Treatment

4 replies
184 subscribers
458 views

Feeling really upset went yesterday to meet my oncologist to talk about my options, as I had a operation three weeks ago to have a stoma after finding I had rectal caner

while in hospital was told I would have 5 radiotherapy session’s over five days then my operation by my surgeon which I had made myself except. Yesterday it all changed

oncologist says it’s five weeks Monday to Friday plus chemotherapy tablets ,could take 10 weeks after completing that before my op is this what happens scare off excepting this as I am scared it will change again ? Has anyone else this and how did you cope with conflicting information thank you

court over 2 years ago

Hi Fraser1

So hard to change direction when you have your head focused on one treatment plan as they suggested.

Certainly around here it’s more commonly reported to have the longer stretch of radiotherapy although some people do have the five days and I have no idea what drives each plan . Definitely a question for the drs .

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/bowel-colon-rectum-cancer-forum/f/new-here-say-hello/227598/radiotherapy-care-top-tips
However I have linked in a thread you might find helpful .

I will also link in Kareno62 as she has direct experience and I am sure you will find it helpful to hear her experience.

Take care ,

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

Fraser1 over 2 years ago in reply to court

Thank you

Kareno62 over 2 years ago

Hi Fraser1. I can’t comment on why the change from 5 days to 5 weeks but I know 4-5 weeks radiotherapy alongside a low dose of chemo tablets is pretty standard treatment for a rectal tumour. The tablets enhance the effect of the radiotherapy which is used to shrink the tumour as much as possible before surgery.
I had this treatment in 2016 and it shrank my tumour from 4cm to 1cm. It also stopped the bleeding that I was having and the size of my stools increased. The radiotherapy continues working for several weeks after the physical treatment stops hence the wait before surgery.

I had the tumour removed in November 2016, follow up chemo in 2017 and my stoma reversed in 2018. I was discharged in 2021 when my 5 year scan showed no evidence of any cancer.

If the change for 5 days to 5 weeks is still bothering you then you could perhaps ring your colorectal support nurse for an explanation?

Take care

Karen x

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

Fraser1 over 2 years ago in reply to Kareno62

Thank you it’s was hard but think I have got my head round it now ,it’s nice to hear someone else journey. Still a bit scared of all the side effects there seems to be a lot keep saying to my husband I can’t do this it’s been quite a month had a ankle op in a moon boot then in the same week had to go in to AE with pain and loose stools within a week had moonboot and stoma .