Radiotherapy effects

Hi

Welcome to the group and congratulations on getting through step 1 (the surgery).  I think we can all understand where you are coming from with your words.  I am quite down to earth and just 'get on with things' and I was surprised with how much it affected me.  I think your world tips upside down when you get told you have cancer and it takes time to right itself to a new normal world. 

I was diagnosed just under 3 years ago and it was about 2.5 years before I stopped waking up and thinking about it every day. The old adage is so very true - time.  Whether they caught it early (like you and me) it doesn't seem to stop your mind going into overdrive. 

I think the best way to deal with things now for you is to take one day at a time.  Radiotherapy is step 2 (I suspect that as you had an operation then radiotherapy, that you are ER+ as you haven't mentioned chemo.), so step 3 will be the tablets for 5(+) years and your annual mammogram.

With regards to radiotherapy - drink plenty and use your creams to avoid radio burns.  Drinking is key to avoid radiotherapy fatigue - in my opinion - and they do advise to drink lots. 

There is a radiotherapy thread on here where others are currently going through it too, so you may want to have a chat with others on there too.

Kindest wishes,

Hi,

I had a mastectomy followed by radiotherapy and I'm now on Femara as my BC was Hormone positive, it will be 2 years at the end of July. I have found it quite a struggle, when I received my diagnosis I was in complete turmoil mentally and I felt I couldn't cope, I struggled to sleep and would lay awake planning my own funeral, I felt stuck like this for some time and couldn't see my way out of the despair.  I have moved forward but I still get days when I feel quite panicky regarding the cancer returning or cancer cells lurking somewhere in my body.   Like you I've never worried about anything as much as this in my life but, then I've never had to face my own mortality before, so theirs no wonder.  All I can say is you will move forward in time, I find walking really helps to clear the mind and posting on this site has been such a positive experience for me, as people on here understand how difficult a cancer diagnosis is and the subsequent treatment that follows. 

Best Wishes. 

Hi yes I'm going through some of that you went through. Its hard going sometimes when the worry takes over the rational thinking. Its nice to hear you're further down the line and okay. At the moment I do take one day at a time as I don't feel like planning ahead as I can't really cope with it. I'm looking forward to radiotherapy finishing this week. It will be a step further forward. I was put on medication as my first booked op was cancelled due to covid just as I was going to theatre. My consultant managed to put me in three weeks later for which I will be forever grateful so my surgery is all done. I keep trying to think I'm lucky as I found it at early stage though sometimes that doesn't seem to matter with how you feel its  cancer all the same ! Best wishes to you. 

Hi thanks for the advice. I know what you mean with the mind working overtime. Mine is at the moment and I'm hoping this will settle as time moves on. No chemo for me . I'm lucky that way so I'm using it as a positive! I'm already on meds due to my first op being cancelled due to covid . they put me straight onto the tablet and managed to do the op three weeks later. I finish radiotherapy this week then there's nothing until Sept when I have a check up with the oncologist. That seems a long way off ! Best wishes to you