question for anyone who has completed radiotherapy

Oh, and just to add, my site name refers to my first cancer, this one is my 2nd, separate cancer diagnosis this year.  I never do anything by half!!  Am feeling well from the first cancer now, but won't get the all clear until October.  Am choosing to believe I am cured and looking forward to getting back to work and putting this all behind me after my next treatment

I lived a 5 minute drive and had 15 sessions.  I felt quite well but 90 minutes one way for 12 miles seems long.  I know there were ladies staying Monday - Friday at hospital as too far for them to travel.  

Thanks Carol.  If I drove I think would be about 30 mins door to door, but getting 2 different buses, with waiting time in between takes it to the 90 min mark.  I will see if anyone else replies who had further to travel, for my last treatment I got transport provided by a charity, and was grateful for it, but am assuming with this one my mobility should be fine, so don't want to tie that up when someone else could use it.  

Congratulations on your outcome!! Are you discharged now? Rx

Have you considered doing half & half.  So if there is a park & ride or somewhere to park nearby for second bus journey it might be easier.  How many sessions are you having ?  As I lived so local I had early mornings for the 3 weeks as did the ladies who stayed on site.  I was usually 7.30 - 8.30am.  Some days I walked home - took about 20-30 minutes.   The radiotherapy sessions are 10 minutes maximum.  So quick.  

Yes I'm discharged now.  Not sure I'm happy about TBH!

No nothing like that, but if you could walk home after, am thinking I should be ok, most I will have is a walk through town between bus stops.  I don't want to wish my life, but I think i will be relieved when and if 5 years comes around.

I don't know how much treatment I will need, am told it could be 5 or 15 sessions, am hoping for 5, so it will probably be 15!!  I don't know why I need radiottherapy on top of surgery and hormone suppressants.  I was told I would start 4-6 weeks after surgery, but it's gone 4 weeks since surgery, and I haven't even seen the oncologist yet.  I chased it up yesterday because I was told there is an opitimum window for treatment, how long did you have between yours?

I was recalled from my first routine mammogram in May 2015.  Had biopsy results June 3rd.  The surgery was mid July.  Radiotherapy was last 3 weeks of  September.  No hormone tablets for me as wasn't hormone related.

Hi Beyond terrified

Sorry to hear your predicament etc

I had lumpectomy in March, postponed from January because I had a fall a couple of days before (later discovered I'd broken 2 ribs !!!  Glad I didn't know at the time ;)   Then, 2nd surgery as invasive cells found very close to the border of the tissue so also SLNB - fortunately all clear.

Then, 15 sessions Radiotherapy, which was approx 60 mile round trip each day but, yes, I drove myself apart from the last two days coz I was getting tired.  I had pre-arranged lifts from friends / church aquaintances so was able to call on them, relatively easily, the last couple of days

Do you have friends, family or acquaintances from a club / church etc?  Most people loved to be asked to help, even if only one day a week etc.

Going by public transport might suit you.  You can 'relax' en route, perhaps, taking plenty 'mp3 player, book, knitting/crochet etc to help you while away the time.  I think it would depend on how you cope with such journeys, the route, walking distances between buses etc.

You will be entitled to free hospital transport and might well be someone who is happy to drive you each day.  I think it would be worth looking into.  At least, once picked up, you could relax/snooze in the car/vehicle, there and back.  I would suggest contacting MacMillan and ask about this

I wish you the best of luck

Thanks for that, I will see how many sessions i have and then see how i get on and then maybe speak to Macmillan

Hi, I had to travel for my radiotherapy and don't drive either. My local hospital works with a local cancer charity that provided a minibus to transport cancer patients having radiotherapy. Maybe you could ask the breast care nurse if anything like this is available for you. Good luck with everything. 

I used to get the tube to and from mine. By the last week of four I was really really tired, but I got a TfL badge that said 'please offer me a seat' and I was ok as long as I could sit. But that was pre-COVID - I don't think I would now. Do they have patient transport options?