last chemo done, alone again??

Question

Hello,
I had my last chemo on Tuesday, which is fantastic!!!&nbsp; So far, not feeling bad but it will hit any time now.&nbsp; I have radio starting on the 21st and finishing on 23rd December.
Is it true that you can not go swimming during radio?&nbsp; What about just after it is finished.&nbsp; We have some time off at christmas and would love to take the family on a watery holiday.
The Oncologist will be seeing me in the first week of December.&nbsp; I asked about future checks to see if any cancer spreads/escaped chemo/radio and was surprised to find that she said no scans/tests etc are done appart from mammogram in remaining breast.&nbsp; Is this normal??&nbsp; I would like CT's, bone scans etc or I feel I will go crazy wondering.......
all the best .
Julia
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sarah_51 · Answer

Hi Julia
Congrats on finishing your chemo I know how that feels. Radiation is a lot kinder to you bar the fact you have to go every day! My Radiation Onco said&nbsp;I could swim in our salt water pool which&nbsp;I did a few times last summer while I was having treatment, couldn't go in the sea as we had all the flooding in Brisbane and the beaches were filthy. You have to be careful if you have any skin breaks from the radiation you could get an infection from dirty water. So you could just go in up to your waist if you were worried. Don't let it stop you having a watery holiday life is for living!!
As for the scans etc I had a mammogram and Ultrasound at one year post diagnosis on my unaffected breast and that's all&nbsp;I have been followed up by 3 doctors, surgeon, onco and radiation onco and they all have a good feel around so feel confident they would pick up something if it was there.I did have bone scan , CT and bone density tests before I&nbsp;started chemo.
When you start radiation follow the advice about cream and you will be fine&nbsp;I had no problems with my skin , just got a bit red but died down after creaming.
Good luck
Sarah x

sarah_51 · Answer

Hi Julia
Congrats on finishing your chemo I know how that feels. Radiation is a lot kinder to you bar the fact you have to go every day! My Radiation Onco said&nbsp;I could swim in our salt water pool which&nbsp;I did a few times last summer while I was having treatment, couldn't go in the sea as we had all the flooding in Brisbane and the beaches were filthy. You have to be careful if you have any skin breaks from the radiation you could get an infection from dirty water. So you could just go in up to your waist if you were worried. Don't let it stop you having a watery holiday life is for living!!
As for the scans etc I had a mammogram and Ultrasound at one year post diagnosis on my unaffected breast and that's all&nbsp;I have been followed up by 3 doctors, surgeon, onco and radiation onco and they all have a good feel around so feel confident they would pick up something if it was there.I did have bone scan , CT and bone density tests before I&nbsp;started chemo.
When you start radiation follow the advice about cream and you will be fine&nbsp;I had no problems with my skin , just got a bit red but died down after creaming.
Good luck
Sarah x

sarah_51 · Answer

Hi Julia
Congrats on finishing your chemo I know how that feels. Radiation is a lot kinder to you bar the fact you have to go every day! My Radiation Onco said&nbsp;I could swim in our salt water pool which&nbsp;I did a few times last summer while I was having treatment, couldn't go in the sea as we had all the flooding in Brisbane and the beaches were filthy. You have to be careful if you have any skin breaks from the radiation you could get an infection from dirty water. So you could just go in up to your waist if you were worried. Don't let it stop you having a watery holiday life is for living!!
As for the scans etc I had a mammogram and Ultrasound at one year post diagnosis on my unaffected breast and that's all&nbsp;I have been followed up by 3 doctors, surgeon, onco and radiation onco and they all have a good feel around so feel confident they would pick up something if it was there.I did have bone scan , CT and bone density tests before I&nbsp;started chemo.
When you start radiation follow the advice about cream and you will be fine&nbsp;I had no problems with my skin , just got a bit red but died down after creaming.
Good luck
Sarah x

leonie_moore · Answer

Hi Julia, &nbsp;BCNA have put an information sheet on instructions and good tips for radiation treatment. &nbsp;I actually added my positive tips that worked for me during radiation (twice). &nbsp;It is important to use only the creams recommended from the oncology nurses (you can buy other lotions but check with the nurses first) &nbsp;They must not contain any ingredients that would irritate your skin. &nbsp;I found putting a wet washer in the fridge/freezer before heading off to treatment and on my return putting this on the radiated area worked well to "take the heat out". &nbsp;Moisturise, mositurise, mositurise at least three times a day. Also make sure you don't overdo anything. &nbsp;Be kind to yourself - otherwise you may get very fatigued at the end. Good luck XLeonie

leonie_moore · Answer

Hi Julia, &nbsp;BCNA have put an information sheet on instructions and good tips for radiation treatment. &nbsp;I actually added my positive tips that worked for me during radiation (twice). &nbsp;It is important to use only the creams recommended from the oncology nurses (you can buy other lotions but check with the nurses first) &nbsp;They must not contain any ingredients that would irritate your skin. &nbsp;I found putting a wet washer in the fridge/freezer before heading off to treatment and on my return putting this on the radiated area worked well to "take the heat out". &nbsp;Moisturise, mositurise, mositurise at least three times a day. Also make sure you don't overdo anything. &nbsp;Be kind to yourself - otherwise you may get very fatigued at the end. Good luck XLeonie

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last chemo done, alone again??

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