Radiotherapy

Hi Everyone,

I have now finished 13 sessions of Radiotherapy 15 to go. All the staff have been very helpful and caring which makes for a pleasant atmosphere. Travelling and appointments mainly going to plan although the last couple of days were not expected weatherwise, snow in March quite a blizzard when travelling there but got through it ok.

So far main problem has been diarrhea which started around the 8 session, not bad enough for medication but intrusive throughout the day with the worse time early morning. Unfortunately quite sore around the anus area, had a meeting with Radiotherapy nurse and Macmillan nurse after my 10th session and they recommended aqueous cream so trying that. Think the diarrhea is also affecting my hydration when I have early appointments  (7.30am) as although I am drinking a lot approx a litre and a half a good hour and a half before my appointment plus another half litre on the way there still not going through in time to give a full bladder for the Radiotherapy so hanging around until it's full, not sure what else I can do, took an hour yesterday before ready.

The other problem has been the dilator which I was given by the nurse at the meeting on Wednesday they explained I needed to start using every day for the rest of my treatment and once a week once finished. I started in the afternoon and found it caused a bit of bleeding, the following day a bit more I phoned to speak with my CNS who said to stop using for a week then start again. However, yesterday was awful a lot of bleeding with some small clotting which was rather frightening I spoke with staff at the hospital before my Radiotherapy and they advised me to speak with my CNS again, when I arrived home phoned and left a message but hadn't heard by lunchtime so felt rather unsettled and phoned the Macmillan helpline and spoke with a nurse who was very kind, when I explained my problem she asked when I had finished my Radiotherapy I explained I was only on session 13 and she seemed surprised as she said in her experience the dilator was usually only used once treatment was over but she said they probably had a reason for starting early, but thought the bleeding was due to the dilator irritating the tumor. Anyway my CNS phoned back in the afternoon and confirmed it had irritated and not to use again and would speak again at the next meeting in a couple of weeks. I didn't mention I had spoken with the Macmillan help desk as thought it may look as if I was questioning her expertise, but will see how things go at the next meeting. Have to say I felt rather fed up last night it seemed to have been one of those days yesterday. 

I unfortunately couldn't get my Brachytherapy appointments changed to earlier dates, had a meeting with the senior Radiotherapy nurse at the beginning of my treatment but she said the advice they follow is to have a 7 to 10 day gap after the Radiotherapy to allow the bowel to settle before starting Brachytherapy, I mentioned how Marmite had hers slotted in between Radiotherapy sessions but she said the advice they follow would not allow that, so will have to followed their rules, although she said Brachytherapy is a much gentler treatment and not as invasive as just targets the inner area so hopefully should not have the reaction Radiotherapy causes, here's hoping.

Anyway onwards and upwards, if anyone has any tips that may help me on this journey it would be greatly appreciated.

Take care all.

C xx