Radiotherapy in August

[Toulula]

Hi the geni bras are soft with cups you can take out or love in £5at asda in 3colours

[Toulula]

Thanks for advice will let you know how I get on xxx

[Toulula]

Hi ok o not start ads till 18 go to christening today did tell them about the 14 th and that's why they put to start 18 th so all good getting ready soon it is at church at 3pm then back at club after looking forward to it have not dressed up for months wearing a lilac suit with cream top had my nails done purple and hair cut xxx

[Sisterjayne]

We are doing a week in Toronto ,my brother lives there ,then we are flying down to Boston and touring around for the week ,we've booked to stay in different places on route so it should be good. I've got an annual insurance with the bank ,so I'm going to ring them tomorrow to see where I stand with the insurance ,I'm sure there will be an excess to pay!!! Sorry to hear you had to cancel st lucia but maybe would have been a bit hot and with you getting over the treatment at this stage you probably did best to cancel , get it booked again!!be something to look forward to. I don't go until the 24th so I've still got a couple of weeks to get back on top I hope ,I def wouldn't have been up to going the last couple of weeks ,been so tired and sore!! But feeling much better today ,hope you will too .the gel packs sound really good I should have thought of them 2 weeks ago when I was at my worst !! Good tip for the other ladies though !!

[Atat]

I should have been going to St Lucia later this week!
Atat

[Atat]

Thanks. Canada - how wonderful, which part? When are you going?
I've just discovered gels packs which you cool in fridge and then apply. Wonderful.
Have you had any problems getting travel insurance?
Atat

[Sisterjayne]

Going to Canada !! So looking forward to it .sounds like you've got the same little raised spots that I've had ,almost like a prickly heat rash that's soo itchy ! Does take a while but there is an end and the great thing is your treatment is done!! Just make sure you rest now and good idea keeping the bra off!!

[Atat]

Yes, it did thank you. It is certainly hot, so am fanning etc. I've quite a few pimples, what look like premature ageing raised marks, and what look like little blisters, and I've another fortnight before it gets better, I guess. Not wearing a bra and haven't for a week or so. Hope you're going somewhere nice.
Atat

[Sisterjayne]

Hi Atat hope your last session went ok yesterday , I'm just over the 2 weeks now since I finished and the redness and itching is definitely better over the last couple of days, my boob is still very sensitive but I'm pretty certain that this is normal and will be for some time so it's just being careful with lifting ,carrying etc . Still getting tired but certainly not like I was , starting the tamoxifen when I get back from my hols in 3 weeks time to avoid any side effects I may have whilst I'm away , hopefully none!! So there is an end to the sore, itchy boobs it just takes a bit of time !!

[Toulula]

Hi got mine from asda £5they are great sleep in one too xx

[Toulula]

I have been wearing them for 2monthes now even sleep in one niceandsoft got mine from asa £5 xx

[Atat]

Sorry about all the typos eg I meant to write post op etc

[Atat]

Hi Scattyfox
A genie bra is similar to a sports bra. BHS have their own version. They are incredible comfortable and supportive. I started wearing them post day and night! You just pull them on. The have cups which you can leave in or take out. Re tattoos, dye, they make marks/ crosses on the tattoos to make them more identifiable. They do come off. Lying down with arm above head and zooming in with a battery operated fan is bliss. Each day I've gone for treatment, I feel my skin is as well prepared as it can be. Immediately after treatment I apply the Aloe Vera cream and the aqueous cream. It's important to keep up the excercises.
I was told to take painkillers, if needed, prior to exercising. Having said that you don't want to overdo it!!
I'll be interested to see how things go after my last session tomorrow. Am trying to keep dairy as quiet as possible for next 2 weeks. Plus have a lie down each day!!! If poss!!!
Atat

[kay73]

Hi to you all
Just finished my last treatment today, I'm all done now 🙂 just got a skin review on 16 th ! Happy to be out the other side of this now 🙂
Oh the nurse today gave me two kinds of dressing, I think they use them for burns victims, one is thick and foamy a bit sticky but not gluey, ill try and find the name if anyone needs it ! It works a treat for underneath where the rash is bad and then I have a thinner one that is used on the front and top! Feels cool when it goes on, it breaths and keeps it all nice and dry, have nt been itchy at all today 🙂
Good luck to everyone
Kay x

[scattyfox]

This has been a very interesting thrread thanks ladies.  I start my radio on the 9th 1st of 23.  Ive been advised to get simple soap and a rock deodrant such as Pit Rock and ahve simple shampoo and conditioner for when my hair grows back.  ive also got aqueous cream and e45 so will start using them daily now and make sure i ahve enough anihistamine to combat any itching.  Seems aloe vera gel is a good call and a battery operated fan. 

However not sure what a genie bra is? I dont often wear a bra indoows since my surgery as still painfull when moving my arm, its like its been stitched a tad too much and pulls especially when i drive, so not looking forward to driving each day to the hospital although luckily southend is only a 15 mile round trip from my house. 

Also another question what is the dye ive heard you talk about, ive had my dots but no mention of anything else, although i was a bit emotional on the day.  Thanks in advance

Lucia

[Toulula]

Thanks for advice it helps go for mapping in morning at 8.50am hope when I have dates for rads it will be later

[Atat]

Hi
Have any of you seen your pathology results?
Atat

[Sisterjayne]

I can understand why your nurse said that now Kay , I certainly felt my worst over the weekend which did happen to be around that time! Soo tired ,def got more energy today so things will get better!!

[kay73]

Oh
My nurse today also said the side effects are at their worst around 10 days after treatment is finished ! So ten days after main treatment finishes and then ten days after boost finishes as it affects different areas !

[kay73]

Atat
I finish tomorrow (Wednesday) instead of Thursday 🙂 then just a couple of weeks to heal yay !
Had review today and they want me to see the nurse tomorrow as they want to give me some new dressings I can use 🙂

[Atat]

Better still, is to spend as much time as possible, topless!

Atat

[Atat]

Hi I'm also going bra less (genie bras up to recently very good) and have found that helps a lot. I've 2 more booster sessions to go. Don't know what I'm going to look like in the future and that does concern me, altho the most important thing is to be cancer free.
Atat

[maggyblue]

I finished my 15 rads yesterday. So happy but woke up really early this morning with the itching. The radiologist was happy with the state of my breast and I will get an appointment to be seen in 3 months time to check up on it. Was told to continue with aqaueous cream and not to use deodorant until pinkness fades. Can't wait!  Went shopping for a new bra last week and the breast looked dreadful in the changing room mirror - still blue section from the lymph gland stuff and pink with red spots and the scar doesn't look great either.  Didn't buy a bra as they were all so uncomfortable. Will wait until the swelling goes down. I will follow Atat's advice and take antihistamine pill for the itching - I have bought some anti-drowsy ones as I usually nod off withing 10 minutes of taking other kinds.  Good luck eveyone.

[Sisterjayne]

Hi kalo,I'm exactly the same I finished 2 weeks ago on Wednesday and I've been very sore and itchy ,also I have found that I've been very tired too , it all did seem to catch up with me , yesterday maybe a little easier but does remain so itchy and I've had to leave off wearing a bra when I'm at home as even the genie bra was rubbing me so been wearing a little vest . I think it felt a little bit better yesterday so maybe turning the corner slightly , but all done so that's the main thing!! Good luck to all x

[Atat]

Hi
So when do you finish then?
Atat

[kay73]

Hi atat
Brill thanks for the tips 🙂
Nice you only have three left, I was supposed to finish Thursday too but they doubled up and overlapped the main and boost treatment before the bank holiday !
Isn't it a relief to have light at the end of the tunnel isn't it !
You having a celebration 🙂
Kay x

[Atat]

Well worth taking anti histamine pill like Piriton, it certainly stops my itching. Had my 15th session today. Just my 3 booster sessions left.
I find the Aloe Vera Gel is excellent for cooling me down plus battery operated fan for under breast. Wonderful!
Atat

[kay73]

Great news you ve finished treatment 🙂
I've had 20 got 3 left starting tomorrow !
Skin looks really burnt and rash underneath makes me want to scratch myself to pieces ! But just three to go 🙂
Good luck for the future x

[Kalo]

Hi Ladies,
Last day of August now, hope everyone going into Sepetember with treatment all goes well.
I am 10 days after treatment and as I was told you get worse before getting better it's very true, all very red sore and want to scratch continually but if I do scratch even a wee bit it's agony! Worst bit is scar where lymph nodes were removed.

Have an oncology appointment start of October, see what happens from there.
All the best to everyone with treatment to come. X

[Sisterjayne]

Hi all, Going back to previous comments about physio , It's never been mentioned to me either . They did give me a couple of reviews during my radiotherapy and I was asked if I had any problems but no advice given about any shoulder exercises , there are booklets I'm sure , luckily I've had no problems ,so it must vary from one centre to another!

[Atat]

Thanks. Just 4 now. It's going pretty quickly now. Will be glad to get it over with before the winter!!

[Sisterjayne]

Hi Atat, i finished a week ago and I'm still cooking! They do tell you that you will and I certainly have , tired too but nevertheless all doable ,good luck for the rest of your treatment .

[Atat]

13 sessions done and 5 to go. Feel everything in that area is cooking away nicely. Fanning myself while lie- ing down with arm above head in order to access all areas! I'll miss it when it finishes.
Atat

[Toulula]

Hi I have been putting e45 cream on I have very sensitive skin so has my son thanks for the tips xxxx

[Toulula]

Thanks I have had letter to go for mapping on 4th sep so will be given times dates then been told will have 15then 2boost had a letter today from hospital asking me to come and have a bone scan so will have to wait and see what time I can go there fed up of going back and forth but it is all for the good hugs xxx

[Atat]

I never saw a physio, but I was giving the exercise booklet. Where I am having my rads, have a group physio session. Indeed my shoulder movements were never checked by anyone post-op. Indeed I didn't even see an anaesthetist until day of op, just given another info sheet. It's strange how the quality of care varies between NHS hospitals.
Atat

[alice45]

Pinky, I'm really surprised you haven't had any advice about exercises to keep the shoulder mobile. Do try some of the stretches in the BCC leaflet, they will really help when it comes to getting into position for the radiotherapy, which can otherwise be quite awkward. And the physio class at your hospital sounds a good idea; yes, my hospital physio lady was fierce, but also very helpful and encouraging! They say radiotherapy can cause stiffness to become worse, so continuing the exercises after treatment has finished can help. I finished my rads 4 weeks ago and have noticed the shoulder is quite grumpy if I haven't done the exercises at least once a day. Best wishes, A.

[pinky3]

Thanks for the link, I will give them a go.

I have never been given exercises or advice after surgery about physio. I spoke to the radiotherapy staff and they said there is a physio class held each week at the same hospital so I will try to go if it is close to my radiotherapy appointment.

 Thanks again for your advice.

[alice45]

Were you not told to do shoulder exercises after your op? I was visited by a fierce physio the day after! This website has a good leaflet

http://www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/treatment-side-effects/getting-fitter-feeling-stron...

or do ask your breast care nurse or the radiotherapy staff for advice.

Good luck.

[pinky3]

Thanks for your reply. At the risk of sounding stupid, what exercises? 

[alice45]

For pain, ibruprofen before the radiotherapy appointment. For stiffness, keep doing the exercises - and continue afterwards. My sessions finished 4 weeks ago and I only do the arm exercises once a day - I'm sure it would feel better if I did them more often! Saw the surgeon last week and she said to continue the arm exercises indefinitely, as otherwise everything will seize up...

[pinky3]

Has anyone else had issues with shoulder stiffness and pain during radiotherapy? If you did, do you have any tips for managing? 

[Atat]

In my recent post I meant to write antihistamine tablets not cream. Sorry.
Am enjoying a restful long weekend. All ready for tomorrow and the rest of the week tho, just 8 more to go. Am actually quite enjoying it after all the staff are so nice, and I'd had such a long wait to start.
Atat

[Kalo]

Hi ladies,
I'm just back from a long weekend in a lovely hotel with family. Had my last treatment on Thursday, should've been Wednesday but machine was being serviced that day and I couldn't wait or go back.
I got aqueous cream to use but not put any cream on as yet, specialist said to try not use anything if possible till 2 weeks after (as it could cause irritation) I'm just a wee bit itchy and it has got quite sore and very red now. I'll get an appointment in 6-8 weeks, other than that no more treatment just worry as I'm triple negative!
Hope everyone is well still going through radio, (((hugs to all))
Carole x

[Sisterjayne]

Hi Atat, that is so true , not needing chemo as you say is something to be grateful for , although had we of needed it no doubt we would have coped like all the brave ladies going through it,it certainly does elongate the treatment for you ,radiotherapy is over pretty quickly, I think my three weeks have gone very fast. I finished on wed and to be honest I'm more sore today than I was all through it all proving as they do tell you it keeps working for a couple of weeks after you've finished. I'm sat here bra less as trisha kindly suggested and it has helped today as I've found even the genie bra was making me sore. I'm out tonight in a vest under my top ,only over to friends for food so no dancing!! Hopefully no one will notice my droopy boobs under my gypsy blouse!! Hugs and best wishes to all going through treatment at the mo xx

[Atat]

Well, now had 10 sessions. 2x4 to go. Everything fine. Some pink!redness which disappears pretty much by following day. Any itchiness goes with antihistamine cream.
Roll on Bank Holiday weekend. Prefer this to have happened in summer rather than winter. So many things to be grateful for, esp not needing chemo.
Atat

[rosie14]

Toulula I don't think you should be worrying about your granddaughters christening and whether you will be able to dance or not! At least you will be at the christening no matter how tired you may feel! I recently flew to the UK for our youngest sons wedding 2 weeks out of Db mx surgery. I still had stitches in one side! I was very tired and uncomfortable and couldn't dance, but I was there at my sons wedding and that was the most important thing to me!!!'

[Sisterjayne]

Hi ladies well I'm finished! Apart from a red and itchy breast I'm fine !! still using cream every day and some hydrocortisone cream on the itchy bit which has helped a lot so other than feeling a bit tired so relieved its over, next step tamoxifen!! So hope the side effects are minimal !! Good luck to everyone else going through your radiotherapy ,hope it's going ok hugs xx

[Toulula]

Thanks good of you to get back to me it helps xxx

[Toulula]

Thanks a lot feel better already my husband said on the news last night there was a women who was having radiation said it takes 10mins so 3weeks will go quick roll on October love the summer but have not sat out in garden this year hope to go away next year xxx