April 2018 Radiotherapy

[Jencat]

Wishing all the April rads ladies a happy and healthy 2019. Hope you're all doing well x

[twistie123]

I can definitely recommend the Polymem dressings, I used them when the skin split under my boob and they worked like a dream, they are miraculous! 

Kaz xx

[Alibobs]

I used Mothercare nipple protector pads, bought them online, they are for breast feeding mum's bug certainly helped sooth and calm my sore itchy nipple!! Hope you get sorted soon ❤❤

[ladybowler]

Cathysid

Ask you team if they can give you a supply of Polymemo dressing, that is what I was given when it looked as if my skin was breaking down.  Fortunately it didnt however it certainly worked in helping protect my nipple against rubbing on my bra.

Helena xxx

[Cathysid]

Well done to all who have finished!
I just have two boosts to go then I reach the end.
Just wondering if anyone else is suffering a sore and oozy nipple? I’ve been told not to apply any cream to it, but that’s all the help I’ve been given. If I don’t put a cabbage leaf inside my top it sticks to my clothes and then I loose more skin trying to detach it. Any tips to help it heal?
Cath x

[Fenouillard]

Great idea to do pink BizzyLizzy but I’ve been talked out of it by my horrified family. Age came into some of the arguments which made me feel about 105. Really, can’t we have a bit of fun! So I am doomed to have a safe colour. Or maybe I’ll rebel! 

F

[BizzyLizzy]

I coloured my own - pink at the ends for breast cancer awareness 

it was fine 

had a trim last week was shocked how many grey hairs have appeared since my diagnosis 

but at the routes - so have not tackled them as yet but the dyed bit is fine 

feel a bit like a tabby cat lol but having my hair cut removed all the dry ends from treatment 

[Fenouillard]

Great! Thanks Andi. I agree about feeling better. Im not ready to go grey yet! 

Best wishes everyone

F

[Andi]

I also had my hair coloured during Rads.
I asked the radiographer first who confirmed ok and just as Jill has said.

Must say I felt much better after I had the grey touched up.

xx

[Fenouillard]

Thanks very much Jill1998

[ladybowler]

Fenouillard

I know exactly how you feel, when I was having my rads it was over the Xmas period 2016/2017 and it extended my rads by 5 days, all I wanted was to get to the end of it, but you get there xx

Cant help on the colouring thing though.

Helena xx

[Jill1998]

Unless you have recently had chemo or you are having radiotherapy to your head it's fine to colour your hair .I asked when I was going through treatment.

[Fenouillard]

Hello everyone

I know this sounds completely counter intuitive and that most of you will be enjoying the sunshine over the bank holiday, but I’m feeling frustrated that I’ve got three days off instead of getting to the end of my radiotherapy. So it stretches out into the distance again. Sorry!

I also have a question for you. I’m trying to find out when I could start a recolouring my hair after radiotherapy ends. The question seems to get mixed up with advice on chemo and I am findind everything from 

‘not a problem’ to ‘wait 12 months’. Did anyone else ask their oncologist? I’m not sure mine is sufficiently in tune with female concerns to have an answer to that!

Have a lovely holiday everyone

F

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi Jencat no I didn’t have a choice! It was a mouthpiece like a scuba diver uses and measured my breath intake to stop at the same point every time, I think. I had quite a large area in the field, from underarm nodes right across to my sternum as I’d had a deposit there. It was ok though, just made my mouth very dry, so I took a bottle of water into the changing room so I could have some as soon as I possible. 

I didn’t find my arms aches any more than usual, but I was taking regular paracetamol anyway so that might have been the reason! 

Nice to see the sunshine today, but feeling tired this evening. Hope you had a good day. Xx

[Dusty]

Hi Andi- it was fine and you get into the groove of breath holding and short breaths etc and as long as appointments are on time, I think its quite a quick treatment, and all staff are so lovely at the department…I'm feeling tired now it's done…probably the relief…just need to get my head around the last 9months now!!..this blog has helped me cope enormously and it's so great to be able to ask questions rant a bit and be supported!
xx

[Dusty]

many thanks….I'm a bit shell shocked it's actually over, but have taken a few weeks off to relax as feeling quite tired now it's over!

[Jencat]

Thank you Butterfly x I shall enjoy Monday and not having to go to the hospital!

No, I'm not using a device for the breath holding, I wasn't offered one, were you? I've had images taken every day so far and I think they're going to take them again when I go on Tuesday. Finding my arms ache, but it's improved a bit now I take paracetamol beforehand.

Hope you enjoy the long weekend xx

[Jencat]

Well done Andi and thank you for your good wishes xx

[Andi]

Thank You Helena, Nat &Butterfly

A day of mixed emotions, smiles and tears but overall relieved.
A nice quiet evening tonight, then away next week for a couple of days relaxing and walking.

Enjoy the sunshine this weekend Ladies.

Good wishes to everyone continuing rads and going through treatment. I am just so grateful to have found this forum.

Love to all xx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Well done Nat and Andi, what a lovely feeling. 

Jencat, I too had the breath holding - are you using a device or doing it yourself? The first 4 sessions I had imaging done and it does make the session longer, but once they are happy with your position they’ll only do it once a week I think so hang in there! Enjoy the rest over the long weekend and take care in the sunshine. 

I’m 8 days post rads, and my skin is still holding up. Just using aloe Vera straight from the fridge twice a day, it does make me smile when I use it as it feels cold on some bits but feel nothing on others! Can’t say the fatigue has been noticeable, maybe it’s because I had 8 rounds of chemo and in comparison this was a doddle? Am enjoying getting back to feeling my new normal! 

Have a a good weekend ladies and take care in the sunshine. Xx 

[ladybowler]

Andi

Ding dong, I have just run outside and rang my doorbell for you.

Yay thats it now no more and you can start to get your life back.  Keep on with your regime for the next two weeks as you will still be feeling the effects of the rads but well done lady.  I hope you are doing something nice tonight

Helena xxx

[Nat223]

Well done Andi! Enjoy the weekend. 

My first day after rads today and it was lovely not going into hospital!

[Andi]

Well - I'm done and the bell has been rung!
All 15 sessions completed and only a little pink now.

Thank you to everyone for the amazing support and advice. I could not have done it without you all.

I will be hanging about on the forum to see how everyone is doing.

Much Love to All xx

[Jencat]

Thanks Cassie and Andi, rads going ok, but the sessions have been quite long because I've had images taken everyday so far and also because of having to hold my breath. My arms were painful on Mon and Tues holding them in the same position for so long, but I've taken some parcetamol before the session for the past couple of days and that has made it a bit easier.

Great news that tomorrow is your last session Andi x

Cassie, does it feel strange now you've finished?! x

[Jencat]

Well done Nat x

[Andi]

Job well done Nat congratulations!
Jencat- how's it going?
Thank you Whytefawn and your support has been much appreciated.
Will check out my pm and catch up with you.
Everyone else....keep going- you will soon be done xx

[WhyteFawn]

Well done Nat!! Keep up the moisturiser. I'm now 9 days post rads and very pink still and a bit itchy so hydrocortisone cream is also going on.

Hope yours is going ok Jencat.
Andi last one tomorrow!!! Have pm'd you

X

[Nat223]

thanks Helena!

[ladybowler]

Nat

Just been outside and rung the doorbell for you.

Well done and no more daily apts to control your life.  Keep on moisturising and taking in the fluids over the next couple of weeks.

Sending you hugs

Helena xxx

[Nat223]

Finished today! Skin v sore but very pleased to be done. 

Good luck tomorrow Andi. X

[Andi]

Afternoon April Rads Ladies

How is it going everyone?

I've just completed my penultimate session and just a little pink now. I use Aloe Vera gel straight after treatment then Aveeno 2/3 times during the day.

I have developed a very stiff back and think this is partly due to lying on the metal rads bed. That and holding the bars above my head too tightly. I think I may be holding myself taught rather than relaxing. Staff had to help me on and off today.

Looking forward to ring- a-linging that bell tomorrow.

Hope everyone is well and sailing through xx

[Jencat]

Thank you all for your good wishes. 2 sessions down, 23 to go! The sessions so far have been about 50mins long because of getting me into the right position, taking images and having to hold my breath-apparently my technique was better yesterday! My arms are really uncomfy being in the same position for so long-when I went for my planning, they suggested I took some paracetamol beforehand, so might do that tomorrow as it's going to be another long session!

It was funny yesterday though as I was meant to have an information meeting before I had rads. ED had come with me, so I asked the radiographer if she could come in too. However he'd forgotten about the meeting and told me to get changed and took ED with him. He obviously must have thought that ED was very concerned about me, so gave her a tour and showed her the equipment  and how it worked! It made me chuckle as I realised what had happened, ED hadn't though, so was a bit confused about it all! (Radiographer remembered about the meeting when I was lying topless on the machine!) xx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Thanks Jencat. Have had no issues with my skin so far and can’t say aches are any worse either. Maybe ribs a bit sore on the side treated but manageable. 

Good luck for yours and hope you don’t have any issues. Xx

[Andi]

Congratulations Dusty. How did it go today?
WhyteFawn thanks for asking, I'm doing fine and my skin is holding up. Yes just 4 to go and really it has gone so quickly. I hope you are feeling well.

Hope all goes smoothly for everyone.
xx

[ladybowler]

Lin

Woo hoo just been out and rang the doorbell for you to celebrate you finishing rads xxx

[ladybowler]

Jencat

Hope everything went well for you today on your first session xxx

[Nat223]

Just three more to go! Looking forward to the weekend. A bank holiday to recover - great. 

How’s everyone doing? 

[WhyteFawn]

I had a couple like that Andi where I was back in the car before my appointment time.
Tomorrow will be 1 week since my last rads. How time flies. My skin isn't too bad. Still a bit pink bit keeping up with moisturiser, aloe Vera gel and hydrocortisone cream and so far so good. How's your skin doing? What's that now 4 to go!!!

[Andi]

Thanks WhyteFawn.
Today was the quickest session ever. I was walking out before my appointment time. Made the whole process so much quicker and easier.
So far so good. A little pink but nothing major.

How are you doing now, post treatment?
I've noticed that you pop along on the forum to offer support and guidance to newer ladies. Well done to you, I know that sharing your experiences will be invaluable to members. Xx

[Jencat]

Thank you Ann xx

[Jencat]

Thank you Andi and Cassie xx

[ann-m]

Hi Jencat,
As ever, the prospect of it plays on the mind, but I found it all quite straightforward & oddly, quite enjoyed it as I found it interesting & you get to know the team & others in your time slot. Crikey, just remembered, I was in the middle of rads exactly 2 years ago!
ann x

[WhyteFawn]

Good luck today Jencat. Rads is so easy. It's just quite boring.
Andi only 5 to go that has flown!! Nearly there.

[Andi]

Good luck Jencat you will be amazed how simple and quick the whole process is.
I'm on my last 5 days this week and it really has flown by.
Good luck to everyone for the end of April rads.
See you in the May thread xxx

[Jencat]

Starting radiotherapy at long last tomorrow! Feeling a bit apprehensive now though, but I suppose that's normal! xx

[Jencat]

Last one tomorrow Lesley! Be careful when you ring that bell! xx

[Jencat]

Well done Butterfly and enjoy your lie in tomorrow! x

[Dusty]

Hurray delighted  you are done and its all over!

Enjoy the future xx

[Dusty]

I bet it was nerve racking, waiting game is tricky to cope with and bc gives us a lot of this vibe!..I'm getting annual ones from now on and I expect I'll be nervous too.

I'm so glad monday is the last one and I'm looking forward to not having to travel so early and have a slower start each morning:)…I will keep up with the cream and fluids…and lots of hugs to you too,
Lin xx

[Dusty]

Happy days- i wish you the very best of health! xx