Hi Maggie

I had 15 sessions. Monday to Friday over three weeks.Boosters were never mentioned. I had a follow up appointment  with the oncologist and then an appointment to explain all  about the patient led follow up programme that I'm on now.

They don't send for me but I can contact them at any time if I have the slightest worry. Thay said my first mammogran will be around  next March which will be 12months since my treatment finished.

I always thought the cancer was gone after my op and considered the radiotherapy as my insurance to zap the *** once and for all.

I do think I'll be a bit nervous when mammogram time comes round but I'll deal with thay at the time and in the meantime there is far too much living to do.

Thinking about you and wishing you well with your treatment - Irene x

Hi irene

i was told booster required as I was under 55 yrs and is standard practice. Hmm, think I’ll ask radiographers to get their perspective. I was told I was cancer free after ops too and I get mri instead of mammogram as cancer was not found on mammogram so pointless having them yearly. 

x

That's probably the reason I didn't have them then. I'm 70 now but glad I've got the mammograms for 5 years.

Keep us informed how you get on. Will be thinking about you and wish you lots of luck for a happy and healthy 2019

Irene x

Hi Irene,

I thought you were younger than me ;) 

Wow Irene you look amazing :)

Hi Maggie - just wondered how you were getting on with your treatment.

Hope it's all going well for you  - Irene x

Hi Irene

radiotherapy was fine, no side effects other than some redness and itching, now on steroid cream. My oncologist stopped the radiotherapy early, he decided, given my low rate of recurrence that it would do me more harm than good to continue. I did question it as I felt it should continue but his mind was made up. 

The radiotherapy staff were amazing, the NHS at its best. However, they did give me information about my treatment that I was not told about e.g, more lymph nodes were removed than I was led to believe plus another tumour I didn’t know about. Can’t lie - I was livid. I was told that due to lymph nodes removal I am not allowed to lift heavy weights, not even my shopping bags as it can bring on lymphedema. Yet because that was unknown to me, for the last six months I have been lifting heavy weights, I’ve even been at the gym lifting weights, so at risk and no one bothered to tell me. I’m not a happy bunny >:)

how are things with you - are you near your first post treatment mammogram yet?

x

Hi Maggie - glad the treatment's over for you and I would have been livid with all that extra info as well.

I'd have thought your surgeon would have explained all that to you. Have you asked why it wasn't?

I agree the radiotherapy staff are second to none. I was lucky with all the medical teams that treated me and think they're all beyond wonderful.

My first mammo is due in March and I have to say it's beginning to niggle a bit as it gets nearer. First the worst as the saying goes. Sure it will all be ok and I'll deal with it at the time. Too much living to do to dwell on it at the mo.

I've joined a gym with hubby too. Got to keep our fitness going. He goes swimming (which I hate) and I do a bit of fitness

Hope all else is well with you. I'll let you know how I get on. Keep in touch and stay well - Irene xx

Hi irene

the surgeon told me nothing, as I’ve probably said before, I still don’t even know what was done to me in surgery. I know the scars are not were I was told they would be and I know I went in a 38C and came out a 36D. The discharge letter states lumpectomies + node biopsy. To be fair to the surgeon, my consult with her was cancelled after the op and my consult with her post biopsy was complicated (being diplomatic) something happened in the consult that defected the reason I was there onto something else. 

I will ask my oncologist when I see him for more info. Right now it’s taking a lot of self restraint not to make a formal complaint into my treatment.

anyway trying to stay positive and if I were you I’d feel positive going into your mammogram - I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be fine :)

keep up the exercise regime, more studies are out saying how good exercise is in dealing with cancer.

all the best x