The exercise point is a really good one. It is so tempting not to take any when you are suffering from fatigue. I battle with this almost daily and would say that in particular taking several short walks instead of one long one is the way to do it. I have to be really ill - bed bound with a fever - not to manage it and always feel better afterwards even if I’m tired. I do one when I wake up, pre eating anything (very good for you - from everything from blood sugar control to curbing inflammation) then after every meal. Resistance training too - when we hit peri menopause keeping up muscle strength is so hard but so important! Stronger muscles = easing of any symptoms including fatigue but very hard to regain once lost. I worry for everyone on weight loss injections because of this. Not sure a lot of them realise.
Agree - weights and resistance training are so important post-menopause. Huge endorphin infusion as well as all the other benefits (including actual muscles!).
That's a great tip - I must try doing more shorter walks - one long one with the dog knackers me out for the rest of the day. Wonder if carrying the baby counts as resistance training too?!
I'm amazed that I was working at Edinburgh university when you were a student and didn't see either Pantomime Boy or Marie Antoinette in George Square. Either would have brightened my day.
Lots of good recommendations for life in general. I'm a great fan of Weleda Baby Calendula face balm for winter. Also their non-aerosol spray deodorant in citrus or sage. Slipped up on sun screen today - thanks for the reminder.
Ha! How brilliant that you were working at the university too! I did sometimes wear normal clothes too, we might have crossed paths on one of those days 😂
Ah good to know another rec on the calendula balm!
Thank you so much :) Now to keep up with all the good resolutions!
I've just recently subscribed to your Substack so had no idea you've been through this. My treatment finished about 15 months ago (surgery and radio too - reading your diagnosis post I had virtually identical symptoms and was told there was so unlikely to be cancer as I was too young (41) - until they told me it was). But anyway, you've written such great tips here for anyone else having breast radiotherapy. I can absolutely vouch for MooGoo Udder cream (!), drinking copious amounts of water, focussing on nourishing foods and minimising ultra-processed, and absolutely the exercise factor - walking and strength training has been invaluable, and building in time to rest too. Am on Tamoxifen for the next 4-9 years and I'm definitely feeling it. But, this whole experience did give me the impetus to leave my stressful job and become a gardener - the best thing I've done. I hope you are doing ok following all this, and thank you for sharing so much of your experience 🩷.
I'm so sorry you went through all this too - and at such a similar age to me! So glad it was spotted for you (eventually) as well. But how wonderful that you're now a gardener and away from your stressful job - the dream!
(Finding it quite hard to keep up with all the good resolutions esp with the Letrozole turning me into a grumpy slug - sympathise on the Tamoxifen)
I had a shoulder replacement after trashing my rotator cuff completely, because I had to wait three and a half years after the damage, it’s taken nearly a year to get reasonable movement from it, so I can definitely empathise over that! And as I didn’t get much done in the garden, trying to sort that out is fun, and good exercise, even if frustrating to find I’m not nearly as strong as I used to be. It does help being retired, and having an albeit, small pension from nursing. Dogs and our horse get me out of bed now, all grandchildren are over 21 these days! So no child minding, just the odd (large) meal for the grandson who is a tree surgeon, digger driver, etc.
Aah the dogs and horse sound like fun in lieu of smaller creatures! Sometimes I do wonder how good gardening is as exercise as am always hunched or bending in awkward positions, but so many other benefits I wouldn't be without it either!
Oh it’s all exercise! I have to say, being retired has been the greatest fun, I wish I had the energy to fully utilise it!
I think, that’s my life, enjoy it! Do the things that make your soul sing! And suck up the gross bits, with plans to enjoy things later, or as we say here, drekkly. Drekkly is sort of like manyana but without the urgency….
Thank you so much, I'm sorry to hear you have friends going through this, and wish them the best for a smooth recovery. Finding out that 70% + dark chocolate has a ridiculously high polyphenol count and is therefore actually good for you was immensely cheering through the whole thing!
Thanks for this article, I've been on the same cancer journey. as you and a friend from France who had similar treatment gave me a tube of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ and it was a complete game changer for my radiation chest. She told me they issue it in the hospital in France after treatment. Best wishes for continued recovery and good health.
I'm so sorry you've been on the same (rubbish) journey too - thanks so much for the Roche Posay tip, am always hunting for new moisturisers and have been meaning to try their products for ages. Sending the same to you, very best for good health, and a continued and joyful recovery! xx
Ah hope you enjoy both, and the meditation & videos! Gamechangers all. It occurred to me I unconsciously remodelled my living room to look more like the one in the Joe Wicks video!
Oh this is brilliant. Thank you. My breast cancer is a gnarly one. Chemo first, then surgery, then radiotherapy. Midway through part one, so hadn’t thought ahead to the radiotherapy too much - but great to read this and get ahead.
I’ve just started a monthly publication here - please check it out! 🙏 As I scoff from your recipe books at least once a week, I feel a bond ☺️
But that reminds me of my old Edinburgh boarding house mistress telling me that in life, “It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.” 🙃
I'm so sorry you are going through all of this - I just read your latest 'Notes from the Herd' on the masks we wear, and it was fascinating - a new field for me, will v much look forward to next month's post! Must admit I haven't finished War & Peace, though my mum loves it. (And the movie version with Audrey Hepburn!)
Thanks so much for dipping in! Tolstoy is fabulous - but I might go for his short stories next (though I hear they’re also pretty bleak 🫤 so might shoot for something lighter before I do) xx
Oh gosh! I hope it was as stress-free as possible - the lying very still takes some getting used to! Wishing him all the best for the treatment and recovery :)
What a fantastic article should be given as a leaflet so gets read and not left in the boot. Great real advice for real life. Going to change my “is there anything I can do” to actual help for a friend having read your article. Thanks for giving me the push to offer practical advice x
So helpful Mini. I read this when you originally posted. And THE DAY AFTER I was diagnosed with cancer. So I'll be heading down the radiotherapy route very soon... (on my neck so not the same as you - but I'll bet your advice still stands!!). I went looking for this post and it's now saved for when the time comes.... xxxxx
Such good advice!
The exercise point is a really good one. It is so tempting not to take any when you are suffering from fatigue. I battle with this almost daily and would say that in particular taking several short walks instead of one long one is the way to do it. I have to be really ill - bed bound with a fever - not to manage it and always feel better afterwards even if I’m tired. I do one when I wake up, pre eating anything (very good for you - from everything from blood sugar control to curbing inflammation) then after every meal. Resistance training too - when we hit peri menopause keeping up muscle strength is so hard but so important! Stronger muscles = easing of any symptoms including fatigue but very hard to regain once lost. I worry for everyone on weight loss injections because of this. Not sure a lot of them realise.
Agree - weights and resistance training are so important post-menopause. Huge endorphin infusion as well as all the other benefits (including actual muscles!).
That's a great tip - I must try doing more shorter walks - one long one with the dog knackers me out for the rest of the day. Wonder if carrying the baby counts as resistance training too?!
I'm amazed that I was working at Edinburgh university when you were a student and didn't see either Pantomime Boy or Marie Antoinette in George Square. Either would have brightened my day.
Lots of good recommendations for life in general. I'm a great fan of Weleda Baby Calendula face balm for winter. Also their non-aerosol spray deodorant in citrus or sage. Slipped up on sun screen today - thanks for the reminder.
Sending lots of good health wishes.
Ha! How brilliant that you were working at the university too! I did sometimes wear normal clothes too, we might have crossed paths on one of those days 😂
Ah good to know another rec on the calendula balm!
Thank you so much :) Now to keep up with all the good resolutions!
I've just recently subscribed to your Substack so had no idea you've been through this. My treatment finished about 15 months ago (surgery and radio too - reading your diagnosis post I had virtually identical symptoms and was told there was so unlikely to be cancer as I was too young (41) - until they told me it was). But anyway, you've written such great tips here for anyone else having breast radiotherapy. I can absolutely vouch for MooGoo Udder cream (!), drinking copious amounts of water, focussing on nourishing foods and minimising ultra-processed, and absolutely the exercise factor - walking and strength training has been invaluable, and building in time to rest too. Am on Tamoxifen for the next 4-9 years and I'm definitely feeling it. But, this whole experience did give me the impetus to leave my stressful job and become a gardener - the best thing I've done. I hope you are doing ok following all this, and thank you for sharing so much of your experience 🩷.
I'm so sorry you went through all this too - and at such a similar age to me! So glad it was spotted for you (eventually) as well. But how wonderful that you're now a gardener and away from your stressful job - the dream!
(Finding it quite hard to keep up with all the good resolutions esp with the Letrozole turning me into a grumpy slug - sympathise on the Tamoxifen)
I had a shoulder replacement after trashing my rotator cuff completely, because I had to wait three and a half years after the damage, it’s taken nearly a year to get reasonable movement from it, so I can definitely empathise over that! And as I didn’t get much done in the garden, trying to sort that out is fun, and good exercise, even if frustrating to find I’m not nearly as strong as I used to be. It does help being retired, and having an albeit, small pension from nursing. Dogs and our horse get me out of bed now, all grandchildren are over 21 these days! So no child minding, just the odd (large) meal for the grandson who is a tree surgeon, digger driver, etc.
It’s all happened much faster than I expected…..
Aah the dogs and horse sound like fun in lieu of smaller creatures! Sometimes I do wonder how good gardening is as exercise as am always hunched or bending in awkward positions, but so many other benefits I wouldn't be without it either!
Oh it’s all exercise! I have to say, being retired has been the greatest fun, I wish I had the energy to fully utilise it!
I think, that’s my life, enjoy it! Do the things that make your soul sing! And suck up the gross bits, with plans to enjoy things later, or as we say here, drekkly. Drekkly is sort of like manyana but without the urgency….
Sending a lot of love and grateful for the article as I will share with friends who are having similar experiences
Thank you so much, I'm sorry to hear you have friends going through this, and wish them the best for a smooth recovery. Finding out that 70% + dark chocolate has a ridiculously high polyphenol count and is therefore actually good for you was immensely cheering through the whole thing!
Thank you for sharing this – all so helpful and wise x
Thank you so much x
Thanks for this article, I've been on the same cancer journey. as you and a friend from France who had similar treatment gave me a tube of La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ and it was a complete game changer for my radiation chest. She told me they issue it in the hospital in France after treatment. Best wishes for continued recovery and good health.
I'm so sorry you've been on the same (rubbish) journey too - thanks so much for the Roche Posay tip, am always hunting for new moisturisers and have been meaning to try their products for ages. Sending the same to you, very best for good health, and a continued and joyful recovery! xx
Sending much love, and thank you for sharing! xx
Thanks so much. Your sister's tips were wonderful xx
😘
Put deodorant and udder cream on my shopping list. Signed up to yoga meditation and might do the exercise video. You are becoming my go to influencer!
Ah hope you enjoy both, and the meditation & videos! Gamechangers all. It occurred to me I unconsciously remodelled my living room to look more like the one in the Joe Wicks video!
Oh this is brilliant. Thank you. My breast cancer is a gnarly one. Chemo first, then surgery, then radiotherapy. Midway through part one, so hadn’t thought ahead to the radiotherapy too much - but great to read this and get ahead.
I’ve just started a monthly publication here - please check it out! 🙏 As I scoff from your recipe books at least once a week, I feel a bond ☺️
But that reminds me of my old Edinburgh boarding house mistress telling me that in life, “It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.” 🙃
Hey ho:
https://open.substack.com/pub/joanhaig
I'm so sorry you are going through all of this - I just read your latest 'Notes from the Herd' on the masks we wear, and it was fascinating - a new field for me, will v much look forward to next month's post! Must admit I haven't finished War & Peace, though my mum loves it. (And the movie version with Audrey Hepburn!)
Thanks so much for dipping in! Tolstoy is fabulous - but I might go for his short stories next (though I hear they’re also pretty bleak 🫤 so might shoot for something lighter before I do) xx
Couldn’t be better timing - my husband is having his first dose of radiotherapy this morning!
Oh gosh! I hope it was as stress-free as possible - the lying very still takes some getting used to! Wishing him all the best for the treatment and recovery :)
What a fantastic article should be given as a leaflet so gets read and not left in the boot. Great real advice for real life. Going to change my “is there anything I can do” to actual help for a friend having read your article. Thanks for giving me the push to offer practical advice x
That's so kind, thank you! x
Thank you so much for all the excellent advice! As always, you’ve managed to tackle a difficult subject with wit, charm and humour. Thank you!
Ah thank you! That's so kind of you x
So helpful Mini. I read this when you originally posted. And THE DAY AFTER I was diagnosed with cancer. So I'll be heading down the radiotherapy route very soon... (on my neck so not the same as you - but I'll bet your advice still stands!!). I went looking for this post and it's now saved for when the time comes.... xxxxx