Radiotherapy Feb 2020

[Shablah]

Hi Chelle

I asked about antihistamines and if they might cause a problem and make tamoxifen stop working but the radiographer wasn't sure and said to use hydrocortisone 1% cream for now until I speak to a doctor, so that's what I've been doing.  I look like I've got a rash but I don't think the cream is strong enough as it works for about 3 minutes then I'm itchy as hell again. Hoping it passes quickly! 

Have a great weekend hope the weather's not too bad where you are xx

[Chelle56]

Hi Shablah

I was told if I start getting itchy to take antihistamines.

Don't spend too much when you finally get to go on your shopping trip 😀

[Shablah]

Hi Chelle 

Yes I'm all done, yay!! 

I am very red, sore and itchy but it will be fine. I'm sure. I've been falling asleep very early too which is good because usually I'm a bad sleeper. 😴

I've just woken up to the crappiest weather. The shopping trip might have to wait a couple of days. 😞

Good luck for your last week coming up. 💪 Take care xx

[Chelle56]

Hi Shablah

It was your last rads session today wasn't it.

Congratulations on getting through all of your treatment 😀. Now it's time to start living life to the full and enjoying every day. 

Look after yourself, listen to your body and rest when you need too. 

Take care and keep smiling 😀❤

[Tili]

Chelle, glad to hear all’s well, I’m the same as you on the 7th day was feeling tired

however have managed to get out for a friends birthday dinner this evening and feeling fine. 

big hugs over halfway, Down hill from now Tili xx

[Chelle56]

I bet you can't wait for Friday 😀

Hope you enjoy your shopping trip, you deserve it x

[Shablah]

Hi Chelle

That's great the young girl has her college friends for support. How horrible for her to be diagnosed at such a young age! There is no bell to ring at my hospital. Let your friend drive you, if only for a couple if days. That's what friends are for after all.

I don't have any special plans to celebrate, not at the moment anyway. This weekend though I'm planning to buy myself something nice! Not sure what yet but maybe some new clothes.

I finish rads on Friday and will be starting the "Moving Forward" course on Tuesday. I think I need something to focus on for now X 

[Chelle56]

Hi Shablah

Glad you are doing well, hope your skin continues to be ok, so far so good for mine too 😀

I'll be ok driving, don't want to drag my husband out of work to do it, except for the last day when I get to ring the bell 😀😀. My friend offered but my appointments are early morning so don't want to impose. Public transport would be longer as there is no direct route. 

Do you have any plans to celebrate when your treatment has finished? There was a 22 year old who finished her treatment last week, her college friends came to see her ring the bell and they were having a party that night. It's good to see she is going to live life to the full 😀

'

[Shablah]

Hi Chelle

I'm not doing too bad at all. I had a skin review today and got told my skin is holding up well even though I'm really sore and peeling!  I'm still drinking more than 2 litres of water a day and moisturising like crazy. 13 done for me now, just got home from the last one 💪. 

Don't you have anyone who could take a turn and drive you,  or any other way of getting there, maybe hospital transport might help you out for the last week?  X

[Chelle56]

Hi ladies

Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. I have had 8 sessions now and the tiredness has kicked in from session 7, even though I am drinking plenty and going on my exercise bike (weather is too bad to go for walks). Don't think the 80 minute round trip drive to the hospital helps either. 

Keep smiling x

[Shablah]

Week two done for me 💪.

Hope you ladies are all doing well. Wishing you all a fab weekend XX 

💐

[Chelle56]

Hi Tookie

You must be so pleased your treatment has finished 😀. Hope the tiredness starts to fade. Now is the time to have fun and enjoy life

Keep Smiling xx

[Tookie]

Hope everyone's week has gone well.

Finished my treatment on Tuesday. I didn't get to ring the bell (it was just a small china ornament, not one attached to wall like on TV) but my daughter took me for coffee and cake and hubby bought a lovely bouquet. 💐🔔 

Been more tired towards end of week. Skin is quite pink and been very itchy. Clothes have been irritating a bit, even been going bra-less when I'm at home with baggy hoodie. Still managing to exercise though!

Take care all, get plenty of rest over weekend 😀xx  

[Tili]

Chelle, sorry another senior moment, I’m now thinking it’s Mel on her 2nd week

if so hopefully all is going well for both of you.

Had a word about the headache they have suggested drinking more water and not worrying to much. Hopefully your journey will be ok and please don’t worry I’m sure they will still see you stress is not good.

Enjoy and have a restful evening 

hugs from me to all the lovely ladies out there 👱🏻 xx

[Chelle56]

Hi Tili

I have only had 3 so far also, but so far so good. Drinking plenty of water, putting the cream on the gave me 3 times a day and going on the exercise bike 😀

Hope your headaches stop soon, the treatment doesn't bother me, I get stressed out worrying if I will get stuck on the motorway and be late for the appointment. ( takes 45 mins to get there ) xx

[Tili]

Chelle, bless you nothing more lovely than having feeling for others....so kind. 

How you doing on your 2nd week. 3rd  treatment for me today doing well, except headaches ??maybe tension.

big hugs Tili xxxx🤗

[Chelle56]

Just filled up watching an older gentleman ring the bell 3 times......stupid hormones!......he looked so happy though 😀

[Tili]

All the lovely ladies having Radiotherapy:- 

1st session for me today went very well indeed, I was so appreciative, however no worries

very smooth.

Chelle so pleased all went well for you today.

hugs Tili xxx

[Shablah]

Thanks for the info about Flamigel Tookie 😁

Glad to hear you got through day one Chelle,  well done. The breathing isn't that difficult either is it 😉

[Chelle56]

Well 1st session is over and was fine 😀 It's strange that the machine doesn't make any noise most of the time so you wonder if it's working 😂😂.

Tili  hope yours went well x

[Tookie]

All the best to anyone starting/having treatment this week.

Take care xx

[mel734]

Good luck today Chelle, what we imagine is way worse than the reality and it will fly by!

Rest, moisturise and drink lots of water. Enjoy the few minutes of peace while you lie there too! 

[Tookie]

Hi Shablah

I'm not sure if you can buy Flamigel over the counter as I was given a small tube by radiographer and then a letter for my GP so I could get it on prescription.

Hope all goes well this week xx

[Tili]

Chelle, big hugs for Monday, we will get through this together will be thinking of you. Keep me posted.

big hugs brave one xxx

[Chelle56]

Hi Tili

We'll get through this together 😀

Mel...good luck going back to work on Monday, take it easy and let us know how you get on 

Keep smiling ladies x

[Tili]

Thank you Mel, for your good wishes a bit nervous about Monday....however one day at a time.

Wishing you all the best, please take it easy going back to work and make yourself number 1 remember you have been through a lot.

big hugs Tili 👍 xx

[Shablah]

Hi Tookie

You've done well with only 2 left. 💪

When I had my shower this morning I've peeled like crazy. I'm using Aloe Vera gel 99.9 and Aveeno. Is that flamigel available over the counter or is it prescription only ? 

[Tookie]

Hi Shablah

Glad your first week went well and you're still managing to exercise.  I only have two sessions left to go - the time has flown by.  I am still exercising which the radiotherapy team said was good for me, mentally as well as physically.  I do get tired, so often have a doze in an afternoon.  My skin isn't too bad, gets a bit itchy and a bit pink but the Flamigel which they gave me seems to be helping.

Hope everything goes well next week for you.  Take care and get plenty of rest. xx

[Shablah]

Mel 

Thanks for posting your update Mel. Glad you are doing well. Take it easy going back to work. 

You are right it's time to put my health first. You know what's it like though I think we as girls put everyone else before us, we do this naturally without thinking.  I also think I will no longer shut up and put up so to speak. I will be taking better care of myself in future.

The best of luck for Monday Chelle and Tili. Let us know how it goes xxx

[mel734]

Well done, relax and do whatever feels right (drink lots of water!!) 

[Tili]

WELL DONE to you hugs Tili xx

[Chelle56]

Well Done Shablah 😀

You are doing so well given how apprehensive you were, here's to you getting through the next two weeks with no problems xx

[Shablah]

Hi Ladies

Week one completed! I went to yoga this morning and have walked nearly 6 miles today. I'm feeling ok, a bit tired but not too bad. Boob is a bit warm and very slightly tender but nothing much except the odd stabbing pain. All in all not too bad. 

Wishing you all a very a good, restful  weekend xxx  

[mel734]

I have to say I was tired in the first week but I was jet lagged (wedding in US, flew back the day before rads started) and my OH had to go back to work overseas 2 days in so emotionally drained too. I think the drained tiredness happened about a week in but I really listened to my body and rested when I needed to. Two weeks after and Im not so tired now. Still sore inside, hard and lumpy but one of my friends who had same said to massage each day to release any 'stuck' tissue. I'm still wearing vest tops and back to work on reduced hours Monday. If I'm too tired or sore, I'll get signed off again (by mid afternoon I get waves of nagging aches like I really want to take the top off!!).

After everything (2nd lumpectomy in 4 years, first rads) I am determined to listen to all of the good advice and not put a brave face on if I'm feeling stressed. Key for me is that everyone of us is different, whatever symptoms and side effects any of us have, they are valid. It doesnt matter if A didnt feel tired until day 15 and I was falling asleep driving back on day 2, we are all reacting normally for us and should look after ourselves xx

[Shablah]

Well done Mel! How is your tiredness and/or fatigue?  If you have had any at what stage did it kick in? X

[mel734]

Great news! The aloe vera gel worked its magic for me too. My skin is slightly darker two weeks after finishing but apart form my nipple being tender my skin is fine. Keep positive!

[Shablah]

Thanks Chelle. I'm expecting it to get worse with time but I'm trying to stay as active as possible for as long as I can. Not long til you start, once you get the first one out of the way it's not so bad XX 

[Shablah]

Thank you Tili xx

[Chelle56]

You're doing so well Shablah 😀 hope it stays this way for you all the way through x

[Tili]

Hi Sheblah,

WELL DONE. you are doing so well, walking, drinking lots of water and Yoga. By posting this you don’t know how much you are helping me and the other ladies.

Thank you big hugs Tili 🤗 xx

[Shablah]

Hi Chelle

Doing well so far, thanks. Just got in from today's appointment  Lots of late appointments plus the appointments run up to an hour late. I have been smothering my boob with Aloe Vera gel in the changing room straight after and drinking at least 2 litres of water a day, only day 3 so I'm feeling ok, I went to yoga this morning and did a long river walk in central London along by St Paul's Cathedral, The Globe Theatre and Tower Bridge so I'm doing well, I think so anyway, only 12 more to go... !!   

[Chelle56]

Hi Shablah

How is your rads going? Hope you are ok x

[Shablah]

Thank you Tili xx

[Tili]

Dear Shablah,

have been thinking of you, a big hug and very well done. Tili 👍

[Shablah]

Hi Jill

Yes I know what you mean. I got quite emotional at my planning appointment too. Today was a lot less people around which made me feel better.  I've taken on board everyone's comments and advice about dehydration and moisturising so I can try to stay as well as possible.  X 

[Jill1998]

I found the planning appointment hard - I cried through most of it - it makes you feel very vulnerable .I found side effects hit mainly in second week - suddenly felt extremely tired - dehydration is the main cause of this so drunk lots of water ,I also had a very hot pink boob quite quickly but everyone is different in terms of how much they are affected .Each day means one crossed off the list .x

[Shablah]

Thanks Lucy xxx

[Shablah]

Thanks Jill. The planning appointment was more of an ordeal, if ordeal is the right word. Only 14 more to go 🤪!  Now just got to deal with the side effects if and when they appear too 

[LucyLump]

Well done Shablah, that is great getting the first one out of the way. Xx

[Jill1998]

Well done Shablah ,the first one is always the hardest .