Radiotherapy break then chemo treatment plan

Hi Monica1234 

I am sorry your mum is going through this. It must be a stressful time for all of you. I have secondary cancer of a different type so I don’t have direct experience. But I noticed your post hadn’t been answered by anyone so I thought I would try to help from my own experience of treatment. I have had both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Although the consultants in both disciplines are called oncologists, they are usually separate people. A medical oncologist deals with chemo, immunotherapy etc, and a clinical oncologist deals with radiotherapy and drugs that can be dispensed but don’t need a trip to the oncology day unit. 

If you look at the appointment invitation it may mention whether it’s with the medical or clinical oncology team. If it’s the former it will be to discuss the plan for chemo, and the appointment schedule will either be communicated then, or following the appointment. If it’s with clinical oncology it will be a follow up on the radiotherapy. 

I had my treatment the other way round and there was a short break between them to allow me to recover. 

 Coddfish 

Hi, I hope you’re doing well.

Thank you for your reply and for sharing your experience.

Unfortunately, Mum has suffered some quite severe side effects from the radiotherapy and was admitted to hospital yesterday with hyponatraemia (low sodium). They are still investigating the exact cause, but the current impression is that the constant bowel urgency and frequent bowel motions have left her dehydrated. It probably didn’t help that she had been advised to keep drinking lots of water at home to counteract the heat and dehydration but now her blood results shows the reverse, and the team think this may have contributed to diluting her sodium levels.

She’s really been struggling, but we’re hoping this is all a temporary consequence of the radiotherapy rather than another setback that could affect her treatment plan.

Also, I somehow accidentally flagged your message, I’m so sorry! I genuinely have no idea how I managed to do that. I think it’s the lack of sleep over the last 24 hours. I also can’t seem to work out how to unflag it!

Hi Monica

So sorry to hear your mum has been admitted to hospital it must be such a worry for you I hope she gets better soon she is in the best place to be looked after to get a full recovery they will monitor everything hope you can get some rest after all the worry let me know how your mum is doing only if you have time

Xxxx

Hi Sans,

thank you for the lovely message. We are really hoping that this is just a slight setback due to  radiotherapy  and wont affect the other treatment plan in future. 

All specialists are working and aiming to correct the hyponatraemia and underpin real cause and deal with the radiation proctitis will be in hospital for atleast few days.

I am sorry your mum is in hospital. It’s not unusual to get admitted at some point during treatment - it happened to me twice. They are very good at working out what’s what and I hope she will be able to come home soon. 

Don’t worry about accidentally flagging me. It just puts the post into the queue for moderation and they are released back if they are ok. It happens regularly. 

Hi Monica how is your mum doing is she still in hospital 

Xxx

Hi Sans! 
she was discharged few days ago, stayed for a week. I must be honest, hospital was very slow in implementing care but she’s home now. She was admitted in a hospital nearby to us as GP referred her there as emergency rather than in the oncology specialist centre though it is the same Trust . Every oncology related queries had to be referred or asked to her oncology team from the other hospital which is good in a sense, but also means a lot of waiting in between. She’s been treated for the hyponatraemia, radiation proctitis, cystitis, iron deficiency anaemia- all suspected as side effects of  radiotherapy! She lost more weight..sihned her up for the oakhouse ready made food as she has limited energy to cook even if she attempts.

Her bowel urgency and tenesmus just very slightly calmed down but thats radiotherapy’s doing.. 
for  CT scan this friday.. and oncology follow up next week- 3 weeks post- radiotherapy. Im hopinh that theh will discuss next plan of treatment- supposed to be chemo..

i hope things will get better for her. I dont want her to lose hope :( i am starting to feel exhausted myself :( but i am trying to be strong too.

hope you are ok xxxx

sending love xxx

Morning Monica

Thank-you for your reply couldn't stop thinking about you and your mum, glad she is home. It must be exhausting for both of your  not only the hospital stay but also the worry. I hope they get her treatment sorted next week and then things can settle down hopefully  and move forward. Please keep me informed when you can. I am doing fine, the heat last week did have effect on me I was mych more fatigued,  my nurse said that was due to the heat as when on chemo you can't regulate your body temperature, I have been back to normal this week with it being cooler. Hope all goes well with scan and oncologist vist.

Try and have a relaxed weekend .

Love and hugs

PS what hospital is your mum under for her treatment.