Stupid question!

Hi Doris58 

Define not a stupid question . I will link in Kareno62 who might be able to shed some light on it but I also note she has added some information on this post !

 https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/new-here-say-hello/227598/radiotherapy-care-top-tips

Hopefully others will be able to address this for you . I also noticed you were worried about a full bladder . I looked at some of the nhs guidance and if you Google radio therapy for rectal cancer nhs there is lots on line about the process of creating a”comfortably full “ bladder and how to achieve this . They seem to ask you to empty your bladder on arrival and give you a specific amount of fluid . Some hospitals also seem to give you guidance on the amount of fluids to use each day so I think they will guide you in this area .

Please do ask questions . There is always someone around or our helpline staff have lots of information too . 0808 808 0000

Take care ,

Court 

Hi Doris58

There are no stupid questions!

I know each patient is different, but for my rectal tumour I was on my back. They will have a bed configuration for you from  your 'test scan'. Mine was feet in sockets with knees raised together, foam triangles under knees and you head in a foam head shape socket. All very comfortable.

The gown in my case was then lifted to the chest so naked below that but they swiftly cover your bits with a dignity tissue! I'm sure the staff have seen it all before!!

They will go through everything with you and it's nothing scary at all. Once set up on the bed the radiotherapy took 5-6 minutes of the machine rotating around the bed. You are on your own for this period as they need to leave the room so stay still just daydream!

Hi Doris58 and a warm welcome to the board. There’s no such thing as a stupid question so ask anything you like - even the embarrassing!

I had chemoradiotherapy and had to lie on my front with a full bladder - they asked me to drink 2 cups of water before each session. My friend however had to have an empty bladder. The tricky bit is if there’s a delay - I desperately had to go for a wee one time and then they promptly called me but when I told them they just said to have another couple of cups and they’d call me again in 10 minutes.

The actual treatment takes about 10 minutes. You will be tattooed with some tiny dots (doesn’t hurt) and these are used to line the machine up with the area to be treated. It whirrs around a bit and you’re done. I asked for early morning appointments to try and avoid any backlogs/delays.

The radiologists are lovely and check that you’re coping ok and I think I was checked over by a nurse mid treatment to make sure my skin wasn’t getting sore or anything.

The radiotherapy shrank my tumour by 75% and I’ve been ‘no evidence of disease’ since 2016.

Glad you’ve reached out to us and we’ll be happy to help and support you through this

Take care

Karen x

Hi Karen

Pleased to hear you are well!

Just to note the tattoos are a thing of the past, well for me they were at Rbh. They used red laser beams to align the bed once on it. They told me not to put on or loose weight during treatment as the alignment is done by body shape!!

Hope this is what I heard, you know how it is!!

Richard x

Thanks Richard and thanks for posting - I’m always conscious that my treatment experiences are probably a bit dated now. Sounds like the token dignity paper towel still exists though  x