Hi All
My partner has just started 32 sessions of radiotherapy, following 6 cycles of Gem-Cis chemo. The chemo went much better than anyone expected and the tumours and metastases from his Grade IV muscle-invasive bladder cancer are no longer visible. We know this by no means the end but we are really celebrating the progress! He has tried so hard and stayed focused and went into radiotherapy in a really positive spirit.
After 4 sessions he is feeling edgy - they skipped his education session, so he didn't really get any advice on how to prepare his bladder for the sessions - which are at very different times of day. On day 2 (his first morning session) he had difficulty voiding his bladder and they immediately prescribed him daily Tamulosin to relax the bladder - something he is sure he didn't need (and isn't taking) as his bladder is better than it has been for years. They also muttered about putting in a catheter for the next 6 weeks (!) The following 3 sessions were fine as he is working out how to prepare his bladder himself. Then they started on his blood pressure - which has always been high - and said maybe he should go on tablets for that. He is supposed to have weekly blood tests but the one today didn't happen and when we queried that, they said he should have gone to another part of the clinic for it - which no one had told him. He's feeling quite low now.
I'm sure it will be good when he sees his Nurse for the weekly review on Monday; they have also scheduled an appointment with the oncologist who has worked with him for the past 7 months to discuss the 'issues that have come up'. He feels like the bad boy at his new school - and he is trying so hard to make it go smoothly.
Anyone else had teething troubles with communication in radiotherapy? And any experience of managing high blood pressure and bladder cancer: or tips on preparing your bladder for radiotherapy sessions. And any side effects to anticipate?
Thanks as ever to all of you reading this.
Hi Swan173. Good to know your partner got through chemo with few problems. I went through Gem/Cis and 6 weeks radiotherapy. Didn't have any bad effects from it, but the tiredness does catch up with you as things progress. Bowels became a bit erratic for a few weeks after treatment finished. Can't help with the blood pressure. The weekly consultations are the best time to bring up any concerns. Is your partner having chemo alongside radio? I had a chemo pump at weeks 2 and 4. The main thing is to take on board lots of water even though it may cause frequent visits. It also helps keep things flushed out. With many public toilets now closed because of Covid, it is a good idea to keep a bottle in the car if you drive. I found the a fabric conditioner bottle with the wide neck ideal. Best wishes.
