Timing of radiothrapy after surgery

I was told the magic time was 12 weeks post op. they will start u on rads before the 12 weeks. Enjoy ur freedom while u have it! Rads take up a lot of time with machines breaking down, travel time etc etc

Hi Resolute
I had radiotherapy 11 weeks after surgery, I went in for planning and tattoo marking 2 weeks before this. Radiotherapy is very doable but tiring near the end. Good luck
Liz

Thank you both for replies! The stuff I read online suggested that 4/6 weeks was the perfect time but I looked up the NCCP guidelines and they work on 12 weeks (if no chemo) so I dont feel so bad now... do the machines break down very often??

Liz, reading your signature I appear to have been a similar case to yours, how are you getting on now, how long are you post rads??

Resolute

Hi resolute it is six months since my radiotherapy,I am doing very well everything has healed well. The only thing is I have a frozen shoulder but I am getting physio for that. I also joined a local cancer support centre which I found brilliant. Machines never broke down when I was getting treatment. I had 20 sessions over 4 weeks.
Liz

Good to hear you are doing well now The diagnosis for me was an incredible shock ... I have an appointment on Monday to discuss hormone therapy, presume I too will start on tamoxifen - do you mind me asking how do you find that?? any side effects?? Now that you have gotton to the end of treatment I do hope that your shoulder is sorted quickly.. I'm sure you'd be glad not to have a hospital appointment always penciled into your diary ..I miss the perfect health I had for the first 48 years of my life (and I realise I never appreciated it as much as I should have when I had it!)
Resolute

Hi resolute
I have to say I haven't had too many side effects from tamoxifen except for hot flushes which are not too bad. I was a bit nauseous for a while but found taking the tablet about two hours after breakfast suited me better. You are still only recently been diagnosed and it is an awful shock, I had never felt so well before I was diagnosed but I thank god that I didn't need chemo as the ladies here have been through very rough times.
Liz

Thanks Liz, I agree.. discovering I had breast cancer was the biggest shock but all the results since have been good and I actually feel lucky (I know that's a contradiction ) but I do feel for everyone on the forum who have huge mountains to climb but like you I would have climbed them too (and with gusto!!) if it had been neccessary I guess you just keep going and take care of whatever needs taking care of today:) Glad to hear that tamoxifen hasn't been too bad for you..and hope your shoulder is improving.. even if progress is slow..

Anne (aka Resolute)

Sorry was away on hols. We seem to be the same except I was E- and Her2+ so I'm on herceptin till August. Yes I was told before 12 weeks post op but they know what they're doing they won't put you at any risk. I found the radiotherapy grand just got a little burnt near the end and its all healed up and fine. I see dr mcveigh tomorrow when I'm in for herceptin . I got so used to going in for the 33 sessions I actually missed it when it was finished, how sad!!!

Thanks Wicklowlady!

Hope you enjoyed the holiday Booking office just rang and I am due to go for mapping next week - they will phone again tomorrow to confirm appointment .. Also I took my first tamoxifen tablet today and so far so good!! have heard so many bad things about it that I'm not sure what to expect