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starting rads in jan
Hi all
I'm starting rads in jan and am a bit frightened. Didn't like the consultant or the building it'll be happening in, tho I was away with the fairies on co-codamol at the time.
I'm hearing/reading about all sorts of terrible side effects for tamoxifen as well as rads but am still expected to cheerfully go ahead with both 
I know the info is to cover their backs but it's frightening me a bit as I tend to be the rare 1 in 20,000 or whatever who actually gets the side effects of any tablets/treatments. And yet there's not really any other sensible option....
Can only go ahead and hope the side effects pass me by this time - anyone else feel like this?
C x
Chicci
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
I'm one of the boring ones who was lucky with SEs. Rads made me really tired (it was after chemo and involved a 3hr round trip at the very least) but I didn't get any skin breakdown, or even peeling.
I'm also on Tamoxifen, I might possibly be a bit more achey than I was, but not enough to slow me down and I haven't had a single hot flush.
Good luck
Dx
Hi chicci, I was dx 22nd sept, grade 2, 9mm er/pr +, good margins and no lymph involvent. Had wle, and started tamoxifen 27th oct, my rads start january also, bit of delay, I'm sure I will b nervous also but I'm sure we will b fine, I have not had any se from tamoxifen so far, I worry about that. I was worried about takin it but my tumour 8/8 er + so I have no choice. I believe my mind is my biggest enemy so I try and I mean try 2 look at the positives instead of the what ifs! Good luck, you will be fine, have a lovely christmas, karen x
Thanks - much appreciated.
C x
Hi All,
Looks like I will be starting Rads in the New Year Oh what joy:( NOT, anyway what we have to remember is that this is the last blast at the cancer on conventional medicine and we are all fighting the fight. I am also taking tamoxifen and have herceptin probably forever due to lung mets secondaries. The tamoxifen is not so bad and you can take other tablets like low dose anti-d's to help control or get rid of hot flushes, something I will be doing very shortly, (pick up my prescription very soon). As far as rads are concerned like I said its the last conventional hurdle and I have been told by others that Rads is a walk in the park compared to chemo/surgery.
Take care
Speak soon
love and light
sarahlousie xx
Rads booklet I have just got from consultant says that radiotherapy can cause other cancers - possibly years after the treatment.
Tamoxifen leaflet says tamoxifen can cause uterine cancer.
This is the sort of thing I'm concerned about. Where will it all end? - the medication to stop the return of one cancer can cause other cancers ... I know there are risks in everything but I am feeling trapped in a cycle of possible cancer.
Argh
C x
Chicci
If you looked closely at the potential SEs on a packet of paracetamol, you'd never take one again!
It's easy to get into a right old dither about what to do/eat/drink/wash in - it sometimes seems as if everything causes cancer. HOWEVER - don't forget that there is a difference between an increase in risk and an actual cause/certainty. Also, if your risk of something increases by 30%, it doesn't mean that there is a 30% chance of it happening. If your 'old' risk was 10% and it increases by 30%, you new risk is 13% - doesn't sound so scary then!
My attitude is that life is a risk sport - we play the percentages every day of our lives one way or another.
Radiotherapy can cause longterm side effects - not just an increase in cancer risk - but it is also very good at killing cancer cells.
Good luck
Dx
Dear D - you are right.
Thanks
C x
I start my rads in Jan as well, 15 doses and Herceptin in a different hospital so I am hoping it does not snow as I have to get from Sheffield to Chesterfield.
Have just finished 6 x FEC.
If I allowed myself to be I would be worried but at the moment I am being an ostrich and burying my head in the sand as it is the only way I can cope as I am fed up with being 'positive, marvellous! looking well!!' when in actual fact I am feeling c**p.
Luckily the hospital is nice( what a strange thing to say about a cancer hospital) and my ONC is ok.
Have the best xmas you can.
Keep in touch
Hugs
Fi XX
hi fi, just read you message about rads. i will be having rads, dont know details yet how many or when they start. i know wound has to be fully healed etc.
where are you having your rads ? i will be going to western park in sheffield. thought you would be too coming from chesterfield. i am from barnsley.
TTM xxx
Hi Ladies,
I am starting rads in early Jan, too - not sure about the actual date, as need to heal and get rid of swelling and seroma from my op on the 5th Dec - lumpectomy and node clearance, had chemo Jun-Nov, no tamoxifen for me as have (or do I say had already? ) tnbc, so no hormones involved. My surgeon and the bcn suggested not to interfere with the seroma as long as i can handle it - mmh - only just - it's a right pain. However they said that removing liquid just tells the body to produce more and there is always an increased infection risk sticking a needle inside there.
Anyway, my radio onc has 6 1/2 weeks planned for me, and I ll have a 3h round trip each time, so i expect the side effect Tiredness is definitely on the cards.
On other threads they are talking a lot about the preparation of the skin - and which aqueous cream is the best. Apparently the one from boots isn't, but my onc couldn't confirm that. I haven't read every posting though, does anybody know?
I do have the Aloe Vera 99.9% already for after each session, that seems a good investment.
Rexi
Hi, hope you dont mind me posting, I had rads last July, 23 in total, after chemo and surgery. I didnt have any side effects at all, I walked every day for 45 minutes, ate healthily, drunk lots of water and it was a breeze after chemo for me. im now taking tamoxifen and have had some side effects, Waking at 3am and finding it difficult to get back to sleep and hot flushes throughout the day but in my eyes its a small price to pay for taking something that increases my chances of the cancer not coming back. Also for a couple of weeks before rads I put on the aloe vera gel twice a day and also used aqueaus cream. big hugs to you all xxx Ness xxx
i had 15 rads-no probs at all-just left me with extreme tiredness-i rest when i can-i wasn't bothered about future risks-just wanted to do the best for here and now-good luck to you all and very best wishes-stella
Very wise words and good advice Nessa. I had 30 x rads this summer, it was gruelling only. In the daily slog to hospital & back, no side effects, but did make sone good friends! Take a book and ipod. Good luck and Happy New Year xxx
Hi there,
May I sneak in and join you? I will be having rads at WP. Not bought any cream yet.
I have had mx and axillary clearance and just finished 6xFEC. (Feeling rough still)
Collette xoxo
Sneaking in also. I begin 15 rads Thursday so can I technically say that I am a January person?
Still feeling a bit yeauch after mx, but then I have been on oodles of chemo. I am just so happy to be able to drive again!
Will let you know how my first two go. Happy days lol
X Sarah
Hiya
January person for me to. Today i go and do my planning for rad. and to find out as much as i can. Hope all goes well for you people out there will keep you informed of any side effects I get from rad. and tamoxifen
Angii xxxxx
Good luck to everyone with rads coming up. I had 15 in September after wle in June. I can recommend using whatever moisturiser you choose for a while beforehand. My skin is still peeling just the tiniest bit now. My skin broke just a little bit, but lots of moisturiser helped, along with a very soft, seam-free bra. I started getting sore after 9 treatments. I was tired for a short time each day after treatment finished for about ten days, but then I was completely back to normal. I do still experience rib pain where I was radiated, but it's only a minor annoyance. Tamoxifen has not caused me any serious problems - I do wake up hot when the weather's anything but freezing, but any symptoms I've had have settled down over the six months that I've been taking it.
I know the information overload gets to us all after a while, but all you can do is make the best choices for right now.
Hi
Just had first zapping. The majority of the time was taken up with two radiographers muttering numbers and getting me positioned correctly. It's a bit like star wars, but not that scary and very manageable.
X Sarah
Hi Sarah,
I'm due to start my rads on the 4th did'nt realize you were doing them as well, hope all is well and thanks again for your PM over the xmas period they really helped me out.
Love and light
sarahlousie xx
Hi Sarah
Try not to stress about them. I had wound myself into a bit of a frenzy. Not worth it.
Had a very broken nights sleep last night, but that was due to have g trouble getting comfy in bed. Haven't had an unbroken night for about a week. It's because I prefer to lie on my side, and my wound tells me to lie on my back. My legs have started to cramp.. I finally had the brainwave of using a cushion for support and will do so again tonight. Hopefully that will do the trick
X Sarah
Zap no 2 and 13 to go. The team today were hilarious and the time sped by.
Have more felt tip pen marks today. I did suggest that maybe they could join the dots into a galleon in full sail when they have finished.
The table is hard. My arm was slightly sore, a warning to keep up with my exercises
X Sarah
Hi all
How's everyone getting on? On zap 4 today.
X Sarah.
Oooo Sarahlouise hope it goes well for you today. I have a cd playing whilst being treated. The first session takes longer cos they have more measurements to do, but the others are a lot quicker. Just close your eyes and listen to the music.
X Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Finally joined you and had my first zap today it took 25 minutes and I had trouble holding my arm in that position but just about managed it, the 2 radiographers were talking numbers and I was just led there trying to concentrate on keeping everything still. Did'nt feel a thing and was quite suprised, feel fine at the moment will apply some cream before bed tonight then back in tomorrow at 10.30. They are blasting my mx site and lymph nodes in my armpit (whats left of them) and on my collar bone and neck.
I am really into crystal healing and therapy so I wore my smoky quartz bracelets one on each wrist they said I could keep them on, smoky quartz is supposed to counteract the affects of radiotherapy or any invisible radiowaves, I also keep a lump of it on my computer to counteract the electromagnetic smog from my laptop. Another good one is black tourmaline.
Hope its going well for you Sarah
sending love and light
sarahlousie xxx
My team said often people don't notice any skin change for a few weeks. However I have been applying cream morning and night and have been bathing the area with baby bath. I like the idea of crystals.
I had a bit of a melt down yesterday, but feel lots better today
X sarah
Ahhh sarah sorry too hear you were in meltdown yesterday but it happens to all of us at some point, maybe try placing either smokey quartz or black tourmaline in your bath to make a kind of bath essence, they are very good at clearing negative energys/thought patterns. Are you just using the aqueous cream they gave you? I've also got some aloe vera 99.9% gel I asked the radiologist about it and she said it was fine to use that although she was not sure about using a aloe leaf straight from the plant!! which I would of thought would be better.
Glad to hear your feeling better, sending you some big cyber hugs love and light
sarahlousie xxx
I started radiotherapy on Dec 28 th and have had six sessions now. It really is just like having an x-ray.....you feel nothing. Yes the skin might get very red and blister in some cases but the side effects are minimal in most cases and would certainly not make me decide against treatment. In comparison to chemo it is a walk in the wood. The benefits outweigh the risks in many treatments for cancer.nobody can put their hands on their hearts and say you will not have a problem but they are very rare and the therapies are used because they have been proved to control disease.
I hope all goes well for you.
I am just about to have number 5 so just behind you cackles.
I think it was the enormity of how many sessions I had to go to, plus fitting in a ct scan zometa iv and two onc appts. I just felt suddenly overwhelmed.
X sarah
Hi there,
Got my letter today to say I have a planning appointment for rads on 24th Jan. It says that if there is a cancellation before that they will let me know. I hope there is as this seems quite a long way off. My op was on 16th Dec so would like to start rads and get it over with as soon as possible.
Jan
It's not a good ideate begin rads before six weeks post mx because they like to give the wound time to heal
X