Starting Radiology April 2019

[angie123]

---

@Aneeebel wrote:

Hope you're feeling a bit better angie123 x 💗🏵💗🏵💗

---

I am Aneeebel - thank you 

[Aneeebel]

Hope you're feeling a bit better angie123 x 💗🏵💗🏵💗

[angie123]

It sounds like you have really been through the wars Aneeebel, but I am so pleased to hear you are finally feeling better.

I'm pretty "meh" to be honest...

Hope everyone else is doing well xx

[Aneeebel]

Hi angie123

I've had 2 lots of antibiotics for an infection in my chest wall and under my arm... peeling skin... my chest is swollen above my mx wound but I've seen my oncologist this morning who seems to think the swelling is to do with removing my lymph nodes as opposed to the mx! 

I'm feeling better in myself finally though... at last! 

Hope you and the other Ladies are well x 🎀

[angie123]

Hello to you all

I thought I would check in and see how all the April ladies are doing now we are almost July?  How are you all feeling now?

Looking forward to hearing from you all!

Angie xx

[Aneeebel]

Hi ambychlo

My chest was so painful... under my arm was a right mess but it's improved now with the antibiotics thank goodness! It's still not 100% tho!

I'm ridiculously tired too...I could sleep on a clothes line!! 😴😴

Good news you're doing well...🎀💕😘 x

[ambychlo]

Ooh aneeebel that sounds sore.

is it any better after antibiotics?

i didn’t really suffer with my skin but suffering with fatigue, which is normal for some time.

i hope your on the mend x

kimberley 

[Aneeebel]

Well...after doing so well with my radiotherapy sessions, I'd carried on moisturising with Diprobase twice a day as advised... I developed a deep red, swollen underarm which was peeling and the most painful chest wall which has also started peeling....I've had an infection and rads burns! Just finished a week of antibiotics yesterday!! 😫😫

Hopefully you Ladies are doing well x 💕💕💕

[Aneeebel]

Ooohhh... angie123 that's funny! Sorry..I was thinking it was something highly 'medical'! (I'm quite dateless at times!! 😂😂)

👙💗🎀😘

[angie123]

Aneeebel

Skin test - I just put some on the inside crease of elbow to check no reaction. Nothing technical 🤣

Look after yourself 😘

[angie123]

Aneeebel

Skin test - I just put some on the inside crease of elbow to check no reaction. Nothing technical 🤣

Look after yourself 😘

[Aneeebel]

angie123... that's fabulous news about your skin!

What did you have a skin test for, if you don't mind me asking? 

Fingers crossed the rest heals well! 🤞🏻💗

I've been quite lucky.. I have a bit of tenderness on my skin and a little bit of swelling but nothing compared to you!

Hope all you Ladies are well x 💗😘

[angie123]

---

@Aneeebel wrote:

Thankyou angie123... you're very kind 🎀

How is your skin? Hopefully it's improving a bit! 🎀🔔💪🏻 x

---

Aneeebel

Thank you. I think I am finally starting to heal - or at least no worse. Where it’s healed enough, and after a skin test, I’ve started to use bio oil, and so far, so good. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

I hope all well with you, and all the April ladies xx

[Aneeebel]

AJAY... Hope your infusion goes okay x 💪🏻😁

[AJAY]

Hi Aneeebel

I used to live outside  Burnley in a little village, now I'm in Cumbria. I visit relatives in Bolton and Manchester.

Re the tiredness,yes I had that mid way through and a bit now. I'm still pink and lathering on the diprobase. Tomorrow it's my pre-assessment for the Zoledronic acid on Monday.  I treat myself to a wander around Asda afterwards, think I'll buy anew nail varnish and brighten up my toes.

My radiotherapist recommended I do more relaxing activities I instead of being aslave to my lists!

Hope you and all the other fabulous ladies here can have a good weekend 💕xx

[Aneeebel]

You don't need to apologise AJAY...I'm sure you have much better things to do than listen to me waffling! 😂

Yes, it was lovely that every one clapped!

Where abouts did you live? I live in Preston 😁

Good news your pains are getting less... I've suddenly gone ridiculously tired! Can't keep my eyes open! 

We must keep in touch x 👍🏻😘💖

[AJAY]

Hi Aneeebel

Sorry I missed your earlier message,thank you for all the information.

I was thinking of you yesterday and wondered how you were,last rads! Yeah!!!

How lovely that there was clapping for you too!

I have fond memories of Lancashire as I lived there for 7 years.

I get the occasional stabbing pain but think it's normal but will check with the nurse.

Keep in touch through this special forum

xx💕

[Aneeebel]

Thankyou angie123... you're very kind 🎀

How is your skin? Hopefully it's improving a bit! 🎀🔔💪🏻 x

[angie123]

Well done, Aneeebel

wishing you all the very best for any more treatment - and that you don’t get any skin issues like me 😆

[Aneeebel]

Thankyou for thinking of me angie123 and Gill3105... I rang the bell extremely loudly..

Everyone who was sat in the waiting area all clapped...which is so lovely! I got a tear in my eye to be honest... 

😘🎉🥂💪🏻🎀🍾 

[Gill3105]

Hi Aneeebel and Ajay

well done Aneebel last day and ringing that bell loud and clear.   

Ajay that stabbing pains will ease, I remember them well .   Its all the nerves settling, first from surgery then from the rads.   I had this for quite a while and all perfectly normal but thats from experience so just ask your BCN to confirm.   

Suncream -   I was told that the left side would always be sensitive and to stay out of direct sunlight for at least 12 month and to use factor 50 of course.    I am 12 month on and went to Portugal recently on daughters hen do and yes it was hot and yes 50 factor on arm and even boob even though covered up.  Have to say after 2 days of the heat/sun the left side was tingly so yes sensitive as told.   By day 4 I ached all over but think that may just have been from the dancing!!  .  

Enjoy the fact no getting to the hospital tomorrow.   Will feel strange but happy days.

[angie123]

Aneeebel

Fabulous news that it is your last day today 🙂  I will be thinking of you xx

[Aneeebel]

Hi Ladies 🎀

Hopefully you're all doing well! 

Its another glorious day here in Lancashire! 🌞 (We'll all be moaning it's too hot soon!! Haha!) 

🔔🔔🎉🎉🔔🔔🎉🎉 Its my last rads session today!! Yippee!! 🎉🎉🔔🔔🎉🎉🔔🔔

AJAY... I checked with the radiographer about my skin, and she confirmed that my skin would always be sensitive but to definitely use high factor sun cream when we go away in June so Thankyou for prompting me to check! 👙 Hope you're well...have your pains gone? 💗

angie123... How is your skin doing? Fingers crossed its starting to improve! 🤕🎀

Best wishes to all of you who are going for your radiotherapy today... Stay strong! 😘👙💗

💪🏼👙💪🏼👙💪🏼👙💪🏼

[Aneeebel]

AJAY...how strange that one of the radiologists said "I should be okay" in June! I'll ask again tomorrow just to be on the safe side! 

Hopefully your aches and pains disappear soon x 💪🏻

[AJAY]

Hi Aneeebel,

Yes the radiotherapist told me that the skin in the radiated area will always be more sensitive. So I'll use F50 or cover up or both.

My breast has been sensitive today and I've had some more sharp pains. I guess this is to be expected for a little while. I'll just keep using Flamazine cream and Flamagel. 

💕xx

[Aneeebel]

Hi Ladies 🎀

angie123... yes, Tuesday is my last session! 🎉

So sorry you're still suffering with your skin... I do hope it starts to improve soon! 😘

AJAY... fab news your rads are over! (I left you a msg on the May group instead of April!) Did the nurse say your skin would always be sensitive? I mentioned going away in June and the radiologist said Oh you should be okay by then! 👙

I have a pink square on my chest (I had single mx) and a couple of tender areas but my skin seems fairly ok at up to now! Hopefully your skin will hold out! 🤞🏻🎀

My 2 daughter's are coming with me on Tuesday to see me ringing the bell!🔔

I did ask one of them if we could take a piccie the other night whilst it was quiet and no-one could see me but she said Noooo! 🔔💕💪🏻😂

Gill3105...thanks for the tips and fabulous news about your mammo!  😘🎀

Paulus...thanks for the info about the oil 🎀

Have a lovely w/end Ladies xx 💕🏵🌸🎀

[AJAY]

Hi Angie123

I was determined to ring that bell but although I only have the 6 monthly infusions for 3 years, I know I still need to process what's happened to me. 

Wishing you well for the next stage of your treatment.

xx

[angie123]

Well done in finishing Ajay. 

I do understand about the bell. It’s in reception at my hosp and I was very aware there were people sitting there who maybe were a very long way from ringing. It wasn’t a moment of celebration at all for me, but a catharsis in that I’d finished that part.

I hope your pinkness and pains soon subside. Wishing you a good weekend. A xx

[AJAY]

Aneeebel

Wow, just 2 more to go for you😊. 

I rang the bell on Thursday, the radiographer clapped and did a '''whoop whoop" but there was a lady in the waiting area who looked like sheds had Chemo and she didn't look up. It was a sobering moment. I've finished my RT and who knows what else she has to go through 😔. 

I took a box of chocolates and a card in for the staff as they have been great.

I've stopped wearing a bra for a while and have been given Flamigel which is better than Diprobase for the skin burns. I've also taken a picture of my breast and the pink area as a reminder in future as to where the skin will be most sensitive and to plan what tops I can wear (tip from the radiographer).

I do have a pink breast and occasional stabbing pains but I'm sure it will wear off.

Have a lovely weekend

xx

P.S. I'm a Hotter fan after breaking my ankle last year. Just bought '''Hannah" sandals which are pretty and really comfy.

[Paulus]

Hi ladies, just a little note in case it is of interest to you  -  Bio Oil is a mineral-oil based oil, it's name is rather misleading isn't it, as the oil is derived from the petroleum industry  -  if it suits you then that's great, but on a personal level I go for oils that are as 'natural 'based' as possible - I find them safer, and more efficient?  Just passing it as a comment ( I'm huge advocate against animal-ingredients, animal-testing etc etc so I am a great reader of labels and small print etc ) x

[angie123]

Gill3105

Fantastic news about your first mammo - really, really pleased for you.

Interesting about a tepid bath - I haven't had a bath since surgery, as I was told it wasn't recommended (lymphedema risk) - but I would love to have a soak!  And where does sell hankies?!

I haven't used creams (as advised) save a little bit of aloe vera gel before my skin broke.  I think I will wait until it is well healed and start with something like bio oil as my node scar in particular is very red - well at the moment it is just peeling!

Thank you for posting xx

[Gill3105]

Hi Angie 123

Hope you skin is improving.  I to have big boobies and had similar problem of skin breaking down after completing my rads 15 + 5 booster.   I was also told to stop the cream and bath in tepid water and to place a cotton Hanky between bra and skin or where ever the breakdown is.  This worked a treat, just took me a few days to find who sold hankies lol.   the skin soon healed and all was good and back to the cream and bio oil of which I still use to this day along with my exercises that was given after surgery.   I was diagnosed March 2018 and just had first mammo with good results.   Keep going with the cream once you are able to and continue as part of your daily routine.   I know we are all different and use different cream but I use Aveeno (got shares with them lol) and bio oil at night.  It will improve and yes you are at the point where it will peak which could be a tad longer than 10/14 days but it does improve honest.   

[angie123]

Aneeebel

Guessing you will be ringing that bell on Tuesday?!

I am 14 days post and my skin is awful 😩. But so I’m told today is “peak” side effect day - and I’m so looking forward to my skin recovering! 

Have a good weekend 💕

[Aneeebel]

angie123... How are you doing? I do hope your skin is improving! 🎀💕

I'm on rads no.13 tonight! I can't believe how quickly the time has gone!

Up to now my skin is okay...a bit tender in places! I keep applying the Diprobase!

I'll soon be ringing the bell!! 🔔🔔🔔🔔

Hope all you Ladies are doing well! 

💕🏵🌸🎀👙

[Aneeebel]

Oh you've finished ambychlo... brilliant! 💪🏻🔔 Fab news your skin is good! I had all my lymph nodes removed thru my MX wound so no separate scar under my arm! Hope yours improves soon... my armpit is still completely numb! My Mx wound is mahoooosive...it's about 13 inches long! I'm just hoping it's ok as my physiotherapist said not to put any moisturiser on the wound itself!

I know...Poor Angie! 💗

Have a lovely day 🏵💗🌸 x

[ambychlo]

Hi aneeebel,

i finished on the 24th April so I’m 13 days clear of rads now.

my skin is good but my node scar is swollen and under arm but no pain.

i have been lucky but poor angie has suffered so much.

your nearly done then double figures for you today which is brilliant.

i think mine went pink day 10 it was a bit itchy too but no broken skin yet.

make sure you ring that bell x

kimberley

[Aneeebel]

Hi Ladies 

How are you all doing? 🎀

Did you have a nice w/e? 🌞

angie123... I've been thinking about you... how is your skin? Hopefully it hasn't become infected! 😘🌸🌷

ambychlo...yes, you're right about the info! It's ridiculous really! Fab news your skin is okay up to now! 💪🏻 How many more sessions of rads have you got left? 🎀

I'm on no.10 later on today - my skin seems to be okay up to now..it suddenly went pink after no.8 but I keep moisturising it...I have got the odd little tender patch around my wound! (Its still healing!) Fingers crossed it holds out! 

Hope all you lovely Ladies are well...have a good day x 🎀🏵💗

[ambychlo]

Hi aneeebel 

same me here I never washed it off before treatment and all they said was my skin was doing well.

it is weird how conflicting this information is

[Aneeebel]

Hi kathyx

When I went for my first rads session the radiologist said it was okay to moisturise immediately before rads "providing it wasn't sat on the skin"...

Isn't it strange how the advice differs so much! 

It's hard to know what to do for the best! 

🎀👙💕🏵

[kathyx]

Aveeno does moisturise for 24 hours - that's why it's so important to make sure that your skin is scrupulously clean before treatment, with no Aveeno (or any other cream) still present.

[Aneeebel]

Hello Ladies 🎀

Hope you're all doing well... 

Angie123... how's your skin? Has it improved at all? Hopefully it hasn't got any worse! Fingers and toes are crossed!! 🤞🏻🌻

Ambychio...fab news your skin is holding out! 💪🏻💗 My armpit is still completely numb too and feels spongy and swollen from having all my lymph nodes removed!

Modo, I was advised by my physiotherapist that massaging carries for quite a while as scar tissue is very hard! I was told not to massage my wound until all the scabs had fallen off naturally so I haven't started doing it yet as it's still healing! 💗🎀

I'm on day 13 from start of treatment and have a pink area on my chest...my skin was a bit tender in places when I got home on Friday so I reapplied the moisturiser and it seems to have settled down, Thank goodness! I've been using Diprobase on a regular basis.... I've suddenly become so tired, I have no energy to do anything! 💪🏻🎀

Have a lovely day Ladies... 🎀💕🏵

[ambychlo]

Sorry MoDo I was told two years still at risk of lymphadema but everybody seems to be told different?

[ambychlo]

Hi MoDo

i massage in but only for as long as I’m putting the cream on and I massage upwards.

I'm now 10 days since treatment and no blisters jus pink. My underarm is swollen but always has been since 2nd surgery.

ive used aveeno all the way through it’s a bit thick but thoroughly moisturises for full 24 hours

[MoDo]

Hi - been advised to massage breast &

underarm scar tissue - didn't ask how long for and how often, does anyone know ?

[Paulus]

Poor Angie123, that sounds sore  -  and doesn't it always happen over a weekend/Bank Holiday  -  do you have any other dressing you can apply?  Don't suffer over the weekend, please - others may have experience and advice for you. I'm so sorry you have this discomfort. x

[Aneeebel]

Oh my goodness angie123... poor you! My stomach lurched for you when I read that about your skin! 😘

I remembered you saying about no moisturiser...but thought maybe a different nurse might tell you something different! 

You poor thing... 🎀💗

[angie123]

Aneeebel for some reason at my hosp they say not to moisturise at all... No idea why. 

I just re arranged dressing as it was catching and in removing it’s ripped my skin right off 😥

[Aneeebel]

Oh no angie123... 

That's horrid for you! Hope you feel better soon! 😘🌻

Did the nurse you saw say anything about moisturising, by any chance... whether you should have applied moisturiser? 

I had a mastectomy so I don't have the problem with skin rubbing on skin! 

Let us know how you get on won't you... every thing is crossed that you don't develop an infection xxx 💗🎀💕

[angie123]

Ladies

My last RT was a week ago today and my skin has got progressively worse. I saw a nurse today & he said it will get worse in the next few days as effects will peak 10-14 days after finishing. I’ve had it dressed as it’s weepy and now at risk of infection 😟. I’ve got to go back on Tuesday for them to check it again. 

I think its where I've got larger boobs, and underneath it rubbing skin on skin. I was advised not to use any moisturiser throughout until it got quite sore and they recommended aloe vera. Altho this was cooling, I think it actually made my skin worse. I’ve never had sensitive skin before. But, boy, is it painful now. 

Thinking of you all over the Bank Holiday  💕💕

[Aneeebel]

Paulus... thanks for the info and you best wishes 🎀

The radiographer I saw when I went for my 1st rads session told me i could moisturise immediately before rads "so long as the moisturiser wasn't sitting on my skin"... it's hard to know what to do for the best!

My skin was fine until day 7 then it suddenly went pink... when I went for No 8 last night the radiographer said Oh, you're quite pink and advised that it would go pinker as rads has a cumulative effect! 😳 I have been using Diprobase on a regular basis and my skin does seem to be "holding out"...watch this space!!!

I saw a picture on a private group on Facebook...a lady had the most horrendous reaction to rads! Her skin was red raw and peeling!! I felt so sorry for her! 

Hopefully, none of us will have such an awful time!! 

Keep your chin up Ladies... thinking of you all! 🎀💕💗🌸