The Chilly Towel - wrap it around your pillow
I have for many years used a body pillow (very long pillow 148cm x 50cm) to help with back issues when I lie on my side. Since bc and rads, I find that my chest gets so hot with the pillow pressing up against that area. Before I started rads, I found this product called the Chilly Towel. https://chillytowel.com.au/ invented by, you guessed it, a bc survivor. It's a big chamois that you keep slightly damp and in the fridge when you're not using it. So I have now discovered that if I wrap the Chilly Towel around my body pillow, I have beautiful cool comfort against my chest at least for some time while trying to fall asleep. It doesn't drip like a face washer can, but it does leave my nightie a little damp - very bearable in summer heat. It can of course be used for many other things to help keep you cool. I have had it wrapped around my elbow to help with inflammation and of course on the rads site. Keep cool everyone!
Alternative treatment
I was diagnosided with stage 1 breast cancer 3 months ago after a supposedly non malignant cyst was removed (the biopsy had missed the cancer), had another operation during which more breast tissue was removed as well as 2 lymph nodes. The nodes were not malignant. I am about to undergo radiotherapy and the oncologist already prescribed Tamoxifen to take for 5 years after the radio. The only side effects he mentioned were weight gain - I can afford to put a few kilos on as I am too thin - and hot flushes ! However after reading the site I realize there is much more to it and I do not feel like taking it at all! I wonder whether I could afford to take Indole 3 Carbinol only instead. I am 60 but have young children 15 and 12 so they need me to be around for a while, and I need my usual energy, and hate the idea of insomnia, mood swings, itchy eyes, dry skin, numbness in fingers, sore legs etc.. I also found out I have osteoporosis. I would like to hear if anyone has tried I3L only for a long period of time, would welcome info and avice as I am new to this, know hardly anything. So far I have felt pretty good and pretended cancer was just another disease and hardly given it a thought but I know that ignoring it won' t make it disappear...
My hair is coming back
A "selfy" of myself after a month following 7 hits of chemo. Still wear the wig when I go out, but it gets hot (hot flushes), My lungs are behaving now, seem to be almost back to normal, and although I am still tired and have an arvo sleep, taking it easy most of the time. I am happy the majority of the time, curious about what the Radiation for 6 weeks will be like, but assume that it will be ok, Love Bel