Radiotherapy

After week 2 things usually start to get rough... though not for all, some do get off relatively lightly.

Good luck 

Peter 

That’s what I had. 
itchy scratchy throat at end of week two. 
Couldn't swallow anything by the end of week three so had an NG tube placed to get food and drugs in. 

About 2 or 3 weeks. I had a peg to get food supplements down as I couldn't swallow. 
Good luck, some people manage to swallow throughout and dont need a feeding tube. Everyone is very different. 
All the best 
Rachel 

Weeks 5, 6, 7 and 8 were certainly the most challenging for me. (Remember, the side effects usually continue to build for 2 weeks after treatment stops.) It’s so important to get your drugs routine sorted out to try and stay ahead of the pain. I had a detailed check sheet next to the mini pharmacy by my bed as it was a 24/7 routine for me including paracetamol, ibuprofen, slow release morphine and occasionally Oramorph. Something I always bang on about too is the importance of trying to get some daily exercise in however crap you feel, both for your physical and mental wellbeing. 
Wishing you all the best. M

Hi Ducklings, like the others have said two to three weeks. is the usual. I would say it's good to protect your neck as much as you can, I used Aloe vera gel on mine, it seemed to help with soreness, only use after each session not before. Good luck with your treatment, any questions, just ask.

Ray.

It is well worth remembering the weeks post treatment can be quite harsh.  I was OK up until the final week, aside from the short lived chemo effects each week.  The last week was when things really built up and then the following 3 or 4 weeks were just as bad with a only gradual improvement towards the end.

I think people are often told 2 weeks post treatment and then expect everything to be back to normal.  It would be much better for our clinicians to honestly manage expectations in those last couple of weeks of treatment as to the recovery process rather than say 2 weeks and leave the assumption that all will be normal after that.

PFJTHS said:

I think people are often told 2 weeks post treatment and then expect everything to be back to normal.  It would be much better for our clinicians to honestly manage expectations in those last couple of weeks of treatment as to the recovery process rather than say 2 weeks and leave the assumption that all will be normal after that.

Absolutely 

A more honest explanation would be that RT has a residual effect for two to three weeks after finish and don’t expect to feel a lot better till twelve weeks; more yourself at six months. Thats exactly what I was told. 

Hi, 

can anyone help? I am on day 5 of radiotherapy and my tongue is slightly sore and my mouth feels sticky. Is this normal so early on?

Usually week 2,  but everyone is different, mention it to radiotherapy team at the start of your next session...they will help.

Peter

Hi normal for you 

It doesn’t mean anything is wrong.