Hello Can I Join In?

Hi Tracey,

Welcome, not that we want to really be here but it is a great site. I am 58 and had exactly the same type of tumour as you, left sided too although mine was 53 mm so more than twice as large as yours but nevertheless we have the same treatment plan. Mine was diagnosed just over a year ago and I had my wide local incision in April 18 and then was told it had spread to the lymph nodes so had to undergo the chemotherapy. People react differently but I found the operation no problem and recovered very quickly and was back to normal in couple of weeks. I had to wait for the scars to settle before the chemotherapy in July and that was the worst part for me, I was very poorly, sick and no energy but I think it was more due to a reaction with another condition I have which was upset during the treatment. Still I got through it finishing in November. I then asked for a break until after Christmas which the consultant said was fine and then after the radiotherapy planning appointment in January I had my radiotherapy in February. I found this no problem and my skin was fine right up until the last two sessions where I had some cracked skin underneath the breast. People on here recommend moisturising the skin several times a day and the consultant told me to use E45 but someone on here recommended Aveeno which you can get in Tesco or chemist and I found this worked better for me and smells lovely. As soon as I had an issue with the skin the hospital also gave me a special cream for that area and for me it cleared it up within a few days so they do check and ask you at each session if you have any issues, well mine did anyway. I think things have changed a lot since the 90's in terms of radiotherapy and skin treatment so I hope you will be fine, just keep moisturising and after washing pat dry, don't rub!!

I wish you well for your treatment, let us know how it goes, I am so glad to have finished now and have had great support from Macmillan. I have just been discharged from Oncology and my first annual Mammogram since my operation last year is on 21st May so providing that's Ok I will be discharged from the breast clinic and am returning to work in June.

Good Luck

Poppy58

PS there is also a May monthly radiotherapy chat if you scroll through the recent pages where other people are currently undergoing radiotherapy so they may be able to give you tips too. 

Hi Tracey54,  Welcome to the group and you're in the best place for support.

I finished my treatment about 5 weeks ago and that included radiotherapy.   I am extremely fair skinned and the Consultant told me I would definitely burn.  I slapped on Aveeno at every opportunity and during the radiotherapy my skin was good.  In the days after it started to redden in areas and get very dry and itchy despite the Aveeno.  I persevered and weeks later all is good.  The redness was not as bad as everyone thought it would be.  My tip would be to moisturise much more than you think necessary and to a wider area than you think needed.  I had radiotherapy to my collar b9ne due to lymph involvement, but my entire neck became very dry.

There is are designated radiotherapy and chemotherapy threads on here each month where I'm sure you'll get lots more advice and support. 

I don't know if you have a Maggie's Centre near you, but they may be able to help support both you and your hubby.

If you read my profile you'll see that I had no choice but to take your approach with my treatment.   Nine months later and I'm through treatment and looking back, certainly for me, it wasn't as bad as anticipated.

I don't use this site much now, but every so often look to see if I can help someone.  Hope I've done that a little for you.  

Onwards and upwards. Hugs.  Gail xx

I suffered dreadfully with chemo but found radiotherapy a walk in the park. I used R1 and R2 cream (prescription from GP or available on line).  I had tight scars and smothered them in loads of cream. It went a tiny bit red for a while but no pain, no skin breakdown. It’s a bit of an inconvenience to keep stripping off to apply more cream, but definitely worth it. I probably moisturised 4 or 5 times a day, maybe more.  I just added more whenever it felt tight. I also added aveeno over the top sometimes. It seems that it’s different for everyone. You might be fine.  Physiotherapist has told me that I need to keep doing post op exercises for at least 6 months after radiotherapy too.  Good luck xx

Hiya Welcome to the community no one wants to be a part of but the best one in the circumstances.

I have had 2 Wide Lump Excision surgeries and was surprised at how pain free i was and how quickly i recovered, hopefully this will be the case for you too.

I am currently waiting for an appointment with the radiotherapist to see if i will be having radiotherapy or not, so it could be we end up having it around the same time. I was told to start using moisturiser, i've got Aveeno, before radiotherapy starts so i use it now. It might not make any difference but feel i have nothing to lose.

Click  here for the May Radiotherapy Group they will be able to give you lots of advice and support.

Good Luck with the Op.

There is also a Friends and family chat group that may be of some help for your hubby if he uses the internet. Maybe he will feel better if he can talk to others about how he feels and they will be able to offer him support.

Hi Tracey54,

my treatment plan was similar to yours. I agree with you, the waiting was a challenge, once a plan was identified I focussed on moving forward. With regard to radiotherapy, my consultant suggested e45 cream to moisturise . I read some research and decided to get R1 & R2 cream. I used this as prescribed and topped up with the e45. I smothered the whole area before bed especially. I got slightly pink at the end. I didn’t have any time off work , going in for treatment early morning and then to work. I generally went with the flow. If I  felt tired I slept. After reading the previous monthly RT info I did stop coffee, tea and alcohol, drinking more fluids. No one knew I was having the therapy unless I told them. After my treatment I went on my panned longhaul holiday and all was well. Everyone is different. So I am hoping your treatment goes as well as mine so far. This site is excellent for support.keep us posted. Take good care of yourself