Radiotherapy July 2019

[Jewels994]

My start date is 11th July as well, for 15 sessions 

Julie xx

[absolutelyannie]

Hi ReallyZeb

I am starting 20 sessions of radiotherapy  on 11th July so feel that it is great that someone else is starting on the same day albeit for a shorter period of time. 

Will be anticipating your reports and wish you the best of luck.

[reallyzeb]

I'm starting 15 sessions of rads on 11th July, following 2 lots of surgery and 5 cycles of chemo. I'm sort of apprehensive but mostly I'm still having nightmares about chemo, that's what wakes me up every day and I'm hoping that fades. This can't be as scary!

[Pjf0265]

Thank you xxx hopefully you will have no stress with the parking ! Exeter is quite a problem and my friend had only just parked up today and I had finished my session ! Was very quick today ! 

Good luck with all your treatment xx

[Pjf0265]

Thank you xxx hopefully you will have no stress with the parking ! Exeter is quite a problem and my friend had only just parked up today and I had finished my session ! Was very quick today ! 

Good luck with all your treatment xx

[Pjf0265]

Thank you xx yes Exeter hospital is really difficult to park in and in fact I had finished my session today and she had only just parked ! Thank fully the parking is free when you have chemo or radiotherapy ! Good luck with your treatment xx

[Oots]

My hospital is in north London and about 30 to 40 minutes drive away. I will be collected by taxi each day. In a way, I would prefer to drive myself because it provides a distraction but with the traffic and the potential fatigue, I thought it might be better not to. 

I saw my oncologist yesterday. He is a very nice man. I need to go on tamoxifen too but he said he would leave it to me when I start. Either during or after radiotherapy would be be perfectly ok. 

He did say that radiotherapy will not nearly be as tough as my four cycles of TC. Fatigue and skin reaction being the most likely problems. Hurrah - music to my ears! He also said that I would need 4 to 6 weeks post chemo to recover to some sort of normality after chemo and that I could start to challenge myself a bit more physically once the radiotherapy is over. 

I came away feeling very positive and while I’m not looking forward to being ‘fried‘ on a daily basis, the end is in sight. Every time I have that thought, I get a little bit excited. Just knowing that I won’t be ‘floored’ again by another round of TC next Tuesday is fabulous. I remember sitting there with an infection after my mastectomy, having found out that I would need three months+ of chemotherapy, thinking that this was such a looooooong process. Nearly there now!

[Jewels994]

Well done Pj0265 on getting first one done

I was offered the option of hospital transport but was told that it would mean being picked up very early and hanging around the hospital after I had finished until everybody was ready to go home. Didn’t fancy three weeks of that so decided that making my own way would be better.

I started tamoxifen before my surgery (my surgery had to be delayed due to iron levels), had a break from just before surgery till results clinic. I’ve had no problems with it so far.

[Nellie McNelly]

I'm about 45 minutes away from the hospital I'm having radio at - but, as Seaside Sar said, the hospital is going to send a taxi for me.  I think it's because there's very little parking there.  I appreciate that I am quite lucky with that though.

I have to start my Tamoxifen tablets on my first day of radio - dreading that more than the radio I think!

Pjf0265 - well done for getting the first one over and done with!  

xx

[Pjf0265]

Hi ,I started my radiotherapy today and like you it's on the left side ! I was really worried about the breath holding but it went ok ! I did practice especially when having my wakeful moments at night !

Other than feeling incredibly emotional I feel ok after the first session ! Think the travelling to the hospital will be the pain as live just under an hour away ! 

Good luck with your treatments xxx

[Seaside Sar]

Hi Jewels994,

Ah that's a pain having to get two buses. Some of my friends who have a long journey are getting chauffeur driven to and from their appoinments. Not sure if it depends on which hospital you are under? 

I will pop on to the forum and let you know how it goes. So far the radiologist has suggested moisturising the area twice a day with Aveeno. My GP recommended vaseline which no one else has mentioned so I'm not too sure about that. Was also told about aloe vera cooling gel to soothe painful skin.

Fingers crossed the pain will be minimal.

[Jewels994]

Hi, I’m starting 3 days after the rest of you. I’ll be following you all closely for any tips on getting through it. Seaside Sar you are so lucky only having a ten minute journey. I have to get two buses to get to mine. If buses are running well it takes about 50 minutes but I’ll allow an hour and a half to get there.

[Seaside Sar]

Hi Oots and Nelly McNelly, 

Looks like we're all going for RT on the same day. How far will you both need to travel? I'm so lucky as my journey will take me 10 minutes. I'm optimistic that the side effects won't be too bad - like you've said, can't be any worse than chemo!

I'm glad you're both getting past the chemo stage and feeling brighter. I'm the same and really looking forward to eating some of the forbidden foods in a couple of weeks' time. Prawns are top of the list at the moment.

Hope you have a good week before the treatment begins.

[Nellie McNelly]

Hi all - I'm starting my 15 sessions of radiotherapy on 8 July too.  I had a mastectomy and node clearance in October followed by 8 doses of FEC-T chemotherapy.  My last chemo was about 6 weeks ago and I am feeling more "with it" than I have done for ages so while I am keen to get on with radio it is a bit depressing to have to launch myself back into more treatment with unpredictable side effects.

Like Oots says it's got to be easier than the mastectomy and chemo though...???

[Oots]

Hi all

I am starting my radiotherapy on the 8th July and it will be all done after 3 weeks. I can’t help feeling excited that it will be all done soon. 

I was diagnosed early January, had a mastectomy (left breast) on the 1st February and had my last chemotherapy (TC) on the 18th June. Today is the first day I am feeling well again. Not bouncing round but the worst of fatigue, nausea and pains have stopped. Yay! 

I had the planning session two days ago. As everyone with radiotherapy to the left side, I had to practice holding my breath for 30 seconds. I was surprised that I managed OK. I thought that with my current level of fitness it would be harder. Now I am paranoid that it was a glitch and I won’t be able to do it on the day. I might have a few sneaky practice sessions before then. 

I don’t know how bad radiotherapy will be but surely it will be easier than the mastectomy and the chemo? 

Oots

[Seaside Sar]

I'm so sorry that you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. It must be such as worry to be advised to come of your meds. The last thing you need is a flare on top of everything else.

I had my planning appointment and they told me I am having rads from 8th July to 2nd August. I also got all morning apointments which is good as it gets it out of the way. There is no need for tattoo markers as they use Surface Guided Radiotherapy.

No rest for the wicked though as I have a Herceptin injection on Thursday and I will need to stay for 4 hours in case of any reaction. Not looking forward to sitting in the very hot oncology suite on a hot and sunny day 😣

[Jewels994]

Good luck with it. No I’m not working, I was medically retired 3 years ago as I suffer from severe rheumatoid arthritis. This in itself is causing me problems as I’ve been advised to come off my meds, so am anticipating a flare.

[Seaside Sar]

Morning,

I'm left side as well and was told to practise holding my breath for 30 seconds which I find a real struggle. I think it will take me a few attempts too.

I'm glad you've got your dates and all morning appointments. I am going to ask for mornings as well so I can rest in the afternoons.

Are you working? I'm signed off and wondering when I'll feel well enough to go back.

Have a good weekend.

[Jewels994]

Had planning scan today. I’m left side so had to hold breath. I was fine during the practice runs but when they did the scan I got a bit anxious and it took a few attempts. Got my dates now for 11th to 31st July. All morning appointments which is better for me

Julie xx

[Seaside Sar]

Hi Julie, 

It's interesting how different everyone's treatment can be.

I hope your planning scan is going/has gone well today. Do you have a start date and number of sessions now?

I'll let you know what I find out next Monday about mine.

Take care.

Sarah xx

[Jewels994]

Hi seaside sar

i was diagnosed in March and had lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy in May. I started tamoxifen before my surgery as it had been delayed because of my iron levels. I also suffer from severe Rheumatoid Arthritis and have been told to come off my meds, so am a bit nervous about going into a flare.

My planning scan is tomorrow 

Julie xx

[Seaside Sar]

Hi everyone,

I think I'll be starting mine in July as well. Have got my planning scan on Monday 24th June and had a chat with the radiologist last week.

I had a lumpectomy in November last year followed by axillary lymph node clearance a month later. I started chemo in February and finished 12 days ago. I'm still having Herceptin as my cancer was her2 positive.

What treatment have you all had so far?

[CC1971]

My oncologist appointment is 16th July. I hope the treatment starts soon after.

Feeling a little in limbo as lumpectomy was at the beginning of May.

On the plus side I have healed very well.

[Jac67]

Hi 

it’s normally about 2 weeks after. Think I’ll be joining you on this thread as I’m starting June finishing in July . So I’m in between. Good luck with planning appointment it’s actually ok . Xx💕

[Jewels994]

I’ve got my planning appointment on Thursday 20th June, so will have more idea of the dates after that

[Jewels994]

Haven’t got the dates yet for when my radiotherapy will start, but pretty sure it will be July. I’m expecting to get my planning appointment through in the next week or two with radiotherapy starting approximately two weeks after that

Julie xx