OCTOBER HOT CROSS BUNS

[Jobey68]

Jill I'm still seething that you had free hot chocolate!! 😡 My niece came with me most days and it cost me a fortune in the M&S cafe! 

[barb18]

Hi ladies
I too start rads this month. Ct scan on 6th and rads start on 15th and finish on 4th Nov. I'm already on tamifloxen. 😒

[Eiljones]

Hi Gaynor1,

I've had 14 of my 15 sessions now and so far I have not felt tired but I am retired and live on my own so I don't have to run around if I don't want to.  I have been out every day though shopping and going for walks. Maybe the tiredness will kick in next week when I've finished rads.

I have used E45 cream and have small boobs and after 14 sessions my boob is only a bit pink and the radiographer said my skin has done very well but that it will go a bit redder before it starts to go back to normal.  I used the E45 cream for a week before I started rads and during rads I have used it first thing in the morning, then again after rads when I get home and then again before I go to bed.

I have had my treatment at The Christie in Manchester and everyone has been lovely.

Eileen. x

[Jill1998]

Hi Gaynor, quite a lot of us on this site have recently had rads at Preston.They will advise you on creams if your skin deteriorates, they just suggest aqueous cream or E 45 until then. Most people I have spoken to have felt very tired after about 6 or 7 sessions and for a few weeks after finishing so you should factor that into your return to work , everyone is different though in how they react .Good luck enjoy your free hot chocolate ( with marshmallows) one of the very few perks if having cancer !!!

[Gaynor1]

Hi ladies,
I'd also like to join your group as I'm due to start my Rads on 21st October having had my last chemo on 18th sept.
Had my planning appt on 30th sept and am having 15 sessions plus 5 boost and am proud to say I can now join the tattoo club !!
I met with my Gp and work manager today and have also agreed to return to work on 29th October on a phased return basis starting with two half days the first week and slowly increasing until end of November. Have planned some leave at the end of my sessions to give time to recuperate as I've been told tiredness kicks in towards the end of treatment and for a couple of weeks after, don't know how right that is? Hope I haven't planned too much!
One question , has anyone been given any cream to use or what or what not to use during treatment as they didn't say anything on Wed when I went for the planning appt and me still having chemo brain! Never thought to ask .
I don't know where everyone is having their treatment but I'll be going to Preston. Where is everyone else going??
Well good luck to everyone
Gaynor x

[Eiljones]

Hi Fuffs 123.

Yes, I have heard of this. My breastcare nurse said that as I have small boobs I was less likely to have skin problems compared to ladies with larger breasts. I have had number 13 of 15 rads today and by breast has only started to go pink today. The radiographer said that I have done very well so far.  I don't really understand why big boobs are a problem other than there is a lot more skin being radiated.

[Eiljones]

Glad it all went well T3D.  I nearly always treat myself after my rads, I usually buy food or go in somewhere to eat on the way home. It's a good job I've only got two more to go as I've definitely put weight on since the start of all this.  I shall have to get back to healthy eating soon but not before I've spent a few days away with my daughter and wined and dined with her every day. lol.

[Fuffs123]

Evening all. Looks like I should be joining this thread at last. I was diagnosed in January and have had 3 WLEs and a 10 day stay in hospital since then. I don't do anything by halves! Now due to start rads at Leicester on 14 October and have had the planning meeting, rather disappointed with my tiny tattoos, was hoping for something elaborate, lol. I do have a concern over the number of sessions they want to do, 25. Apparently as I have big boobs, they say that I am likely to have more skin problems so prefer to give a lower dose over a longer period. Anyone ever heard this? Good job I am well endowed as I had a lot of tissue taken out but the poor boob looks very mangled.

[T3D]

Thanks for the good wishes. All went well -I even got called in five minutes early!!  Treated myself to a nice new pair of shoes after 😉 

[julie_m]

Hope today goes ok for you T3D, good luck!  

Just had my planning appointment through the post for 7th October, was supposed to be going back to one of my jobs that day, but they are happy for me to go in afterwards so all worked out in the end!

Attempting to go back to my other job on Saturday, just hoping I can last the day, but I'll never know unless I give it a try and think it'll do me good to get back to a bit of normality but if I find it too much will have a rethink!!! Baby steps!!! Been a lot stronger this week at last and have managed 2 small drives in the car, (one without any 'carers' in tow, felt like I'd gone AWOL lol) which was a major milestone, even had a few tears when I'd done it, tiny things mean so much now don't they 

Julie  xxx

[Eiljones]

Hope all went well today T3D.  

[Eiljones]

My daughters couldn't stop laughing when i said that I'd had two tattoos cos for years I've always said that I would never get a tattoo done. LOL. 

[julie_m]

Found you!!! Thanks for setting this up Ran, great name!! 

Good luck to everyone starting or waiting for rads, just waiting on my planning appointment now, and free tattoos on the NHS!!!!

Julie xxx  

[Reikiran]

Good luck T3D

Let us know how you got on today, hope you didnt have too much waiting around x 

[vic55]

Oh and for me no bloods (yipeeee!!) tech said they would only do stuff like that if doc had requested it. Team seemed lovely, I had couple of queries and they explained everything.

[vic55]

Planning apt for me was about 30/ 40 mins. Oncologists went thru paperwork before and had explained it, so it was just the practicalities. Did height, weight. Then top off time and lie down. 3 in room, they said could dim lights, but after the amount of flashing my boobs at various apts I didn't care! They line you up with the machine, draw few lines, attach tapes and scan. Honestly painless and easy. They just need your measurements to get it set. The tattoos are incredibly tiny dots. One one either side and one in middle. For me this was relatively easy appt. My only issue is I am at cov, so parking will be nightmare!!! Am also hoping to start swimming soon (just need hair back!!) and if my skin doesn't go bonkers with rads I can keep it up!

[Reikiran]

Well done Vic55, your very brave by the sounds of things, did you get a choice of shaping for the tatoos? 20 blasts sounds doable, your going to be done ready for Christmas treats x x x Amazing really x x x

[Reikiran]

Hi Ladies

So glad you have joined our party....i hope you loved the name, spark of inspiration from moi, a textile and art teacher who often thinks 'outside the box', ha ha. 

Im still waiting for my planning app at Addenbrooks in Cambridge (in special measures i hear), how long does the actual 1st appointment take?

Do they only sort you out on the machine or do they take blood etc?

Does the radiation go through the body and out the other side? 

So many questions..

Love to all of you beginning and continuing rads this month, hows it going so far?

Ran x x x

[vic55]

Howdy, just back from rads planning apt. Chemo finished last wed, and rads due on 27th for 20 blasts! Apt doodle, after 4 looooong chemo months am okay about this bit. Got lined up, scanned, 3 teeny dot tattoos done and sorted!

[Jill1998]

Good luck all the ladies starting or finishing radiotherapy in October,it's a bit of a long haul but every day you go is one day less and nearer the end of treatment .

[T3D]

I should have started on Monday but they had too many problems getting me to line up on the machine so they've repeated my set up ct and I'm starting on Thursday. It's all been to do with having my set up so close to my surgery which meant that my swelling had gone down so my shape had changed dramatically. Fingers crossed for Thursday! 

[Eiljones]

I love the name of your new group. I'm a bit ahead of you but would like to join anyway if that's ok. I've got session 12 of 15 today so if anyone needs any tips I might be able to help.  Rads is nothing to worry about, everyone at the hospital is lovely and caring and it I'm in and out in 15 minutes apart from a couple of delays which is bound to happen occasionally.

E. 

[Reikiran]

Starting Radio Therapy in October?

Or waiting to start like me, share your experiences here...