Chemo or not chemo

thank you @noosa_blue150, will ask the radiation service about this cream.
Hope I wont burn because of the radiation.

many thanks,

Mepitel film should be supplied by radiation service - I had lumpectomy surgery  so it did have to,cover breast tissue ( I wasn’t a mastectomy patient with a flat chest). It’s probably easier with post mastectomy cases I guess .
Mepitel use does  require you to be careful,-  light showers, no,swimming and can be hot in summer , and I went braless or used very soft bra most of the time BUT everyone I know that’s used it escaped burns and nasty red skin for the most part. 

Thank you @noosa_blue150 and @FLClover for your support.
i will ask chemist about the cream that you mentioned mepitel film/ strata CR cream. I am still waiting my prescription for the injection.
@FLClover  do you take the injection before the radiation/ after the surgery/after the first day of radiation?
Hope not too late for me to take the injection since ai have not received the script yet.

many thanks,

don’t worry too much about the process involved in holding your breath during radiation - the staff will talk you through it and coach you beforehand . If you miss the chance to hold breath in at any time, the radiation beams don’t  happen ( and they’ll rerun it/ get you to try again  you can’t damage yourself so,don’t stress about that ).
‘I used mepitel film on,left breast - no burns ,no major redness ,  only got a little radiation rash on chest about size of apple ( I had gotten accidentally sunburnt about 5 months beforehand in that patch ) last few days easily treated over 4 days post radiation with a steroid cream. 

You’re very welcome @Della. I did the breath hold too, because I had both sides irradiated. Radiation therapy goes by very quickly and is not very stressful. Ask your clinic for Mepitel Film if they have it, as it will save your skin from burning. Or, if they don’t have Mepitel, see if they have Strata XR cream. And drink plenty of water, get rest as needed. You’ll be fine. The anxiety will go away when you believe the cancer is all gone from the surgery and radiation.
I have injections in my abdomen every month for 5 years too. I actually had an injection yesterday. I take Anastrazole every day too. All that should be very effective in stopping the cancer from coming back 👌🏻. 

Thank you @FLClover for sharing your story. I am just finished having the scan - marking my body for the radiation. I need to hold my breath for 20 seconds due to left breast is closed to the heart. I just hoping no more cancer grow or left detected by
 the Ct scan. My life full of anxiety and just hoping can get back to normal after this. I am going to have injection on abdomen and hormone therapy for 5 years. 
 I hope all going well for you. 

@arpie thank you for supporting me and sharing your story. My radiation takes 20 days and in public hospital. Yesterday, I called private hospital asking about radiation and it only take 1 week to process from ct scan for marking, see the rad doctor. Actually I want to go for private but in the afternoon i got call for ct scan so I change my mind.  I hope my horrible life can go fast . I hope all going smooth on me. 

I took time to decide chemo or not as well, and when I though I might, I also saw a fertility specialist in case I wanted more kids in future. By the time I decided no chemo, plus waiting for another surgery, it was almost 3 months post dmx before I got radiation. 

Good on you @Della -  great that you've made your decision .... usually they wait until the surgery site has totally healed as they don't like doing it on wounds that haven' healed ....

I had my surgery in Mid Jan & then had rads in the 4 weeks leading up to Easter - so mine was a good couple of months+ after the surgery.   I had a holiday booked to Norfolk Island after Easter & my Rad Onc had even said I could wait til AFTER the hols if I wanted to ... but I preferred getting it done before the hols, so I could relax & enjoy it, not 'pondering' the rads!  It was my 'well done you' pressie to myself for going thru it all!  xx

I went private for my surgery (about $8000 out of pocket all up) & public for my rads (I didn't have to pay a penny) & as I am rural, IPTAAS also paid for my fuel.  As the treatment is every day, Mon-Fri, I stayed at the local "Rotary Lodge'' that was on the hospital grounds & just had to walk over to the Cancer Centre. It was incredibly convenient, otherwise it was a 2hr (each way) trip, every day. 

Take care & all the best - I hope you get a Rads date soon.  Most find their Rads fairly 'easy' compared to what we 'think it is going to be' - just make sure you let your Nurses know if there is any extreme redness or skin breakdown .... and keep applying the moisturisers that they recommend at least twice daily after each treatment. (They don't like it being applied on the day BEFORE the treatment, but is fine afterwards.). They'll take you thru all the procedures.  xx

I I was a public patient - had surgery at local,hospital,and then was lucky enough to,be outsourced to private radiation service closer to,home ( our health service often does this , due to,high demand for radiation services ). Radiation was bulk billed , so no cost to me . I had 3 weeks of DIEP radiation then 1 week of intense ( where they only radiated tumour site) 

@noosa_blue150 did you do the surgery and radiation at public or private hospital?

many thanks