Hi ShelyT,ive just read your post about Radiotherapy that your  undergoing now ,as you posted  it quitw a feq weeks ago. I do hope that like me ,when i first had my first dose ( i had 3 weeka =15) i was surprised to find  it was better than id imagined ir to be, i didnt feel any discomfort. By the 8/9th i did get a bit od sore red skin,bur only like mils.sunburn . I was told to use E45 cream on thw effected skin,whuch really helped. I did get a but tired from tine to time,but it was ni way near what id imaguned ir to be like,,it wasnt half as bad as i thought  oh and i forgir to say about the tattoes that they want you to have,to make it easier to line you up each time yoy have the Radiotherapy,i disnr wanr them ,but i agreed to have just one which was placed at the side if my right underarm,so it isnt noticible,indidnt want those tiny dot tattoes as a permanent reminder. They hust used a oen and tape,on  my skin   where they were going to place the other tattoes. I do hopw you are doing well ,ans like me,you didnt find it as bad as you had imagined ir to be  

Thank you for replying, I finished my radiotherapy and found it wasn't so bad either.im abit sore in the breast area but I'm putting cream on everyday.i have found my right shoulder and arm have been paining me though I.hoping that will stop in time.i do get abit tired,I push past that though.Can I ask have your fingers nails been effected the reason I ask because one of my nails has sunken in and my other finger nails have ridges in them and dont feel smooth any more.Have you also found your breast has sunken in.thank you for the feed back it's very helpful kind regards shelly x

Hi Shelly T. Yes i  di have very weak nauls now ans di gave ridges   My right breast dies have a slight dio in it ,at the vittim edge,but its  nor  that noticeable  considering  that they mives breat tissue.around to fill in the gap,where cancer tumour was removed. My right arm pit looks worse ,wherw i had all my lympthnodes  removed as cancer had spread to them, it loojs quite hollow  under mt armpit,as.quite a lot of tissue.was removed. 

Yes i too have shoulder pain ,i did get inflamation in my rotater cuff in mt righr shoulder,and i have mild lynohedema un my right arm and hand. But im jyst gratefull to be here to be honest. Take care ans im always here uf you need to chat  about anyrhing ,its food to tallk to peiple who have been or are going through simular health issues ..

 ShellyT

Gosh sorry about all the typo errors,hope you can understand my reply to you. 

Hi yes I did understand everything your wrote .it's quite a relief that the aches and pains and changes in our body are all normal. Because the radiotherapy is fresh it's good to know it's all OK. I'm  very grateful to be here ,but still processing it if I'm honest. It most definitely is good to talk about it ,thank you for your support and feed back.I hope your recovering well. it make the journey of having/had cancer alittle easier knowing your not alone and people like you have had similar issues thank you for replying. You were very helpful.kind regards shelly x

Thank you ShellyT, yes i can understand that you are still processing it all,it does take time,i remenber  when i firzt got told,and told what opp abs treatments id need going forward,it felt like an outer body experience for me,i was hearing it,but it felt like a bad dream that wasnt realU

i also found my breast lunp/tumour myself and was prodding/ feeling it for 2 weeks before i went to see my vp. My son then aged 35 had been diognosed with testicular cancer,and was going through opp and chemo, so i found it very hard telling him and my daughter. Byt we  both are ok now. But my daughter is now going throgh it,with stage 4 bowel.cancer ,that has spread to bith ends of her liver. My daughters 44 yrs and 8mths old,i 2nd lor of scans show no spread and liver is responding,which is good,praying this good news continues. I believe in God  and  the power of prayer. 

Im glad to have helped ease your mind on some of your thoughts. Here  to help if you need to chat agaib . Take care Shelly T. 

Hi gosh you and your family have been through it.wishing them and yourself the very best.it is alot to process,no sooner have had the op and radiotherapy I have to go back to work , ,the fact is I didn't know how to behave, react,I sat on my lump for 1 week before I did anything and I found mine myself too.it was a dear friend who told me to go and get it checked and I did and its been a whirlwind ever since, I almost felt like a robot,don't get me wrong I'm truly greatful for the care I have had and the speed of which it was delt with,I just need my brain to catch up,I don't even know how to express them .I'm numb at the moment haven't even cried,I ve since found out my sister has breast cancer too and my mums partner he's got pancreatic cancer and it's spread, this year hasnt been the best,but I'm sure you'd agree we all have to keep fighting.  thank you for replying and help me process things alittle better, again wishing you and your family all the best shelly x

Hi again Shelly T

I do hope this reply finds you in a better place,i can understand completley  what you mean ,when you mentioned it takes your mind time to pricess your thiughts and feelings,and that it takes time for your mind to catch up with it all,it really does as you know its happening to you ,but it feels as though it isnt actually you, if you get what i mean by this....ie you know its happningn,but you dont want to accept it, so you kinda go into a dream like numb state at first,and it tskes time to adjust to whats happening  to you ,and to let it actually sink in. And im sorry to hear that some od your family members have had the dreaded big C.

Life although precious ,and we are gratefull for it and the care we get from the NHS and family and friends it   can also  be hard and very challenging from time to time.

But that in itself does teach us to be more humble,patient think. 

Youve got this Shelly  hold onto that thought . Xx

Hi I hope your doing well?I do completely understand what you mean and your spot on with how you describe how I was feeling, I still need to process it all but I'm sure it will come.i went back to work this week what an eye opener to find how strong you have to be to my job,(im a carer),usually Im strong and physically fit move people with ease, running around etc I found it hard ,my underarm was pulling when I was rolling someone to me,my shoulder and arm are still hurting from the radiotherapy, by the time I got home I was shattered. The following day I slept through out the day.im greatful my shifts have been separated so I have time to recuperate.I to am truly grateful for the nhs and the staff who cared for me they are amazing and the speed with which I was sorted.

It does make realise how lucky we are and what's important ,and to cherish life and appreciate even the little things.Are you getting back to a normal life or what ever normal is now .Thank you for replying and it's lovely for you to understand we're I am at in my journey,sounds like your abit further ahead in getting your head around it than i am.but I aim to get there, watch this space.I appreciate your feed back it has truly helped thank you x shelly

Hi shelly T

Well you sound amazing going back to work, doing the job you do. Caring for people is hard work. Im not a carer but me and my sister took it in turns 3 days at a time to stay at my mums, mum and her partner were both very ill. My mum had vascular dementia, fell and broke 3 vertebrae's in her back ,and broke her hip ,was in hospital ,but discharged home. We had to make room for a hospital bed in her living room. Mum was bed ridden couldn't walk ,had a catheter, her partner was peeing and messing himself, it was hard work, but we loved them. Mum passed 4 yrs ago in hospital, i and my son were with her, mum was 89yrs old, and didnt look her age at all. So i take my hat off to you, your job helps so many people. Have you tried dong some arm and shoulder exercises? I googled and found some which helped me . I also get ibuprofen gel on prescription from my gp for the pain which does take the edge of off the pain. A hot water bottle helps too,if you can get those microwavable ones with wheat in them ,which may  help. Warm soak in the bath too. Im a long way down the line ,found my breast lump in may 2020,hard as covid was rife everywhere ,and everyone masked up . I had to go to all appointments at first on my own. Bur later i was allowed my son who was also battling his cancer as my buddy, so he helped drive me to chemo and back on occasions. 

My son still has checks blood tests etc, but i dont now ,as after 5 yrs your on your own, even though i have lymphoedema in my tight arm and hand, and i  am checked inky for the vin 3 ( orw cancerous cells of the vulva) im checked every 12mths,sometimes its 9mths. But any thing breast related i would now have to go to my gp and be referred if i needed it, which im hoping i wont. Im on adacall and letrazole for10yrs,i.think i come oiff those in 2030. Dont expect too much of yourself ,listen to your body, if you feel tired dont feel quilty have that nap if you can. Take time iur for yourself from tine to time, even if its just chilling out listening to music, reading a good book, watching tv putting a face mask on ,whatever relaxes you. You deserve some time for yourself, you will get back to some kinda normal  but it takes time . Xxx

Hi shelly T

Well you sound amazing going back to work, doing the job you do. Caring for people is hard work. Im not a carer but me and my sister took it in turns 3 days at a time to stay at my mums, mum and her partner were both very ill. My mum had vascular dementia, fell and broke 3 vertebrae's in her back ,and broke her hip ,was in hospital ,but discharged home. We had to make room for a hospital bed in her living room. Mum was bed ridden couldn't walk ,had a catheter, her partner was peeing and messing himself, it was hard work, but we loved them. Mum passed 4 yrs ago in hospital, i and my son were with her, mum was 89yrs old, and didnt look her age at all. So i take my hat off to you, your job helps so many people. Have you tried dong some arm and shoulder exercises? I googled and found some which helped me . I also get ibuprofen gel on prescription from my gp for the pain which does take the edge of off the pain. A hot water bottle helps too,if you can get those microwavable ones with wheat in them ,which may  help. Warm soak in the bath too. Im a long way down the line ,found my breast lump in may 2020,hard as covid was rife everywhere ,and everyone masked up . I had to go to all appointments at first on my own. Bur later i was allowed my son who was also battling his cancer as my buddy, so he helped drive me to chemo and back on occasions. 

My son still has checks blood tests etc, but i dont now ,as after 5 yrs your on your own, even though i have lymphoedema in my tight arm and hand, and i  am checked inky for the vin 3 ( orw cancerous cells of the vulva) im checked every 12mths,sometimes its 9mths. But any thing breast related i would now have to go to my gp and be referred if i needed it, which im hoping i wont. Im on adacall and letrazole for10yrs,i.think i come oiff those in 2030. Dont expect too much of yourself ,listen to your body, if you feel tired dont feel quilty have that nap if you can. Take time iur for yourself from tine to time, even if its just chilling out listening to music, reading a good book, watching tv putting a face mask on ,whatever relaxes you. You deserve some time for yourself, you will get back to some kinda normal  but it takes time . Xxx