My husband finished 14 sessions of radiotherapy last week - we knew the side effects would kick in this week but it's been worse than I expected. He's not eating or drinking and sleeping all the time, bad throat and neck pain, aching and bad head. We have cocodamol for him to take, but worried about him getting dehydrated. Advice welcome.
Hi Kiki58
Welcome to the Online Community here at Macmillan. I hope you find it a helpful place to access support and ask questions. My name is Vanessa and I am one of the information nurses.
I am glad to see you have joined a couple of our online forums. Many people find the peer support of others in similar circumstances reassuring to have.
I’m sorry to see your husband is struggling after his radiotherapy. I’m not clear where the radiotherapy was targeted but the side effects you list are common.
Here at the Macmillan Support Line, we can give general advice and support. We are independent from the NHS and don’t have access to medical records so can’t give personalised information or recommend treatments.
It is important that your husband’s hospital team are made aware of how he is currently feeling, and we would advise that you contact them without delay to discuss this further.
If you have a helpline contact number you could use this, if not you could contact the radiotherapy department or his allocated nurse specialist.
This is important to ensure a more detailed assessment can be undertaken, specific advice given, and additional medication prescribed as required.
If you cannot reach any of your husband’s treatment team then please do contact his GP as his symptoms do sound like they need reviewing.
Over the bank holiday weekend if you feel the symptoms are worsening or your husband is becoming more unwell, please do use the helpline number if you have been given one, 111 go to A&E or call 999.
I hope you find this information helpful. You can also always call one of our nurses directly if you want to talk over your concerns or require any further support.
Take care.
Vanessa G, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.
Ref: VG/AR
