Radiotherapy/chemotherapy treatment

Hi @Etta J and welcome to the board. Chemoradiotherapy is used in a lot of cases to shrink the tumour. The chemo side of it is used to enhance the effect of the radiotherapy and a much lower dose than would be given post op for example. However there can still be side effects and I found that, towards the end, my feet were becoming a little sensitive - it felt like I was walking on sand - although this did wear off once my treatment stopped.

I was given a bag of ‘goodies’ to take away from my pre-treatment meeting including immodium, diarolyte , anti-sickness pills, shower wash and cream for the area being treated. It’s important to use the cream that they give you on the area being treated as you don’t  want to risk using something that might contain any metal particles like a zinc oxide cream.

The radiographers and medical team will keep a close eye on you and check if you are having any side effects. For sore hands and feet they usually recommend Aveeno with Shea Butter which you can get at the supermarket or a lot of people swear by Udderly Cream (!) which you can buy online. 

It’s good to drink a lot of water and the chemo tablets must be taken with food although I can’t remember being given a specific diet. I’ve attached a couple of booklets which you might to have a quick look at?

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments-and-drugs/radiotherapy-for-rectal-cancer

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/YourPathway_BowelCancerUK.pdf

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/EatingWell_BowelCancerUK.pdf

Hope everything goes well

Take care

Karen x

Hi Etta J I had chemo radiation for 5 weeks Sept/Oct last year, I had Avery good response, but my anxiety was bad. So some effects might have been due to that. I did get fatigued, I think when you go for the run up to it you drink water so much, so when they called me in I had to empty my bladder then drink the 4 cups of water, although it doesn’t take long when you’re having the treatment I had to wait 40 minutes before going in after drinking the water. I did feel sick and a bit of diarrhoea. They gave me stuff for that. I had to take 10 chemo tablets a day. Because it’s early are they going for curative? I found the staff at the hospital so lovely. I did lose my appetite,but they want you to keep your wait because where the tattoos are they match them up every time you go. I wish you luck and sending hugs x

Hi Karen, 

Thank you for your reply and all your advice, it is really appreciated. 

I’m a little nervous waiting for my treatment to start but I’m hoping it will go quite quickly once it does.

 How did your treatment go? I so hope you are doing well now. 

Sharon x

Hi Nelly, 

Thank you for your reply and advice, I really appreciate it. 

So pleased to hear that you had a good response, I hope you are doing well now. 

Yes, they are going for curative. I suffer from anxiety too so the wait for treatment to start is very hard for me. I just want to get it over with now. 

X

@Etta J. Hi Sharon. I found the treatment fine. I had to lie on my front with a full bladder and seemed to be fine although my friend who had to lie on her back with an empty bladder struggled with a burning sensation towards the end. My tumour shrank from 4cm to 1cm which was good. I’m not sure how old you are but the radiotherapy can cause infertility and early menopause but I’m sure all this will be discussed with you.

I found the treatment went quite quickly - the worst part was travelling by car, then train, then bus to the hospital in Leeds then back again. I used to ask for an early morning appointment so there was less of a backlog then go into work after.

I had a clear scan last May and it was my 4 year anniversary in November. It’s not always easy but it is doable

Take care

Karen x

That’s great news Karen. I’m so pleased you are now cancer free. 

I will be lying on my back with a full bladder. They haven’t mentioned anything about menopause but that could be because I’m 50 and finished the menopause 2years ago. 

Thank you so much for replying to me. It’s all very worrying but reading your story has filled me with optimism and I feel so much better about facing my treatment now. 

Thank you. 

X

Hi Etta J. I had 5 weeks of chemo radiotherapy March to April 2019. I was diagnosed with rectal cancer 2 years ago today at a colonoscopy. I didn't have much in the way of side effects but I had dry skin where my treatment was. One of the fabulous radiographers at James Cook hospital recommended that I used Fairy washing products to wash my clothes which I still use. I didn't have sore hands and feet then but I  had surgery in July 2019 followed by  chemotherapy for 6 months when I did have sore hands and feet. For this I used Dermalex repair + restore ultra hydrating moisturizer which I bought from Boots.

Thank you for your reply and advice. I’m busy stocking up on things to get me through my treatment so any advice on what to use is most appreciated . 

I forgot to ask on my original posting did you, or anyone else that reads this, have to take laxatives before your daily radiotherapy sessions? 

Hi Etta J . 

I didn't take anything before my treatment. They give you anti sickness  and anti diarrhoea tablets at your first appointment. You will know if you need to use them. Everyone is different in how the treatment affects them. You will know if a d when you need to take anything. The radiotherapy only takes a few minutes. For me the travelling to the hospital was more stressful than the treatment as we don't have a radiotherapy department at Darlington Memorial hospital I had to go to James Cook  at Middlesbrough.

Love Kim xx

Hi Etta j,  after the treatment finished I had to wait 8 weeks o get scanned. All the inflammation should have gone and they get a better picture. They thought I still had cancer there, so I was scanned a month later and it was clear. Now I think I have to go back every 3 months. I’m  still feel anxious hope that goes in time. Take care let us know how you get on. Big hugs to you x