Radiotherapy concerns

1. Hiya hope your feeling ok. I had a mastectomy just over 2 weeks ago. I have appointment tomorrow with surgeon  it had telephone appointment with oncologist.  All along I have been told I would probably have radiotherapy except by one registra months ago who said if I had a mastectomy I wouldn't  need chemo??!! Anyway I asked the questions and I think it seems they base the decision on the size of your tumour and also if they find any dcis which they did with me. I've had 3 wide local excisions and finally a mastectomy and 6 lots of chemo. She said given the treatment I have had radiotherapy would be a sensible addition.
2. She said it would be discussed further and I will be referred to radiotherapist and it could be anywhere between 5 and 15 sessions again taking all the history into account and is daily. Hope this helps  xx

I had my radiotherapy planning meeting last week and will have 5 sessions, starting mid-May.

Hi

Most people have between 5 and 20 treatments.

The 5 treatment prescription is for early stage breast cancer and has come into general practice in 2020 when the results of a clinical trial called Fast Forward found that the 5 treatment accelerated prescription was equivalent to 15 treatments in early breast cancer. 
if you have to have your nodes treated you will get 15 to 20 treatments. Your clinical oncologist will decide on the best treatment for you based on your age,histology and tumour size.

10 to 15 years ago the normal treatment was 15 to 20 treatments.

When I started my radiotherapy training back in the days of the dinosaurs the norm was 25 to 30 treatments so things are improving.

Hope all goes well 

The practicalities of radiotherapy once your team have decided how many treatments you need (5-20 depending). First you need a planning CT for positioning and they make three little black marks on your skin - one of each side and one off centre to line you up each time. When you go for your treatment the first couple of sessions take longer as they take further images to make sure you are lined up well. Depending on how many radiotherapy sessions you have, you may need further routine imaging. The radiotherapy team were all lovely and very gentle.

On treatment days you lie down and put your arms above your head in comfortable padded arm supports. The team then move you very gently in to the right position - it seems strange that such small readjustments make such a difference, but they are really careful to get your body in to exactly the right position each time. That can take ten or fifteen minutes. The treatment itself is only 5 minutes and you do not feel anything at the time it is happening.

It is helpful to moisturise your skin front, arm pit (if you need nodes treating) and your back (exit radiation) a day or two before you start and keep going until 2-4 weeks after treatment - I used aveeno, but you could use any other unscented moisturiser. I used an unscented moisturising soap substitute called cetaphil in the shower too, but there are others you could pick. It really helps with any dryness/itching as a result of the treatment.

Also there are exercises to stretch you shoulder if you are having treatment to your armpit. I used the youtube video from the videos at Christie's hospital in Manchester. Its just aimed at stretching the muscles around your shoulder 3 times a day to help with the inflammation and stiffness from the treatment. It has been working really well for me. As the shoulder can get stiff for some time afterwards, I imagine myself stretching my shoulder out regularly over the coming months.

The side effects peak at 2 weeks and thereafter improve. Some people feel very tired with their treatment and take 6 weeks or so to feel back to their normal selves. I hope your treatment goes really well for you too xx

Hi

Thanks for taking the time to write such a great explanation but did you mean to tag someone else ?

My treatment is done and dusted and I was also a radiotherapy radiographer for many many years!

It really is a great explanation though…. I hope the person it was meant for gets to see it as it will help lots of people.

it might be worth posting it on the radiotherapy thread.

Thanks again

Not really, other than that your answers are so informed and I thought you might have something to add to help Crystal tipps x

Have just completed my 15 sessions Radiotherapy which have had surprisingly little side effects-my skin is pink but have moisturised constantly(I also tan quite easily anyway)

Interested in comment about shoulder exercises will look at that.My shoulder does ache and I use a wheat bag in the evening if it gets bad.

My 1st experience of radiotherapy was 14 years ago and I had 30 treatments so this was so much better &the staff are lovely 

so glad it is going well for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly1t2IFL2Sw

This is the radiotherapy video I watched. I have been told that it can take a long time for the risk of stiffness to completely go away. I used these exercises and they have been really simple to do each day.