Starting radiotherapy next week

Good luck with that Celine, make sure to let us know how youre getting on with it. I know it will be hard, but youre on the last leg of your journey

Hi Celine
I did not have the radiotherapy so cannot really help. I think some of the girls here had it at St. Lukes and stayed in lovely accom. on site. Dont know about other hosp.I have heard the actual procedure only takes a few mins, however if you're travelling a long distance it can make you tired, as it's 5 days a week.
Sorry I cannot be of more help but I will be thinking about you and good luck.
Evelyn x

Hi there, I'm just finishing RT on Fri after 35 sessions. Ok for me didn't notice tiredness until after a couple of weeks and at that sometimes more than others, some days totally grand, others a bit zonked but only a few times did I go back to bed in the afternoon, others bed as normal and great night's sleep. It is nothing like chemo fatigue so don't worry at all. I just did a weekend Kayak course & was delighted with myself. Do keep yourself eating healthily and get exercise, I swear its getting out and about keeps things working well. Going in ev. day will become a pain in bum, esp. trying to plan things around awkward apt times - but do tell them which you prefer, am or pm etc. and any time you cannot do they will really try to work with your prefs so that was great. Ok the scene .. you get on a 'bed'(without your top but all other clothes on!) its like a steel plate slightly angled like a sun chair to keep your back up slightly - lie on it with arms extended above your head in arm rests - they will move your body slightly this way and that ev. time to make sure that tatoo lines up on the machine, machine itself is a large circle of steel with glass plate on it which pivots over your body to give RT to the left side and then the right. The machine is only giving RT for about 1 minute on each side so its really lining up the tattoos that takes a bit of time.. like maybe 5-10 mins .. you feel nothing, machine buzzes a bit and you have to lie really still, its not the comfiest but its def. not the worst either..its steel not feathers ! What else.. keep putting e45 cream on 3 times a day, use crystal underarm deo they suggest & you'll be fine.. i have only 3 left and skin is red under boob like sunburn but not at all sore.. also under arm where lymphs removed is patch of red - am putting on aloe vera 99.9 % - skin not broken just v. red but not sore. I got whole breast RTd then booster for the last week and half to the tumor site. So in brief RT walk in park .. only pain in bum driving there ev. day !

Thanks so much for the advice. I cant wait to have it over with, just seems like such a long time. Michelle, so impressed you went on a kayak course, wow. I havent been sleeping well thinking about radio so I've been zonked every day this week. Lots of tv for the kids, they are well happy!
Ok so bring it on.....
Celine

Hi Celine
Good luck with the radiotherapy, I know you will be fine because like the rest of us here you are a strong woman.
keep in touch if you're not too tired.
Evelyn x x

Hi Celine,

I hope your radiotherapy goes well for you. I has 33 treatments and it flew by. Once you have the first session you will know what to expect and it gets easier as you get used to the positioning. It really is very quick. I found my arms got a bit achey holding them above my head but the skin redness was not as bad as I expected. I used aloe vera initially then as got drier aqueous cream and for a few days when red a steroid cream, all as advised by the radiotherapy staff. I had afternoon sessions so I could have a lie in in the mornings and that helped. Getting there and back is time consuming but I did not get as tired as expected.

All the best
A x