Radiotherapy: timeline of side effects

Hi 

As you say everyone reacts differently. But I found after 3 weeks I could no longer eat solid food. I was lucky to have lifts to my appointments, but I felt very frail after 3 weeks. 

I hope that helps. It's very hard for the patient and the people caring for them. So, be kind to yourselves and get plenty of rest. 

Ruperts mum 

For me I got a scratchy throat at the end of week two. Week three was a bit of a challenge but it all came crashing down at the beginning of week 4. I couldn’t swallow at all and was fitted with an NG tube and put on morphine. By mid  week five I was on long acting morphine as well. 
Pretty tired right from the beginning but as soon as I was on morphine I slept a lot. I could have driven myself for the  first two weeks but didn’t. 
Lots of people are told that they will feel better two weeks after treatment end. These are the worst two weeks and you don’t even start to feel better till six weeks  

 Is he having chemotherapy? Each chemo session will last all day. 
Is he being fitted with a PEG or RIG stomach tube? 
He will likely need help from the end of week three. 

Isabel03 said:

My relative lives on his own and is starting a 6.5 week radiotherapy treatment in four week's time,

I would add. Has your relative a Maggie’s nearby? He might find them really helpful 

https://www.maggies.org/

Hi The ithers have covered the basics my blog below will take you from the start of my treatment to current time. We’re all different but the norm is around week 3 up til then I was ok . I didn’t drive as sone days my journey by car was 90 mins I couldn’t have concentrated . The kne thjng I wish I had known was the magic 2 weeks after treatments over in reality I’ve been on here 5  yesrs and yet to meet anyone who felt better 2 weeks aftef. Ok my oncologist said he would take a year out of my life but would cure me he did both. But he also said after 2 weeks I would start to feel better 6 weeks after for me was a turning point. Late onset side effects as well.  It’s a marathon not a sprint and don’t refuse a feeding tube. 

Hazel 

Hi Isabel

Week 3 was the time when eating became almost impossible for me, radiotherapy team monitoring led to me being admitted to hospital at the end of week 4, spent 12 days in hospital stabilizing my weight, pump fed via PEG tube. During chemoradio my wife did all the driving, grass cutting, gardening etc...a true heroine for doing all the work and putting up with a moaning partner.

Peter 

Thank you Ruperts mum, the roughly three week's mark really helps with planning. Also, point well taken about being kind to ourselves and resting. Thanks again.

Thank you Dani. He is only having radio for now, no chemo because there is no lump left after the neck dissection, although the oncologist seemed unsure about what to do. Weighing the benefit of the chemo in blasting what seems to be quite an aggressive cancer, with the side effects on an older man (over 70).

He was offered the stomach tube, but wasn't keen on it. They said a nose tube was also available if needed down the line. From what I've read here, it seems like a feeding tube is almost inevitable. Would you say the stomach one preferable (less worse) to the nose one?

I hadn't heard of Maggie's before, thank you for the suggestion. The nearest one is over an hour's drive away from him, but close to where he's having the treatment. They sound great, and I wish he would be the kind of person open to talking and getting support. But there's a reason why I'm here and not him. He's dealing with the diagnosis through a mantra of "ignorance is bliss". He doesn't want to know any details of what's coming up. I completely respect his decisions and way of dealing with things, so of course I won't share with him what you kind people have shared with me. However, if we are to support him as best as we can, we need to know what to expect and how we can help with the physical and emotional rough times that are coming. I hope that makes sense...

Thank you Hazel, it's really helpful to know about roughly how long it takes even after the treatment to start to see an improvement. Definitely marathon. I'm very glad to hear your oncologist managed to do both things he promised, and that the rough times were worth it in the end.

When you say don't refuse a feeding tube, do you any views about stomach v nose options?

Thank you Peter, very helpful to know about week 3. Your wife does sound amazing! Sorry to hear you had to stay in hospital for 12 days. In hindsight, would you have chosen to have a feeding tube put in before starting your treatment?