September 2017 radiotherapy

[katie11]

Hi ladies, hoping to join you all, I am starting on 22nd September after finishing my chemo treatment. Any tips? X

[Anniej]

Hi Ollybobs, in a way the rads initially I found more stressful. You have to surrender complete control of your body as it is pushed, pulled and rolled into position. I asked if I could bring in my own music which helped distract me. Once I accepted the lack of control I was fine. I made the mistake of wearing my wig for the Pre assessment session, so had to wear it ever after. Has a habit of falling off onto the floor as I wriggle and heave myself up after treatments! I got a printed sheet with all my appointments on, and, crucially, the phone number for the room. Useful to phone direct for queries. My rads nurse told me what shower gel and deodorant they wanted me to use ( simple, and roll on) and gave me a tube of moisturiser which is replenished as I need it. She answered any queries before I asked! As per usual she was following a booklet and ticking off as she went along. I was also given a lovely (not) hospital gown to take every time. I put this in a little bag, with my cd and cream. I always moisturise after each treatment. You need to moisturise at least  twice per day. Ask where  is best for you. I had to do my back as well as boob. You'll be fine. Homeward bound now! 🍀😍

[ollybobs]

I'm going for my rads planning meeting tomorrow at QE Birmingham. Any tips on what to ask etc?

[Mama-bear]

Hi Hwin, a vanilla loaf cake with a lemon syrup poured over the top and then thick lemon flavoured icing poured on top

[Hwin]

What did you bake, Mama Bear? I love hearing about cakes!

I had a tired out day during chemotherapy, I ended up making 8 pots of blackcurrant jam, took me until about midnight!  I did sleep well...

[ladybowler]

Mama Bear

Oh that is so funny, your poor hubby trying it on him first but love it 🙂 🙂 xx

[Mama-bear]

You'll be pleased to hear Helena that it turned out OK. Of course I didn't try the cake first, I made my hubby, just incase I did get the ingredients muddled and he not only survived but said it was "alright" so I'll take that as win and that I can officially bake in my sleep!

Mary Berry, here I come!

xx

[ladybowler]

Mama bear

Oh what are you like, be careful that you dont get your ingredients mixed up 🙂 xxx

[Mama-bear]

4 down, 19 to go.

Feel absolutely pooped today, so what do you do when you feel like you're going to fall asleep standing up? You bake!

This has the potential to not end well.

[ann-m]

😂😂😂 x

[ladybowler]

ann

thats where I was going wrong, I thought wine counted as fluid 🙂 🙂

[ann-m]

Absolutely, Helena.
TBH, I just carried on with fluids/drinks as I normally would with rads & just listened to my body. I didn't make any special effort to take 2 litres & I wasn't recommended to.
Just do what you feel comfortable with. All fluids count, but sadly not wine, of course 😁
ann x

[ladybowler]

Hwin

You are correct it is the fluid rather than water intake so that you do not get dehydrated from the rads.  They told me 2 litres at my rads, but to be honest just making sure you keep up the fluids is important and your body will let you know if you need to take on more.  I managed 2 litres a day as i have a bottle on my desk which I keep filling during the day but there were days when I struggled to maintain it as well.

Helena xx

[Hwin]

Hi Merank,

I asked whether I'd have to do the breath holding as my lump was left sided, but they said no - I think most of the rads are aimed at my lymph nodes, the supraclavicular ones and the axillary ones, and it's only the 3 or 4 boosts that are to the breast?  I'm not 100% sure, as when I asked they were a bit distracted by oohing at my fresh scars and debating among themselves whether it was too soon to do a planning scan.

I too struggle with 2 litres - I did it during the days around each chemo - so a couple of days before and up to a week after, but I am not a big drinker and usually my daily fluid intake is a cup of tea and a bowl of soup! So drinking 2 litres a day for over a month is going to be a challenge.  I bought one of those sports water bottles which is about a litre, and try to fill it and drink as much as possible in the morning, then add to that litre with cups of herbal tea, a coffee and glasses of water with meals.  As far as I know the thinking now is that it's fluid intake, rather than water intake that counts for hydration so it doesn't have to be water.

[Lizzie]

Hi Merank,

Well we are 3 sessions in - so far so good. Like you I'm struggling with the fluid intake but drinking decaf tea and coffee as figure that will count . 

We will soon be finished xo

[Mama-bear]

Hi Merank. I wasn't specifically told 2 litres, just that drinking fluids helps battle dehydration which can lead to fatigue. I've taken to carry around a water bottle so I slurp from it generally throughout the day but instead of just plain water, I often have squash or cordial to mix it up a bit.

[ann-m]

Hi Merank,

I was not recommended to drink 2 litres of water during rads & tea & coffee is fluid to so that would count. I was just advised to maintain a fluid intake during rads & to keep well hydrated, but 2 litres of water was never mentioned. Just do what's comfortable for you. 

ann x

[merank]

Hello, I'm new here and like Lizzie and Jojums and Mama-bear started rads on 30 August. It's really good to have company!

Is anyone else having dibh, the breath-holding thing? (Keep wanting to call it gbh - well, I suppose it is all a form of greivous bodily harm!) I wasn't given the magic goggles during my training session, don't know why,  but have used them for the real thing. Wasn't sure about them at first but now finding they really help me understand what I'm supposed to be doing. Not very keen on the nose peg though.

The advice I'm really struggling with is drinking 2 litres of water. I have to travel an hour and a half each way for treatment and that's a long time away from a loo if you're drinking non-stop. But even today when I've been mostly at home I'm finding it difficult. I don't think I'm going to get anywhere near the target. I'm assuming coffee and tea don't count but hoping herbal teas do?

[Optimissy64]

Wow Hwin - that's some treatment plan you've been on, especially the additional surgery (the ompah thing) at the same time. Reckon you are Wonderwoman. Rads will be a doddle after what you've done so far. All the very best with the final furlong. xxxxxx

[ladybowler]

Hwin

I have to agree with them you are wonderwoman thats flipping quick after the op 🙂

I am sure you will get loads of help and support

Helena xxx

[Hwin]

Hello everybody

This is my first post although I've followed the group since my diagnosis at the end of February - it's been invaluable!

Finally, here I am at the rads stage, after a month of faffing around doing staging scans, then four and a half months of chemotherapy and surgery two weeks ago.  I started off with a diagnosis of triple negative including a postive lymph node, lump disappared completely from scans by week 4 of chemo, and had a pCR response confirmed last week at my one week follow up after surgery (had WLE, sentinel node biopsy and oophorectomy in same op as I like to be efficient 😄 ).  They have now clearly decided I am wonderwoman and only gave me 9 days to recover from the op before having the radiotherapy planning CT... and rads start on 12th September - 15 and 4 boosts I think.  I am so glad I'm nearly at the end of treatment, can't wait for the 9th October when I can walk out the door of the hospital and  hopefully not look back!

[ladybowler]

RuthElisabeth

Hello and welcome, hope all is going well for you so far. 

Remember to keep moisturising the area where you are having the rads 2/3 times a day, drink plenty of fluid they recommend at least 2 litres a day as this helps counter the dehydration effects from the rads and possible fatigue but most important listen to your body and rest whenever you need it.

We will be ringing the bells for you very soon.

Helena xxx

[RuthElisabeth]

Hi everyone. I have been on the chemotherapy March 17 thread but had my 2nd rads today so swapping groups! Good to have some company on this final stage of treatment. Best wishes to everyone else who is going through this part of their treatment. I will be finished on 19th September x

[Lizzie]

Hi Mama Bear

I'm day two As well - my boon feels hot and a bit tingly.  Xo

[Mama-bear]

Thanks Helena, will do x

[ladybowler]

Mama bear

I didnt have much discomfort until day 7 although I did have a bit of tingling early on but nothing major.  I suppose what you have to remember is that the rads are affecting the area which is really still healing.  If you are concerned mention it to your team tomorrow, never think that you cant ask them anything they are there to help you and need to understand how you are feeling so that they can advise you appropriately

Helena xxx

[Mama-bear]

Evening ladies,

Session 2 of radiotherapy today (21 more sessions to go) but had a quick question for those who have been on this journey longer than I.

I was told side effects are likely to kick in around session 5-10 but after just one I noticed my boob is quite sore. Not the skin itself but the tissue in general. It was more noticeable when I went to drive to work this morning because the seatbelt laid across the boob in question (over the top of clothes of course) but was just as uncomfortable when I had to drive to the hospital and then home again later in the day.

Anyone else experienced that?

[WinkyW49]

Hi to all

I am so glad that this thread is here.

I am hopefully starting radiotherapy in September once all of my blood clot has come out as it decided to make an appearance through my incision a few weeks a go so at the the moment my name is Leaky. good thing my middle intial is an L. 

I hope it goes well for everyone who like me is starting but mine will go into October and I have an exam on the 18th of October as am studying at the grand old age of 49 my accounting technician but this module has taken me 5 months instead of seven weeks due to a lot of things that have happended inclduing this little germ inside me.

Take care

Wendy xxx

[Lizzie]

Thanks Helena, day one done.

Thank you for the marvellous job you do on here for call us,ladies (and men) it is much appreciated xo

[ladybowler]

Jojums

And it will not be long before we are ringing the bells for as well.  ANything you need to know just ask

Helena xxx

[ladybowler]

Lizzie

That is great news onwards and upwards now, wont be long before we are ringing the bells for you to celebrate finishing 🙂 🙂

Helena xx

[ladybowler]

LadyMondegreen

Why not stay on here for now as you will get loads of information and then post on the October thread next month.  It is not prescriptive that you are on either one it is just what suits you and where you will get help and support from.

Helena xx

[Jojums]

First of fifteen starting today - can't wait for it all to be over so I can get my life back on track 😀

[Lizzie]

Finally, almost 4 months,after my lumpectomy, I start rads tomorrow.  Can't wait to get it finished -3 weeks. 

I work so I'm hoping all will be well and I can carry on.  

Good luck to anyone else going thru rads x

[LadyMondegreen]

Hello, I got my dates today and, although I am starting in September, it isn't until the end of September so most of the dates are in October.  So shall I sign up to this thread or the October one?

[ladybowler]

busybee

Hello and welcome, well you will get loads of help and support on here

Anything you need to know just ask and there will always be someone on here who will be able to help.

Helena xxx

[busybeeS]

Hi Helena.

Thank you for starting the thread.

I'm just in my last 3 week recovery period from chemo. So start Rads 11th Sept. I am having 15 doses and 8 boosts, so 23 in total, finish 11th October. I have already had my CT scan and tattoos done so all ready to go!

I was diagnosed in February, so this is my final part of active treatment. So far, I've had minimal side effects and have worked right through, apart from 2 weeks post surgery. So fingers crossed, rads go smoothly.

Good luck to everyone starting this month.

Sue

[ladybowler]

Just starting a September thread for those ladies who are continuing and starting their radiotherapy in September..  You will get loads of help and support from the ladies who are already having rads.

Helena