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Re: Cost of private radiotherapy
I have had 25 days of radiotherapy here in the SW of WA which counts as regional and I haven't paid a cent, even though I have private health fund. I have had mine with Global Diagnostics, probably a good idea to phone around
6 years ago Place Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
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Re: Urgent Removal of tissue expander
I have had mine in for 11 months now doing chemo and radiotherapy which I wasn't expecting. will be glad to get it out in Sept (after birth of grand-daughter). It's uncomfortable and I didn't have the full amount injected to expand, stopped after my second chemo session it was all too much for me. I think I will be glad to have done it but the past 10 months have been tight and uncomfortable.
6 years ago Place Surgery
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Re: Fearful of Letrozole - side effects
I started letrozole a week after I started 25 sessions of radiotherapy 12 weeks ago. I have suffered some nausea (my oncologist says this is not related to the medication) who knows, I am chewing on Buderim ginger lollies when I feel it is coming on. In the past couple of weeks I am getting quite painful joint pain and swelling fingers in my hands that has woken me at night and I now need to take my wedding rings off before going to sleep. It seems to settle during the day although my hands are stiff and I have been taking regular panadol osteoporosis (2 tablets, morning, afternoon and evening) plus rubbing fisio cream into my hands and finger tips. I also have peripheral neuropathy in my fingers and feet from 6 months of chemo. My yoga teacher showed me some hand yoga (mudras?) to do which stretches fingers which I am doing when I am a passenger in the car or just sitting at night watching TV. I never expected all these side effects and thought that I had managed the chemo very well (didn't get nausea etc) and got through the radiotherapy and now the whammy of side effects from letrozole. I know it is well researched to keep the cancer at bay for suppressing oestrogen. I am going back to the oncologist in 3 months whilst all of this is being monitored (gabapentin for the PN). She said it could be changed if the side effects were unbearable but I will see how I progress. As my daughter who is a consultant physician doctor says, "well mum you are still alive...." On at the good side, I got clear scans last week (after mastectomy in Aug with Lobular C) so that's VERY GOOD NEWS! Just the reconstruction op to have in Sept after the birth of my grand-daughter!
6 years ago Place Hormone blocking therapy
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Re: Peripheral neuropathy - getting worse despite ending Taxel after 6 treatments
I finished chemo (6 months course) end of January and started to suffer with PN the last 3 to 4 sessions so the dose was reduced for the last 3. I have completed 6 weeks of radiotherapy (25 sessions) and the PN is no better. My oncologist put me on neuropentin (3 times a day) which I will take for approx 6 weeks until I see her again to report in. I also have some tingling in my finger tips (very irritating as I play the ukulele!). I have dropped a few things and am taking care with my walking and particularly up and down stairs at home. My sister has been giving me some reflexology treatments as we can't have those outside of our homes at the moment. I think keeping feet warm is beneficial (I sleep with my electric blanket on before I hop into bed to keep my legs,feet and back warm. Occasionally the PN seems less bothersome so I am hopeful it will improve over time.
6 years ago Place Side effects
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Re: Nobody told me I’d look like Teen Wolf
Just read this post as I have finished radiotherapy last week and now on Letrozole for 6 weeks. I have noticed a fine downy covering over my face in the past couple of weeks (hair growing back on head nicely) plus some darker bits like side burns. I have just had it all waxed off, it's ok, had no problem with facial hair before. I read that some people on Letrozole get a downy facial hair covering (hmmmm another side effect to manage).
6 years ago Place General
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Re: Starting Letrozole, stomach gripes and other side effects
Thank you I am persevering. Probably try and bring back the taking of the medication to earlier in the evening not just before bed. I am still having radiotherapy (13 more days to go) so am looking forward to finishing the treatment 7 May! Best wishes, hope you are travelling ok, it's all very challenging for us
6 years ago Place General
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Re: Starting Letrozole, stomach gripes and other side effects
It's all so very individual for us, working through a maze I think. Yes the COVID is making us more anxious as we are going through tough times anyway. Best wishes to you all on this journey that we didn't want to take. I am feeling a bit better this new week and plodding on with the radiotherapy almost half way there!
6 years ago Place General
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Re: Starting Letrozole, stomach gripes and other side effects
Thank you Caz for these reassuring comments. Yes I think I am finding it all a bit more challenging and wish I has finished the radiotherapy now. I have been feeling a bit better since I wrote the post above so keeping my fingers crossed it will settle down.
6 years ago Place General
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Starting Letrozole, stomach gripes and other side effects
I am at day 9 (tomorrow) of Radiotherapy (25 sessions) and started Letrozole 7 days ago. I have gone to bed (take my tablet then) and woken twice now with stomach aches and then diarrhoea. Last night it was 2am before I went back to sleep. I thought it might be the effects of the RT but now realise it's probably the medication. I have read all the info on this site and see there are lots of side effects of inhibitors. My husband is FIFO too, I am feeling a bit flat this week after managing with a positive attitude since my mastectomy last Aug. I suppose COVID is not helping either? My oncologist wanted me to go on a trial but I just thinks it's all too hard now (can't drive to Perth at the moment either)
6 years ago Place General
coping
letrozole
radiotherapy
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About to start radiotherapy
I have just had my planning session for radiotherapy on my right breast (mastectomy in July 2019, tissue expander now in place) I was worried about having the tattoos but they were just a scratch. The CT machine closest to my home (I live in SW WA) was not able to do the scan so I had to travel a couple of hours closer to Perth. All ok there though. Apparently the images are not so good with the magnet in place on my tissue expander but the newer machine was good. It was just a wasted journey, a week after chemo. So I am hoping I can get some good tips from those of you who have been through the radiotherapy journey (I think I have 25 daily sessions).
6 years ago Place Breast reconstruction
chemotherapy
radiation
tissue-expander
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