Hi I am new to the group and was diagnosed in May I had a partial mastectomy on the 21st July I have been told I will need radiotherapy but may also require chemotherapy won't know until Thursday really don't know what to expect from the treatment, any info gratefully received thanks Shaz
Hi ShazC243,
Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer. With radiotherapy you will have a meeting with a Radiation oncologist about four to six week after your operation and they will go through what happens when you have radiotherapy. About a week or two later you will have what they call a planning CT scan so that they know the correct position to put you in while receiving radiotherapy and your skin will be marked with about three little tattoos so they know where to direct the beams. It doesn't take long about 15 or 20 minutes. The first time you have radiotherapy will take the longest as they take ex-rays so that they can make sure that they are hitting the right spot. When you go into the radiotherapy room you will be asked to lie down on a scan bed the radiologist will then line you up according to the tattoos so that they hit the right spot. The radiotherapy machine will be above your head and will move around your body giving short blasts of radiation. While you are having the radiation the radiologist will step outside the room and will talk you through things using an intercom. The whole thing will take about 20 minutes. You will have between 5 and 15 sessions of radiotherapy depending on your hospital trust. They may also pipe music into the room to help you to relax.
Wishing you the best of luck with your appointment on Thursday and with your rad3iotherapy.
Best wishes
Daisy53
