My husband is currently having palliative radiotherapy.
He hasn’t been promised any further treatment but needs to ‘build up’ in the four weeks post radiotherapy to discuss immunotherapy possibility after a scan in four weeks.
He’s in so much pain it’s proving impossible for him to eat much more than three small meals and he’s now coughing up what I can only describe as wet charcoal.
Any ideas what this could be?
Has anyone experienced severe pain immediately on having radiotherapy? We were expecting a slight rise in pain for a couple of days a week or two post radiotherapy but it began on day one.
Hi Delilah27 I feel sorry for your husband, I remember the radiotherapy burn well, it is a horrible feeling and not one that is easily described to others. It is an internal burn, so the best option to try and ease this pain is to cool it down. Lots of ice lollies and ice cream helped me. I don’t remember what I was coughing up, as I had really nasty stuff that I was coughing up prior to my treatment anyway, but I do know that that stopped after the treatment and I hardly cough at all now.
My side effects did not start straight away though, I had 5 sessions in one week and I didn’t start to feel the effects until a few days after. Please do just check with your husbands medical team that this is all ok and it is what they are expecting to happen. It doesn’t sound like an infection, but I am no way a medical expert and feel it’s best to rule that out.
That is very unfortunate that the radiotherapy team have been so unhelpful. I think a call to the GP will be good. The radiation builds up in the body, and this continues for some time after the treatment has stopped. I was given pain killers by my GP, sorry I don’t remember the name it was such a long time ago, but I know they were not over the counter tablets, so I think a call now is advised.
It is so difficult when you do not get on with your medical team. You can ask to see another oncologist if you are not happy with yours, but please let me assure you that the treatment plan is not decided by your oncologist alone. This is why they hold weekly MDT meetings, where a group of oncologists and medical experts discuss each case to see what treatment is best. Your husbands treatment will be a group discussion based on his current health and the best treatment options available for his diagnoses.
