Radiation after lumpectomy

Re: Mepitel :-  I’ve googled this and found its s firm of dressing used in burns like radiation I guess. I was given Mepilex for under my treated breast as it became very blistered and quite painful starting after 6 weeks of treatments ceased. It was like a little but if heaven in lieu of the vitamin E cream alone.  Initially I had to pay a lot for a cut off piece but with a different nurse at the radiation place she gave me a box of it knowing it needed to be changed regularly and it was a large area to dress. 
The radiation oncologist also prescribed Flamazine Cream (Silver Sulfadiazine) which made a huge difference. 
Im not sure why the Mepitel wasn’t used as it says it can be left in for a week. And cream applied over. 
Can anyone tell me when they used the Mepitel / at the beginning of radiation? Midway? Or when skin started to ‘burn’ I’d like to pass on this info to the people where I had my radiation. Given it’s a private company and there quote for 6 weeks was between $15k and $40k GAP fees on top of top private health insurance it should be given out to ALL patients. 
My aim for my journey through breast cancer survival is to inform people of what’s available, and to improve treatments and results for as many as possible. Sharing information. Networking. Making a change that might make it just that bit easier for just one person. Giving back and being proactive. 
Love this forum. THANKYOU for being here and contributing.

Good luck ladies starting and/or are mid treatment. Please ask for help if you need it. Take any offers made. Rest as much as you WANT (Cos we think we don’t NEED to.) eat as healthily as you can and do a little exercise not just physical but possibly more importantly mentally.
I found this beautiful little book in KMart for $5 currently on stands in book section on Mindfulness. It’s a beautiful green/aqua colour snd has really basic short mindfulness readings. I bought s couple - one for my hubbie as s firm if relaxation or meditation as he doesn’t do ‘airy-fairy’  of course there are a lot of guided meditations on Google. Some for cancer and some specifically for breast cancer. 
Without using @.....  please know I’ve asked our angels to look after each of us today in a special way. Hope you feel the gentle touch of an angel some time today. It will help with healing.  
Here’s a short specific one:-
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cyNH8JjnaO8
And a longer one. Great to listen to these going to sleep 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MNUXueouQjE

I had had a brain tumour diagnosed (turned out non cancerous) in 1999 and whilst doing tests & drugs to reduce it till surgery in March 2000 I was petrified of it snd particularly struggled with trying to be positive and keep mentally well. I made a tape in my voice of excerpts from Louise Hay “You can heal your life”. I listened to it going to sleep every night. After surgery theatre staff sent messages to me saying there was an energy in the op room that day like magic, or angels. And I healed beautifully, quickly and against all odds hadn’t grown back in nearly 18 yrs. I need to get back into these again as I tend to get “busy” and forget about my own needs. 
Please try a couple of meditations, guided are best, or mindfulness - they do work. Just may take s couple or few different ones - but we’ll worth the effort. 
Relax a bit today. Do one nice thing for yourself today AND enjoy it. Ask for what you’d like - the angels (or God or the Universe) are just sitting waiting for something to do to help someone. 

@Anne65 ... Thinking of you!  xx   The waiting is the worst - try not to 2nd guess the results as it may just worry you more than you need!  :(    Fingers & Toes crossed for a good result - then you will be able to make an informed decision xxx

I can't understand people NOT getting checked regularly, when their lives could depend on it!  I am sorry to say it - but - you can't cure stupid!  :(  (Hope that isn't too harsh - it is a term we use with kayakers who refuse to wear life jackets!!)

@Sister hope you are going OK & you got through yesterday with your first treatment. i was thinking of you. xx

@viking1 Thanks for your thoughts & I hope you can use the mepitel & it gives you a great result. it would be lovely to help you ladies out with a newish product that will give better results. I am feeling very stressed about the gene testing & can't sleep worrying. Still have over 2 weeks to go before the result. My breast care nurse said that if it's positive, I should consider a mastectomy. I guess i struggle with that as the DCIS i just had removed was stage 1 no nodes & clear margins so to have a mastectomy just as preventative is massive when you haven't actually got cancer. if i don't they will keep checking me more thoroughly for developments but as you said, it's amazing how much they grow in a year. it must be hard for you that your sister doesn't want a mammogram. all of us ladies who have now had cancer want all the screening/gene tests etc done whereas some don't want any. the lady i work with said to me to let her now if there was anything she could do for me during this process & i put my hands on her shoulders & said "please get a mammogram". she is late 50's & has never had one. if they don't do it for themselves, then do it for their dughters & grand-daughters but your'e right, you can't force them & many are scared & don't want to know. this was my first mammogram & look what came of it & as DCIS, you couldn't feel anything so it had to be picked up during screening. let's hope our family & friends learn from us & finally take the step to have a mammogram. once they have the first one & it is clear, they will probably happily go back each year to check but initially "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink"! i hope you are OK with your sister's decision & coped with her not being there for you during the process. i'm sure she was just scared & maybe couldn't deal with it. people have their own way of dealing with things. my sister & nieces are by my side evey step & if i go ahead with the rad, i am staying with my sister & she is looking forward to looking after me for 4 weeks! you have plenty of support here. hugs xx

Re BRCA genetic testing. I had a call today from the gene testing office on the Gold Coast. I had to give all my family details back to grandparents and even though there was prostate cancer on maternal & paternal sides, breast cancer in a cousins daughter, melanoma, throat and tongue cancer there was no ovarian cancer or breast cancer in family under 50 therefore my percentage chance of having the BRCA1 gene was below 5% therefore I could pay $500 to have the test as I was below the marker level for free testing of 10%.  My daughter has an even less chance of carrying the gene and my granddaughters  have half or even less than that again. 
I will talk to my daughter about this and I’m very willing to pay the $500 if she wants. Then if it’s shown I carry the gene she can be tested for free. 

@Sister yes you're right ... mine had gone to the nodes too and that was in one year between scans.  Only 3 were cancerous but I am Her2 pos.  The surgeon couldn't feel any lump. So if I had left it longer my 2cm tumour would have increased and probably more nodes cancerous.  It is amazing how this disease grows over just a year!

@viking1 You're right - you can't force people.  What they don't realise is that, found early enough, it can be treated effectively.  Even though mine had gone to the nodes, I was so lucky to have it found on a screening mammogram - 6 months ago they probably wouldn't have seen it - another year, I could have been looking at a different story.  Not that it's aggressive, just almost invisible.