Radiotherapy

If you have a look at my profile, I also had mets to the lung, had an ablation in March 22, no treatment since and all clear so far.  I am scanned every three months.  It is very very hard when they tell you that there is spread, but you are doing the right thing keeping your positive head on.  Anything I can help with at all, please just shout out.

Irene xx

I bought this one

First Days Maternity, Collapsible Sitz Bath - sorry for some reason I can't post the full link.

I think they are all pretty similar.  I only recently consigned mine to the bin!

Irene x

Thanks for that. Was just looking at some, then realised our toilet is a bit of a square shape so thinking would it fit!!

Oh thanks for that, helps to hear from others who are in a similar position.  Just want to get this weeks appointment done, then hopefully radiation booked in. Not sure if they will start the chemo first as I think the radiation may take a few weeks to start, but hopefully will have a better plan after Wednesday.  Thanks again. 

Hi Irene, just read your profile, glad you're doing well, it has given me a more positive feel reading what you went through. Thankyou.x

I had a quick scroll through Amazon and there are quite a few that claim they fit any shape loo - worth checking out x

Hi JDTb698a5,

So sorry to see you joining this group but glad you are here because of your diagnosis. You will not find a group anywhere like this one! You will find so much knowledge, sharing and encouragement that you just don't see in other places. I learn something new every time I am on here.

All that time from diagnosis till treatment starts will make your head spin for sure, let alone the first moments after you hear the word cancer, you just go numb.

For me, they lined up my chemo to start with radiation. My medical oncologist's goal was for me to start on 7/7, however the radiation team was not ready until 7/28 even though I had the radiation simulation on 7/2. Which was fine for me because I wanted them to take the time they needed to pinpoint that beam as much as possible.

As far as the sitz baths, check with your team next week about what all supplies you may need to purchase before you start treatment and rattle off some of the ones you have heard of (like the sitz bath). When I did this with my team they told me they would supply the sitz bath if I end up needing one.

My suggestion too is to make a list of every question, comments, and concerns before every visit with your doctors. As they are going thru all this info with you the conversations can get side tracked very easily in a completely different direction. Then go over your list before you leave to make sure you did not miss talking about one of yours.

It will be a huge relief once you finally get that date to start treatment and an even bigger one once you actually start!

Hugs & prayers,

Crissy

Hi Crissy, thanks for all this. Yes I will check what they might supply. I have been making a list of things I want to know over the last week so hopefully am slowly getting organised.

I have been under Haematology consultants for a long time as have a form of Leukaemia which I have had 13 years but needed treatment at the start of the year due to Spleen size & haemoglobin levels,so always went armed with a list of questions.  Fortunately the treatment has put it back into remission  within the last month, so thats one less worry, it's not an aggressive type so back on just nitoring now. x

Dear Irene, 

I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2021 and had surgery with stoma and chemo. I had a CT scan in June this year  and they said I had developed 3 lung nodules. They are planning to treat them with ablation.

I wondered if you could tell me a little bit about it. Did you have a GA and how long was your recovery?

Many thanks

Carog

Hello Carog

I had the ablations a week and two weeks after finishing the radiotherapy/chemo.  It was during Covid so I couldn't have visitors but I was only in for three days, it should have been two but each time I had extremely low blood pressure and was kept in an extra day.  I had a GA, and with the first ablation came to in a lot of pain, this was caused by a pneumothorax (collapsed lung).  But the staff were wonderful and I was dosed up with even more drugs and although I could only breathe with little gasps, the pain had definitely subsided by the evening.  I had a drain in to expel the air, that barely hurt, either when it was in place or when it was removed. The same thing happened with the second ablation but again I was well looked after.  I tell you this, not to alarm you but to forewarn you that pneumothorax is a very common occurrence after an ablation.  And by the next day I was almost back to normal (apart from the low blood pressure) and had got over it.  Recovery was very very quick, although I was taken to the exit in a wheelchair I was able to walk with my husband to the car. I was still going through the after effects of the chemo/radiotherapy which were much worse!

I hope that the ablation does the trick for you, the consultant I saw was very positive about the outcome and I am over three years clear apart from inflammation in one lung which they assure me isn't cancer.

The very best of luck, please let me know how you get on.

Irene xx