I have opted out of chemo part way through , after having my left breast removed . I am now due to have 3 weeks of radiation and I am absolutely terrified
I am having radiotherapy at this point of time. I had a lumpectomy in the left breast and axillary clearance in May. I have just finished five of the designated 20 sessions and I hope to reassure you that so far I am feeling well and optimistic. There has been a slight tingling in the breast and I can see it has a pale pink tinge but nothing to cause concern. I am using moisturiser on the area twice a day as advised. My only difficulty is in keeping my arms raised as i hold on to the bar above my head which causes aching afterwards. Perhaps the fact that I am 81 and a fibromyalgia sufferer causes this - but it is only a fleeting discomfort and I recover quickly. Please do not worry. The treatment will be over before you know it!!
I finished my adiotherapy last Thursday 4th July, It was the intensive one , larger doses given over fewer sessions. I was fine up until the Saturday then I began to feel pretty awful, it only lasted a few days, rested as much as I could and felt much better. I just seem to tire very easily after doing very little, the breast being treated was a bit hot and went a bit pink, slapped loads of moisturiser on before and after treatment and I was given hydrocortisone cream as my breast became quite itchy. But overall it hasn't been as bad as I was expecting , the travelling to and from and the setting you up for treatment takes longer than the actually treatment itself. Do some shoulder exercises as it is quite uncomfortable if your shoulders are a bit stiff but it is only for a matter of minutes x
I agree that the travelling to appointments and the return home takes a lot out of the day. I go by taxi each way as my hospital is some distance from where I live. I have done my arm and shoulder exercises religiously from the day after surgery but the experience of holding on to the bar above my head for 25 minutes still gives discomfort and when I am told I can bring them down I still need help in sitting up. As I mentioned before, I am 81 and the joint and muscle stiffness is probably due to severe fibromyalgia!
Although the appointments are mainly at a similar time during each week, mine vary week by week so I have to calculate when to eat and take my Letrozole tablet which needs to be taken at a similar time each day. Last week I was home in time to take it after treatment but my next week's appointments means I shall have to take it with food before each session. If I have Letrozole without food I suffer worse stomach pain. On the third week one day's appointment has to be cancelled due to maintenance of the machine so this has been added on to my tally which ends on the first day of week five. Obviously dealing with this time load makes organizing daily life a bit difficult because I have my husband to look after. He has had stomach cancer and needs to eat six times a day so I have to prepare food items for him before I leave the house. Problems can appear suddenly such as emergency dental appointments but fortunately I have been able to call on my daughter to take him.
The actual treatment is going well and I am feeling well.
I'm so sorry to hear youre going through all of this. Im 54 and ive struggled, but 81? and going through it, you really are a trooper and must be one strong lady! However my reply was the for the lady asking the question about the radio, so it sounds like I was trying to teach you what you already know and so i really do apologise if thats how it came across. It's an awful lot to go through and also caring for your husband on top of it all? I do hope you have a good support network around you as I think support is absolutely vital at a time like this. I wish you well in your treatment, please take care of yourself x
Thank you Janam. I fully understand the mix-up so no offence taken!
Take care of yourself. It is difficult to undergo all the procedures at any age but eventually they will be over and we can get back to a more normal life. At least that is my hope.
