••• March Radiotherapy Club 2020 •••

Hi all,

Just checking in for the March radiotherapy thread - I start 15 sessions of radiotherapy on Monday 2 March, having had a mastectomy and axillary node clearance at the start of January following five months of chemotherapy.  I had an HER2+ tumour which had a complete pathological response to the chemo (2 x EC then 4 x docetaxel/herceptin/perjeta), so my multidisciplinary team felt that radiotherapy was not mandatory, but they offered me the opportunity to have it as a “belt and braces” approach to reduce the risk of recurrence.  I am also continuing with herceptin/perjeta infusions every three weeks until November, and have just started on bisphosphonates (ibandronic acid tablets). 

I returned to work full-time two weeks ago after being signed off sick for seven months (my job is in the healthcare sector, so I was not allowed to work during chemo due to the risk of infection).  I have found it a huge psychological boost to be back at work and to get some sense of normality back into my life, and I am feeling physically well despite having a few lingering side effects of chemo (e.g. peripheral neuropathy in the fingers and toes, plus loose/fragile fingernails).  I will have to travel for my radiotherapy as my local hospital does not offer it, but I have been given slots at 5.30pm so that I can go there after work.  I had my chest tattoos done two weeks ago, and am looking forward to getting started with the treatment next week.  My GP has prescribed R1 and R2 waterjels to help with any skin reactions, but apparently R1 is out of stock at the manufacturers so I will have to see what the hospital can suggest as an alternative to the R1.  

I look forward to sharing experiences, and wish the very best of luck to everyone starting radiotherapy this month.

Blackcat20 xx

Checking in for March radiotherapy. I have my planning session on 6 March. Then start sessions Wednesday 18th March through to Thursday 16th April. anyone else’s dates align? Would be good to have a buddy. Wishing everyone all the best. 

Hi everyone,

I’m due to start 18 sessions of radiotherapy on March 2nd after having surgery in December (therapeutic mammoplasty, sentinel node biopsy on left and reduction to the right). I am also on Tamoxifen too.

I had been working full time after taking 4 weeks off for surgery and a short 2 weeks phased return and have been feeling exhausted. I’m not working throughout radiotherapy and will be glad of the rest for a bit.

My GP can’t prescribe the R1/R2 waterjels  so I have stocked up on aloe vera instead.

Good luck to everyone starting this month too xx

Hi Blackcat20 

I have 15 R1 gels unused, left over from my treatment, would you like me to send them to you?

If so, pop me your address in a private message (I think you can do so on this site?) and I'll send them to you.

They may as well be used and I was going to give them into my GP.

XOXO

Checking in for March radiotherapy. I have my planning session on Wednesday (4/3). Don't have dates for sessions yet but might align with you .

I had a mastectomy and ANC on 4 Feb following chemo for ER+, HER2+ BC. Post surgery histology showed complete pathological response to chemo and surgery cleared surrounding tissue and calcifications  I'm told I will have radiotherapy to chest wall and lymph nodes above the collarbone as a mop up (who knew we had all these lymph nodes!!). I think I just about have enough arm movement ready for Wednesday's appointment. I've been given a booklet explaining the procedure and apparently, my hospital do the DIBH breathing method no matter which side the radiotherapy is being given, so I'll be practicing that on Wednesday too!

Hi Blackcat20,

How did your first couple of radiotherapy sessions go? I hope they have gone well? I’ve just come back from my second and apparently my breast is already slightly swollen, which they said they wouldn’t have expected so soon. Hopefully it will calm down soon. 

Hi ,

Sorry to hear that you have a bit of swelling after the treatment, and I hope it subsides soon.  My first two sessions have gone fine - each took only a few minutes, and I didn’t feel anything either during the procedure or afterwards.  My treatment is to the chest wall, which looks the same as it did before.  The only problem I have had is that my treatment tonight was 40 minutes later than scheduled due to a machine having broken down, and when it finished at almost 7pm I found I was locked into the radiotherapy unit and couldn’t get out.  Thankfully I was rescued by a kind cleaner who used her pass to get me through several doors to an exit, and I just managed to catch my train home by the skin of my teeth! 

I hope that your next few sessions go well, and that there is no more swelling.  Take care.

Blackcat20  xx

Hi Blackcat20,

I’m glad your radiotherapy is going well but blimey that must have been a shock when you realised you were locked in! I’m glad you found a kind cleaner to let you out and that you got your train. That would have been an added stress you just don’t need when going through treatment.

Day 3 went fine, the swelling has gone down and apparently can fluctuate during and after treatment. I hope your sessions remain on time so there is no locking in again.

xx

My boob got a bit swollen after the first few treatments too. It's 4 weeks since my last session and I think it's a bit 'saggier' than before...maybe I'm imagining it. The burn at the end of my lymph node scar has finally dried up...it was a bit of a slow process...and I'm trying to get more active again. I resumed my work on Monday but have 4 weeks accrued annual leave so not actually back until 3rd April, but at least I'm back to full pay.

Best wishes to all receiving rads...it flew by for me x

Hi all. 
I’m new to the group. I finished my radiotherapy last week following a lumpectomy and node biopsy. I am big boobed and have been quite swollen and sore. Culminating only a blister in the crease under my boob. My issue is what to wear. Bras are rubbing and hanging loose is painful. The pj bra tops I wore post surgery also not working for me. I’m a bit fed up.