Radiation Therapy
It's all been very quick diagnosed with stage 1, grade 1 invasive breast cancer, ER+ then appointment with surgeon 2 days later, lumpectomy and removal of two lymph nodes 4 days after seeing surgeon. Currently day 3 after surgery, home recovering. Get results on lymph nodes and margins next week. I'm trying not to think too far ahead, but ... I worry about radiation (been told 5 days a week for 4 weeks) and how it will affect me as I work full-time. Any advise on what I can do to make the next stage of treatment easier and what to expect ☺️
Surgery and Radiotherapy
Hi guys So, my lumpectomy is scheduled for Tuesday 31 March. Just wondering what recovery time to expect and when do they usually start radiotherapy. Im the type of person who likes to be prepared and have a rough time frame so I can organise myself and my work commitments. My boss is very understanding and says not to worry about work and concentrate on getting better, but I need to be organised. Any insights would be appreciated.
Flu Vaccine
It’s that time of the year with flu season coming up. I had planned to have flu shot before starting radiotherapy . I made enquiries with breast care nurse if I should go ahead and get vaccine. My information was if I had a flu shot it could be a problem if my lymph nodes were swollen the radiotherapy may be delayed. I will now not get flu vaccine until after radiotherapy. Hope this info helps.
Not sure
I was diagnosed with invasive ductal BC stage 2 ER+PR a couple of weeks ago lymph nodes do not seem affected for now ( biopsy was negative). My breast are small and MRI showed ~4cm cancer. I was wondering if mastectomy + reconstruction and possibly no radiation therapy was better than lumpectomy + radiation. Not sure what to do🤔Radiation, driving and fatigue
I was hoping to hear about any experiences of driving and fatigue while undergoing radiation. I've been told to be aware of fatigue. The radiation oncologist and nurses have raised concerns and eyebrows when I've told them it's a one hour drive door to door, so two hour round trip x 15 sessions. I'm also maintaining hope that I can continue working part time in an outdoors job where lately I'm doing 14k+ steps a day. Ultimately I'm going to see how it goes. I'm not going to break myself. If I get too tired then I have backup people to help with the driving (public transport isn't an option around here), reduce my activity at work or take leave, or get accommodation near the hospital for some of the sessions. I'm wondering if some people have got through radiation without fatigue? Or if fatigue has occurred has it affected driving? And how fast the fatigue appears - might you have been okay one morning and zonked in the afternoon?Radiation Side Effects Broken Skin Tips?
Hi everyone. I am on day 8 of post radiation and the skin in my under breast and just below breast in the crease has peeled and is basically red raw. Is truly distressing and awful. I have large breasts so it's so hard to manage due to the weight. I am putting on StrataXRT and trying to let it dry by lifting the breast up but when working and walking around it's so painful and is so red and sore. I wanted to ask you all if you have any tips on this and how long it takes to stop weeping and breaking off? I got very upset about it as is so horrible and will be speaking with my nurse but wanted to reach out to the community to ask for any advice or similar situations. Hope I haven't over shared on the details of the horribleness.Radiotherapy and exercise
Hello everyone - After a DCIS diagnosis and lumpectomy with a re-excision I now have clear margins and, although I could have refused radiotherapy, I have opted in as it is still standard treatment. And I wasn’t prepared ‘to roll the dice’ as my surgeon put it. I will have about a three-quarter hour train commute and a 10 minute walk each way from the train station. So all up I reckon it’s going to be three and a half or so hours each day. I have heard that exercise helps combat the fatigue. My question is - yoga? I’ve found a fabulous YouTube yoga by Lisa Moore which is about thirty minutes, gentle stretches etc. Walking I could definitely do in fine weather. I also have a rowing machine at home that I enjoy. Have people kept up resistance training while going through radio? I work four days a week but I can be fairly flexible about hours. Any survival tips welcome!
