| t cancer radiotherapy is at best an ordeal and at | | | | every day. The Western General in Edinburgh where |
| worst a living nightmare for many women. | | | | I had all my treatments has a fantastic set up for |
| The worst moment after being told you really do | | | | radiotherapy patients. There is a dedicated car park |
| have cancer is being told you will need chemotherapy | | | | next to the unit and you are guaranteed a space or |
| and radiotherapy as treatment to fight the disease. | | | | they will valet park your car. This was amazing and a |
| Having been there I know it’s shocking and I | | | | big weight off my mind as your appointment only |
| felt I just simply would never cope with it all. I'm | | | | lasts five minutes and you have to be there in time |
| writing this article and describing my experiences in | | | | as the machines are in use constantly. |
| the hope that it will make it easier for others to | | | | The actual radiotherapy lasts a few minutes and is |
| cope. If that applies to you then my thoughts are | | | | painless-quite relaxing really. Some people find the |
| with you - good luck on your journey. Be strong and | | | | treatment very tiring. I didn’t, but I think if |
| you'll see it through. | | | | you’ve had chemo first then your perception |
| My own breast cancer treatment regime was to | | | | of tiredness changes! The going to the hospital every |
| consist of four treatments of FEC chemo, four | | | | day is a bit of a bind but use any mental trick to |
| weeks of radiotherapy treatment then four | | | | over come this. |
| treatments of Taxotere chemo. This would all take | | | | After a few weeks of treatment the skin over the |
| the best part of ten months. | | | | treated area can become very red and fragile. No |
| Having survived the first part of the chemo ( just! ) I | | | | soap or creams should be used as these can make |
| went into my radiotherapy a bit bruised and battered. | | | | your skin even more sensitive. This does clear up but |
| The first thing that needed done was going to a | | | | it did cause discomfort for a few weeks. The skin on |
| simulator to have the very complicated process of | | | | this area will always be more sensitive and sun should |
| marking out where your treatment would be. This is | | | | be avoided. It’s also worth mentioning not to |
| done with lasers and details of where your tumour or | | | | forget the exit area – mine was on my back |
| tumours were. Small tattoos are then done to mark | | | | – where the radiotherapy exists your body |
| out the treatment area. This enables the machine to | | | | during treatments. |
| be set up very quickly every day during treatment. | | | | Radiotherapy treatment, for me, was the least |
| I mentally decided that for the four weeks of | | | | unpleasant of the treatments I went through. At the |
| radiotherapy I would treat it like a job. It took 45 | | | | outset it seems daunting but really it’s not |
| minutes or so to drive to the hospital and back | | | | – honestly! |