**JULY BREAST CANCER RADIOTHERAPY CHAT**

Dear , so sorry you’re feeling so grim, please don’t apologise for not being positive, this is the one place you can be totally honest and say it was it is, warts, scales, tears and all. I agree with , definitely contacts rads team and/or breast care team. I have still got some scales left over from finishing rads in January so probably they’re just something some of us get, but I think the extreme redness and the physical debility needs attention urgently. At my eventual follow up post rads (2 and a half months after) they thought I might have an underlying skin infection as it was reddish and a bit warm, so I had a course of antibiotics. Yours sounds way more extreme so you definitely need it to be seen. Like you my default is generally to be upbeat but I think now you must tell them just how bad you’re feeling. 

Please do phone and insist on being seen, and keep us posted. Love and very gentle hugs, HFxx

Dear Annjac and Happy Feet, 

thank you so much for coming back to me  I have left a message with the radio therapy team and hopefully they will get back to me. 

Cant help feeling I’m making a fuss about nothing and I am just being a wuss but think this isn’t ok even if it is just normal. I had a bolts on my skin for radio to bring it up to the skin area so it may be normal for the treatment I’ve had. Thank you both though. It really helps not to feel so alone. I will keep you posted. Really grateful. Thanks. 

Love and hugs. Xxx

Sorry that should have read Bolus not bolts on my breast for RT. Typing on my phone as I’m in bed.  Thumb sometimes a bit imprecise with the letters. 

Thank you. Xxxx

Hi Happyfeet and Annjac

thank you so much for your advice. Just spoken to the radio-therapy nurse. She discussed it all much more fully with me and thinks the problem is that the activeheal gel is helping it it heal it is peeling off the new skin as it forms as well as the old as the skin has become very dry from what I am describing. She has given me a new regime to follow and I’m to call her tomorrow at 2.30 to see if it’s helping if not to go in. I’ve started the new regime - put activeheal gel on as I was talking to her and it is beginning to do the usual crazy painful prickles but going to tolerate it to see if this works. Regime is activeheal gel on after shower in the morning. Wash it off at lunchtime and moisturise then activeheal again in the evening. Posting it here as if it works it might be useful for anyone else. 

Thank you again guys. Really grateful. 

Lots and lots of love and very gentle maybe rather lopsided hugs

xxxxx

So glad they are listening to you Pollydog and hope the new regime starts to ease things xx

Good luck with the new regime , great that they called back qhickly and all sounds logical. But if no improvement sson, do ask to be seen. Pain is so wearing and makes everything harder to tolerate.

On a positive note, my scales are falling off! The biggest and darkest went first, now just the lighter ones remain to keep the 'mottled' effect going. I think they keep quiet about how long these things may take to resolve, to not scare us all, but I'd actually have felt more reassured if I'd known more. Guess it's a balance re too much v too little info. 

Sending healing vibes and hugs, HFxx

Dear happyfeet and annjac. 

Thank you. Been back to the hospital today and got more specific advice. They are a bit worried about one area which has significant swelling as well as skin break down but apparently the burns/skin break down are severe but normal. I’ve glad I went though. I have a better idea of what I need to do in the areas specifically and the bit to watch and I have been given an emergency number if it gets worse. Feeling reassured if a bit wonky still. Fatigue, headaches and dizziness apperently normal but now know I have had a strong reaction and so may take longer to recover than I first thought which is helpful as I have messaged my boss that I may need a bit more time before going back to work. 

To be honest I knew that sort of anyway but helpful to have it confirmed by medics. 

Great to hear H F that you are doing better. How are you doing Ann? 

Lots if love and hugs - gentle

polllydog. Xxxx

Hi Pollydog

I always feel more reassured if the medics have seen me.  Keep going and hopefully you have turned the corner?

RT wise I'm fine.  Just back from hols.  Mobility wise I am deteriorating.  Been in a bungalow for a week.  Not sure how I am going to get upstairs tonight.  But I will have to somehow.

Hope you feel better soon xxx

Hi Pollydog

I always feel more reassured if the medics have seen me.  Keep going and hopefully you have turned the corner?

RT wise I'm fine.  Just back from hols.  Mobility wise I am deteriorating.  Been in a bungalow for a week.  Not sure how I am going to get upstairs tonight.  But I will have to somehow.

Hope you feel better soon xxx

Dear Anne,

Good to hear from you and thank you.  Really hoping you managed those stairs last night, a good night's rest always helps.  Anything you can do for the mobility or is it just as it is?

Lots of love and hugs xxx