Radiotherapy

Hi Summer, I started my radiotherapy on Monday. I'm having 15 sessions. I've found it's been ok so far, the staff are kind and will answer my questions. I just got some pins and needles holding the bar for 15 minutes. It wasn't too cold in the room. They gave me a white piece of cloth to cover myself and although you were uncovered for a bit as they align you, they cover you up again when you get the treatment. 

I've had no pain and I'm moisturising afterwards. They prefer you don't put anything on your skin up to 2 hours before your RT treatment so it's soaked in. They say to drink water as that's good for the skin.

One practical tip is to bring a hoodie or dressing gown to wear once you've removed your top half of clothing in the changing room so you can quickly remove your layer in the treatment room.

 I hope it all goes well for you x

Thanks for supporting me with that

I hope you keep positively moving forward 

Hi there, good luck for tomorrow. I am starting mine too after 2 surgeries tomorrow and feeling a little nervous too ! Most people seem to be quite positive about it and it should be a breeze compared to other treatments hopefully  

Good luck to you too. I am sure we will both be thinking. Why were we nervous.  Sending lots of positive thoughts x

For me the worst part was the constant delays, I'd recommend taking a book or magazine with you or something else to pass the time.  You need to have a lot of patience!

I found counting the "zaps" helped me to feel calmer,  they did 3 from one angle and then 3 more from a different angle and then it was done.  This was the same each time.

My side effects were worse roughly 2 weeks after the treatment finished which was increasing fatigue,  not bad enough to stop me doing stuff but everything was an effort and I was very slow walking.

A few weeks after my chest area started to feel tight, almost felt bruised when I lay on that side at night but I have noticed recently that that has improved now (8 months after treatment)

Definitely easier than chemotherapy, but tiring and the daily hospital trips add to that.

Good luck, any questions feel free to ask x

Thanks packing a book now 

Thanks for all information good luck with your recovery 

Hey everybody is different but I had no problems with radiotherapy. I had 9 sessions, 5 full breast and 4 targeted at tumour site. Drove myself there and back every day, used my arm as normal. The only issue for me was the heat that I felt was radiating off me! I kept asking my husband if he could feel how hot I was but he couldn’t.

I’m now 5 months post radiotherapy and my breast is very lumpy and I swell up quite a lot but it’s not sore can be a bit uncomfortable now and then. Fatigue now and then but it is getting less and less. Just rest when you feel tired don’t try to push through it ( I did and I think that made the fatigue worse) 

good luck you’ll be fine 

Hi

Hope it went well. I would just add that you do need to drink plenty. I always took a bottle of water with me. Moisturise as much as you can, I did 4 times a day with flamigel rt, which you can buy online. I had no break outs, just mild redness which later became a tan colour. I got air to the affected area as much as possible. I didn’t feel tiredness at all although I was told I would. I found it to be the easiest of all treatments. 

Yeah day 2 done. Other than heat, I am more tired and pins and needless I am glad to say