Start treatment 22/9 - and I have questions :-)

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I had my mapping scan yesterday and my first radiotherapy treatment is 22/9. I've not yet had my chemo pre-assessment and am hoping for an appointment call very soon!

I'm very nervous, and am trying to do as much research as I can without scaring the living daylights out of myself.

I have a couple of questions that I am hoping you lovely folk will be able to help me with:

1) My consultant said that my chemo will be a mitomycin infusion on the first day of treatment and then tablets thereafter. How long does that first infusion take?

2) StrataXRT - nobody at my hospital seems to have heard of it but they have given me a go ahead to use it. Where did you buy yours? I can find a couple of Greek pharmacies that are half the price of the Strata website. Just wondered if anyone had tried them or whether it's safer to just go with the expensive version from the manufacturer's site?

3) The nurse I saw yesterday at the planning scan seemed quite dismissive about skin wounds and basically said that they would give me something to treat any wounds that I got - nothing preventative will be given. Is this normal?

I'm sure I'll have loads more questions as I wind myself up into a frenzy before I start. Thanks for listening.

Sarah

Bungle1 7 hours ago

Hi Sarah

From what i recall the mitomycin didn't take very long, I think it was about half an hour. Can't help with the strata XRT as I didn't use it, but I would be inclined to buy from a reputable site. As for what the hospitals hand out that seems to vary from hospital to hospital, my hospital were very good but some people's seem to be the opposite. I think the strata XRT is supposed to stop the skin breaking down so skin wounds may not be an issue for you if you are using it. Good luck for the 22nd. Sending hugs. Xx

Irene75359 6 hours ago

Hello Sarah

I bought the StrataXRT from the uk company and it was the actual product. I spoke to someone from the company who was really helpful and applied it from day one. I also printed out a few pages from the company website and gave them to the chief of the radiology department as she hadn't heard of it and was warning me not to use creams prior to my sessions. She checked and I was given the go ahead. In the meantime, there is nothing stopping you in moisturising the whole area back to front right now and all during treatment (although not directly before).

The infusion probably took about half an hour, from inserting the cannula to a nurse administering it through the cannula in a bolus (like a giant syringe). It was painless and I then had a short break before going to the radiotherapy.

I promise you you will calm down once treatment starts - you will just be so relieved that something is being done.

Irene xx

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Start treatment 22/9 - and I have questions :-)