15 days

[smokingboot]

5 sessions of radiotherapy on the breast, 15 each on the lymphs under the arm and by the neck. All to start in the new year.

The list of side-effects is daunting but it lowers the odds of return from 10% to under 1%. I'm on drugs for the next 5 years at least, mammogram a year.

I'm beginning to think this may be serious.

Comments

[flemmings]

I'm all for lowering the odds on a recurrence. Survive.

[smokingboot]

Yes. Survive.

Exactly the wisdom underlying my acceptance of the treatment.

[house_wren]

I had radiation and did not have trouble with my skin at all. I also took anti-estrogen meds for 5 years and didn't have a problem with it. I hope this is your experience too. If you do have a problem; the providers may have ways to improve the situation.

I still get mammograms every year. It's 8 years on.

Honestly, one of the things I hated the most was all the stupid comments I received. One was, "You got cancer because you didn't love your breasts enough." Yeah. Right. It helped me to meet some other patients so we could have a good snark session together.

[smokingboot]

Thank you for your reassurance here. It's very comforting to hear from someone who went through it and didn't have a problem. Lifts me up, especially after I freaked out at the list of side effects!

I'm glad it's 8 years and steady for you, but appalled at the stupid comments you mention. Why do folk try this blaming rubbish? People have in general been kind and aware with me; the nearest comparison I had was from someone who told their cousin - who also had breast cancer - of my condition and reported the cousin's reply as 'tell her she's lucky.' One wonders exactly what such comments are meant to achieve.