Hi Suerich,

I know it's so hard with everything going on and having to make massive decisions. I had the shortened radiotherapy treatment at the end of July  & I too was really nervous about it. I was told the change in treatment length was due to come at the end of this year anyway but due to the virus it was brought forward. Same dose over a shorter time. I freaked out beforehand as I was so worried about the breathing/breath holding but the radiographers talk you through it and the treatment itself doesn't last longer than 10 mins. I also am really lucky and apart from some itching and a slight change in colour of my poorly boob I have been ok. 
thinking of you and hope whatever choice you make allows you to recover really quickly esp as you need to care for your  mum.

take care x

Hi 123nelly ,

Thanks so much for your reply. I do hope your treatment has worked well for you .

Can you tell me if yours was left or right sided. 

You were so brave making that decision , its a lot to take in and so difficult . I keep changing my mind swaying between a mastectomy to radiotherapy. Just want life to be normal again. Now that you have gone through the radiotherapy is it now over for you? I hope so and your now cancer free. Best wishes for the future x

Hi,

Thank you for your lovely kind words, I am currently NED which I believe is no evidence of disease and I have everything crossed that this is it for me, other than taking tamoxifen for 5 years. 
Mine was also on the left so had the fear of my heart being affected & was panicking that I couldn't hold my breath but it was so much easier than I thought.
You have already crossed a massive hurdle in completing your chemo and that's brilliant. Fortunately I didn't need it but the fear of that scared me more than anything & I think I was so relieved that after my op I only needed radiotherapy that I didn't really question it or think about it. 

What ever you decide I wish you all the very best and I we all have our lives return to 'normal' without this ********* wreaking havoc.

best wishes xx

Hi again ,

Well done you must be such a great relief to start putting this vile cancer behind you . Its great you are able to get back to some normality and getting on with your life. 

 Got to say you have made me feel more positive about the 5 days of rads and thank you for that.

My only worry is if cancer re- emerged its ugly head again what would we be left with could we still have further radiotherapy?  I think in my case it would be a mastectomy so part of me is leaning toward that now. Im a bit worried as i have now told them, im willing to have the radio. 

Did they say to you that if it returned you would need a mastectomy , but no more radiotherapy? 

Sorry to ask you these questions im just so dam confused. 

Wishing you a cancer free future and a happy life. Best wishes and please take good care of yourself. Being a woman is *** wouldnt wish this on anyone. 

Take care xx

Hiya,

To be honest they didn't really talk much about recurrence I don't know if that's because my oncotype score was low, though I have a telephone consultation coming up maybe they will mention it then? Maybe some of the other lovely ladies on here will be able to advise re. recurrence and further treatments when that occurs and if radiotherapy/mastectomy is the treatment as I have no idea.

Even if you have said you are happy to have the radiotherapy treatment you can change your mind, I have also read that there is a new intraoperative radiotherapy treatment, a one off single dose given whilst you are under anaesthetic which is as effective as the 15 day or 5 day treatment, & is available in some nhs hospitals, it might be worth asking if your hospital does it? I aasume it isn't offered at the hospital I was treated at as it was never mentioned 

Not sure when  I'll ever be confident that this vile disease is gone forever but I'm taking the view of onwards and upwards and hope for all of us that we live long and happy lives.

I hope you get the treatment you want and are happy with, despite this ****** disease we still have the right to chose what happens to us.

Big virtual hug x

 Hi again 123nelly,

Onwards and upwards you go girl and hey don't look back . I might enquire about that 1 day rads under anaesthetic if I decide on the mastectomy. Thanks , your feedback has given me a far better insight into dealing with this *** cancer. 

Keep well and stay strong youv'e cracked it.  

Best wishes 

Virtual hug to you too xx