Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello, The EHIC card still covers emergencies in EU countries at present but if you have chemotherapy you need to think about wherher you can reach a hospital on time, and possible translation issues. I used EHIC in Spain on a broken ankle with zero hassle, no payment asked. Currently, I am 8 months post chemo and radiotherapy. After looking around, I have just started a Nationwide Flex Plus account @ £10 per month, I declared BC as precondition (got through medical screening on the phone) and as I travel with my husband I wanted to include him. He haS high blood pressure and is on two pills. I take anastrozole. I was quoted £115 (and a few pence) to cover our preconditions, but in fact this amount was only for my BC. My husband high blood pressure did not count because it was well controlled with no incident, no hospital admission etc. Total: £235, for a yearly worldwide insurance max stays of 31 days, I found that this was the best deal for us, as we were older (67 and 72). The reason why I wanted to go through a medical screening was that if for example I broke my ankle in Japan, I don't want my travel Insurance to say it is of Anastrozole making your bones more fragile, then refuse to pay! Right after the diagnosis and the lumpectomy, I had a bad time with AXA when I made a claim for £234 for two flights my husband and I couldn't take because of hospital appointments and MRI and bones scans. With the excess, I could claim only £134. AXA refused the hospital evidence (free) point blank and insisted on my GP letter (charged £27) Finally my GP felt sorry for me and didn't charge for filling the form. It took over six months to be paid. Good luck, travelling is really good for one's moral. ... View more

Hi Jill! Thanks! Best wishes for work Jill! I am retired, that explains why I can fly away. I have a book to finish writing. Brain 😉 is back. ... View more

Sorry Fuffs 123, I am the only one saying something different - but I seem the only one having like you more than 15 sessions - so perhaps I might be more similar to you. Did anyone mention to you "0" (zero) pre-cancer cells? What was your grade? What was your bc size? Don't respond here, but you could ask the oncologist or a nurse to look into your file. Ask if you are having 3 weeks (40 grays, the norm), and are the next two weeks a bit of the same due to the size to be treated? I feel like in a cage. But even my "rebellions" - twice abroad during chemo, once between chemo and rads, then in 6 days' time back to Spain - but each time I was very careful about access to medical care. We all need a release from somewhere. Mine is to fly away. Egret x ... View more

Hi Cesrabbit, I am flying to Spain 6 days after my 20th rads session. The nurse today told me that in about 10-15 days, sometimes earlier, there were a chance of my skin cracking, even spitting. It is a bit a lottery,. Today, the skin on my boob is still perfect, albeit a bit bronzed. 8 sessions is 7 more to go, but for me after 8 sessions it was 12 more to go, and for Fuffs123 it would be 17!!! Some of us had awful experiences, and one person escaping some side-effects, might make it more challenging for others. How do you think i felt when others were finishing and I had to continue? Did I have a choice to opt for 15 instead of 20 rads sessions? NO. Why? because my risk of recurrence is most probably higher than yours!!! Did I want the rads "boost" to zap definitively my pre-cancer cells having previously galloping cancer cells? You bet. Not all of us have a nice time. Egret x ... View more

Fuffs123, I got a terrible allergy (A&E "priority!") after I used a new hair dye after waiting for ages for my hair to grow. The hair dye seems to have PPD. I thought it was safe after a strand test and no reaction for 14 hours. I am on my second prescription of steroids and heavy antihistamine. I got "priority" at A&E because of the FEAR that my rash/itchy skin could go down to my boob! Then the rads would have to stop. You can do what feels right and good - but protect your boob!!! Egret x ... View more

Hi Fuffs, I think you cannot use ANYTHING on your boob, except Aloe Vera, Aqueous Cream (given by the hospital, I wash with my boob with this, it works. Perhaps you should ask why you need 25, I got no joy from my old hospital, I got no explanation (and I did not sign the rads authorisation) but the new hospital (I managed to transfer) explained straightaway, it was a bit of a shock at the time. I needed a 4th week "boost" to take care of my "0" (zero) cell - my pre-cancer cells (5.2 cms, compare with my 2.6 cms lumpectomy). As my lump was grade 3 (fast growing deformed cells) there was a risk that the pre-cancer cells develop in my specific case. I knew nothing of this until I reached the hospital I transferred to. Perhaps this is the time to ask friends, neighbours and family to "donate" one day transport to help you and your husband! Some hospital have a service with volunteers. Best of luck, Egret x ... View more

I second this statement! As soon as I disappear, my Hubby goes for his M&S coffee and croissant! He has economised £3 parking after all. Egret x ... View more

Hello Gaynor, Well done about the chemo! Twenty radiotherapy sessions can lead to tiredness, because of the travelling to hospital and the cumulative effect of rads. I think it might be a good idea to get some leave to recuperate. The hospital might provide free parking - a godsend - and a huge pot of Aqueous Cream (oops, I said E45 cream elsewhere, i just check and it is Aqueous cream, I think it is the same). Don't buy anything yet because I used it liberally, and there is plenty left. I was told to use it for a month after my last rads, it just show how fragile the skin can become. I also use Aloe Vera (organic). Best wishes with your treatment, Egret x ... View more

Hi Fuffs123, good luck with your 25 sessions, I am having my 20 and last session today, and I haven't sleep so I am going though the thread. It can be challenging to see people around you finishing, quite rightly happy and in a celebrating mood, when you know you have more. The other thing is that some people assumes that it is 15 for all, and a doodle - but at each travelling to a hospital, at each radiation - the tiredness increases. In my case the first 3 weeks were multi-rays (radiation of 10 - 15secs at a time, repeated from different angles. That was to deliver the NICE recommended 40 grays (gray is the unit of radiation). The last week was a "boost" I had "0" cells, or pre-cancer cells. The boost was one fixed ray, quite close to my skin. But treatments are specific to each if us, I can only tell of my case. Sending my positive thoughts to you, and do use that big pot of E45 cream gifted by the NHS (it contains lanolin, so if you are allergic to lanolin go for organic aloevera). Egret x ... View more

Hi vi55, some hospital offers a free parking space for the duration of the treatment. You need to ask the rads desk. As for swimming, I was told that it was better to wait for 3 weeks after finishing rads. There are incidence of skin breaking, and if chlorine can damage a swimming costume, it can also cause havoc on a fragile hot bun/boob skin. The hospital gave me a huge pot of E45, I used vast amounts three times a day, and on my 19th radiation session, my skin is holding well. I have not touched soap or anything else on my L boob. Egret x ... View more

Hi Reikiran, my L breast lumpectomy was above my heart, and this resulting in a special way of "holding breath technique" via computer, mouthpiece and nose pinching - the very latest technology a hospital can offer (still rare in the UK). The rads are targeted precisely. Out of 15 minutes if you are lucky, 25 minutes if you are not, no more than 1 minute is actual radiation. in my case 24 minutes were placing my body, that dreaded mouthpiece and from then on breathing only through the mouth, eyes on computer screen, nurses measuring, dry runs of my breath holding. L breast can be bad news. The rads don't go through your body, but there can be some leakage. In my case I was FORTUNATE to get the breath hold machine, because it lessened that leakage. However I was told by my oncologist, that the leakage to my L lung will result is a slight scaring which will show if I have a lung X-ray. The oncologist and nurses are extremely experienced and professional, they will do their best to give their best, and the Alddenbrooks scored maximum for staff dedication, but that was not picked up by the media. Best of luck, Egret x ... View more

I joined so many threads...But Hi, I am Egret, I will finish radiotherapy today. Not every one is lucky, my sessions were 25-30 minutes with a awful mouthpiece between gums and teeth, my nose was pinched to force me to breath through the mouth, my eyes were riveted on a monitoring screen showing how I breathed - all this to save my heart from radiation leakage with long term coronary risks. When the light on the monitor is green, I have to hold my breath just so. I had this done 3 weeks, at the beginning the mouthpiece was the wrong size and pressed strongly into my gum - tears came to my eyes. On the 4th weeks - and one week more is DEPRESSING, I got the in and out on 15 minutes. The two experiences can hardly compared. Just to let you know, that radiotherapy differs from person to person, and "nothing to worry" is only for the VERY FORTUNATE. Egret ... View more

Best wishes mf with your blood test! I kniw, it is 4:29am Friday, I am a bit insomniac before my 20th radiation session - and last!  I am quite envious that you manage to shred so much!  Egret x ... View more

Thanks Jill 1998, I will wear dark sun glasses in Andalusia, I got one boob pre-sun tanned already! Egret x ... View more

The A&E doctor said that Piriton (for hay fever) is not a proper antihistamine and is said to be causing sleep. The "poor man sleeping pill" he told me. Hope sweet dreams to all the insomniacs. Egret x ... View more

Hi!  I joined the September sizzler for my rads, and this seems to be the continuation thread.   Finishing in three days' time, I will leave the forum then. Before this I wanted to post a  HAIR DYE WARNING. I finished my chemotherapy in August. I waited for my hair to regrow, it was white, and I couldn't stand it any longer. I had a handful of dark hair left after the cold cap and I wanted a uniform colour.   I dyed my hair with NATURTIN, it said no armonia, no resorcinol, no parabens.  It did not seem to mention PPD, a chemical which can cause intense allergic reaction. Apparently black henna can cause the same reaction.  I had three pin points tattooes put on my chest for the radiotherapy, and I don't know whether the tattooes had made me more sensitive. I did the hair strand test for allergy, and as nothing happened, I use NATURTIN the next morning. The reaction was slow, it flared out two days later, I thought I ate some bad cheese. I got my radiotherapy appraisal with a nurse, and both of us decided that with some Piriton the rash at the corners of my eyes would clear up. Two days later I was at A&E as "priority", I still thought it was the cheese, because my hair strand test did not give allergic result for 14 hours!  I was prescribed steroids for 4 days and antihistamine. My eyes had closed up almost completely, my cheeks were raw red, my ears had double size and I was so itchy I could not sleep. Not what I wanted after 6 cycles chemo and in my second week rads!!! Today (in my fourth week rads) I had an emergency appointment with my GP, heavier antihistamine, cortisoid cream - and more steroids "just in case". Luckily the rash did not touch by breast. I am pre-diabetic, the steroids can topple me into diabetes. I am trying to avoid them, but if things don't improve, I might have to take them. I researched the web, and it seems that PPD is the culprit. It is in a lot of hair dyes, even those which are advertised as "natural". Black henna can also cause allergy (in hair dyes and tattooes).  PPD is often in hair dye where there are two containers to mix. Apparently I can have weeks of rash, itchy skin, puffy eyes, and I am writing this so that others don't go through this - I am not even concerned about my 4th week rads (!!!). This issue is now dominating my life!  The 4th week rads is so much easier, no more breath hold tube. I don't think that if I waited another month or two for my hair, it would have made any difference. I dyed my hair before, and this is the first time I use NATURTIN. Sending my best wishes to your friendship meetup - I live too far away to join - sigh.  Egret x ... View more