The long wait is almost over...

Hiya

I got marked up for radiotherapy finally today and am due to start on 28th Nov, which will take me right thru Christmas but I am just glad that after having it postponed for so long that I can finally complete what I hope will be the last phase of Project BC!!! I too would be interested in any advice that people have
Luv and lights
Sinéad x

Hi girls,

Lots of E45 even if you are not burning. RT just sucks all the moisture out of the skin. Lots of rest, take your time doing everything, you will get very tired on about 3rd week. Its a completely different type of tiredness than chemo but one thing for sure is it's a doddle compared to chemo. I found that a cream called Diprobase (water based, you get it in your local chemist) was very good when I burned - I had bad burn cause I had a thing called a "bolus" on me for my RT, I doubt very much if either of you will have this so hopefully you won't burn so badly. I had mine in new RT centre in Beaumont, radiotherapists, nurses & doctors just lovely & couldn't be more helpful.

Oops nearly forgot, remember to rub that cream into your back as well as your front, for every RT blast there's an entry point & also a corresponding exit point...I mean how could you not know that, I didn't & forgot about the back for the first few weeks....

Good luck & lets know how it goes. Any questions just post & I'll answer if I can.

Thanks a mil funkychick for the advice.Have been using e 45 for the past 3 months as I had Diep reconstruction at the same time as mastectomy so am well used to the regime. I am attending the new centre in Beaumont as well and you are so right, the staff are just amazing, make you feel so at ease and the building itself is fab. One question for you, the nurse said to me today not to use the e 45 lotion, just the cream. I have buckets of the pump lotion, do I really have to go now and buy the cream? I dont want to do anything that is going to make my skin worse but all this buying of creams is costing a fortune. ( i use bio oil as well for tummy scars)
Thanks for the tip re moisturising the back, I would never have thought of that! Also what shower gel did you use?
How tired did you get? Am only getting my mo jo back having gone through chemo( taxotere, carboplatin & lepatanib), mastectomy and immediate reconstruction, a terrible dose of MRSA, neuropathy in my arm and wounds that wouldnt heal because of the MRSA. I really hope the radium wont put me back to feeling like an 80 year old invalid especially as it will be over Christmas!!!!

Hi Shinners and Funkychick,

I had my "dummy run" today and found out I have to have 33 sessions..so will have to come back after Christmas for 3 days. I'm having my treatment in Whitfield Clinic in Waterford. I was lucky I didn't have to have chemo and my surgeries were quite minor...although there was a big discussion re a mastectomy but thankfully avoided that.

I have to say, the reality of it all has affected me this evening. I have been so positive throughout but lying on the bed today and seeing other people around all affected by cancer has made me realise that this is really a very "big deal" in my life but at the same time I realise how lucky I really am that it was detected so early and very treatable and how blessed I am to have such supportive family, friends, work colleagues and a fantastic boyfriend.

Thank you so much for the tips Funky chick. Will lash on the E45. I am wondering how tired I'll be...I'm studying Nutritional Therapy at the moment and wondering if I'll be too tired to do that. I guess, it's a very individual thing and I will just have to see how it goes.

Shinners, you poor thing, you seem to have been through the mill but you're on the last leg of it now. 2012 will be a fantastic year for you...indeed for us all!

Keep in touch on your progress.

Micheline.

Am sorry to hear you've had such a bad time with your surgery.

I think you need to use the cream cause it's much better, lotion is very thin consistancy. I have always had very bad eczema so never use any perfumed products anyway. Have always used E45. I use Aqueous & Silcocks base as shower gels\soaps so never have had the luxury of choice around that. Am very interested to hear you had your re-con with your mastectomy. I'd appreciate if you'd let me know how the skin is after the RT as I couldn't have my re-con as I had to have that bolus & they knew I'd burn pretty bad. Did you have your surgery in Beaumont? I am seeing plastic surgeon on 29Nov. I got pretty tired over the last 3 weeks of RT & it lasted for a couple of weeks after I finished. Some people say you can have that "fatigue" for months after but I think it's really because your body's been thru so much - chemo, surgery, RT & all the problems that come with the entire treatment. One thing I've learned is to be patient with myself & give myself time to do things instead of rushing around like a mad woman.

Am a happy camper now that it's all over with, just Herceptin & Tamoxifen to cope with now!!

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I went out and bought a big tub of e 45 cream today as opposed to lotion as it was on special offer in chemist. I had my reconstruction in Beaumont under Mr Nadeem Ajmal. He is an absolute gentleman, meticulous about his work, not a man of many words but you would trust him with your life. As soon as I had the problem with the drain site, he had me back in on the same day and operated that day to put another one back in and also he spotted a piece of skin that he was not happy with and was not going to wait around to see if it sorted itself so he did a small skin graft. The DIEP recon is not an easy one as you are looking at a tummy tuck ( and boy did he make mine very tight!!!) as well as the new boob so alot for your body to cope with in terms of healing, but although I am still having a few problems, I think it was well worth it. If you want to know more detail etc, pm me and we can hook up for a chat. Micheline, I have had teary days, actually today was one of them even though I went to the hairdressers for the first time since my diagnosis. I got a colour put in it which was really nice but it is just so short, it just made me really think about what I am going through and I know I should be very thankful that I am getting excellent treatment and the prognosis is good, I would just love a day with no pain or reminders but I am sure that will come in time. Anyway I am off to stuff my face with pizza.
Take care xxx

Hi M!
Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! Lash it on! Also a good idea to get a bit more water into yourself as the RT will dehydrate you a bit. I've 3 weeks RT down and I was so surprised at how the tiredness hit me - especially as my energy was so good during chemotherapy. If you can at all, trying to get half an hour exercise every day as it truly does help if you find yourself getting tired;-)

Hi girls. I finished r t during the summer. We were told not to put the cream on before the RT. Check with the nurses about it. yes you will get tired but it is a lot different than the chemo. Taking a bit of exercise helps. Good luck and you are all nearly finished . It is the best feeling the last day. I wanted to skip out of the hospital but knew the children would have killed me. ha ha.
sunflower

Happy New Year to everyone!

Well. it's done and dusted...33 sessions! Finished last Friday December 30th. I have to admit it was rather uneventful!

My skin became quite red around week 4 & 5. I was a bit itchy for which I took Zirtek (anti-histamine). I didn't have a bolus! Skin didn't break down...I had one spot under my arm that just looked like sunburn that was peeling.

I had no tiredness and feel in great form. I am convinced though that all of this "uneventfulness" is due to me taking MOR EPA fish oils and Vitamin D3 since September. They really help with the skin and my mood and energy levels. Also, I had been paying a lot more attention to my Nutrition and getting plenty of exercise before I started the sessions.

From session 26, they had only radiated the tumour site and not the whole breast...I really noticed a difference in my skin then...not as red, itchy or dry. Even though they said not to do anything for 2 weeks after I have finished i have been moisturising with E45 cream and it seems to be working a treat.

So, all in all...I have nothing to complain about! It's a fantastic start to 2012...I'm in great form and looking forward to the year ahead. Going back to work on Jan 23rd, which I'm not looking forward to as I have really enjoyed being off, but hey, I'm lucky to have one to go back to.

I cannot fault the Whitfield Clinic in Waterford. They are a very friendly, supportive and professional bunch of people.

To all of you still on your journey, I wish you the very best of health, happiness and positivity as you continue through 2012.

Micheline