Pippin 24

 Hi piping 24,I see from your comments to your post that you now know you will be having 15 sessions of radiotherapy, and that's the same amount of radiotherapy sessions I had. I went every day for three weeks,but not the weekends. You will be fine,I was asked to have small tattoo dots in black ink to be done aa it waa easier for the radiologist to line you up each day,as ut saves them time. But being on this site ,I noticed some lady's didn't have them,as they didn't want a permanent reminder of seeing those tiny dots on thier body, some did have them and said they were so small ,you couldn't see them, others who had them didn't like them. So I asked the radiotherapy team if it was possible for me not to have them  ,as ud researched and found out it could be done by marking a tape and sticking it on your body where it needed to be. So they said will you just have one,under where your arm will cover it,and we will do the rest with the tape, but you mustn't get the ones with tape wet. So I agreed to that,when I showed I covered the dots with taoe with cling film and tape to stick it to my body, was very carefull not to actualy stick the cling film to the actual tape where the dots were. It worked well and I waa glad I had asked and did it this way. 

You don't really feel anything much,the machine does make a noise but nothing you can't handle.  I used E 45 cream as was suggested by the radiotherapy on my breast, as it does get a bit like mild sunburn after  a while. Yes it does make you a bit tired,but again that was ok,you can still function normally.  Hope all goes well for you .

Hi Jassoscared, thank you so much for your very informative post, it is really helpful. I have got my E45 cream already, so pleased to hear they recommended it to you. I'm not too worried about the tattoos, but will have a chat to them about it. I'm going on Thursday to have the ct scam and markings and will be given a schedule for a couple of weeks time. I hope you are keeping well. Xx

Pippin 24

Hi again and thank you ,I just not long had my mamagram check which came back normal,so was very happy about that,as i was diognosed in May 2020,so 4 years have gone by,very quickly lol. Im on letrazole for 10byeaes ,so 6 more years to go,does make me tired as I don't seem to sleep well scince taking it,but I'm so grateful for all the treatments that was available.  Glad I could help where your radiotherapy is concerned,yes the E45 cream really helps, I was given a gown/ top to put on while waiting in waiting room,and was told to keep it take it  home,wash it at weekends. It made it easier as didn't have to find tops every day that were easy to get on and off. It was a burgundy wrap tie up top, didn't need to wear a bra with it as covered all your bits well,on a cold day I'd wear a cardigan over it again easy to take off, saving time. I dont know if all the hospitals do this,but I sopose thiers no harm in you asking ,but again depends if they give you a full gown ,or just a cross over tie up top like I was given. Anyway good luck ,hope all goes as well as it did for me. Let me know how it all goes. X

Good to hear that all is going well with you and your last mammogram was all good. I have just started letrazole and have been told I'll be on it for 5 years. They had originally said 5-10 years, so don't know what makes them decide which it will be. Could be that my results after surgery were really good. They took 20 lymph nodes and they were all clear, although it was previously in one. The two tumours were gone, plus there was no sign of the previous cells in the breast tissue. Thankfully the chemo had worked its magic. My hot flushes have increased a bit, but will hopefully settle down. Should find out a bit about the gowns and clothing on Thursday. Thanks  again for the info. Xx

Pippin 24

Hi again,yes I had simular first told me probably just radiotherapy, then changed it to 8 rounds of chemotherapy, and was told letrazole would be 5 years  I had a lumpectomy on my right breast and all my lympth nodes were removed from under my right arm,as 3 of them contained cancer cells. So all changed had to have chemotherapy as well and letrazole 10 yrs not 5. I didn't get told why it was changed, but I'm guessing it was becsuse of the lympth nodes containing cancer,and also lots of cancer related illnesses on my mothers side of the family

. Plus I had the right side of my bowel and appendix  and small.oart of my intestine removed  as in 2015 I had.a flat sessile polyp that contained cancer cells on the right side of the bowel. So maybe that's why they changed it. And now I'm under a gynecologist as i was diognosed with vin 3, pre cancerous cells on the vulva,ive just had a yesrly check ,and have another ibe next year,used to be checked every mth at the start, this was diognised in 2021 So I consider my self really lucky.plus my son told me just before Christmas 2019 that he had been diognosed with testicular cancer ,he was 34, nearly 35 ,as hus birthday is in Feb. Was hard time,I didntvwant to tell my son and daughter I had been diognised with cancer too.  But he's doing really well,he had 267 hrs of chemo,every other weekend in london hospital ,he had operstion before all that. He's checked like me,but we both got through it,and I'm so grateful for that. Yes do find out about the gowns,it really helped me. X. 

I'm so sorry to hear about all you have been through over the past few years. You have had so much to deal with, including finding out your son also had cancer at such a young age. You are so strong, as you still sound so positive and are also on here willing to help others. I have tried to stay positive throughout my journey so far and feel I am doing really well. Unfortunately my mum, who is 88 has just been diagnosed with low grade breast cancer, so our journey as a family will be starting again soon. Bless her, she's previously had surgery for bowel cancer, which she did beat. She's a strong lady and very positive, so hopefully will be fine. So pleased that both you and your son got through this, you are an inspiration to others.  xx

Pippin 24

Sorry to hear about your mum,you're also goong through a lot,its tough but yes your mum does sound a strong lady,and you I can sense are being as  strong  and positive as you can be. It realy does help to get you through the tough times in life. Your parents are very precious,I lost my father in 1995,I sat and held his hand as he died,two years later  my husband commited suicide in oct 1997,I found him . I had to be strong as my daughter was 15 nearly 16,and my son was 12. Then 2 years ago I lost my mum,also was with her ,my son was too,to support me. I dreaded losing my mum,she was 89 in August, passed in September  2022. But I honestly think the more you go through in life,the stronger it makes you,obviously not straight away,but as time passes it does. The one thing in life is we all have a beginning and an end on earth,so while we're here dwelling on the bad bits won't change a thing,they will still happen, but appreciating all the good bits in our life makes for a better life. There's always someone worse of than you,. I'm not saying I don't ever have days where I don't cry over some of the things that have happened,of course I do,that's quite normal,wete only human,but I don't let it ruin my life,I pick.myself up  dust myself down and carry on,and some days are really good. My grandchildren are a blessing.  I have  three, a boy aged 15 from my daughter and her partner and two grandaughters from my son and his wife ,who are 12 and 8. The twelve year old is currently in The  Cambridge Theatre London  in the  Musical Matilda,ive watched her two times allready,she's amazing at dance and singing. The 8 year old has just been at the O2 with her dance teachers school.of dance,she danced in a group and they were given the golden buzzer to go straight through to the finals, so so proud of them . Its these little things in life that make me smile . Hope your mu. Responds well to her treatments as she has done before .

I am so sorry to hear about the losses you have been through, you have certainly had so much to go through, especially when your children were so young. Lovely to hear about your lovely grandchildren, they sound so talented. I have two grandchildren from my daughter, who is my middle child, a girl 7 and boy 5, and they bring me so much joy. My eldest daughter is also trying for a baby, but has polycystic ovaries and so far no luck. Have a son 28 still living at home, would be nice to see him settled with someone. I do find that I feel like a stronger person going through this journey. In the beginning my anxiety went through the roof, but I decided I couldn't go on for months with that level of anxiety. I started walking 2 1/2 miles every day, cut alcohol and made sure I eat healthily. All these changes really helped my mindset too and I have responded really well to treatment. I think these forums are a great way of sharing experiences and you don't feel alone on your journey. It has certainly been really helpful to me. So nice to chat to you, take care. Xx

Pippin 24

I totaly agree with  you,i used to stress at the start but it doesn't help,as what will be will be. It's good you go walking everyday,that's something I should do, I used to with a friend but she moved  and I don't like to go walking on my own, and the weather isn't great,but next summer I'm going to try to oush myself. I've never been a drinker, only used to have a drink if going out, and ive always eaten everything low fat, as i have gallstones, was going to have an operation, surgeon said he would do it  by  keyhole surgery. But I'd had a hernia ooeration previously as my bowel came thriugh the stomach wall ,from my bowel resection so i ended uo having to have it repaired with Mesh,So when i pointed that out to the surgeon he said oh. I cant do it then,you will have to go back on the waiting list to see a specialist  surgeon in that field of surgery, so i waited a year ,and wasn't getting any more problems, so I'd had enough of operations and decided  not to go ahead with the operation. So I still have gallstones. 

I now have been diognosed with a fatty liver and a cyst on my liver.  So I don't eat any red meat,I just eat chickenand some fish cod ,salmon prawns , I eat wholewheat pasta and rice, I don't eat cakes biscuits  chocolate or cheese.  But on very rare occasions I do treat myself to a dessert, like on my birthday,and I did have a glass of white wine. I do eat sugar free/fat free or low fat biscuits , not as nice but it's a biscuit lol. I love cheese ,chedder,edam,brie,yarlsburgh  etc,don't like blue cheese yuk lol,I do miss cheese i always used to buy low fat cheeses. It's Christmas soon,and I will treat myself to some of the things I shouldn't eat,but I won't go overboard, I'll still be cautious, I m not bothered about alchol non alcoholic wine will be fine. Yes grandchildren are a blessing, I was so pleased to become a Nana and  like you ,i agree it's so rewarding.  Hopefully in time your daughter will concieve,but I know how disheartening it must be for all concerned.

I too find this cancer chat a wonderful forum to be part o,but i kniw its not for everyone, my son doesn't even like to talk about it ,he says not for me mum,its done and dusted he finds it morbid talking about it,where as I am very different,im the kinda person that talking to others helps me accept that it's something so many of us go through, and being on here does help, ecspeacialy when we all reach out to others who are just starting on thier journeys on here and ask for some  friendly advice, I guess I just like helping others  by talking if I can. I've written a few poems on here,just find it easy to exoress my thoughts and feelings that way

Yes, it's lovely chatting to you on here too. Take care Xx

Hi, I would definitely recommend the walking, as it's so good for the mindset. Unfortunately I've had to put it on hold temporarily, due to part of my tummy wound from the reconstruction being slow to heal. I'm really hoping I'll be back to it very shortly Maybe you could find a local walking group near to you, I know we have a couple in my area. Sound like you have a really healthy diet, which is always a good thing. I've been a target member at slimming world for 8 years and still attending on a Wednesday  morning. It's great to meet up with others for coffee and share ideas and recipes. The group has also been very supportive, while I've been going through this journey. Although we find these forums really helpful, as you say, it's not for everyone. People deal with things in the best way for them. Xx

Pippin 24,yes i have thought about it,but the groups I've seen around my area all look young and fit,ive judt turned 68 first week of November ,and inthinkni would hold them back,aa i have both knees that the knee caps have  worn away with artherirus. ,which inalso gave in t hands wrists back ,.

But I will try in summer of 2025. I used to belong to weight watchers years ago ,so I know slimming groups are great. Good for you that you  still go and are still maintaining your weight. I used to be a size 8/10 ,but now also size 14/16. I think if incan start walking it will help me to lose a few pounds aa well, as scince being on the Letrazole which I have to take for another 6yrs. Anyway ill say Goodnight now,not goong to become yet though lol. Xx

Pippin 24,yes i have thought about it,but the groups I've seen around my area all look young and fit,ive judt turned 68 first week of November ,and inthinkni would hold them back,aa i have both knees that the knee caps have  worn away with artherirus. ,which inalso gave in t hands wrists back ,.

But I will try in summer of 2025. I used to belong to weight watchers years ago ,so I know slimming groups are great. Good for you that you  still go and are still maintaining your weight. I used to be a size 8/10 ,but now also size 14/16. I think if incan start walking it will help me to lose a few pounds aa well, as scince being on the Letrazole which I have to take for another 6yrs. Anyway ill say Goodnight now,not goong to become yet though lol. Xx

Hi Jassoscared,  you'll probably find with walking groups, that abilities vary. People often stick with the people of a similar ability. Maybe something to plan for in the Spring. Might be a bit cold at the moment, if you suffer with arthritis. Or maybe consider a walking pad, that you could use at home. I am 62, but luckily don't suffer too much with joint pain so far. Xx

Pippin 24, Hi its good you don't suffer with joint pain ,and yes the winter months make it worse. I donwalk around my living room evety time the adverts are on ,on the tv lol,its surprising how many steps  you can do,just by doing that.  I  will walk more in the summer for sure,just got to push myself next year.  It's really turned cold today ,hearings on and I'm still feeling a bit cold. .I'll see next summer if I can find any one who wants to walk ,if not I'll push myself to go on my own, as I.know it will be good for me. My grandad always used to say to me when I was young, im alright as long as I.keep moving . Lol he's so right about that , and they do say lose it if you dont use it,another true saying . Xx 

My mum always says that saying to my dad, but the other way around. Use it or you'll lose it lol!! Really has turned cold, I really don't like winter, except for Christmas of course! Xx

Pippin  24

 Ha ha maybe I got it wrong ,wouldn't surprise me lol,me neither much prefer summer time. Winters OK ,but cold isn't for me ,I'd much rather be to hot,than too cold.  Snow if it settles does look pretty  but when  it turns to icy  muddy slush not   so much,ok if you dont have to go out in it. Hope we don't get snow like.some places have. Xx