Mid week start to radiotherapy

Hi

I've had radiotherapy previously (9yrs ago) and now about to have it again (other side this time).  It seems they don't do radiotherapy during weekends, only Mon - Fri.  Also if there is a Bank Holiday, as there will be on mine, then the number of sessions are made up at the end.  If you happen to miss a session, ie for a special event etc, then another session will get added to the end.

You're lucky to have the fewer number of sessions, ie + boosts.  The hospital I'm going to for Radiotherapy is still doing the 15 sessions, plus any boost.  I had 18 sessions (3 sessions were boost) 9 yrs ago.  I'd have preferred the 5 sessions (I think) but the nearest  hosptial, for me, would then be much more difficult to get to ;)

Hope this helps. Wishing you all the best ;)

Hi I had 5 fast forward sessions, split over 2 weeks in February. Initially I was a bit concerned, but pleased I had a weekend break. 

Thanks for that. It’s good to know other people have had split weeks too. Are you fully recovered now?

Hi Cyprusfav, my 15 sessions (2 years ago) started on a Wednesday and finished on a Tuesday. I think they just start you on the first available day and then you keep going till it’s done, with weekends off. I found I was glad of the breaks, both from the journeys and also from the having to be somewhere! Once it starts it seems to fly by. Good luck with it all. Love and hugs, HFxx

I just had my review yesterday and the consultant quoted  saying she thought I sailed through it - I had very minimum side effects. There was a delay in my treatment though, due to seeing if I needed Chemotherapy, so I used that time to get myself physically fit and exercised through treatment too. Although physically fit sometimes I think things can catch up with you emotionally though, so I would say be prepared for that.

TT50..Well done you! It must be wonderful to know you are all done. My treatment has been delayed too.. 12 weeks since surgery. Not ideal. Oncotype results (score 19) took a while to come back, but like you I don’t need chemo, so glad I waited. 

How long was your delay? Did you have a good score too? 

Mine was borderline and after a lot of research ( I mean weeks) and speaking with the consultant I chose against it, a lot of risks for a very low percentage in return (I do wonder if I made the right choice and if I'd had a more supportive partner would I have chosen this path) anyway that's the choice I made - I had a very small tumor, all margins and lymph nodes clear, I was told by the surgeon they were unsure about the benefits of chemotherapy and we wouldn't even be having this conversation if it was grade 2!

First radiotherapy session done today, man issue was the room was absolutely freezing. Taking bed socks tomorrow.

TT50 I’m sure you made the right decision. I went through a stage of wondering if I should have done chemotherapy, but for the 1.6% benefit for me felt the consultant was right to say side effects are not worth it. I think people forget about the long term side effects from chemotherapy as well. Are you all done and cancer free now? 

What was your score if you don’t mind me asking? 

One down 4 to go yay! My biggest issue was how was I meant to keep still when Barry White and Beyoncé were blasting out on the radio! Don’t forget to slap the cream on! The oncologist didn’t fill with confidence when she went on with how successful my surgery had been and how small the tumour was, then went on to say she’d like to offer me 6 rounds SIX I replied to which straight away said ok you can have 4 then! Then when I questioned her about everything she said yes you’re right! My score was 28! 

Hi Cyprus

I had 15 sessions (which included boosts) which started on a Tuesday which meant my last day was a Monday.

like TT50, I had a borderline Oncotype score (21) at the age of 49. My oncologist recommended Goserelin implants and Letrozole rather than chemo- I was all set to argue not to have chemo but it was never suggested!