Please help me. Radiotherapy doubts.

Hi there,

Sorry to hear that you are having doubts with radiotherapy and obviously causing you much anxiety. If it helps i am in my 40s I had radio in Feb on my left breast area and didn't do the deep inhalation technique purely because when i held my breath it was too inconsistent but they wrote it off quickly. I had the same thoughts as you so spoke to the department and they said it just means mapping is a bit more complex and at my age if they thought there was anymore risk they would persevere with me doing the deep inhalation technique. Yes that is normal to mark you for positioning. I hope this helps. XX

Hi Romance Writer,  I had radiotherapy on left breast, twenty sessions and didn't do the deep breathe technique either.  That was twelve years ago.  Good luck please have the radiotherapy.

Lee x

Hi, whilst I did do the breath holding technique, my oncologist did say that if I could not manage it (I have asthma), there really is only a very small risk. 

I’m worried about long term effects. Everywhere I read, it’s customary to do this to protect heart and lungs. I read if you are larger chested you need to do it which is why I’m panicked. 

Today is my first day but I feel like I’m setting myself up for doomsday. I don’t feel comfortable at all about it. 

I would have rather they gave me that choice but they haven’t. 

Hi Romance writer , I’m a bit late to pop in as you start today but just wanted to tag a lovely member here who has reassured folk in previous threads. Hope you don’t mind lesleyhelen . I think I remember that lesleyhelen couldn’t do the breath hold so they just adjusted the positioning to make sure the same result was achieved? The radiographers really do adjust things every time really painstakingly, to get the positioning just right, with or without the breath hold. More time is spent getting everything lined up accurately than the time the actual zapping takes. 
Hope they reassure you at the clinic, it’s horrible signing these disclosures because they have to list all the possible side effects. I have to just try to remember that most people won’t get them. Sending love and a big virtual hug, HFxx

Good morning Romance writer,  I had twenty sessions and didnt use this technique and I am a 36 F.  This was 12 years ago and I am still going.  Good luck today, you have got this.  Lee x

Thanks to HappyFeet1 for tagging me and yes, totally correct.

I couldn't do breathing technique (40D) large breasted enough to have 8cm removed from my left breast.  I had a damaged arm from a road accident when I was younger so they discounted it immediately.  

I was told not to worry (as someone else has said) it just means a bit more work for them.  I had 15 sessions and sometimes they took a bit more time positioning me as they couldn't just get me where they wanted me - I was more than happy with this!!

I did my own sort of breathe technique by just holding my breath a bit when I knew it was on - but I'm nearly 8 years down the line and absolutely no side effects.

Kindest wishes, Lesley

Thank you for this. I had my first session today. I was honest with the technicians and explained I was super nervous. They were very sympathetic and when it was over they even clapped and congratulated me when I walked out. I smiled and thanked them but inside my head was filled with worry and it will be there even years after this. They are pumping my body with high dose of radiation, this isn’t healthy. I’ll get through the 5 weeks. Then I start tamoxifen for 5 years. I feel like I’m a walking cancer bomb. But at the end of the day, I’m spending more time with my son because I realized that you just never know when your time is up…it can be sooner or it can be much later.