I had my lumpectomy surgery on 13/05/2022. I'm waiting on my radiation treatment to start soon and just a bit nervous. Just wanted to see what to expect on my first treatment, any tips and side effects to be aware of?Has anyone had their radiation treatment at Icon cancer centre in Richmond, Melbourne? Any feedback ? Thank you.

Hi @Cath62. Thank you for your detailed response. It's sounds reassuring. I've been recovering well after surgery. I've been told I won't need chemo but will need radiation and then go on Tamoxifen. I'm 42 this year so not sure if I'll have to be on the estrogen blockers 5 or 10 years. Hoping that the side effects would be minimal and not severe. I've read that Sorbelone, Calendula cream or Moogoo cream applied religiously after the Radiation treatments helps. But will check with the nurses too. I will ask about mepilex as well, thanks so much.Thanks for the important tip about the out of pocket. My private health indicates that it covers radiation, chemotherapy and immunosuppresent therapy but ill confirm once I have my appointment my with my radiation oncologist. Will find out the total out of pocket cost after Medicare and private health. Seems like a lot of money too! Thanks so much again!

Hello @ARichies, hope you are feeling ok after your surgery. The first treatment is always the hardest because we don't know what to expect. I had surgery, chemo and radium and I found radium. It doesn't hurt. I had 20 rounds of radium ie every day for 4wks. It didn't take long for the actual treatment- maybe 5 or 10 mins. My first session was mapping the area and this took a long time. Once this was done each visit required getting changed and lying on a radium table with my arms above my head. In terms of burns I was ok but did have a couple of sore areas. I used mepilex which is like having a second skin to prevent burns. I did have some soreness at the end of the radium treatment under my breast and also on the scar line where some lymph nodes were removed. I think radium builds up so the redness and burns come towards the end of the treatment and get continue after the treatment for a couple of wks. Talk to the nurse there about mepilex or other coverage to prevent burns also see about what they recommend for moisturiser after treatment. Also I found I could not wear a bra so used firmish camisoles for support. I had my radium in 2020 in the height of covid so I couldn't bring anyone with me. Check about support but at the end of the day they will need to wait outside.Also check on paying if private and costs. I was private and upfront payment of $23000 was required and then they process same day with Medicare. My out of pocket was just under $3000. There is no private cover for radium. I made 3 payment so the $23k wasn't all upfront ie $10k and then Medicare claim which helped next payment of $8k and then Medicare claim etc. Hope this helps. Best wishes

@ARichies ask to speak with the finance team after seeing the specialist. I actually called ahead for make sure I could. (I also did an Icon/GenesisCare comparison financially and saw one in both brands. My medical oncologist was good with that also as he was on board re being financially as well as medically astute). It’s OK to deal with our health AND our finances at the same time.

Hi @ARichies,Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier about cream to use during and after radiation. I used sorbolene cream, but I know others might recommend Moo Goo, QV, aloe vera, and many more. To remind myself of the variety I entered 'creams to use during radiation in the 'search' space on the BCNA network home page. This will give you a gold mine of information and experiences from our network members on any BC and life matters!

Thanks @jennyss. Will do that. There's so many different types of creams. Sorbelene, Moogoo, Strata XRT and some say to use solosite and solugel of do end up with blisters or burns.

Radiation Therapy at Icon Cancer Centre

ARichies
Member
3 years ago
@Cath62 @jennyss @Ausmum2
Hi ladies,
I finished my radiation treatment two weeks ago. Skin held up quite well and I didn't end up with bad burns. Skin is freckly, a tad sore, flaky and itchy at the moment. Just wanted to thank all of you for your billing tips, skincare tips and all the reassurances you have given me. I really appreciate it, thank you.
Ausmum2
Member
3 years ago
I did get a referral for both. I went GenesisCare as they were VERY generous with their gap coverage and as I had made the Medicare safety net (as I did all my treatment in one calendar year) had the extra Medicare rebate to assist.
ARichies
Member
3 years ago
Thanks @jennyss. Will do that. There's so many different types of creams. Sorbelene, Moogoo, Strata XRT and some say to use solosite and solugel of do end up with blisters or burns.
ARichies
Member
3 years ago
@Ausmum2. Thanks. I'll ring ahead to make sure I can talk to the finance team as well . Did you get a referral for both Genesis and Icon for consult and then get the costings ? Which one did you end up going with? I have heard good things about both. Many thanks
jennyss
Member
3 years ago
Hi @ARichies,
Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier about cream to use during and after radiation. I used sorbolene cream, but I know others might recommend Moo Goo, QV, aloe vera, and many more. To remind myself of the variety I entered 'creams to use during radiation in the 'search' space on the BCNA network home page. This will give you a gold mine of information and experiences from our network members on any BC and life matters!
Ausmum2
Member
3 years ago
@ARichies ask to speak with the finance team after seeing the specialist. I actually called ahead for make sure I could. (I also did an Icon/GenesisCare comparison financially and saw one in both brands. My medical oncologist was good with that also as he was on board re being financially as well as medically astute).
It’s OK to deal with our health AND our finances at the same time.
ARichies
Member
3 years ago
@Ausmum2 - Thank you for the tip, much appreciated. I will definitely negotiate as well. Hoping that the gap payment is not too huge. My appointment with my radiology oncologist is on the 1st of July. Good to know.

Many thanks
Ausmum2
Member
3 years ago
@ARichies
the others have given solid tips. The only one I would add would be “if you are going private negotiate your gap payment”.
For a variety of reasons (primarily a global pandemic and only one major hospital that does radiotherapy- and draws from a huge region- near me) , I elected to do private radio but negotiated the gap and got to “pay it in instalments”, so totally doable.
In the end it cost me the same out of pocket as having had to pay for the “add ons” in the public system (parking, drugs, mepitel, creams, massage, cording treatment etc which would have been all “extras or non existent” in the public system}.
Good luck!
ARichies
Member
3 years ago
Thanks @jennyss. I'll make sure to apply a whole heap after treatment. Which cream did you use?
jennyss
Member
3 years ago
I agree with the tip that cream applied very liberally after treatment helps healing and prevention of skin burning. Don't worry about it getting on your bra/camisole - it will wash out.