External Radiotherapy

Did you have any bowel or bladder issues Mandy?  I've read a few things that have suggested it's harder to hold both, with "possible leakage"   (I think that was on this site). There was also an article about someone who carries a Macmillan card as when she needs the toilet....she blooming well needs the toilet....

Chrissie x

No bladder or bowel issues. I 'go' more often than I used to, but that's more to do with reduced capacity from removing part of my bowel. My cancer was somewhere around the sigmoid colon so not as low as yours.

Mandy

Hi Chrissie,

I had the pelvic radiotherapy 18 months ago and am still having problems with bowel movements, I go quite often and when I need to go that is it,I have to go. If I go on long journeys then I always take loperamide before hand and always like to know where a toilet is.Some days I can be fine,but other days,just horrendous. Everyone is different though,its not guaranteed you will be like that.

Best Wishes. xx

Hi Chrissie,

I didn't have radiotherapy but did have a right hemicolectomy and chemo and have exactly the same symptoms as Lorraine.

Withing you all the best.

Hins x

Hi Chrissie

firstly sorry to hear that you have joined this club. But it's a great place to get guidance, and understanding from people that are in a similar situation to you. I had chemoRadiation last year in October and November. 25 sessions. I was 47 at the time, it put me in an early menopause, hot flushes and night sweats started with a vengeance almost immediately after treatment finished, I also had my last period in mid November but it wasn't like my usual ones. I was also given dilators to start using about two weeks after the treatment stopped. I did get burnt and lost most of my pubic hair( wasn't bothered about that). I had diarrhoea during the latter part of the treatment but that could have been the chemo too. Going to the toilet was so painful towards the end of the treatment and I also got cystitis about halfway through. My bum was really sore, but I got these pads from the hospital which really did help with the healing. It was hard but it's also doable.

i wish you all the very best for your treatment. I have had my surgery now, and I am taking a further course of chemo, just done three cycles now so another three to go. Most importantly though my tumour has totally regressed. Good luck for your treatment.

Lizzie xxx

Hi, Chrissie. Members of the anal cancer forum, of which I'm one, have intense pelvic RT. We are well aware of the side effects of this, and some of the remedies! Papillon sounds a great way to go, wish it were possible every time! The type of pelvicRT meted out seems to vary with the hospital. I had the IMRT for which I'm grateful, but others had a less targeted approach giving more collateral effects. Maybe if you posted in the Bumlanders forum you would get more info. Best wishes, Mary.

Thanks everyone.

My consultant has been very vague on this, saying only that I'd need to go to the toilet a litlte more often....but hasn't mentioned this could be longer term, or could be accompanied by other issues either. I'm a skier, a walker, a campervanner (I travel for hours on end) and this really would have quite a significant effect on my life and at the moment I'm erring on the side of avoidance.

Why aren't they more upfront about these things? Yes, we want the cancer clearing - and hopefully not returning - but we need ALL the facts to make decisions on this.

I'm  really appreciating this forum, it's helpful but yet not negative, despite what everyone is suffering.

Chrissie x

Hi -

I've just finished pelvic external radiotherapy (25 5x5 sessions) nine weeks ago and have my follow up scans this week.

The first couple of weeks into treatment I was fine but once the 3rd week hit I started with cystitis like symptoms - that was really painful, the radiotherapy nurse said to pour cold water on whilst on the toilet but I found just having a wad of cold wet paper against me helped a lot. I didn't really have any diarrhoea just a lot looser. I didn't work through treatment and had 4 weeks off after to recover as although I felt ok I got tired really easy.

I also had treatment to 3 sides, no problems with the sides but lost pubic hair, husband says I look as though I've been on holiday as I've still got a "sun tan" and have "pealed" although only on the pubic area !!.

Nine weeks on - I try to make sure I'm not too far from a toilet as bladder still not quite right but getting a lot better, not pain thought just make sure I don't drink a lot if travelling far. My main bug bear is rather a lot of wind, especially at night, can get rather annoying at times. I'm back at work although by the end of the week I feel as though I have done the work of a couple of people and just want to put my feet up for a couple of days

K

Hi Chrissie,

I was given several leaflets and booklets on radiotherapy and side effects,the best one "pelvic radiotherapy in women - possible late effects" was really informative and helpful. Ask if you can have a copy from Macmillan. It must depend on what hospital you are at,or what doctor you have,as I was given so much info,about all aspects,that it was just too much to take in.

Best Wishes.  xx