Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi yorkshire_defector,  The post  surgery exercises do help. Am hoping you are able to complete with less pain now. I struggled with arm positioning on my planning scan and was referred to physio who after 20 mins with her was able to achieve. She give me some stretching exercises to do every day during rads and I am still doing them now. Basically clasping hands together and stretching above head and holding, reaching affected arm across and over above head and holding, placing hands either side of head and pushing back elbows and holding. She advised this to be done every hour. Each stretch hold for 20secs and then increase to 40 secs in time. I did every 2 or 3 hours. I hope this is helpful. Please stay safe and take care. ... View more

Hi yorkshire_defector  I am now 3 weeks post rads. I have had some swelling and pain over the chest and armpit. Now improving a lot also the tiredness had from rad 7 has also improved.  Even at its worst pain was tolerable.  Have heart scan on Wednesday and phone consult on may 19th to discuss if can restart my 3 weekly infusions. Hope you are able to complete rads without too many issues. Stay safe and take care. ... View more

Hi all hope you are ok. Purple Lady well done on completing your rads. Is that it for you now? Jools 123 almost there 4 left if I counted right.  TKN I am glad lump was only build up of fluid  and nothing more sinister. You must be so relieved. I have now completed my rads on Monday. Completely worn out was so tired yesterday nearly fell asleep while eating.. unfortunately my heart scan results have resulted in a delay to my 3 weeks transfusions of herceptin  and  perjeta they are now on hold until heart scan repeated after 6 weeks.  I hope it recovers so I can continue as have been told it is more effective if I have full 18 cycles and have only had 8.  I want to do everything possible to prevent  a recurrence and this will be the last active treatment they can give. Was hoping I would be in a position to start planning return to work but that is now delayed due to covid 19.  At least with less hospital appointments  can spend more quality time with family. Hope you are all able to keep safe. Take care. ... View more

Hi all completed my rads today. Skin looks red bit sore and swollen but intact. Feeling tired since no7. Feels good to be able to tick off another treatment. I wont miss daily hospital appointments but was a lot  more tolerable than I thought it would be. How are you all? Yorkshire_defector how did meeting on Friday go. Are you having 3 weeks rads? Purple Lady how are you doing with your rads 2 left? Jools 123 more than half way through. Still managing with minimal issues? Chelle56 did you manage to sort a mutually agreeable return to work plan. Hope you are all managing to keep safe. Take care.   ... View more

Hi Jools 123  Really glad you are coping well with your rads and almost half way through now. Once you get past no8 it seems to go really quickly. Although I am definitely feeling tired since no 7. Hope you continue with minimal or no side effects. Keep safe and take care. ... View more

Hi all on thread,   TKN well done on completing your rads. Sorry to hear about the swollen lumpy area. I have now  noticed a reddening of the skin and appears swollen over chest and armpit area but no actual lumps. Still 3 more rads to do. As you say it is probably just scar tissue and ultrasound will hopefully put your mind at ease.  Jools 123 how are you getting on ? Did you start your rads on Wednesday? Hope you are ok.  Hope everyone else is coping with current situation as best they can please all keep safe and take care.  ... View more

Hi TLC2019, well done on completing your radiation. It's so good when you can tick off another treatment. I am on day12 of 15 of rads so nearly there for me. Had pain on Friday but seems better now but  skin looks red and swollen over chest and armpit. Had heart scan last week which showed some issue with heart muscle. So 3 weekly herceptin/perjeta infusions now on hold. Only completed 8 of 18 so far. Will see (speak to) oncologist next week to discuss how to proceed. Hope you are coping ok with current situation and are able to keep safe and take care. ... View more

Hi everyone on the thread, Purple Lady glad to hear rads are going well. Sorry to hear about your job. Chelle56 I know you were ready to return to work seems unfair especially if you can be non clinical and undertake social distancing. I hope you can come to a mutually agreeable solution. Have completed 9 rads starting to get pain mostly along scar line. Not too bad, tolerable. Skin seems ok. Should have completed 9th herceptin and perjeta infusion this week. Have 3 monthly heart scans and have had to have my 3 weekly infusion paused as my heart muscle is thinner. Will discuss with consultant best way to proceed. Am only on no. 8 of 18 infusions. Was starting to feel I was almost at the end of active treatment so returning to work soon. Now have received letter/ text not to leave house for 12 weeks. I feel like this is never ending been off 8 months already. Will talk to HR next week to discuss my situation. Hope everyone is managing to stay safe. Take care. ... View more

Hi Purple Lady and everyone else on the thread. I hope you managed to start rads on Thursday and coping well with minimal issues. I have now completed 4. So far ok.  We are all having to deal with a massive   amount of change in our lives at the moment. If we all look out for each other we will get through this. For all mothers hope you have a Happy  Mother's day. tomorrow. Keep safe and take care. ... View more

Hi Jools123, It is completely understandable your feeling vulnerable and scared. Daily life is no longer what we are used to even for those without our additional issues. I am currently having radiotherapy at same hospital. In the last 3 days I have noticed a big reduction in people in the hospital.  Everyone is asked to attend alone if possible to reduce numbers in waiting rooms. So far the waiting rooms have been less than half full when I have attended. As soon as you arrive you are asked to wash your hands and there are sinks in every changing room. The staff are really pleasant and reassuring (was also nervous at start) so I hope you are able to complete your rads without too many issues. Keep safe and take care. ... View more

Hi Chelle56,  Thank you for your advice. I am going to go braless as much as possible as you advised. Now 2 done 13 to go so far ok.  hospital now advising to attend alone if possible to reduce no. of people in department. I just want to complete rads asap then only need to attend appointments every 3 weeks. Hope you and family are keeping safe. Take care. ... View more

Hi Tilli, thank you for your kind words. I hope you are keeping well and recovering from any fatigue following rads. Take care. ... View more

Hi everyone, Have completed my first rad session. staff were really pleasant and reassuring as I was a little nervous. Unfortunately it took a while as had to be positioned twice. I was assured it will be much quicker next time. Due to yesterday's announcement  there was less traffic journey took half the time as compared to planning scan appointment. Drinking plenty and moisturizing as advised. Exercising more but if start to tire will reduce amount. Please keep safe and take care. ... View more

Hi Purple Lady, I had chemo because biopsy showed cancer was her2 positive,  er positive and 6cm. The idea was to shrink the tumour before surgery which it did. Lumpectomy and snb mid December but results showed tumour had fragmented so needed mastectomy(mid January) to make sure all fragments were removed. Now need 15 rads, herceptin/perjeta every 3 weeks for 18 cycles( 8 completed) , hormone therapy ( 5 years) and bisphosphonates ( not sure if spelt right) so still feeling  rollercoaster ride of emotions.  I have just started taking Anastrozole 4 days ago. When did you start ? Having any issues?  I feel like my life is still on hold for at least another eight months. Taking each step at a time is the way I get through. ... View more

Hi everyone, hope you are all keeping well. Chelle56 and Tilli congratulations on completing your radiotherapy. Chelle56  I hope you enjoy  We Will Rock You tomorrow. Tilli are you marking the end of your rads with a treat? You have both endured various treatments and can now be proud you have come out the other side. Hope you have a great weekend.  Take care ... View more

Hi Purple Lady, glad your planning scan went well and you managed the breathholds. I am thinking of waiting at least 4 weeks before returning to work after rads. I have suffered with fatigue during chemo and  post surgery so I am assuming rads will probably be same.  So it will be mid May or early June before I return to work. I am also looking forward to work miss everyone and never had so much time off before. We have come through a lot and we should be proud of what we have achieved. We will beat this. Take care.   ... View more

Hi hope your planning scan appointment goes well tomorrow. Will be thinking of you.  Dont worry about breathholds you may not need to . I was told to practice prior to scan but they were able to get clear images without. Well done on starting your hormone tablets I am planning to start mine tomorrow so I have a couple of weeks before rads start on 17th. Every step is one step closer to the end of treatment. Take care. ... View more

HI hope everyone is well. Chelle56 thanks for the advice I will definitely allow myself time to recover from rads and have a phased return to work. I have spoken to a colleague who had cancer recently and he advised the same. He has also been allowed to temporarily reduce his hours and has a review every few months. I will see if I can have a similar arrangement.  Do you have any plans to mark the end of your radiotherapy? I am having herceptin and perjeta infusions every 3 weeks 10 more cycles to go. So even when rads have finished I will still be a regular at local hospital. Hope your last couple of rads are ok. Take care.         ... View more

Hi all, I had my planning scan today and was also really nervous. The staff were really nice when I struggled with arm positioning was referred to physio. After seeing her tried again and completed scan. Originally was told may need to do breathholds but was told they managed to get everything without. I think it is something to do with positioning of your heart. I now have start date of 17th March. I am also starting to think about returning to work but not till after rads as have fairly physical job.  Hope everyone copes well  with their appointments this week and have minimal  side effects. Take care all. ... View more

Hi Tilli and Chelle56, Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences.  I will have my planning scan on the 3rd and then be given my start date and appointment schedule.  Well done both of you on completing 2 weeks of rads without too many issues. I hope this continues  for the rest of your treatment. Good luck for the next week.   ... View more