Forum Discussion

MaresW's avatar
MaresW
Member
12 years ago

Radiotherapy

Hi ladies, I'm from rural SA and will have to come to Adelaide for 6 weeks for radiotherapy. I had breast conserving surgery and a sentinel node biopsy two weeks ago today. The surgeon did a great job and both the margins and lymph node were clear. Grade 1 cancer of " no particular type". So great results. Wonderful results! I've since developed a seroma under my arm and have had it drained twice. I have another appointment on Wednesday to have it drained again by a wonderful local GP. That's been inconvenient but it will go eventually. Yesterday I contacted the radiology oncologists secretary and managed to get an appointment locally on the 17th. She said I'd probably have to wait after that, 4 -6 weeks or more before my 6 weeks of treatment starts. I was shocked about the delay. Normally this would be OK but we have an overseas holiday starting mid August, planned and booked a year ago. My surgeon said radiotherapy would start 4 weeks after surgery, someone else in his office said 6 weeks. With the surgeons time frame we can make it, by the radiologists secretary we have absolutely no hope. I will find out on the 17th. Meanwhile I was hoping Adelaide girls could give me some advice and tell me how long you have had to wait after surgery after the first appointment with the radiologist, before the 6 weeks of treatment starts. I'm going to the RAH as a public patient. I think I'll be cancelling our trip.....

9 Replies

  • MaresW's avatar
    MaresW
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi Celeste, thanks for all that information, I'll have a look at both FB links. Sounds good! I'll see Scott Carruthers a week on Wednesday and I'm told he's lovely, very kind so I'm hoping he can fix it for me if at all possible, our fingers are well crossed! Not sure where we'll stay yet but I'd love to come to a get together.. My referral was written last Friday and I called on Thursday, they didn't have the referral (it had been posted) and asked me to have it faxed. The first city appointment was June 30th! By Thursday lunchtime I had my appointment here for his next visit on the 17th. Lovely people! I'll see you on FB then Mary xx
  • MaresW's avatar
    MaresW
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi Celeste, thanks for all that information, I'll have a look at both FB links. Sounds good! I'll see Scott Carruthers a week on Wednesday and I'm told he's lovely, very kind so I'm hoping he can fix it for me if at all possible, our fingers are well crossed! Not sure where we'll stay yet but I'd love to come to a get together.. My referral was written last Friday and I called on Thursday, they didn't have the referral (it had been posted) and asked me to have it faxed. The first city appointment was June 30th! By Thursday lunchtime I had my appointment here for his next visit on the 17th. Lovely people! I'll see you on FB then Mary xx
  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    Not applicable
    12 years ago

    Hi Mary, I so hope you dont have to cancel your trip! I had my radiotherapy at the RAH, and they were fantastic! I only had to wait 4 weeks after chemo to start it. If you ring them and explain to them about your trip, I wonder if they could squeeze you in earlier? I also had a seroma under my arm that needed weekly draining for a while, but it did eventually go away.

    Mary, we also have a Chat Room on Facebook if you are interested. Here is the link:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdelaideBreastCancerFriendshipGroupChatRoom/

    We have a few ladies who are members from rural SA.

    We also have a Facebook Page if you are interested. Here is the link:

    https://www.facebook.com/AdelaideBreastCancerFriendshipGroup

    We advertise all our get-togethers in both the Chat Room and on our FB page. Where are you staying while in Adelaide for treatment? At the Cancer Council Lodge -Greenhill/Flinders? Perhaps you could come to one of our get-togethers while you are in Adelaide?

    Good luck with your radiotherapy, I hope they can schedule you in quickly to have it done xx Celeste

  • Anonymous's avatar
    Anonymous
    Not applicable
    12 years ago

    Hi Mary, I so hope you dont have to cancel your trip! I had my radiotherapy at the RAH, and they were fantastic! I only had to wait 4 weeks after chemo to start it. If you ring them and explain to them about your trip, I wonder if they could squeeze you in earlier? I also had a seroma under my arm that needed weekly draining for a while, but it did eventually go away.

    Mary, we also have a Chat Room on Facebook if you are interested. Here is the link:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdelaideBreastCancerFriendshipGroupChatRoom/

    We have a few ladies who are members from rural SA.

    We also have a Facebook Page if you are interested. Here is the link:

    https://www.facebook.com/AdelaideBreastCancerFriendshipGroup

    We advertise all our get-togethers in both the Chat Room and on our FB page. Where are you staying while in Adelaide for treatment? At the Cancer Council Lodge -Greenhill/Flinders? Perhaps you could come to one of our get-togethers while you are in Adelaide?

    Good luck with your radiotherapy, I hope they can schedule you in quickly to have it done xx Celeste

  • MaresW's avatar
    MaresW
    Member
    12 years ago
    Hi Chris, hope you are doing well. I had the op on Friday and we drove to town on Wednesday & I felt uncomfortable then. I had to ring for my results on Thursday, he wasn't available that day but I went to see him on the Friday a week after surgery. He drained it then. We went home last Monday and I went to the local doctor on Tuesday and again yesterday because if the long weekend. I didn't rest much afterwards, that's why I mentioned on your post to rest lots! I felt fine and I used my arm more than I probably should have. It may have made no difference I'm never sick and felt fine & wanted my parents to see they had nothing to worry about. So do your exercises and be good! Rest up! The radiologist's secretary said I probably could go and have radiotherapy when we get back in late September. I don't like the sound of that much but I'll see what he says. I thought of you when we were up in the city last week but we visited my father in law in hospital twice a day... No time sadly. Next time definitely ! How are you doing? Did you get a Pilates DVD In your care kit? It's excellent. And the little pink satin pillow, it's so comfy and comforting. Take care xxx
  • Chorsell's avatar
    Chorsell
    Member
    12 years ago
    Bummer about the seroma and the trip... How long after your surgery did that happen!! I had my SNB on Thursday so am hoping I don't get that... Hopefully you will get your treatment done quickly and can squeeze in your trip .... Hope we can catch up when you are in town Regards Chris xx
  • MaresW's avatar
    MaresW
    Member
    12 years ago
    Mona, Thanks for the information, I also was fast tracked to see the surgeon initially, the next week in Adelaide, but I had to wait 6 weeks for surgery. His visit down here missed a month because of Anzac Day. If my timetable goes like yours I will have to cancel. How long did you take to heal? The 6 week stay in the city will be expensive but that's how it is and I'm just so thankful with my results. I'll be sad if we can't go but mainly for my poor hubby who has helped me through all this. Could be worse! All the best, Mary
  • mona63's avatar
    mona63
    Member
    12 years ago

    surgery mid august

    radiation started mid october

    in my experience both the private surgeon and private oncologist spoke about radiation commence date a lot sooner than reality--they dont work at the public radiation hospital but their estimation and the reality added to waiting difficulty-however the waiting time could have been shorter if i went private but doing that would have added a whole lot of other irritation- mainly around not convenient to my home or work. I also liked the combination of private services and public radiation treatment and the facilty and care was great at Pmac...but the waiting was difficult especially as my surgeon saw me at 7pm within a week of my mammagram and surgery the week after or so..i got used to 'fast track'...however you need to wait for awhile anyway if not having chemotherapy for surgery operation to heal--although that was so straight forward for me that wasnt really an issue.  living in the country and a trip planned just add to the liguistical challenges

    best wishes

  • mona63's avatar
    mona63
    Member
    12 years ago

    surgery mid august

    radiation started mid october

    in my experience both the private surgeon and private oncologist spoke about radiation commence date a lot sooner than reality--they dont work at the public radiation hospital but their estimation and the reality added to waiting difficulty-however the waiting time could have been shorter if i went private but doing that would have added a whole lot of other irritation- mainly around not convenient to my home or work. I also liked the combination of private services and public radiation treatment and the facilty and care was great at Pmac...but the waiting was difficult especially as my surgeon saw me at 7pm within a week of my mammagram and surgery the week after or so..i got used to 'fast track'...however you need to wait for awhile anyway if not having chemotherapy for surgery operation to heal--although that was so straight forward for me that wasnt really an issue.  living in the country and a trip planned just add to the liguistical challenges

    best wishes