Night sweats after Radiotherepy treatment for lung cancer ..

Hi IUM

What I can tell you about radiotherapy is that it continues to work for a at least 3 months after treatment has stopped. So any symptoms your mum has had will continue, and may even feel a little worse in the weeks after treatment. My oncologist explained to me that having radiotherapy is like having sunburn on the inside, and that really is the best way to explain it. 

She will be anxious about her next appointment, we all get like that I’m afraid. But you are right, it is best to try and enjoy the here and now. I do wish your mum all the very best for results. 

Hi, My husband finished radical radiotherapy In December for a recurrence of NSCLC after 3.5 years and the four weeks after the end of treatment were the worst ... by far ... All the best Judy x

Hi Chelle

Thank you ever so much for your honest and actually reassuring reply which I will show my mother when I visit later today after work.  I think when she was having her daily treatment she felt safe to a point being so well looked after as the wonderful people at Velindre Cardiff do, however now she is to a point back to normal although she is very loved and looked after as she is not only my mum my best friend she has started to feel a bit lost and scared while waiting for her results. I can only keep her spirits up to a point but reading this will be be a big help to her and yes we certainly do enjoy the here and now.

Kindest regards

IUM.

Ps. I wish you all the best and hope you are able to have some peace of mind and better health in recovery especially with your loved ones.

Hi Judy

Thank you for your honest reply to I am very sorry to hear of your husband's recurrence of NSCLC i can imagine it was a tough and delicate time for your husband and you and family I just hope that your husband has been able to have a steady recovery and a better quality of life.

Thank you again for taking the time to reply so appreciated.

Regards

IUM.

Hi IUM

I am sorry to hear that your mum has been diagnosed.

I wanted to second what Chelle has said that the way your Mum is feeling is completely normal. We get diagnosed and are rushed through treatment. Once that daily contact stops and reassurance isn't there, we are then left to process everything that has just happened to us and the reality sets in. Also as said the side effects tend to hit once it is complete so our body is also healing.

The run up to scans is also difficult too. About three weeks before a scan I start to worry about it. I notice every little ache or pain with my body and we assume this must mean that it is coming back and the results will not be good. Most of the time we get the results and they are stable and those symptoms we felt disappear. It is almost like (though they feel very real) that our brain is playing tricks on us.

I would suggest to your mum where she feels able to, to try and do any hobbies she has and take her mind off of them. I find this the best thing for me. People say (and though it is hard not to) to not live scan results to scan results, but actually enjoy and focusing on living. Otherwise you end up thinking of just at three months a time.

Might also be worth going to some support groups too or if you have a local Macmillan or similar a coffee or crafts morning to talk to others.

I hope for good results for you both.

Hi Gina

What great and lovely words and all so true I did say to her that while she was having treatment you feel very safe and cared for and she was part of the Velindre family, but then reality sets in etc. I myself feel very uplifted by all your reply's and know my mother certainly will be...this alone is good support and will print all these off to show her later after work,I hope you are well to with only good things ahead.

Many thanks 

IUM.

Dear All

I have just read out all your replies over the phone to my mother, just by doing that she said it was a weight lifted off her and agreed you are very cotton wrapped while having your treatment as can ask questions all the time with reassuring answers. But after you feel worried and alone [my mother does not use any computers or social media] so hearing all these replies has been a god send to her and cannot thank you all enough.

Thank you kindly

IUM on behalf of my mother.