What you wish you had known before starting Radiotherapy?

Tony, I was so desperate yesterday, I knocked on somebody's front door and asked if I could use their toilet.  Luckily he let me!

I only had 5 treatments of Radiotherapy after my breast cancer surgery but I had a painful shoulder after the 2nd lot of surgery (the explanation was that I must have been laid 'awkwardly' on the operating table whilst unconscious - how would I know!) anyway, due to this the position of holding the posts over my head to have the radiotherapy was extremely painful but it was a case of 'needs must' and I managed to complete it all and the physiotherapy I received really helped. BUT what no one told me was that you can get cramp like pains in the muscles around the breast sometime afterwards - I honestly thought it was angina or something the pain was so sharp I couldn't breathe and it can be triggered by things like putting a coat on or just taking a deep breath. I was so relieved when I learned that many other breast cancer survivors have the same experience but I do wish someone had warned me it might happen beforehand then I would not have been so worried. I am coming up for 2 years post surgery and I still get the cramps but they seem to be lessening. Just wanted to let people know as I haven't seen any literature about this potential after effect, not everyone will get it but I know quite a few who have so its not just me, so just wanted to raise awareness. 

I started my RT yesterday and just wanted to thank you all for the valuable advice and guidance captured here. I felt better prepared for day #1 and recognise, again from this page, the potential future challenges along with measure to help manage them. Many thanks A

Yes I had my surgery in Sept 2024. Slightly dissapointed that wasn't the conclusion but still happy its been deemed treatable

Best of health to you Scotty, let’s hope you just sail through it without any issues. 

This is really good advice.The radiographers require a full bladder to carry out the procedure.  I travelled by train to the QE in Selly Oak., with plenty of toilet opportunity  on the return journey. Twice I had early morning appointments and stupidly was too mean to pay the fare (OAP after 9:30 free travel by train in the region) and did the journey by car . Both times, part way home, had narrow escapes in my desperation to find a toilet!

Hello w289 

Thank you - but I had my Radiotherapy at The Christie in Oldham and we were empty bladder - empty bowel.

The phrase "have you been" still rings bells with me!1!!

Best wishes - Brian.

Brian, you lucky, lucky...

In Newcastle it was empty bowel and full bladder (well most of the time... unless they were running late!).

Hope everything is going well for you.  Are you still on the jabs?  You hear so many conflicting stories about them.  I wouldn't turn them down.

Hello Steve (Stevecam ) 

All good thank you. I am still on the Ozempic - my oncologist put me back on HT 8 months ago - I come off it again next month. She put me on the weight loss jab at the same time.

In 8 months  I have lost a couple of stone, the problem being I love my food and real ale and sometimes it becomes mind over Ozempic but I am winning.

I asked about the empty bladder / full bladder with my radiotherapy team. They said full bladder lifts the bladder away from the prostate whilst my team think empty bladder gives them a better view of the prostate as the bladder is smaller - well I was happy to oblige.

I trust you and Tracey are doing well - keep up enjoying the holidays - I have only had 5 weeks so far this year - it's a bit shabby - I need to book more!!

Kind regards - Brian.