Radiotherapy - the pros and cons!

Hello there - my other half had "radical radiotherapy"  when he was diagnosed with lung cancer.  The treatment itself wasnt too bad as he just lay on a bed while they pressed buttons.  After tho he was in some pain so be prepared for that - and he couldnt eat properly either so I had to learn about high calorie "soft" foods - My other half Bob said that they didnt prepare him for the amount of pain he was in and eventually he had morphine to help - BUT the pain did subside and he did gradually get back to eating properly.  It was about 6 weeks of pain after treatment - Im not sure if his pain was so  bad because his therapy was "radical radiotherapy" and your husband's may be different being just "radiotherapy" treatment.  Please drop me an email if I can help with anything - and good luck with it all.  Take care

Hi, I'm not familiar with your husband's type of cancer or how radiotherapy will affect him but I can share about my son's experience.  

After my son's kidney was taken out, he had what they called planning where they assessed how many doses of radiation therapy he needed and the exact location on his body where they needed to aim.  He had six days of 5-minute sessions of radiotherapy and according to the protocol he needed to start within 9 days after surgery.  Although the sessions were virtually painless, it affected his appetite and he felt tired afterward just like he had after chemo.

I know it was important to undergo radiation therapy to ensure that any cancer cells left in the site of the surgery are eradicated.

Wishing you and your husband the best.

My husband had all his tongue removed and had 33 sessions of radiotheraphy, monday to friday for just over 6 weeks.  The first couple of weeks aren't too bad but you need to do everything that the hospital tell you.  Start using unscented soap before RT, stop wearing aftershave, do all the mouthstretching exercise's.  Use loads of aqueous cream,  keep your mouth hygenie as good as you can.  They will probably fit a PEG tube which is a tube directly into the stomach where liquid food can be given in case your husband finds it hard to eat.  Mine has a PEG all the time.

The skin will break down and be sore and it will get worse the first couple of weeks after RT has finished but it is amazing how quickly it heals.

Feel free to message me and I'll help if I can.

Shelley

Hello all again - it must be different for each person because with Bob his skin didnt break down at all.  He was in hospital for two weeks while they gave him the treatment which was directed at four locations front chest and both sides and back.  We did get the cream to rub in which I did for him regulalry but the skin remained intact.   Perhaps he was lucky with his skin and hope it all goes well for your husband - it will be tough old times ahead.

Cheers everyone, glad to know others have been through similar circumstances. Tony is bit more optimistic as we have talked a bit more about it all, he already has a peg in anticipation of this next move.  Thanks shezbert for info re creams and following hospital instructions, just got to get the hubby to do it now.  Again cheers all. x