Radiotherapy..what to expect?

You will have a planning session for radiotherapy in the unit, they will give you run down of how they dork.  If like me you have large breasts they will make a mould to hold them in place.  Quite a pleasant experience having warm plaster placed over them!  It's over 5 years ago for me but I had a measuring up scan and 3 tiny tattoo dots so they lined me up each session.  

I had 15 sessions.  They gave me a cape to wear for 15 sessions.  I lived near by so I turned up wearing it under my coat to save changing.  Told to moisturise in readiness for RT starting so used E45 cream.  They then recommended adding aloe Vera after each session to cool skin - keep in fridge.    The actual treatment takes less than 10 minutes and most of that is lining you up.  You lie there, listen to music, look at pictures on ceiling while machine moves over you.  

They should tell you no deodorant on affected side, no scented shower gel.  Shower before session if possible, plain water fine.  Cream after session.  Drink plenty of water and listen to body and rest if you feel tired.  

Don't  under wired bras for duration and until skin fully restored even if it looks normal, treat as if sunburnt.  I bought post surgery bras as so soft inside - you can wear with boobs !  Expose to air if you can - in privacy of home obviously 

Centre was about 20 minute walk from my house and some sessions I walked there if I felt in mood and hubby picked me up afterwards.  

There is a radiotherapy thread you might like to join,

RT tips

RT monthly thread

Thanks for that.

Hi I completed my RT treatment in February. I had the shortened 5 day course with higher daily doses. 

The team at the hospital were fabulous and so helpful. I'm sure it comes with the job description so ask as many questions as you feel you need to.

My advice is to cream until you can cream no more. No such thing as over creaming. I used Aveeno and bought it on Amazon. I did buy Aloe Vera and put it in the fridge but never used it. Make sure you cream as far around your side as you can reach. I didn't go quite far enough and ended up with a reaction which took a few weeks to clear. Al  fine now though. 

Good luck Debs x

Hi debs good to hear you are on the other side. I have CT scan next Friday and then another appointment on following Monday.. have you any ideas what that is for? What was the time frame for yiu then starting radiotherapy.? 

Hi Cyprusfav  I am starting radiotherapy on 6 April. Off for my planning scan today and I have a meeting scheduled with the radiographers before the scan. As far as I know I won't have any other appointments before the first day of radiotherapy. Someone else may know why you have a meeting after the scan - different hospitals, different procedures! Or you could ask your BCN - I am sure they will be able to explain.

Thanks for that, I spoke with them today and they said second appointment was a just in case I can’t do the breathing correctly and they need to see me again. So they will probably cancel it. Start radiotherapy on 19/4. How did your planning meeting go?

are you tamoxifen? I’m day 4 and really struggling with it. 

Hi. 

      I had radiotherapy the fast forward  5 day. I bought R1 R2 cream as recommended by some. Also got aveeno cream. The planning scan was the longest as they have to line you up and tattoo you with x3 black dots to line you up. You have to lay down with your hands above your head. The main issue for me was waiting in the waiting room and then you feel quite exposed lying for 10-15 minutes naked from the waist up which is very exposing. The radiographers couldn’t have been nicer. I suppose compared to the other treatments surgery chemo it’s a bit more clinical. Think having being diagnosed with cancer makes such a psychological impact. My radiotherapy went well just applied cream x3 times a day and tried to drink lots of water. Unfortunately I did get red sunburnt looking skin after about 5-6 weeks. I phoned my radiotherapy department for advice they have a helpline and also phone you up after treatment to see if you have any problems. I applied some hydrotisone cream which helped. It took about 2-3 weeks to clear up. It wasn’t painful more irritating. My skin is great now but I still moisturise twice a day. Good luck with your radiotherapy. 

Thanks grunchy, thats really helpful. I’m on tamoxifen.. just started and having terrible side effects. Do you take them? 

Hi Cyprusfav, 

                     My breast cancer is HER2 positive so I got diagnosed Oct 2019. Have had chemo x3 surgery chemo radiotherapy and now on 14 cycles of kadcyla chemo treatment which will finish June 2021. Then to go on tamoxifen after that. Got a friend on tamoxifen who’s on tamoxifen her side effects are bad. She feels so tired and achy and terrible hot flushes she’s 44 I’m 47. Don’t know if a lot of side effects are the early menopause?. Don’t know if different brands make a difference something to ask. Also you don’t know if it’s excaverbated due to the accumulation of treatment. Sorry you feel so rubbish. X

Great advice from Grogg  I wasn’t prepared for my skin to break down after the radiotherapy for about 2 weeks. The radiotherapy skin specialist gave me lots of dressings and gel and qv cream and also a body stocking to hold it all on .  I don’t think everyone’s skin breaks down like mine did. But it would have been nice to be prepared. My Oncologist also gave me Flamazine which helped loads. All healed and good now though  Good luck