Radiotherapy June 2019

[Fitzpmb]

Hi

I start rad next week 20th. Already dreading it and lots of mixed emotions. It's good to be able to read real life experience rather than being told I'll be fine by people who aren't going through this.

[RedCarrie]

Liloc, your journey on Friday sounded a nightmare, worse than mine. I was going to take the train yesterday, but wonderful rural train times meant there were no trains between 2pm and 4pm so I drove - took an hour and a quarter.

Bay, sorry you're still having a rough time, hopefully it'll improve for you. 

I'm starting to feel like I've got a bit of mild sunburn on my chest now, so I've been moisturising like mad. I meant to buy some Aloe Vera but when I was in the Supermarket yesterday I forgot. My parents are visiting for the day today, and my dad has offered to drive me to the hospital, so I'm looking forward to not having to drive.

Good luck everyone for today. 

[Liloc]

Thanks Carrie, how did it go for you today? Hope the journey in was better than the other day. Having radiotherapy does seem to involve a lot of travel for everyone, I guess only a few hospitals can offer such high-tech machines. I’ve been lucky with chemo and surgery that it was all 20 mins from home whereas for rads I have to travel up to South Kensington (I live in the London burbs). Did it by train and tube on Friday and it was a long trek, four hour round trip. So today I tried driving up to town, took less than an hour but lots of traffic and rain today so still not a joyride. I have got friends who have offered me a lift so I think I might take a few up on that, more for the company rather than needing the transport and to make a day out of it.

Session 2 was much quicker than the first, they seem to have got their numbers for lining me up sussed out, so in and out in 10 minutes or less. Not feeling any after effects, a bit dozy this afternoon but have been since doing chemo so nothing new there. 

Hope it went ok for everyone today Liza x

[RedCarrie]

Here we go again, another week of treatment. Good luck Jaybro, Bay, Liloc and anyone else having radiotherapy this week xxx

[Jaybro]

Hi Bay

I can understand your frustration. My problem was/is a chest/rib injury in a car accident, mid-chemo. It’s had no chance to heal. However, there is help. Ask directly for an urgent referral to see the physio. If the radiographer can’t help. Go to your BC nurse (if you can find her) or persist with the receptionist in oncology. The oncology physio at my hospital has been so helpful, reducing the exercises at each session in response to my discomfort, with the sole purpose of getting enough stretch and movement to achieve the pose radiotherapy requires. She discovered cording in my armpit (I’d had a full axillary clearance as well as mastectomy) which was a very painful obstacle and showed me ways to handle it. The oncologist had suggested I see a physio privately but isn’t it better to see someone who specialises in our kind of misery? Gentle minimal exercise and/or stretching onto pillows every hour is her recommendation, accompanied by gentle massaging (you can moisturise at the same time!) to achieve a bigger stretch each time. I massage my breast muscle while I’m waiting for the treatment too. 

 I doubt you’ll see this before your next treatment but good luck - I hope you manage that stretch regardless.

[Jaybro]

Thanks Jac, You start the day after I FINISH. I can’t believe the ‘end’ is in sight. Be sure to keep moisturising and massaging the area and stretching so you can keep your arm resting behind your head for a few minutes without moving.  There’s really nothing to the treatment itself - you spend more time undressing and dressing. I’ve only had 8/15 sessions so things may change but let’s stay optimistic! I hope it goes well for you.

[Jaybro]

I should have joined when I first read your post but, as I started radiotherapy right at the end of May, I felt a bit of a fraud. Anyway, here I am, just past the halfway mark and how smug I’ve been, describing it to everyone as a doddle. I guess it has been, compared to chemo where I had a long and rough time.  With radiotherapy, 8 sessions out of 15 and nothing beyond increased appetite (much needed), a little tiredness and a gruff voice (I have rads on the collar bone as well as full left chest) - until 3.30 this morning when I woke up in agony! I was ready for skin soreness, even burns, but not for a searing pain across what’s left of my breast muscle, exactly where the radiographer draws her marks. Today has been ok (I have a rib/sternum injury which chemo and rads are preventing healing but I’m used to that pain now) but I’m dreading tonight in case it happens again. I see the oncologist tomorrow but she is far more brusque than the male oncologists I’ve had till this stage so I’m expecting it to be brushed aside. 

Has anyone experienced severe but sporadic pain? Any advice or recommendations? I’m already taking gabapentin for the neuropathic pain (thanks to Paclitaxel) but that won’t touch this. I massage my mastectomy area regularly and just before radiotherapy, moisturise 3-4 times a day and do as much of my exercises as my injury allows. Am I being a pessimist? 

[Liloc]

Hi, joining the group as I had my first session of 15 on Friday. I was diagnosed with triple negative BC in October, had chemo from November to March (horrendous) and a lumpectomy in April which went well. Radiotherapy planning was fine, got the giggles with the radiographers drawing all over me with felt pen, it was a bit surreal really. Anyway first session went ok, a bit of rolling and maneovering to get me lined up with tattoos and my shoulder was aching by the end keeping my surgery arm over my head. Have to practice holding my breath for 20 seconds (lump was on left side so have to hold heart and lungs out of the way) but sure that will become easier, gives me something to do I suppose! 

Bay, hope things are better for you tomorrow! 

[RedCarrie]

I was so tired yesterday, but I'm not sure if that is because the hospital is 30 miles away, so I've been doing a lot more driving than usual. Friday was a nightmare because it took me an hour and a half to get there because of a bad accident that closed the road. I had managed to call the centre to let them know I'd be late. They were so nice when I got there because I was stressed by then. 

The treatment is going well so far, just a few tingles on Friday night. I'm using Aveeno cream, but Aloe Vera sounds good, so I'll look for some and put it in the fridge like suggested. 

Bay, I'm sorry to hear things aren't good for you, I hope they get better soon. 

[Lilacmoon14]

Been a while, but here I am, can't believe it will be a year on Thursday that I started rads. Where has the year gone??

For anyone starting this month, GOOD LUCK!!!!! Aloe Vera gel was my saviour. 

A year down the line I'm still a bit numb in my lumpectomy area and get the odd pains in my boob that feel like I'm pressing a bruise even when there isn't a bruise there, but apart from that things have settled. 

Just try to take each day as it comes and talk with your BCN and rads team if there is anything you're worried about. They're the professionals!!

[Gill3105]

25 sessions 🙀🙀. Sorry should say 15 xx

[Gill3105]

Hi red carrie

yiu would have had 4 sessions now and good to hear all going well.  You will be at 25 before you know it.  Enjoy your 2 days off. Xxx 💓💓

[Gill3105]

Hi jac 

good luck with your rads and hope all goes well for you.  Keep up the fluids is/was my motto and cream of course.  I used aveeno all the way through and it suited me fine.  Then aloe Vera straight out the fridge afterwards when a tad sore.   Take each day as it comes and if one session don’t go so well just remember tomorrow will be better.  

This is a club none of us wanted to join but there is some great advice on this forum.  Take care xx 💓💓

[Gill3105]

Hi Bay.  Sorry your feeling a little sad today. Those anxiety gremlins are not nice.  Maybe give your bcn nurse a ring on the seroma see what she says. Not good having to be re-measured at each rads.  I to had a seroma and yes very uncomfortable.  If only we could pop it ourselves like we would  spot hey 😀.   Try to take one session at a time and before you know it you will be ringing that bell.  Sending a big hug but not to tight off course!!  

If you are struggling today remember this:

You have survived everything you’ve  have gone through to this point

The best day of your life is still yet to come.

There are still people you haven’t met and things you haven’t experienced.

You can do this

xxx 💓💓💓💓

[Jac67]

Hi , I’m starting on 19th June look forward to starting. Good luck everyone starting in June 💕xxxx

[RedCarrie]

Hi Gill and everyone else. 

I've just had my third session (of 15) so far so good. Hope everyone else having radiotherapy this month gets on OK.

Carrie 

[Gill3105]

Hello Lovely ladies.

Thought I would start the new June Rads thread as can't see one there at the min.     Hope all goes well for those starting their radiotherapy during June.        Keeps up the liquids and start with the cream as soon as you can.    Hope we see a group of lovelies getting to know each other in this thread.

Take care all xx