Post Radiotherapy and chemotherapy

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I completed my joint radio and chemotherapy on 24th January. This was to reduce a rectal tumor (3cm) and blitzing the surrounding lymph nodes.

i have been more unwell since completing treatment especially with diarrhoea which I’m trying to control with Imodium

I have lost my appetite so have been drinking supplements and having one meal a day which results in me having the diarrhoea

It did say that my symptoms may worsen initially- is this what other people found.

I have telephone appointment with the oncology team on 21st February. I presume they will let me know if the treatment has successfully shrunk the tumor as we were under the impression that they would want blood test and anther scan, but have not been advised about this yet.

I feel that I struggled to have any rapport with any one at the QA we saw a different person at each review and obviously a stream of different nurses and radiologists. I have mainly kept to my own counsel throughout this process and have talked with my family. Maybe I should be more proactive in asking more questions but I do struggle with this.

I now wait to see if I can now go on the waiting list for my surgery to remove the tumor for good and all that entails

Kareno62 over 1 year ago

Hi Saints4ever and good to hear that the first stage is behind you. I have read other posts where people have felt worse after the treatment finished but began to improve after a couple of weeks? The chemoradiotherapy continues working for several weeks after the physical treatment ends so you may find you have a 6-8 week gap before scans, bloods etc.

I remember having meetings with lots of people before starting treatment but it eventually became pretty much between the surgeon and oncologist. Have you been allocated a colorectal support nurse? Mine was really helpful and would be there if I had any questions and the stoma nurses were great too. Have you been told that you might need a stoma?

My tumour shrank 75% from the chemoradiotherapy and hopefully you will have had a good response so they can remove it with clear margins. We’re always here to share advice and answer any questions and, if you click on peoples names, then their profile page may show their treatment to date. The support desk is there too if you wanted to chat to someone in person?

I hope your bowels start to settle down soon and your next meeting goes well - please keep us posted?

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

Saints4ever over 1 year ago in reply to Kareno62

Hi Karen

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Back when I was told my results and treatment plan I was introduced to my colorectal nurse. At the time I was obviously coming to terms with what I had been told.

I just find it hard to talk to strangers as I have had no contact with anyone at our local Isle of Wight hospital just at the QA where we literally arrived for treatment then rushed to get home as each round trip would take 4-5 hours depending on boat times. We never really had the chance to access the MacMillan support at the hospital because we just wanted to get home.

I am relieved that my recovery after treatment is pretty normal and look forward to better days ahead.

I think I need to ask more questions

Mandy

Lucy1382 over 1 year ago

I did feel quite rubbish for about a week after the same treatment/condition- but the improvement when it came was dramatic.. I just woke up one morning (after crying my eyes out about it the night before) and felt HUMAN again! So hopefully this will happen to you too.. I'm now dealing with brachytherapy but the side effects are nowhere near as bad and not swallowing those damn chemo tablets has seriously helped! I've been able to go out for dinner and travel. Hoping better times kick in for you soon..

Also, they tell me the treatment has really wreaked some revenge on that tumour, so hopefully you will get good news.

I did find though that I had to ask questions at every consultation- for example, nobody told me what my follow up plan/gaps between finishing radio and starting brachy would be until I asked! Quite often the situation changed anyway-ie the gap shortened from four weeks to two and I'm not sure why and my oncologist appears to have forgotten why he did it!), but at least I had a bit of a "roadmap"...