Driving to and from radiotherapy?

You should be fine driving to and from when having radio. 

From my experience, it’s nothing like IV chemo. 
I only got my partner to take me because of parking as it used to stress me out ha!xx

Thanks for your reply. Tbh, the parking is atrocious at our hospital too, but they do offer a free park and ride (but I might try to snaffle lifts when I can if I go this route) x

Hi NicW,  I had 20 sessions of radiotherapy after my op and chemo.  I drove myself and didnt find it too bad.  Hope this helps.  Good luck.

Lee x

Hi. I've been reading here since my diagnosis ER+HER- ... stage 2 mid 2022. This is my first post!!!

I drove alone to/from every oncology-and-related appointment... from mammogram to my mastectomy; drove to/from all chemo ... then to/from Radiotherapy for 15 sessions. Always alone. 1½ hours each way. The drive cleared my head, if that makes sense ...

NHS did not charge parking while undergoing *active treatment* (follow up clinic appnts parking was charged).

I didn't feel a THING during Radiotherapy. Terrible bone pain ... that I still get & have strong meds for flare ups.

Take care of you and try not to over think worries (says me who at the time was stunned shocked & saddened). The Onco team are truly fantastic. Good luck. *Blows Kiss* 

Let me clarify ... bone pain only started 3 or 4 months AFTER Radiotherapy... and in my knees legs hands. 

Did you start a hormone blocker too? I start Radiotherapy on Thursday, and also Tamoxifen on the same day.                      I’ve been told to expect bone pain too, amongst other possible side effects, but from the hormone blockers?

Hi. Yes - Anastrazole has bone pain side effect on some - ditto my Abemaciclib. And yes I did drive to/from Radiotherapy. For 3 years to all onco related clinics: consultants, surgeon, mastectomy; m-grams, bloods, MRI, PET, Xrays, nuclear Bone Scan, bone Density scans ... to bloods ... drove myself to/from. Still do.

YES bone pain actually clobbered me. But NOT immediately ... i start to feel a slight pain .. then it builds up to an awful crescendo within 36 hours ... usually a day/night in tearful pain - then it subsides. IMPORTANT to note it's MY symptoms and NOT standard/regular. A lovely woman I often see gets bone pain, adding "but nothing like you describe". Mine just happens to be v bad - particularly hands elbow should hip & knee.

My husband is lucky to be alive after significant Staphylococcus Aureis (MRSA or Hosp Superbug) 12 yrs ago. He nearly died twice: stroke h/attack respiratory failure  Kidney failure and had speech aphasia ... 9months in hospital & struggles with Kidneys. I SWORE I'd never complain about me and never want him to see all of us cancer girls looking like death warmed up. My determination helped me be far more practical and although devastated inside - I am so glad I did not allow Breast Cancer to turn me into a perpetual victim - and I write that with utmost respect/recognition to you & all blighted by this difficult diagnosis.

Also had lymphodema for first 8 months. Compression arm sleeve a great help. These bad symptoms DO PASS!

Constipation was my WORST that started 2 weeks after 1st chemo dose. I took EVERYTHING suggested ... and eventually ordered 6-pack home enema. My Onco asked "are your bowels better?" Me: "Oh yes. 2 chocolate coated cashew nuts this time" Sounds yuck .. haha ... but honestly it did the trick as I could go up to FOURTEEN days (that was once) bunged up. After home-enema I used a suppository every morning until my gut normalised.

Bottom line: our bodies are taking in critically important but potent drugs to fight the disease. There WILL be side effects. Don't give up. Like chemo sessions - it doesn't last forever and is all part of our cancer package.

Keep smiling. Keep going. Keep questioning and keep doing it"! I wish you well. Sorry so long xxx 

I'm crawling back under my safe rock. I've said enough. Cancer shocks everyone in our orbit & lots of those we know in that orbit, are alsp afflicted or affected. A few people don't say a word about it - I respect that. Others talk all the time ... equally respected (or else helpful forums like this wouldn't exist). My view is "no-one gets out of Earth alive & no-one's journey is same as anyone else's". The progress in cancer research is astounding. It's OK to feel morbid or low at times just as it's fun to do whacky things & share special moments with others. Don't beat yourself up after a few restless nights. They happen. I get out of bed & make a (caffeine free) hot drink in kitchen - stretch my sleepy dog's eyelids open ... and only get back into bed sometimes an hour later. During treatment, quality often supercedes quality of sleep. Wishing you "strongs" & ... forward march!!