Radiotherapy on a breast that has had a permanent reconstruction

Drivermason, 

Hi and first of all I’m so sorry you need radiotherapy, especially at the same time as you hubby. 
You don’t mention your ages but radiotherapy can be reasonably side effect free for some ppl.

I had mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, then chemo and 15 radiotherapy treatments however I didn’t have any pain, pink or sunburnt looking skin and I had breast, armpit and neck radiotherapy. 
Im now 4 months post radiotherapy and my breast surgeon is very happy with results. I haven’t had any tightness of shrinkage. I appreciate I’ve been lucky. There are lots of stories however some ppl sail through. I wasn’t any more tired than normal. 

Do you know your start date? 
You mention your sons, could they help out? 
Don’t worry too much about Christmas, surely everyone will pull together. 

Wishing you the best of luck. 
Tina x x

Thank you Tina

I should have said. I’m 50 (I got this for my 50th birthday in August!) and my husband was 57 on Monday.

I really hope I have the same experience of radiotherapy as you did as yours definitely sounds a positive one.

My consultant said he would have just put a temp expander in first had we known this was going to happen but unfortunately it appears things don’t often go as planned!

My husband starts radio on 25/11 and chemo on 29/11. I don’t have a start date yet but nurse said 3-4 weeks once breast has fully healed again. The surgeon basically opened it, established he couldn’t separate the layers of skin and then closed it up again. So I’m hoping it won’t let air too long to heal. 

I’m hoping to sail through my radiotherapy so I can help and support hubby as he will have it much worse with it being in his mouth so unable to eat and swallow well etc.

Thanks again for your really helpful response.

Sharon xx

Hi Sharon,

It’s unfortunate that the care plan does change. My surgeon wasn’t sure at first. We didn’t think i was going to have chemo as lymph nodes were inconclusive at biopsy but once sentinel nodes were taken out at mastectomy, then tested it found they did have cancer cells, so node clearance later. So chemo was advised. 

I really hope you don’t have any side effects. You really have so must to deal with.

I would speak to your sons I’m sure they will help out. 
Are you having to work through this too? 
You are going to need a lot of support. See if you have a McMillan unit near you, they have helped me a lot.

Best wishes, please keep in touch and let us know how you and your hubby are going on.

Hugs Tina x x

Thank you Tina, your reply is really appreciated. Thank you also for telling me about your experiences. 

I’m really lucky that I’m a Civil Servant so I get 5 months full pay and 5 months half pay.

My husband and I have been on the sick from work for 7 weeks now. 

Financially we will struggle once hubby goes on to no pay but I will aim to get back to work asap.

Today has been a bit of a nightmare as all our appointments have come at once. We literally have medical appointments nearly every day till Jan 2020! Happy Christmas and New Year to us!

I had a long chat over the phone with my GP yesterday and he is referring us to MacMillan.

I’m trying to shield my sons from a lot of this but they are being helpful and are great boys.

The support I’m getting from this forum is keeping me going and I’d like to help others too if I can. 

I’m actually really positive and have decided we’re both going to get through this. We just have a very challenging time to get through between now and then!

Best Wishes to you and thanks for your kind words.

Much love

Sharon xxx

Hi Sharon,

No problem in replying. I’ll help if I can. This place is great for that. Im sure you will be able to help others too.

You have certainly got a lot on. I don’t know what drugs your hubby will be on, but chemo can be harsh but it is manageable with anti sickness meds, steroids etc.

I’m glad you are looking at going to see someone at McMillan. They can help with financial worries too. Your hubby might be able to get some benefit, it’s definitely worth looking into.

I understand wanting to shield your sons from all this, I didn’t tell my kids until I was about to start chemo! But they are at a good age to understand and help out. My breast nurse said to me, “it’s not want you tell them, it’s what you DONT them”, as wondering what’s going on is worst than knowing if that makes sense. I was totally honest with mine once I knew all other ct scans results were clear, I think they appreciated the honesty. 

You will get through this and being positive is definitely a help. 
Wishing you well.

Love and hugs Tina x x

Drivermason, Sharon,

Just wondering how you and your hubby are?

I think you said your hubby was starting Rads today, and then chemo on Fri. How are you?

Tina x x

Hi Tina

Its really lovely to hear from you and thank you for asking how we are.

Hubby starts his radiotherapy Thurs and chemo Friday.

I meet with the radiologist to discuss my radiotherapy on Wed.

Hubby has had his feeding tube fitted and he hates it.

We had a visit from a MacMillan nurse today and that was helpful.

I’ve also had some good chats on here. I’m trying to do the same and help others out where I can.

I’d by lying if I said everything was hunky dory but we are still standing and ready to fight this!!

How are you keeping?

Sharon xxx

Hi Sharon and Tina! I just stopped by to wish you well and to let you know you will get through this. I guess I noticed your posts as I have a son aged 17 and a daughter aged 21 and like you I was worried about them. I have breast cancer and started chemo end of May and finished last Tuesday! Yay! I know it’s going to be tough but what we found helpful was having a TV in the bedroom with Netflix. Also we tried to eat as a family every Sunday so they’d have something to look forward to. I also used tesco online shoppiing as I couldn’t face bumping into people and very often I wasn’t able to drive. While I have been ill my husbands dad was also receiving chemo, so my husband has been struggling. I will be having my surgery very soon. Not sure yet whether it will be a single or bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. I will then need radiation. I’ve had bad days but consider myself lucky to have found the lump. I’ve never been a big tv watcher but I’m tv addict now! Best of luck girls - it’s tough but you will get through this. Xxxxx

Hi

It’s really lovely of you to send me a message and much appreciated.

I hope you are doing well and good luck for the big op.

If you have any questions about the mastectomy I’d be happy to try and help. Feel a bit of an expert as seen as I had the mastectomy and then additional surgery on the same breast as well as my “good boob” lifted! 

Everyone on here has different stories and I love reading them albeit I’d rather people didn’t have to be on here! 

I often wonder why doctors chose to treat differently i.e. your chemo first, then surgery, then radio.

I’m not sure what my boys are actually thinking but we do tell them most things. There’s no secrets but we sometimes skip over the more frightening bits. These bits are mainly about my hubby as his cancer is more complex and treatment more severe.

I also don’t want to bump into anyone so I’m getting everything on line including my weekly shop. MacMillan nurse visited us yesterday and advised that we should try and do a few more things as we’ve soon morphed into “poorly people’ and spend most days in our pjs.

This will change on Thursday as we will have to go for radiotherapy every day for 30 days and that’s a 70 mile round trip. Not looking forward to it but needs must when the devil drives!! 

Again, great to hear from you, much appreciated.

Sharon xx

Drivermason

Hi Sharon, 

Glad you have been chatting on here, it certainly helps doesn’t it. You are doing amazing please remember that.

Im doing ok, Thank you hun, have youngest’s birthday on 22 Dec so with that, Christmas and trying to get some glossing done, I’m keeping myself very busy.

Please keep in touch and let me know how you’re getting on. 
Hugs Tina x x