Just had my first pelvic radiotherapy session

Hi TickingT . I'm still here. Happy to help if I can. Best wishes.

Hi Rily, thank you for replying.  Hope you doing ok.   So I did post this query under another subject heading but have been trawling through other threads and its useful to connect with others who have been through Pelvic R.    So I know that ideally the bowel should be as empty as possible for pelvic radiotherapy.   I had 2 failed scans because my bowel still had too much in it .. despite having had several BMs beforehand and also success using enema at hospital.  I was really shocked. The team then asked me continue using laxatives before the  3rd scan attempt - the result was marginally better.  The team now want me to use double doses of laxative before I start radio.  One or two days whilst on laxatives I had 6 or 7 BMs each day - it seems really drastic!!   So just searching around to see what experiences other people have had in preparation for a)scan and b) treatment itself.   There does seem to be some variation between treatment centres and their approach.  Whilst I have your ear, can I ask if you were able to drive yourself to appointments?  I am hoping to drive myself to treatment as its about 25 mins drive each way.  Kind wishes TickingT

Hi TickingT . Although my RT was to the bladder, I believe most pelvic treatments have similar side effects. For the planning scans I just needed to empty my bowels normally and didn't need any laxatives. No need to empty bowels for treatment.  I had 6 weeks of daily radiotherapy (Mon-Fri) and no side effects during treatment. Erratic bowels for several weeks after treatment finished.  Treatments were painless and lasted about 15  mins. It was a 60 mile round trip for me and i was transported each day by the NHS volunteer ambulance car service. This is free and arranged for me at my planning session. Driving would have been possible, but I got really tired towards the end, so not ideal for motorway driving. Best wishes.

Hi Rily

Thank you for your reply.  My goodness you did have a long journey to your treatments and not surprising that it became a tiring experience.   Interesting to hear about your experiences, many thanks.  Kind wishes, TikingT

Hi TickingT 

I also had pelvic radiotherapy (32 sessions) and had a failed planning scan for the same reason as you did! No-one had advised me in advance to have an empty bowel so I was sent home with suppositories and returned the next day where the planning scan was successful. 

I didn’t have to use laxatives at any point through my treatment-by week 3 the explosive diarrhoea started so there was no need! I can’t drive so was driven daily by my partner(70 mile round trip). I would not have been able to drive myself due to the length of the journey, fatigue and urgency to use the loo! However, it’s different for everyone so others might have managed much better.

Good luck with your treatment.

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah.  Thank you for sharing about your radiotherapy journey.   I have just been to see my consultant re some other treatment he wants me to have after radiotherapy - its the gift that just keeps on giving !!   I asked him about the laxatives I am having to take and .. unbelievably have been given prescription for another one to take alongside it.  Warning .. here comes more graphic description.  Apparently there can be a 'log' stuck in bowel system that just doesnt shift and softer poo manages to around it and exits as per normal.  So it would appear I have a log.  I would not know this as no pain, no discomfort, no flatulence.    I think they literally want me to explode !  Thanks again for replying and I hope all is well with you now x T

Hi TickingT 

Don't worry about the graphic info-I live with colostomies and poo chat is part of life for me.

Yes, it’s odd isn’t it that you can have waste inside you for years without it moving and without you knowing about it? Our bodies are amazing things really. I’m doing ok at the moment-thank you for asking. 

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah.  Am surprised that they didn't ask me to do a bowel cleanse for a day but maybe that's too drastic.  I imagine you have had that experience.... not pleasant !!  Glad you doing ok x T

Actually I’ve never had to do a bowel cleanse, despite having my rectum removed as part of larger surgery. Who knows what they found in my surgery when forming my colostomy and urostomy but I wasn’t even advised to have an empty bowel before my op! 

Sarah xx

Well Sarah.. you have missed one helluver treat ;-)    6 pints of laxative drink taken over course of 6 hours .. nothing happens for first 2 hours and then .. oh my goodness..   !! x