Radiotherapy

Hi joy, I had a mastectomy and then radiotherapy. When you go to be measured for radiotherapy they'll introduce to the machine, it's actually a bit like something from Doctor Who with it's own room! They lie you down on the table and measure and plot the area that they are going to blast. They might also tattoo the area, don't worry it won't be a galleon! Mine was actually 4 tiny black dots in a kind of diamond pattern, which does fade. 

Your skin is highly likely to burn during treatment, think really bad Sun burn and the skin will probably peel and blister. I was advised to use E45 or another eczema cream, personally I found Sudacrem to be the most effective, non greasy, soaked in really well and after 3 weeks of radiotherapy I only had a small blister, on which I continued the Sudacrem and it cleared up quickly.

Six years on from chemo I still have numbness, tenderness in my fingers and weak brittle nails that split lengthwise. I've heard using dark nail polish can help but haven't personally tried it.

Good luck with the radiotherapy, it really isn't that bad xx

Thank you x

I have finished radiotherapy  in January,  unfortunately  I  live on my own in a town I have lived in for 2 years. I looked after my husband, and had no time to socialise. I am moving into  a retirement complex.  I cant cope on my own. It is the isolation and lonliness. I have a lot of fatigue, my nails split, but since been  put on  calcium tablets, the nails have strengthen. I use E45 intensive care, night and morning, I find this helps. I couldnt have chemotherapy  as I  had no one to look after me, and no way was I was going to do it on my own. I live 30 miles from a Breast Clinic Unit, and 18 miles from the nearest hospital. There is a limit what woman in her 70s can do. I have got my tattoos,  as a reminder, but moving to Eastbourne,  at least I  have a hospital nearby, and peace of mind.. I have had a right mastectomy, and lymph glands remove. I had a lump on the pectoral muscle grade 3. Fortunately , i was told it was caught in time.  One door shuts and another door opens