Radiotherapy week four and Herceptin 7

Verging on scary today as an extension ? arm was put on the machine and a plate slid in with an oval cut out. The machine then came down to within about 2cm above my skin where my scar is. Then there was a wait whilst they re calibrated the machine, after that I got two zaps. Cheryle :)

I had lumpectomy with all lymph nodes removed. Grade 3 triple positive several lymph nodes infected. Radiation to 4 places. Hope you don't need as much as me. Carol

I used bio-oil as often as possible till too sore. Also Creams like sorbolene work well too. Radiotherapy nurses. Very good aat helping treat any issues. Hope you are not allergic to Aloe Vera like I was. It seems booster doses at end are for where cancer was removed hence. Near scar. As. It is 7 years since my treatment not sure what may have changed. Sorry ipad keeps sticking Your pink sister Carol

Thanks for that tip Cheryle, it makes a lot if sense . Hope you don't mind me asking did you have a lumpectomy only. Ive never heard of the last few rads just for the scar. ..so interesting. I have my appointment with my radiation oncologist for the planning tomorrow. I think my mastectomy scar is getting cold feet, ive had a strange cramping sensation above the scar. Not sure if its muscular - I've been doing my exercises as normal so ill ask my doctor tomorrow. Good luck with your hercepton - is that every 3 weeks? Jackie

A big thank you to my pink sisters, Carol and Cheryle for your kind words of advice and information.I decided to make a comprimise with my manager at work and from Thursday Ill be working 4 hours, 5 days a week. After work each day ill head straight off to rads then home for a rest/nap. Hopefully keeoing this routine the fatigue won't take its toll too much. I will squeeze out just enough concessional sick leave & regular sick leave to get me to nearly the end of radiotherapy, so Im thankful. Its daunting but I know I can be strong and get through my return to work phase.I found that when Im fatigued Im more emotional so yes Im taking your advice to rest. Wow even after 7 years Carol, that must be hard but at least its good you can express yourself...so sad to hear that your ex couldnt support you...I think you deserved more:).

Ive been massaging my mastectomy scare and chest with oil twice a day to keep it nice and supple for before radiotherapy starts. Im concerned about the chance that tightness in the arm/armpit might occur, my physio has told me to keep up my exercises that Ive been doing since surgery. A nurse that did one of my blood tests at home here showed me her restricted arm movement & lymphodemia that was the end result from her rounds of radiation. In preparation any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheryle I know what you mean about starting rads because as you say it brings me closer to the end of treatment. Then Im back to my chemo oncologist where he will put me on Tamoxifen for 10 years...I guess thats another story.

Thank you again girls

Jackie

A big thank you to my pink sisters, Carol and Cheryle for your kind words of advice and information.I decided to make a comprimise with my manager at work and from Thursday Ill be working 4 hours, 5 days a week. After work each day ill head straight off to rads then home for a rest/nap. Hopefully keeoing this routine the fatigue won't take its toll too much. I will squeeze out just enough concessional sick leave & regular sick leave to get me to nearly the end of radiotherapy, so Im thankful. Its daunting but I know I can be strong and get through my return to work phase.I found that when Im fatigued Im more emotional so yes Im taking your advice to rest. Wow even after 7 years Carol, that must be hard but at least its good you can express yourself...so sad to hear that your ex couldnt support you...I think you deserved more:).

Ive been massaging my mastectomy scare and chest with oil twice a day to keep it nice and supple for before radiotherapy starts. Im concerned about the chance that tightness in the arm/armpit might occur, my physio has told me to keep up my exercises that Ive been doing since surgery. A nurse that did one of my blood tests at home here showed me her restricted arm movement & lymphodemia that was the end result from her rounds of radiation. In preparation any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheryle I know what you mean about starting rads because as you say it brings me closer to the end of treatment. Then Im back to my chemo oncologist where he will put me on Tamoxifen for 10 years...I guess thats another story.

Thank you again girls

Jackie

It's amazing at about the third or fourth week after finishing Taxol I just suddenly felt so much better. My head felt so much clearer and I was really excited about started Radiotherapy because the end was getting so much nearer. I'm feeling good today 8 rads left! The Herceptin will still go on of course but now I find it to be an enforced time out in a way, it's not physically draining like chemo was. I been getting myself used to going around outside with no scarf or cap on this week and it still feels strange. I hope to feel brave enough in approx. two weeks time to go to work without a wig. (Think extremely large workplace working with the public) I have one week of long service left which I'm hoarding to take when treatment finishes. I was nervous and excited when I went back to work and I'm glad I did. There were times when I thought what am I doing? But again glad I did. Lastly it takes your mind away from the BC and definitely helps maintain a normal routine. Cheryle :)

Dear Jackie,

Must go with the name to have treatment to both sides!

Know the issue with leave only too wel! I was allowed to use my long service leave one week at time for some of  my Herceptin treatments and final weeks of radiotherapy. (normally need written permission for long lervice leave submitted months in advance so someone can be hired/contracted to fill the gap. I only needed 2 days leave but long service has to be taken as full week and by this time had no rec or sick leave left.

I have found schools very supportive institutions. In my case overwhelmed by the supoort teachers gave me and my younger son who was sitting the HSC while I had Chemo 6 of 8. They make sure he had support at school and my older boy changed from full to part time Uni study to take care of the house while hubby went "awol" avoiding any of the work at home including taking me to any other than the very first chemo during my eighteen months of treatment. Now no 2 son has the 2nd lot of HSC students displaying their work this week in his second year teaching it dt etc.

Be prepared for tears and the whole emotional thing. I have tears now and it is 7 years! thought I was over that but exhubby's attitude still hurts.

be strong but know when to give in to what your body is telling you,

your pink sister,

Carol

This has been a very interesting blog Cheryl. I finished TAC chemo 2 weeks ago...feeling good now &relieved that part of the journey is over & proud of how well I did. ..mostly thankful of how fit I was. Scary stuff ahead though now as I need to return to work...admin in a big high school. Ive had 6mths off since my surgery in march - mastectomy rb & lumpectomy lb. I feel overwhelmed at the thought of returning to work some days but I also need some normality back in my life...rather than just staying on the 'medical steam train' as Carol puts it. Ill still be on it by having 6weeks of rads...a week after a return to work. Im blessed to have very supportive friends at work so I feel good about that. My radiation oncologist is ok with me returning to work, but I certainly wont be pushing myself too hard. The advice about rest I will definitely take on board so thanks for that everyone. When it comes down to it, I dont really have much choice with work with only 4 sick days left . I need to try this at least & hope it will give me the self esteem boost I need since the whole ordeal & highly emotional time since my breast cancer diagnosis. I need to try to find me again & gain back some control over my life again. Wish me luck :) Jackie

Envious you could work. Normality is so much easier when one has normal routine rather than the medical steam train pushing one along. Carol