out comedies on catch up
Cream some more
Get an aloe vera plant
Cream some more and be kind to yourselves
Xx

[Welsh lady]

Hi everyone,
Thanks Helen for directing me to this post. My rads don't start until 23 November as i have a holiday booked & was told it would be ok to delay rads until then. My WLE & SNB was in August. My rads will be at Velindre, anyone else being treated there? I'm putting my Epaderm cream on twice a day in preparation. Hope you are all coping ok with your treatment. It's great to have support from each other on here x

[Cla46]

Hi all 🙂 I didn't have chemo I had 2 WLEs clear nodes, tamoxifen and I'm having 15 sessions I can't wait to get started, it's so weird to be waiting after all the rush in the beginning of this but then I worry what happens when it's done. I've had a few panic attacks where I'm convinced that I've found a lump in my armpit and that something is growing else where! Silly I know as I had an mri early on. I'm doing ok on the tamoxifen but I've developed extra sensitive skin especially on the boob affected I'm even allergic to plasters now. I'm so glad we've got each other to get through this ❤️ lv Clair xxx

[Helen13]

Hi Sue, i must admit at the 2 rads I've had I have been looking around the waiting room and wondering if any of the ladies were you...also been listening out in case they called anyone Sue. Its a shame we won't meet then as mine are still all evening apart from 2 on last day...i shall have to find another game to play in waiting room instead of 'look for Sue' 🙂 Hope you are doing ok and that the trains & machines are on your side this coming week. Love & hugs H xx

[daffodil]

Hi everyone.

Great to have so many lovely ladies joining our November team. I honestly can't wait to get started on Tuesday. I have waited ages for the radiotherapy to start and can't wait to get all the treatment finished.

Blue ash - I'm having 15 plus 3 boosters and I had chemo. They told me i needed the boosters to the specific area where the lump was as I only had a Wle rather than a mastectomy.

I don't get my times until my first appointment. I have asked for them to be during lunchtime - easier to take a break from my work (i work part time 3 days a week) and much easier to park at lunchtime at my hospital. They might not always be able to be that specific but did say they should be able to keep them within school hours as I have to pick my boys up from school and wouldn't want to bring them with me after school. Fingers crossed for good times for all of us waiting.

Aileen x

[Flopsy]

Thank you Daffodil,

For starting this thread.

Would it be OK for me to join?

I have my planning meeting on the 1st (Tuesday) and will probably start soon after.

My story so far - Discovered a breast  lump in March (plus lymph), Chemo April - August, Lumpectomy and SNB in September. Herceptin ongoing.

[Flopsy]

Hi Welshcake,

I've got my planning session on the 1st November and thinking along the same lines. I don't yet know how much they want to treat. Breast and lymph (as I originally had a postive lymph right back at the start). Not sure what else as yet.

I already had Lymphodema before treatment and now after surgery it is worse with cording on top.

[Sue255]

Hi Helen, I had about three later ones in the evening but now the rest of mine are lunchtime or early afternoon. 

Sometimes been in on time and sometimes late. Hope you're coping ok x

[Welshcake]

Hi got my planning meeting on 2 Nov at Velindra but worried because I have to have  breast, underarm and neck treated after positive lymph node.  Anyone one else in this position looking into the long term effects of lymphodema and how this will impact !!!!!

[Helen13]

Still keeping fingers xd for you Oncewild that you will get rads at times to suit. Don't know how big your hospital is but im having rads at a huge one (not my local hosp) so maybe thats why they go on until late? What about other ladies, offered rads in evenings? Xx Fingers xd before Xmas too

[OnceWild]

Thanks Helen and Sar - interesting that you could have 6-8pm slots Helen! That would be good for me so I'll see what is possible when I go for first consultation. Just want it all done before Christmas so I can start 2017 with fewer appointments! SO fed up of hospital journeys/waiting/treatment! 

[Helen13]

Hi blueash , of course you can join us as all made welcome here 🙂 Glad you don't have to wait long for your rads to start. Im having 15, had 2 so far, but i didnt need chemo. Not sure how many all the other lovelies are having. Must admit i havent heard of either of those creams you mentioned but good that they recommended something to you. Im using cetraben for frequent use during the day and then applying aloe vera gel straight after rads. That name always makes me laugh 'allo Vera (friends have started calling me Vera too) have a lovely sunday everyone xx

[blueash]

Hello, can I join you?

I have been having chemo and was on the August thread, they stopped that early because of low blood counts and neuropathy. I can still have Herceptin and rads so they brought the rads forward. I had the planning session last week and am to start on 7th  November for 23 zaps, 15 regular and 8 boosts. Does that seem more than the rest of you? I wondered if I was getting more because my chemo was cut.

They have given me some Sorbaderm cream and said to get Biafine if I get sore.

[Helen13]

Hi Oncewild; when I went for my planning appt they gave me a form to fill in and it asked me to tick if i had a preferred time slot. .they were roughly 2 hour slots, early morning, late morning/lunchtime, mid afternoon or evening. I ticked evening as first choice and wrote on form that the 3-5pm slot was my 2nd choice. It said on the form i was given that if you only want 1 specific time slot you may have to to wait longer to be able to start the rads...i was extremely lucky in that i was given times initially all between 6-8pm apart from 2 on the last day in the morning. However as they modified a few of my times I do have 1 before 6pm now. I expect all hospitals have a slightly different way of coordinating everyones appts so best thing would be to ask at your planning appt. Will keep fingers xd for you . Xx

[sar54]

Hi Oncewild - I hope you manage to get appointments to fit in with your work, I'm sure your team will do their best for you. My times vary a lot but I did say I was flexible with times. 

helen13 my butterflies had gone by number 3. It all seems perfectly normal now. I was just lying on my bed at home after doing the exercises and it felt strange to be in a room, on my own, fully clothed, no equipment, no radio therapists. How bizarre. 😊

Cla46 I've sent you a PM with my appointment times x

[OnceWild]

Hello all

I am just finishing chemo and have first appt with radiology consultant on 8/11 so guess I'll be. Dec starter - really hoping they'll fit my three weeks in before Christmas. 

Reading your posts I note issues re appointments being on time that are making me worried that my plan to fit radio around work might be problematic. I hoped to be able to arrange first or last appts each day so there is least disruption to my working week - has anyone managed to do this and made it work? 

Many thanks

[Helen13]

Hi Sue, sorry to hear about train cancellation, hope you didnt have to wait long for the next one. Felt much more relaxed today as it was 2nd one today, knew what to expect. You're right, all the staff ive met so far are lovely and friendly, yeh ! To those ladies who've started rads hope you enjoy the weekend break and wishing everyone a happy halloween weekend 🙂 xxxx

[Cla46]

Hi Sar54, my first apt is now at 4pmon the 7 th and the others are around 12/1 pm with the end two at 3.30. So we may cross over 🙂 how have you found the parking it's been awful the times we have been and I'm thinking of parking in tesco and walking over. Love Clair xx xx

[Sue255]

I was in on time today Helen. Was late home though due to train cancellation so you sometimes can't win lol. Glad it's going ok for you. I also have had times changed the first day and machine changes. All the staff friendly and caring. Good to have the weekend break now though.

sue x

[Helen13]

Evening all, tonight the rads board said my machine was running 25mins late but then they called me in 20min earlier than my appt time so keeping me on my toes. Hope everyone has a good eve and great weekend. H xx

[sar54]

Hi everyone, I've come over from the October thread. 5 down 10 to go. Ok so far.

Hello again Cla46 😊 wondering if we will meet at appointments! It's probably fair to say the appointment times at our hospital are somewhat 'flexible'. I've had a few times changed by 10 minutes or so and they may change again. It's not unusual to have delays on the day. On Wednesday they were running 55 minutes behind but I think this is unusual and will happen when one of the 3 machines is being serviced. On the other hand when I was half and hour early they saw me straight away. Once I'm in it takes about 15 min. 

Best wishes everyone xx

[Helen13]

Welcome Chris, hope rads ok for you so far and sorry about problems with tablets, hope it can be sorted for you soon. Clair, after my first rads session yesterday they gave me a new letter where 50% of my times have changed, not massively but enough to have to take note of them and couple of machine changes. I hope they don't get changed again for you, or me 🙂 take care everyone. Just setting off for session 2 xx

[Chris52]

Hi hope I can join you November ladies. I've just had my third treatment today so most of mine will be in November. I was diagnosed in July, op in August and then loads of problems with tablets which is still ongoing, so I'm glad to have started my radiotherapy I just want to get back to normal. Being a carer for my husband this hasn't been an easy time.
Good luck to everyone on our journey. Xx

[Cla46]

I had such a lovely day it was great to feel normal again for a bit :-). I had a letter when I got home from the rads team changing some of my appointment times and machines has anyone else had this? I wonder if it'll all change again just as I get myself organised! never a dull moment
Xx

[Helen13]

Have a lovely day out with your friends Clair. Xx

[Cla46]

Morning lovelies, I've got my positive head on today and I'm off to catch up with some friends, I hope everyone has a great day and those having rads that it all goes well, love Clair xxx

[Helen13]

Morning all lovely ladies, hope you are all ok.Welcome Sue and Beth, i hope you get your start dates soon, please let us know and we are here for you no matter when you start. Aileen and Clair, not long to wait now for yours and will be thinking of you. Jas and Kathy i hope yours continue to go well and its good to be able to start ticking them off. Keep strong team November, we can do this xx

[Jas58]

I started rads this week but most will be in Nov. So far so good. Am having 25 over 5 weeks. 1/5 nearly over 😃

[Helen13]

Hello all lovely ladies. Not long home after first rads. I was 45mins late being called in to appt which added to my nerves but once i got in there it ws fine. Radiographers very friendly & did their best to put me at ease. Spent about 10 mins making sure i was in the right position, taking measurements & pictures. I closed my eyes the whole time but once they'd started machine up i felt the machine whirring around me but it didnt hurt at all. Lady said afterwards i MAY experience some shooting pains in boob during the course, but ive had them after 2 wle ops before (and eased off with painkillers) plus possible redness. She suggested e45 to help combat that but other ladies on here have suggested alternatives...and she said to increase water intake to stay well hydrated. She said they will ask me every session if im feeling ok so seem to be very kind & caring, just what we all need...im glad 1 zap down & 14 to go. I wouldnt have got thru this whole process without the support of all the lovely friends made on here , thankyou so much for being there and i am wishing you all the very best with your rads...we will all soon see the light at the end of the tunnel. lots of love H xx

[Cla46]

Thank u Helen xxx this forum has been a godsend for me I remember the first time I came on here after being diagnosed in July and I was in a total panic, after 2 WLEs and several infections / seroma etc I'm ready for the rads to start it's so good to be able to share experiences and all the ups and downs. Much love Clair xxx

[Sue C]

Hi Ladies

Room for another?!

After surgery in the Summer, have now just finished chemo, and start rads soon. Have appointment next week with consultant, so will get start date then. Although I've been told well done for completing chemo, still feel anxious about the next stage.

Hugs

Sue x

[Beth123]

Hi. 

Im so glad his thread has started. I had lumpectomy and sentinel node removed on 9/9. I have my first meeting with the oncologist on the 2nd Nov and hopefully will start rads soon after that. I have been fortunate (but scared) not to have chemo following my Oncotype score of 13. 

My BC was found by chance too - I went with a small lump on my left breast which turned out to be a harmless cyst, but the mammogram picked up something on my right breast which after numerous biopsies was confirmed as cancer. So despite all my tears, worries and pain since, I still feel lucky that it was found and is being treated. The alternative doesn't bare thinking about!!

So let's get thorough these rads together somehow!!! 

Beth

[daffodil]

Welcome Kathy. The more the merrier. Glad your first 3 have been ok.

[Kathy68]

Hope you don't mind me joining too-am also on the Oct thread. I started radio on Tuesday - so 3 sessions under my belt so far with 17 to go - last zapping on 21st Nov. I was diagnosed end of July, had lumpectomy and SNB towards end of Aug and have been taking tamoxifen for 8wks now (without side effects- until a few hot moments this week!) . Let's get through this next stage....

[daffodil]

Hi Clair and Helen,

Thanks for joining. I found the chemo monthly thread invaluble earlier this year so hope we can help each other through this.

Helen - goog luck today. Let us know how it goes.

Aileen x

[Helen13]

We're all here for each other Clair, every step of the way...no one knows better than us what we have been thru/going thru. xx

[Cla46]

Hi Aileen, I'm finally starting on the 7th November and would love some support too 🙂 lv Clair xx

[Helen13]

Ooos pressed post by mistake...we can get thru this together and sure others will join us. Take care and big hugs. Helen xx

[Helen13]

Hi Aileen, glad you have a date to start your rads next week as the final phase of your recovery after a very long journey, i feel for you with it being such a long process. I found a huge lump in right boob in May , which turned out to be a fluid cyst, drained twice, but was found to have bc in left one, total surprise. Two lumpectomys and an snb later i am starting my rads later today but most of mine will be during November . We can ge

[daffodil]

Hi,

I couldn't find a thread for November radiotherapy so thought i would start one. Hopefully some of you lovely ladies will come along to join this thread soon.

I was diagnosed in Feb, had chemo March to June, lumpectomy in July and again in August. Seems like a very long journey! Since then I've been waiting ages for radiotherapy but have really enjoyed returning to 'normality' for the last 6 weeks or so. I had my planning meeting last week and finally start radiotherapy on 1st November.

Hope we can all get through this final treatment together.

Aileen