Breast Cancer Now Forum

both arms go above your head, its a comfy position and over very quickly, 5 mins tops. ... View more

I waited 10 weeks after surgery. Rads is fine actually. Dont worry about it, its easier than you think. But you MUST take care of your skin during the treatment.  ... View more

Hi Nella The same thing happened to me, a few days after rads ended my boob flaired up and the pain inside was terrible. The only thing that has worked is the Jasons Aloe Vera cream (not gel) which i got from the health shop, its a moisteriser buts its brilliant, then i added 1 drop of lavender aromatherapy oil into the cream which is a natural antiseptic. Apply 3 to 4 times a day and 'air the skin' as much as possible. I cant wear my bra, im just wearing tight M&S vest tops, im usually a size 14 so i got size 12 and they have been so soft and supportive its great.  OMG the hot sweats have started with the Tamoxifen as well, today i felt really poorly. I cant imagine what the next 5 years is going to be like!  Good luck everyone. Even though im on the other side of treatment now, it still feels scary. XXX  ... View more

Happy belated Birthday Vic My son turned up most unexpectantly from Bristol. It was a lovely surprise to see him as i had no idea he was planning on coming to say 'hi'.  I have 2 more to go now, Monday and Tuesday and then i'm done. I can see a clear square shape of darker skin on my chest, which is where the 'splash' is. I'm doing ok, but i am tired...so pj day all day Sunday. Ive put on a few pounds from all this sitting about which isnt good. I picked up the Tamoxifen from the chemist yesterday to start straight away, scared about that too!  Have a good week ladies and keep your spirits up x x x lots of love x x x  ... View more

Oh Vic, it sounds terrible poor you. It was my birthday today, what did I do? Went for rad number 11 followed by a bit of retail therapy. Try to stay positive even though you probably don't feel like it, one day you will look back and feel proud you got through it all. Keep going sweety x x x  ... View more

Hi Julie, did they offer you the gene test or did you ask for it? Well done for finishing, i have my 10th today and 5 more to go. I have found the Aloe cream excellent and have put one drop of Aromatherapy lavender oil into the mix which has been amazing for healing. I use a lot of these type of oils, like peppermint oil rubbed on tummy for tummy ache, really amazing stuff. (Mixed with carrier oil of course, never directly onto skin). Lavender has many healing properties and is used a lot in alternative medicine as a natural antiseptic.  I also use Aloe vera moisturiser from the health shop, its made by "Jason", (Pure natural hand and body lotion 84% Aloe Vera) its been amazing as the gel feels like more of a surfice treatment and doesnt feel like its sinking in.  I can imagine it feels odd to complete the daily routine. Im dreading it as it also means moving house for me as well. Plus im dreading starting the Tamoxifen as well. Ive got a print out of side effects, weight gain is at the top of the list!! But from my research we must all try and give up SUGAR as cancer feeds on it, a sugar free diet from now onwards (part from the odd bit of cake) is definately the way to go for healthy living.  Im off again now for number 10 so good luck ladies, nearly there now. Love to all. Ran x ... View more

Hi ladies. Can't sleep so I was reading all your messages. Good luck for all as each one of us is going through the mill right now.  I had my 8th rad on Friday, so 7 more to go. A funny thing happened after my 6th, I came home around 1, then had a bite to eat and sat down then all of a sudden I felt like I'd been drugged with a sleeping pill. It was so quick I got really panicky as I was alone. So I lay down on the bed and woke up 5 hours later feeling like crap, all evening I got worried that this was the beginning of the dramatic fatigue they talk about. God it felt so awful. But luckily it did settle down so now I've had Saturday to chilax I'm feeling much better. The hospital said it would be like this so keep very hydrated as that really helps. Lots and lots of water, boring as it is it's meant to help clear out your system and get rid of all those toxins which are being released by the rads. Makes sense I suppose. My skin was to hot withe the Aquasis cream so now I'm only using the aloe Vera with one drop of lavender aromatherapy. My skin feels ok although it looks tanned and the nipple area has gone really dark.  Love and hugs to all x x x  ... View more

Hi Didi and Dawn Poor you guys, so bloody tough egh. I had my 4th today and after the 3 last week my boob was on fire so today i got some E45 cream to slather on. I added a couple of drops of lavender oil to help with the healing. Yes i totally understand how peed off you all feel, but i keep telling myself its not forever. Its a short blip then its over and then 'yes' we can get on with our lives. So many people in different stages of treatment in the waiting room today, it was horrible to see them all looking so sad. I had this wierd thought today on my way home...i wonder whats it like when ive been completely signed off from the hospital, to essentially go off with my tamoxifen in my pocket with a 'by by see you next year' kind of feeling. Somehow i felt that was going to be hard, as right now if there are any concerns you can raise it straight away. being discharged is going to be just as difficult isnt it? God bless all x x x  ... View more

It's such a good idea to start rads on a Wednesday which gives you time to heal over the weekend. Now I'm bracing myself for my first full week. My skin was so sore even after 3 but here's hoping next week will be ok. I've tried to drink lots, eat well (apart from take out curry last night in front of strictly), and get fresh air by walking. I have a friend who has offered to drive me but I feel bad asking her every day so I'm going to drive myself tomorrow. It's fine on the way there but driving home in the dark is horrible. I'll probably cry all the way home, but heck there will be nobody in the car to hear me sobbing.  The emotional aspects of this journey are just as tough, aren't they.    Good luck for rads this week chicks, let's just do it Yay x x x  ... View more

Hi again. I've woken up this morning after only 3 rads and my boob is pink! Which doesn't sound life changing, I'm thinking 'heck' if it's pink after 3 then what's it going to be like after 15? I have plastering on the aqueous cream am and pm and straight after rads I put on the Alo Vera gel in the changing room. Any ideas? I'm thinking E45 instead or are there any other suggestions from different hospitals? Thanks x x  ... View more

Hi didi, I was wondering what a seramona was poor you, it sounds horrible. Xx get well soon x ... View more

Hi Vicc55. How are you doing now? I re read your post and you mentioned life was tough, I can relate to that.   So ladies life can throw all sorts of obstacles in our way but the truth is we have to make our lives as positive as we can and have faith that if we follow our instincts and believe in ourselves it will be ok.  Nobody can do this journey for us, we are on our own. Others around us can support and encourage but it's us who it's happening to, it's our bodies who are being mutilated. It's our tears we cry and its our futures that are now frightening.  Go well courageously.  Bless you all x x  ... View more

Hello again. 15 altogether, but it's good that I've started on a Wednesday with the weekend off for a rest. Just off now for the second, I've been walking round with my boobs out slathered in Aqueous cream. Had to put the heating on as it got a tad cold ha ha.  ... View more

Hi Chicks. I finally started rads yesterday which is a huge relief as its been more than 10 weeks after surgery. They gave me a gown to keep during my treatment which has Velcro on the shoulders and sides, they undo it for treatment then pop it back together after. I was glad of it as it was freezing in there. The staff were kind and the experience was fine considering how I had wound myself up about it beforehand. When I walked out into the fresh air after I couldn't help bursting into tears, the rush of emotion was huge and overwhelming.    I think when your waiting for app you try and forget but then when you're back into the NHS conveyor belt of treatment with all the other brave soldiers in the waiting room. It's a side of life you don't want to see, shouldn't have to see but you have to be there. It just felt like my life is such a mess, what more can go wrong. Will share more about that soon.    Good luck ladies, drink water, walk a bit and stick your chin in the air and say 'well done to yourself for being so brave'. Xx ... View more

Hi Ladies Funnily enough I started the 'October Hot cross buns' thread thinking i would start in October but its turned out I begin rads on the 11th November. Funny to start on a wednesday but i will be glad to get it over with. I would love to join your group as the journey has been very tough and emotional for me with a lot of life changing events in the background at the same time. So it will be great to share experiences and support each other. I havea prescription for Tamoxifen to start taking straight after rads. Plus the hospital have told me to get a flue jab as i cant miss a single rad appointment. I got one yesterday at the chemist, arms a bit sore but it was fine.    ... View more

Well girls I started this post called HOT CROSS BUNS, thinking it would be done and dusted or at least halfway there by now, but ive been waiting and waiting for my planning app which is now this afternoon.   It has been useful to read all your posts so thank you for that, i am feeling scared and my emotions are all over the place. I know its a long appointment and i get tatoos as well.   I wanted to mention something about vitimins that ive found out from my doctor: Radiation on the body works by CREATING free radicals which are highly energized molecules that damage the DNA of cancer cells.  Free radicals in the environment can damage all cells, but in radiation treatment they are  focused on the cancer cells.  Antioxidants are the good guys and they STOP free radicals from forming (or they neutralize them if they do form). So if I take Antioxidant supplements such as vitamins C, A, D, and E, they will interfere with the radiation's ability to destroy any rogue cells floating around.  Because of the potential conflict between the goal of radiation therapy (to make free radicals) and the goal of antioxidants (to neutralize free radicals), it makes sense to stop taking any antioxidant till it's all over.  Here's me dosing myself with beneficial healing vitamins thinking that's a good thing, when it turns out it's quiet the opposite.  You LIVE and learn every day.   ... View more

So annoying...i went to see my Oncologist over a week ago, and asked to go to a different hospital for rads as it will be nearer to me, Addenbrookes in Cambridge instead of North Mid in London. Ive been waiting fpatiently ever since for the planning app and it turns out im actually waiting for another Oncology app with Addenbrookes as they cant just give me the rads, i have to be re referred there first! The waiting to start is really frustrating, i am so desperate to just get on with it (and the rest of my life). Why does every part of this journey take soooooo long?  Sorry about the big moan folks x ... View more

Good luck T3D Let us know how you got on today, hope you didnt have too much waiting around x  ... View more

Well done Vic55, your very brave by the sounds of things, did you get a choice of shaping for the tatoos? 20 blasts sounds doable, your going to be done ready for Christmas treats x x x Amazing really x x x ... View more

Hi Ladies So glad you have joined our party....i hope you loved the name, spark of inspiration from moi, a textile and art teacher who often thinks 'outside the box', ha ha.  Im still waiting for my planning app at Addenbrooks in Cambridge (in special measures i hear), how long does the actual 1st appointment take? Do they only sort you out on the machine or do they take blood etc? Does the radiation go through the body and out the other side?  So many questions.. Love to all of you beginning and continuing rads this month, hows it going so far? Ran x x x ... View more