I am going to have a CT scan tomorrow ready to start radiotherapy. I am worried about the treatment. What's it like? What happens? How will I feel? I will have 21 days of radiotherapy and I don't know what to expect
Hi Millie17 welcome to the forum. Please don't worry you will feel nothing at all from the treatment.
The CT scan is to ensure that the Radiotherapy gets targeted to exactly the right area and they give you a couple of little tattoos. Dont worry these are 2 small dots but do talk to them about this as when done they are permanent but no bigger than the tip of a pen.
The CT scanner looks like a big donut and open at each end and you slide into it on a moveable table.
The first Radiotherapy sessions take the longest as they have measurements to do and if I was you I would just lay there and let them do their stuff I never understood all the numbers they said but then I didn't need to its so that you are aligned up on the table that you will lie on with the Radiotherapy machine. the machine swirls around you but not very near you and there may be noises etc but thats ok its just the machinery. There will be people in the room with you when you are getting lined up with the machine but when the treatment starts staff will leave the room and they can talk to you through speakers in the room.
Do drink plenty of water before the treatment and after and keep drinking plenty as the skin can dry out quickly.
Do not use any creams on your skin unless advised to do so by the Radiotherapy team as you may notice the area becoming red during the treatment. Skin can break down so do tell them if you have any discomfort they can help with that.
I noticed that I got very tired about day 10 of the treatment and you may find this as well its a tiredness that you just need to rest with and do listen to your body in this.
Nearly there with the end in sight for you. Best Wishes xxxxx
I had 15 days back in Oct 20 so not as long as you, but the process will be the same.
the treatment doesn’t take long, a couple of minutes really - most of the time is spent waiting or being moved about to make sure you’re positioned correctly. You’ll get some tiny tattoos tomorrow ( I have 3 - they look like tiny freckles) to help them line you up each time. The main thing is to moisturise as much as possible to reduce the chance of getting too red and sore. Your team will provide their preferred cream (every hospital seems to have their favourite!). I also found keeping a pot of aloe Vera gel in the fridge was very soothing to cool things down after each session.
You may find that towards the end of your treatment you start getting tired and that can last several weeks afterwards. I was able to drive myself every day and worked all the way through with the worst of the tiredness hitting a couple of weeks after I’d finished. But everyone’s different
I hope that helps - do ask I& there’s anything in particular you’d like to know - I’m sure someone here can help
