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I finished my radiation 2 weeks ago but because of a very sore dark patch below my arm, I thought I had better see the Tissue Viability Practitioner today. Turns out my skin is breaking down across quite a large area - not just the palm-sized patch that was stinging to the touch. I had assumed all the other red bits and burgundy bits and sore bits were normal and just to be lived with at this stage, but when she ran a finger across my chest, the skin just came away like dusty little grey specks. I had expected to see white peeling like sunburn as the indicator of the skin breaking down, but this is quite different. I suppose when you've never had an "injury" quite like it to compare it to, you don't know how bad is bad!
Anyhoo, now my chest and underarm are covered in a new smelly goo (hydrogel, or a name like that) and I'm covered from my cleavage (well, it's a half-a-cleavage these days) to the side of my back with two layers of intriguing dressings. And I've a prescription for my GP to provide more.
What amused me is when the Tissue Practitioner brought out a crop top for me to put on in order to hold all the wound pad stuff in place, I mentioned that I don't have much luck getting crop tops to fit because I'm a bit hefty. And she said: "This will fit you. It's really stretchy. We make them by cutting the gusset out of surgical knickers!" 
I'm still chuckling about it now. Ingenious!
So a lesson learned: if you're told to report back after your rads if your skin shows signs of breaking down, "breaking down" might not look like you think it would look. If in doubt, ask them to describe it. I probably should have returned to them well before the patch of skin started stinging, since it appears to have just been the bit of skin in the lead in the race to fall apart, and lots more skin was already in need of potions other than Flamigel and Q.V. Lotion. Whoops. Onwards and upwards.
We are all waiting for the invite
Well I’m done ! 3 weeks of radio therapy !
Feel a bit itchy but taking antihistamine , piling on the cream and hoping for the f…. best quite frankly .
Thank you for all the messages of support . What a help all you you have been .
Feel worn out but at least that race has been run .
Good night folks.
Lots of love
Penelope xxx
