Just finished the final chemo just before xmas- feeling well now and ready to embrace good health. Radiotherapy next. What's people's experience of this. I have had a mastectomy so is it going to be different than if you had a lumpectomy? Less breast tissue impact the side effects? I would appreciate any advise- thanks Mouse
Hi mouse, dont you worry about feeling emotional you have been through a great deal and we all get very emotional at times. There have been times when I thought I would run out of tears I cried so much. This is a great place to come all the ladies here 'get it' . You try to be kind and gentle on yourself. I was given some great advice early on," if you can feel what you need to feel let your emotions wash over you and then let them go." What we are going through is a big deal and you would be a very strange person if you didn't get emotional. Sending you lots of good thoughts With love Hilary xxx
Hi Mouse
I envy you finishing chemo... I stll have 4 treatments befor radiotherapy.
Good luck with it xAnne
Hi Mouse, congratulations on finishing your chemo. I have also had a mastectomy and had 5 weeks of radio therapy to my chest and neck. I found the first couple of sessions a bit difficult ( no pain just because you are half naked I guess I found it a little confronting) but the staff were extremely kind and very professional. As the other ladies say remember to moisturise, the hospital will give you cream. And you will continue to cook as they say after you have finished. You will get tired so if you have help take it ! I found the mastectomy scar the drainage tube scars and the axilla scar all swelled and the scar sites were very tight. This is getting better now took a couple of months and the skin and muscles under the skin shrank a little bit . The physio gave me some exercises to help stretch everything back again. It sounds very daunting but it is easier than you might think ( you just got through chemo !) and the time flies by. Best advice I got was to keep in touch with the nurses and ask heaps of questions. Good luck and keep in touch Regards Hilary xxx
Hi Mouse,
I have had a mastectomy and finished radio about 8 days ago. During treatment and now I feel very tired. Had no side effects for between 2-3 weeks(5 week treatment). They told me that you continue to "cook" for about as long after treatment as it took you to get red in the beginning. So I am still getting redder and more unconfortable now. I have found that the mastectomy scar gets very tight and swells on both sides which is very uncomfortable, but to be expected.
My skin has remained unbroken, but do have a tiny bit of thickening and small peeling in an area underneath my armpit.
On the whole the experience has been managable and so much easier to deal with than chemo. Good Luck with yours!
Julia
