Start treatment in 2 weeks. Any advice for newbie

Hi Dougalandpoppy,  I'm sorry that you have the need to find us but now that you have I'd like to wish you a warm welcome. I was diagnosed with the same as yourself but s2. I can vividly remember how I felt through the early weeks of my diagnosis and so I think I can guess how you are feeling at the moment. Our type of ac is highly treatable and curable so hold onto that as I do. I am now 5 weeks today post treatment. I too had Chemoradiotherapy mine was 28 sessions over 5 1/2 weeks. The time actually went quite quickly and although I was very nervous before the treatment started I soon got into the routine of daily hospital visits and it helped me focus on something other than that diagnosis. I'm sure that you will have been told that there are side effects to the treatment but you will have all the help and support you need from your Radiotherapy team and nurses. Everyone I know on this group has had relatively the same side effects but some of varying degrees. And we help, advise and reassure each other. There are some very knowledgeable people in this group that have been a Godsend for me even just to let off steam now and then. I can only say about your upcoming holiday is that I would have a word with your hospital but without wanting to sound negative I wouldn't be able to take a holiday anytime up to now or in the near future.  But as I said we are all different. I'm of no doubt other members will be with you soon and will be able to help and advise x

Hi and a warm welcome to the Group. Mecca has already given some good advice.  In relation to whether you will be able to work, it all depends on your reaction to treatment and the type of work you do.  The chemotherapy tends to be well tolerated, the only side effect I had was feeing nauseous from day 2 to 7 of chemo. The side effects of radiotherapy build up, I felt the effects from about week 4, which were diarrhoea and tiredness. Will you be able to continue to work from home, one of my main issues was having to be relatively near a toilet, particularly in a morning. Could you also discuss working reduced hours with your employer during treatment (assuming you're not self-employed?) I have a full time job which is mentally demanding and I simply didn't have the concentration to work during treatment although I did log on and do some work unofficially but it was as and when I felt up to it.   Personally I wouldn't have felt up to a holiday the week after treatment as I would have been too tired but everyone's different.  Hope the treatment goes well, please come back on for any other advice or help. Bev 

Hi ,

You’ve already had great responses by Mecca & 1in1500 so I’ll not repeat, I just wanted to say welcome & please just ask if you have any other queries or questions. Like you I was caught early & diagnosed stage 1, if you click on my user a you can read a little about me there.

Regarding the holiday I guess it’s just a case of wait & see, the 2 weeks or so following your last treatment are usually when the side effects peak, personally for the 11 days after my last treatment I did very little other than alternate between the sofa, bath & bed, I was quite sore & totally exhausted, after that things were on the up. 

Nicola

Thanks Nicola and good to read your story and experience and results. I guess it’s a bit of wait and see and hope for the best. Cheers for the support. Dx