Starting Radiology April 2019

[ambychlo]

That makes sense actually

how are you getting on, are you coping ok?

im running to the loo and already tired but always tired anyway

its good to hear from you what to expect as your preparing us 

i do hope your well nipper x

[Nipper11]

I had my first week review on Friday and was told that the redness some ladies get is due to how quickly the body gets rid of the dead cells and how quickly they are replaced! The quicker the less colour we get. Has anyone heard of this before? Not being a medic I don’t know. Still drinking loads, frequent loo runs and getting tired. All good fun!

[ambychlo]

Oh my god I agree if I didn’t have work I would explode, I love being around people and being at home makes my mind race.  I too will work from home if needs be but I want to carry on as long as I can.

i didn’t mention trips to the loo but I agree they are pretty frequent.

i started my treatment the other day and was busting for the loo, now I go before I get in the room.

i love work and know it’s helping me and my work are amazing with me as they know I’m not swinging the lead. I don’t take advantage. I can’t wait to travel again with work it’s only Brentwood and Glasgow but I love being pampered in the nice hotels

[Bebe28]

Ha ha ,

you could be my sister from another mister !

I too yawn all day at work 😂😂😂. I leave about a hour early so that I’m not falling asleep whilst driving . I can leave earlier if I feel I need to , they are great about it and encourage me to rest . 

I intend to work from home 2 weeks into treatment as I know I can function better at home than at work . I can always have a power nap when I need to 🤣.

Don’t you think that work helps you to cope better . Tiring I know but so worth it ! 

Water intake is increasing , as are toilet visits! 

[ambychlo]

I promise more fluids will help.

it has with me

how are you finding your treatment?

make sure you rest when ever you can Bebe. I have today, I’ve never slept so much but I wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the next few hours.

i yawn all day at work so may have to temporarily reduce my hours as the treatment progresses 

[Bebe28]

Thank you , could be coincidentally and the Letrozole could be the culprit . I will mention it on Monday ( session 3 ) . Meanwhile I will up my water intake to see if it helps 😊

[angie123]

I’ve become quite attached to my gown... Only because it goes straight over my head, and the therapists undo and the do it back up - no complicated ties or Velcro for me!! Just as well as my brain is missing in action 😉

[Bebe28]

Hi Angie 

just read your post which made me laugh about your easy boob access 😂😂 

I was offered a blue jacket thing which was so complicated with Velcro and ties .  After the explanation I said what’s the alternative and was advised it was a a modesty sheet to which my reply was “ I’ll go commando , there’s not many people in this hospital who haven’t seen my 1 and a half boobs “ It may my doc and nurse laugh 😂 

[ambychlo]

Hi Bebe 

i srarted Thursday and have had two sessions no sickness but have slept for fun today.  Not sure if it’s rushing about from work to Christie’s for treatment?

are you sure it’s not side effects from the medication as I was told it would be two weeks in before I experienced anything

i use aveeno twice a day and drink lots of water but not sure of anything yet.

im so sorry your feeling poorly, just try to take in fluids Bebe and rest as much as you can.

i hope this helps 

[Bebe28]

Hi Angie and all April starters. 

Started on Thursday so I have had 2 sessions , today felt really sick and started to vomit . Not a great deal in my stomach as I have totally lost my appetite. Has anyone else experienced this ?

I asked about anything I need to do at my first session and was told to moisture 3 times a day with E45 or Simple.  No mention of fluid intake or anything else , no mentions of deodorants ! 

I have started Letroxole , on week 4 . That’s a whole new thread , not side effects , but availability.

Would love to hear how you are getting on 😘

[angie123]

One down, only 14 to go! I found it all took longer than expected. I had to have two X-rays to get me in the right position. I found the hardest thing today was being in an uncomfortable position for so long, and it hurt my already dodgy back. I got pins and needles in my hand, but nothing major. 

I was told not to use any moisturiser at all on my boob, during and beyond treatment. And only alcohol free deodorant. No shaving or hair removal products. And I was given my own special “easy boob access” gown to use for the next three weeks! 

Phew. I’m glad it’s over. 

[ambychlo]

Thank you nipper 

i dont feel as nervous now

waiting to hear to from Angie as her appointments was 11.30.  I hope she’s ok

[Nipper11]

Yes good luck. Once you get started it surprising how you get into the swing of it and how quickly is whizzes by. Well it does for me! Starting to feel tired and I think my car is one of those driverless ones!  Let us know how you all get on.

[ambychlo]

Yours will be here in no time debs

11th April do not long now for you.

it does sound like your journey has been much longer than ours x

[DebsE]

Good luck to all the ladies starting today x

[ambychlo]

I start tomorrow at 3.35 but my hospital is a 15 minute walk from my apartment.

il be leaving work at 2pm as I work central Manchester but will work from home on some appointments.

Are you coping ok nipper? 

[Nipper11]

Feel a bit yuck afterwards but that wears off. Just a bit tired but I think that’s the early start - around 9am appointments and a 25 mile trip. What about you ambychlo? 

[ambychlo]

How are you feeling Nipper, are you tired?

[Nipper11]

Yes good luck ladies. I am getting into the swing of it. 5 down, 10 to go!  Car on auto pilot.

[ambychlo]

Thank you Sinclair,

thats so so sweet of you

the countdown begins

[angie123]

Thank you. Will report back tomorrow. Feeling a bit 😓

[Me.sinclair]

Hi ladies, just wanted to say good luck to Ambychio and Angie123 who both start radiotherapy tomorrow. 

Nipper11, hope your treatment is going well.

❤️❤️

[ambychlo]

Thank you, I knew it was okay but she’s being really nasty and trying to get people to side with her.

HR are involved but not because of me, I think one of my friends was really upset so she reported it

i can stop stressing now and enjoy my weekend

thank you

[edwaccess]

What a horrible person , you are no ''danger'' to anyone you can carry on as normal

Hope the RT goes well - E45 cream will be your best friend

[ambychlo]

Hi all,

i have a bit bit of a dilemma 

I have been told that whilst I am receiving radiotherapy that I will not cause an harm to pregnant women or children so I can carry on working. Is this true?

there is a lady in my office that is refusing to be anywhere near me whilst I’m receiving my treatment. I think she’s being mean due to the time I’ve had off for my surgeries and appointments but I would hate to cause anybody any harm.

can anybody advise

[angie123]

Deb - roll on June! Bet you can’t wait 🙂

[DebsE]

Hi Angie.

Yes, it's been a bit of a slog.  We have a two-week holiday planned for the beginning of June, and I can't wait.

Regarding deodorant.  The one I usually use has aluminium in it so I've bought one called Bionsen.  It's a solid one rather than a spray or roll-on.  It does smell rather gorgeous.

Deb

x

[angie123]

Hi Deb

What a long journey for you.  I'm starting radiotherapy just a week before you.

[ambychlo]

I start mine on 4th April and had my mark up today

im going away 1st May so my amazing doctor made sure that was possible

i can’t wait to have normality again 

[DebsE]

Hi all.

I'll be joining you, to start my radiotherapy on 11th April, finishing on 3rd May (because of the bank holidays).

I was diagnosed with DCIS back in July - that seems so long ago now!  They were happy to wait for me to have my Sept hols so I had a therapeutic mammoplasty at the beginning of Oct (with the other boob reduced to match).  Some of the calcifications were a bit more advanced than expected so I had an op on my lymph nodes at the beginning of Nov.  Thankfully they were all clear (well there was one micromet, but that doesn't really count).

I finished 12 weekly chemo sessions yesterday and now have a couple of weeks break before the radiotherapy starts.  Though I have to pop over to the hospital for my Herceptin injection on Tuesday, and will be doing that for another 9 months.  I think Tamoxifen, or something similar, will start soon too.

Deb

x

[angie123]

Dear All

I just realised I titled this thread "radiology" and not "radiotherapy" - many apologies.  If you find my brain, please let me know 

[angie123]

Nipper11 - that's great news!  I hope that things continue so well for you.  Do let us know.  I start a week today...

[Nipper11]

First session over and all ok. Staff lovely and it was over before I had realised it had started. I must stop looking at YouTube. I asked about deodorant and shaving.  They said only if the area becomes sore otherwise continue as normal. Just don’t put anything directly on it and be careful with hot water in the shower.  Don’t wear an underwire bra and drink lots of water which I am as actually feeling thirsty. Only mentioned using E45 but I also have some aloe vera gel. One down 14 to go. 😀

[Me.sinclair]

Hi Nipper, hope all goes well tomorrow, let us know how it was.

i start a week on Monday.

Maureen 

[kathyx]

I don't think you should use any deodorant on the treated side, certainly not before treatment - I'd extend that to not spraying perfume behind your ear as the spray can cover a wide area. That's certainly what I was told and a rule I complied with successfully. You can shave with an electric razor although I believe many people lose the underarm hair on the radiated side - mine hadn't started regrowing after chemo at that point.

[angie123]

Dear Nipper11

I really hope all goes well for you tomorrow.  It sounds like you have been through so much already. Thinking of you.

[angie123]

Hi LizJacko

I hope your next session goes well.  You must be feeling very emotional with the onslaught of the menopause as well as everything else 

I haven't shaved since my surgery!  The BCN suggested not to - but I am so tempted, it is driving me mad!  Maybe I should before the radiology actually starts...

Let us know how you get on today.

[Nipper11]

Hello, I start tomorrow.  I haven’t been told a lot except just what is in the standard information sheet they give everyone and that doesn’t go into any detail about personal care. I had my op’ on the 8th of January so it’s been a long wait.  I had a mastectomy first time around so didn’t go through this. Really apprehensive but I’m sure once you get into the swing of it, it will be fine.

[Me.sinclair]

Hi LizJacko,

pleased to hear your first session went well. Did they recommend what deodorant to use while having treatment. I have bought a Simple roll on which doesn't have alcohol perfume etc and was hoping that would be ok but I wondered if they suggested a specific one to use.

hope things continue to go well for you. I start radiotherapy on April 8th. Will be glad to get it over and done with.

Maureen

[LizJacko]

Hi I had my first session today and it was ok. A few practical things I didn’t know about were you can’t shave or wax etc whilst having treatment and you are restricted to the deodorants you can use. Best to buy/prepare before hand. Emotionally I’ve been up and down but I think that’s more about stopping my HRT and having the menopause hit me like a ton of bricks🤗 

[ambychlo]

It’s so good, I don’t think I would have coped without the help and support from all these lovely people.

i feel we are both at the exact same place so will you keep me posted on your progress

[angie123]

Hi ambychlo

I was diagnosed 21/1, surgery 6/2, and start radiotherapy 4/4. I feel it is quick and also that there has been lots of waiting!  I want to get my radiotherapy over with now too.

It is good to hear from others who have been through something similar already, isn't it?

[ambychlo]

Hi angie,

when do you start your radiology as it sounds really quick 2 months.

i think mine would be all over now if I hadn’t had 2nd surgery.

i can’t wait to get back to some normality now.

ive heard so many similar stories which is helping me so much, so many questions.

good luck  

[angie123]

Helena - it was similar for me too. First mammo, no lump and out of the blue. The surgeon couldn’t feel anything either. I’m still in shock two months later. I’m not sure I’ll even start to “process” until after my radiology now. 

Thank you. 

[ambychlo]

Hi Helena,

im so glad I found this forum as you are all so lovely and helpful.

i do find it easier speaking to people who have had similar experiences. I often think other people think I’m being a bit mardy.

i know it’s really only been 3 months but visited the hospital 15 times so just want to be normal again. 

I never thought of an end to all the treatments and surgery until now.

thank you Helena I will now start to look forward.

thank you for my hug xxx

[ladybowler]

ambychlo

That was the same as me in 2016, had my 3rd routine 3 yearly mammogram when they found the cancer, I had no lump nothing so it came as a great shock.  I finished active treatment in January 2017, it wont be long before you are at the end of rads and looking forward.  Just take it one step at a time my dear and you will get there.

Sending you hugs

helena xxx

[ambychlo]

Aww thank you so much, I really do appreciate your help

i actually think I’m still just getting to grips with this as it was completely out of the blue xxx

[ambychlo]

Thank you,

this too is is my first post

i was diagnosed with DCIS on December 27th, had a lumpectomy 21st jan and they found invasive cells which resulted in more surgery on 13th Feb.  Results came back no cancer in lymph nodes. Radiation is a pre caution and have decided against letrozole due to reading up on it. I have been really well and not had much time off work.

i feel really guilty reading about all that every body has gone through.

i feel extremely lucky and cannot praise the NHS enough.

reading everybody’s stories really does help me and makes me realise how lucky I am xxx

[angie123]

Hi ambychlo

I think it varies from hospital to hospital. I had my scan and tattoos on 18 March and they gave me my appt to start radiotherapy then, and that’s for 08 April. I haven’t got the full schedule yet eg whether I’ll get a four day break over Easter. 

Might be best to call the hospital and explain about your holiday? 

And congratulations on your special birthday! I do hope you can get away to celebrate. 

[ladybowler]

ambychlo

It is usually 2/3 weeks after that when you start but just let them know what is planned and see what they say, they might be able to work round it xx