Hello everyone,
I'm Steph from the Community team, I hope you don't mind me posting here.
We've been asked to create a new thread for radiotherapy discussions this April, as the existing threads were getting a little long.
Please do let us know if you have any other threads you think would be useful to link here.
Hi All,
Have been reading the thread as due to start the radiotherapy stage of my treatment in the next few weeks, having completed chemo & surgery. Nice to see some familiar names and hear you are getting on ok & PatsyP2
My oncologist has given me the choice of the 5 intense sessions or the spread of 15.
Reading through, I can see a couple of you have/are doing the 5 intense and the side effects do not appear to be any different to those on the 15...My biggest concern is the tiredness. I’m only just starting to get my pre chemo energy levels back. Maybe the intense 5 may be the way to go and just get it out of the way!
Cream to help with the ‘sunburn’ hasn’t been mentioned to me yet so I’ll definitely ask about that. I’ll also have to master the breath hold technique.
Thank you ladies
Hi Daydreamer
I had the 5 day intense, and also had to do the breath holding. They give you lots of practice and don' start until you're comfortable with it. I would say make sure you feel comfortable in the way you're laying on the table. Nothing worse trying to hold your breath and wanting to fidget. The first day I felt like I'd been hit by a bus and slept for hours but after that my tiredness has been what I would class as fairly normal. If you're able to sleep when you need to I found it better than trying to last until bedtime. Twelve years ago I had radiotherapy over several months and I think I was more tired for a prolonged time. I have very sensitive skin and found the 15 sessions were much worse than this time.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
I don't think I have the energy any longer to do that, I quite happy blending and giving it away. I'll definitely be blending large amounts and keeping it to hand as an after sun oil.
Thanks Pixdee, that’s really helpful. I also have sensitive/eczema prone skin so interesting to read your experiences of that too.
Thank you
I did the intense 5 days last week and am doing the booster this week. I've been completely fine - working a full day every day before going off for radiotherapy. I finished chemo in January so have decent energy levels now, though I'm not expecting them to return to pre-chemo levels for many months. I have not noticed my energy levels any worse from radiotherapy. I would have thought the 15 days would be more tiring due to the additional travelling.
For the cream, I was told by the radiologists that applying cream makes zero difference to whether you will have a skin reaction, but obviously it is quite nice to keep it moisturised. I have been using aveeno twice a day anyway, but haven't had a skin reaction. Slightly red straight after treatment but that fades.
Thanks Beatthebreast. That’s also very helpful reading your experience, and yes regarding additional travel, I hadn’t considered that and my radiotherapy unit is about a 40min drive. Definitely leaning more towards the 5 day intense.
Thank you
Hi daydreamer.. yes I would also recommend the shorter 5 days, less travel time and less contact with hospital. Covid is still a very real risk. My hospital advices against any cream. So I’m in a real dilemma. I have used aveena, but have noticed a small rash this morning, so no doubt they will be cross that I have gone against their advice. It’s hard to know what to do with so much conflciting advice.
Morning
It’s difficult to know what to do for the best. I had quite a severe reaction to Aveeno and Flamigel cream. My radiotherapy team gave mixed messages. One said I must use the Flamigel because it was healing the skin. Another said it’s only moisturiser so doesn’t matter what I use as long as it’s unfragranced. I have quite a lot a scars as I also had a mammoplasty and the rash was very sore on those areas and stung a lot with Flamigel.
My feeling is to use what works for you and what your instincts tell you. I ended up using natural essential oils and the results have been amazing, but of course it may not suit everyone.
Good luck
Dee
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