Radiotherapy starting soon

Hello. I had 15sessions too. I had to travel 30 mins but left home an hour before due to traffic and parking. I was ok to drive myself to and fro although got tired towards end as I had pm appointments and they often did not run to time so I could be waiting 2 hrs on top of leaving home. My reasoning is that my cancer was localised to breast, I had sentinel  nodes removed but were clear so rads and no chemo needed.

There is a separate radiotherapy group which is full of handy hints. Some hospitals do a 5 day intensive course but the output is the same as 15 sessions. it just depends on the hospital and what they do. I hope that Exraygirl doesn't mind me tagging her in but this lady is an ex radiographer who has been very helpful in also answering questions if you have any. May be worth posting on rads thread if you have questions. X

• Thank you Tired Minion. Pretty new to the site so will have a look at your suggestions.
• xxxx

Good luck with the radiotherapy, as Tired Minionsays you should be fine to drive, I did too. You might get tired towards the end but it was ok x

Thank you Anna12345 xx

Hi

The 15 treatment v 5 treatment decision is made by the oncologist depending on the type of breast cancer, stage ,grade ,menopausal status , age of the patient and nodal status.Also some oncologists have a preference for 15 treatments as it is what they are used to.

As you will read on here there are so many different types of cancer so it’s not a one size fits all approach.

The 5 treatment regime was introduced in the UK in March 2020 when the results of a 5 year study on early breast cancer were published….just in time for the pandemic.

Your 3 weeks will fly by.Moisturise regularly and drink lots of fluid and you will be fine.

Most people are fine driving themselves but you may get tired.Radiotherapy affects people differently so it’s worth having a plan b if you do feel too tired to drive.

I am happy to try and answer any questions you have but as tired minion said there is lots of information on the radiotherapy thread.

I hope all goes well

x

Hi

No I don’t mind you tagging mr.Happy to help.

Hope you are doing ok x

Thank you, this is very helpful

You are welcome 

Hope all goes well

ExraygirlYou posted in the wee small hours. Hope you getting some rest. Thanks for asking. I'm just plodding on. Its nearly 4 months since I finished rads. Still got puffy armpit although I can't feel the cording as much I suspect its still there but maybe less. Trying to get on with life but its hard going x

Hi Ladyrovermuppet, great advice from other folk here, just wanted to add a welcome hug and also that I had the same regime 3 years ago. Mine was a similar distance. I drove myself for most of the first 2 weeks but asked friends in advance to volunteer to drive me for the last week in case I was struggling by then. I’m lucky that enough of my friends were part time or retired, so it worked out well. I’m not usually good at asking for support but have tried to change the habit of a lifetime! Just to reassure you though, I definitely could have driven myself for the full 3 weeks, it was just a nice way to end the sessions. I took my drivers for a coffee before or after, depending on timing and their other commitments. Made it a bit of a social event, easier than now of course as this was pre Covid. 

Good luck with it all, keep posting and let us know how it goes. Love and hugs, HFxx