Practical support for radiotherapy

Hi

Radiotherapy has one draw back for most, it causes the runs, with me after twenty sessions I had it only on one day, I’ve heard others a bit more, eating habits should not change although they mention eating biscuits like rich tea and having whole meal bread, try not to eat spicy foods.

The actual procedure he lays on a thin bed while the machine goes round him, targeting the prostate every so often in stops fires the beam then moves again, it takes around twenty thirty minutes, very harmless he will feel nothing.

wish him all the best, out of all the treatments this is the easiest of them.

Stay safe.

Joe

He will probably be asked to drink 600ml of water half an hour before his treatment. This is to push the bladder away from the prostate to try an minimise the radiation damage. He may also be asked to self administer an enema (I didn't have to do this). It would be worth buying some incontinence pads or pants as a precaution.

The first week will be a breeze but he will probably start to feel very tired from week 2 onwards. An afternoon nap will be a good idea.

The most important thing is to listen to the radiology staff and do exactly what they tell you. Also to tell them if he has any problems as they will have seen them before and will be able to offer treatment.

I hope that helps and do let us know how he gets on.

Have a look at my profile and follow the link at the end.

Thank you for replying. I will pass all this on to hubby. I really appreciate your advice. Good luck with your health. Stay well and happy. Thanks again J

Thank you Seamus for replying. At the moment he is very strong brave and stoic and i am over thinking and worrying. I really appreciate your advice and wish you well with your health. Thank you J x 

Hi

In my experience the RT process is boring - even more so with COVID  restrictions as, I imagine, you wont be able to attend with your husband. I guess every hospital is different but I was only on the 'bed' for a maximum of 5 minutes- and that was when it broke down - which it did often! That said, I had to allow 2 hours at the hospital. 

As mentioned, pay full attention to what the RT team tell you particularly about diet. Ask for a diet sheet - the hospital I attended didnt automatically offer - and stick to it rigidly.  I took the view that a few sprouts and a couple of glasses of wine at Christmas lunch would be fine - it wasnt!  So long as I followed the diet sheet all was fine. Ignoring the advice was the only time I had any problems.

There is lots of information on this site which will help with any side effects - it's a shame I didnt find it before I had RT. 

The RT continues working for a few weeks after the last hospital appointment, so be careful about throwing away the diet sheet too soon.

Tiredness and fatigue are an issue. It has taken me best part of a year to get my fitness level back to where it was. An afternoon nap, as mentioned, will help but when it's all over get him to exercise as well - anything will do. It will help get back to normal quicker.

Hope all goes well - RT really isnt anything to worry about.

Regards

Stuart

Another issue is 'bowel regularity'.

It's important the bowel status (preferably empty) is the same every day, so that the prostate is not pushed out of position; if your husband is a once a day regular man, he won't have an problem, if he isn't, it's something to be thinking about now, and something to discuss with the RT Team.

Hi Ju23.  Your husband should be called to a planning session first where you will get more information. He will be told about how much to drink beforehand. I took squash in a bottle to drink and started in the waiting room as each of the four machines at the hospital I was at had a board in the waiting area to let you know if the machine you were assigned to was running on time or 15,30,45 minuets or an hour late. At the planning they tattoo three small dots (one on each hip and one central ) so you can be aligned easily using lasers. It's all very easy and a chance to lie down for 10 minuets. I was lucky to have few side effects and I hope it's the same for your husband.

Best of luck  Reg.    

Thank you so much for replying..also thank you for the very helpful information..i am worrying hubby is quite chilled and says we will just face it. I just want to do what i can to help him. Thanks again x ju

Thank you Stuart..i will pass that onto him is the diet to keep bowels regular? Sorry for the personal question. I think i better hold off the batch cooking till i know whats what ! Thanks so much ju

Hi Ju

The hospital advised  that 80% get loose stools and the rest constipation ( happy to be corrected). As a result the diet they recommend is to stop the loose stools. But they will of course have a solution if your husband gets constipation. So for me and the rest of the 80% the diet is to stop irritating the bowl. So as little roughage as possible - no brown bread etc - any green leafed veggies and no alcohol. I personally find onions also dont help. The RT irritates the bowel so anything you can do to avoid this from food will help.

Everything you have learned about what one should eat isnt on the diet sheet. I'm not suggesting its Macdonalds every night but that's what it will feel like. Others have said avoid spicy food and I couldnt agree more - plain is best!

One other thing. Work out on your route to the hospital places you could stop to use the toilet - it could be a life saver. I was stuck in the the loo ( fortunately at the hospital ) for 15 mins - not funny if you havnt anywhere to go. ( Apologies for the bluntness)

Hope this helps!

Regards

Stuart