I have just received date for my radiotherapy planning session and just wondered how long people had to wait after this to start the treatment sessions! I know it will probably vary for everyone.
Hi , as you’ve said it probably varies from place to place but in my case I was given the dates at the planning meeting and started within the week. It might have been sooner but New Year got in the way! See what others say but I’d guess it’s usually very soon after. I’m guessing you just want it all over and done with? And difficult not knowing exact dates if you’re having to arrange time off work. Good luck with it all, Hfxx
HappyFeet1 xx
Don’t be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. – Hopi
I’m an ex radiotherapy radiographer. It usually takes one to two weeks the prepare your radiotherapy plan after your initial planning session. The area to be treated is defined by the oncologist , then the dosimetrist calculates the best plan for you. This is checked by another dosimetrist and signed off by the doctor then is double checked again by two radiographers before you can start treatment.
This takes a week to 10 days depending on the complexity of your case
The hospital I worked in gave the patient all their appointments at the planning session but you will definitely get your appointments in your first day.
Thank you for your reply. When I spoke to the radiologist the other day she said it would probably be a few weeks after the planning session so I’m really not sure when to expect it. I have my session next Tuesday so hopefully I will have more idea then. She said I’d have to have breathing practice as I need to breath in during treatment due to it being my left breast. Hopefully this will be easier to do than it sounds.
thank you for your reply. I am hoping to go back to work for a while before treatment starts as I’m so bored now as been off since Easter. Just be few hours to try and get some normality. I’ll find out more at my appointment Tuesday
You will be having DIBH or deep inspiration breath hold so taking a deep breath in moves your breast away from the heart. you could practice at home holding your breath for 10 to 15 seconds but lying flat .
just to add sometimes even if you are left sided there is no benefit to dibh because of your anatomy so don’t be worried if they decide against it
I am writing this in day surgery myself having just had a lumpectomy this morning.
Thank you. I think that’s how long I’ll be looking at then. They said I’d get a list of my appointments then too. How did you find radiotherapy? The actual procedure and the side effects?
I had chemo first and then operation and then lumpectomy, so I found rads a breeze compared to chemo. I was tired but I was still pretty tired from chemo plus I was working full time during rads so the travelling each day and trying to fit in a full day at work too was bound to make me tired.
I was lucky that I didn't have much of a skin reaction, just a bit of redness and heat. The radiation peaks 2 weeks after treatment so I was still feeling a bit sensitive then. I still use aveeno every day to moisturise and I finished a couple of months ago. That won't stop you having a skin reaction, but it will help things drying up to stop any itching.
The procedure itself doesn't take long. I had whole breast for 5 days and boost for 5 days. The whole breast was probably 5 mins of so actual treatment and the boost a couple of mins. They spend a bit of time lining you up so your whole time is probably about 15 mins.
Make sure you are doing your exercises so that you can lift your arms over your head. My range of movement was good by the time I had rads but I really stiffened up again during treatment so keep them up!
Sorry to hear that you have had to go through such an ordeal. Hope you are starting to feel better. Good that you managed to carry on working despite all you were dealing with and going through.
I’m hoping to work a bit still. Going back until treatment starts and I’ve asked for later session times just in case. Thank you for the information and advice. I must invest in some cream.
