Chemo and Radiotherapy help

Hi CharlieRose9ac65d and a warm welcome to the board. Chemo radiotherapy is often used to treat rectal tumours and can be very successful at shrinking the tumour and zapping nodes. 
At your appointment they will discuss the treatment and tell you what to expect. The radiotherapy is usually daily Monday-Friday with a low dose of chemo tablets to be taken alongside as it enhances the effect of the radiotherapy. I’ve attached a link to a post about radiotherapy that we did a while ago which may help?

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

How quickly the treatment starts may depend from hospital to hospital but I would have thought within a couple of weeks? As I said above, the capecitabine chemo tablets are a low dosage so you’re unlikely to get the side effects that you would get with ‘full’ chemo like capox. 
I found it to very doable and continued working at my part-time office job throughout. Others have found that they suffered from fatigue which increased during the treatment. Diarrhoea can be a side effect and also sore skin around the area being treated. You will be given creams to use around any sore areas and also maybe loperamide to counter any bowel issues. I found the radiographers to be really helpful and always asking if I had any issues.

Its hard to prepare as everyone can have different side effects and experiences but you could make sure you have nice soft toilet paper, food in the freezer in case you’re late home after machine delays, and some nice nourishing cream for your hands and feet as they can go a bit tingly from the tablets.

Hope this helps

Karen x

Hello Karen

Thank you for your detailed reply, it was so helpful. I also read your profile and how amazing you beat it and are all clear well done this gives me hope and am so pleased heartfelt thanks. ️