Radiotherapy

Ah, Brighton.  Love the sea side.  This is my local view.  

Hi don't worry about breath hold, I was at my first scan on Wednesday at the Beatson in Glasgow, & the nurses give you loads of practice, they were very patient.

Thank that is reassuring, mine is later this month. I do have to do the breath holding but it's not a problem. I've been practicing. X

How long does it remain sore after treatment finishes? I'm only having 5. Read about the potential effect on lung. X

I was a bit sore and a warm feeling, also a bit itchy for about 1 1|2 weeks after the last one.  I had a small patch of burn, like sun burn on the collar bone but they gave me hydrocortisone cream to use for 5 days and it healed with no problems.  I think the two most important things to do after is to moisturise twice daily and exercise the arm and shoulder.  These days they have it down to a fine art and the breath hold will avoid the lungs and heart as much as possible so don’t let this worry you.  You say you having five.  Does than mean they are more concentrated than the usual fifteen?  My oncologist told me that they now sometimes go the same amount of treatment in five sessions but my hospital still delivers in fifteen.  It might be an idea for you to ask on here if anyone had 5 instead of 15.  They will give you a better idea of side effects, if any.  Not everyone has the same side effects.  I was lucky and sailed through it.  Hopefully you will be the same.  I wish you all the best with your RT, x

Sabrina22 - By the way, I’m still moisturising and exercising 4 weeks after and I did the same throughout my Radio Therapy.  I will continue until the tight feeling goes.  I had a lot of lost skin due because of MRSA from the previous op so during the Mastectomy they had to pull skin from and above and below to get the operation site to close.  I believe that’s why my chest wall feels tight, so doubt this will apply to you.  Take care Mx

Hi Sabrina22,

Everyone is different, my first 2 weeks after were a breeze, but I've suffered since and had to have weekly nurse appointments to manage a burn.

But this last week has been so much better and I can finally wear a bra again. 

Just listen to advice from your team & don't be afraid to ask for help if you're not sure on anything

Good luck x

I should say, I had 5 not 15, my Oncologist said they'd just finished trials on the effectiveness when Covid started and they've stuck with it. 

I had to travel 1 1/2 hours to treatment (one way) so I'm glad it was just 5 sessions

Thank you. My knee is playing up, was already sore but worse in the last few days. Only been on Leterazole since Thursday, CT scan on Friday and being in the same position all that time might have h it's effect. I usually try to carry on regardless, my son needs me to be like this. Being Autistic he doesn't make any allowances. Warrior women unite is my dance teachers mantra. I won't let this ..er beat me.

I feel for you and totally understand how your son will not be able to rationalise what’s going on with you.  I hope you have outside help and from someone who your son is comfortable with.  The extra sureness with your knee I feel with be the Letrozole.  I had bone stiffness at the beginning of taking it but it did ease sn affiliation lot over the coming weeks.  I’m now left with hip stiffness if I sit too long but clears after a few steps. Hopefully this will be the case with your knee.   I found Letrozole targeted the weakest joint and mine was my left hip, but as I said, it was temporary.  If it were me I would take paracetamol or similar before your scan. Hope everything goes well for you. X