Radiotherapy and hormone treatment side effects

I did at the beginning of my treatment, I’m thinking around first 10 days, couldn’t sleep and when I woke for a wee which increased during treatment, I couldn’t get back but as days passed that seemed to go and other irritations started. 
All in all getting the treatment was simple, but each day when I woke, I just knew I felt a little worse than yesterday. Just a little. And that carried on until probably 3 months after radiotherapy finished. 
Tiredness and fatigue is the most debilitating part of it, now 5 months later I’m still fatigued but feeling like I could do/walk a little more. 

Top tip for the day!!! Locate a loo on the way home, weeks 3 and 4 I’d go wee straight after treatment, had to, then by time I’d walked to car park, got out and on the way I’d need another. And sometimes another again. So locate a loo or a tree you can use….. nothing worse than wanting to go with nowhere. Especially with the urgency you’ll feel. 

Hi, Thanks for the reply, 

I'll take your advice on board,  the need to wee frequently hasn't really increased yet apart from the extra water I'm trying to take on board but expect it's going to come,.

I'm glad you seem to be on the mend slowly but surely, i wish you well and a full and speedy recovery. 

Hi

As Malnik has said, its the tiredness and fatigue that's the worst part of this process. The tiredness, caused by the RT goes away pretty quickly after it finishes, but the effects of the HT last well beyond when that ends. I was on Prostap for 2 years, and the CNS told me that the side effects could last as long as I was on it - not really what I wanted to hear, but seems to be the case.

Another problem - which for me was serious - was diet. My hospital had a diet sheet we were given. The RT irritates the bowel and if you don't follow the diet ( basically low fibre everything,  no green veg or alcohol) its really not nice, as I found out when I chose to ignore it Christmas 2020. A few sprouts and a glass of wine really weren't a good idea.

Hope this helps and good luck with your journey.

Regards

Stuart

Spursy,

The treatment affects us all differently, some guys I know never had any side effects at all, some have had more.

Myself, the fatigue kicked in into the 3rd week of Radiotherapy.  The Radiation made my Prostate squeeze my bladder causing my pee to go down to a trickle.  This cleared up after a month or so.

The Hormones, it was mainly Hot Flushes, crying, emotions all over the place.

All in all, it worked out well as I am now 13 months into Remission.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Hi Steve

How could I have forgotten the hot flushes! Funnily enough despite being 15 months post HT I had 2 this week - a real surprise, not as bad mind you!

Regards

Stuart

My husband was ‘headachey’ each afternoon after the treatment and was advised to drink more. He upped his fluid intake and that solved the problem.

we bought a plastic travelling bottle from Amazon - cost about £3 - on the advice of a friend but never needed it. That said - it was straight out of the radiotherapy room and into the loo!

Hi Stuart, 

Weirdly i asked the nusre in r/t after my 1st treatment about changes to my diet but was told that i didn't need to follow any specific diet but only to avoid anything that gives me wind, alcohol and carbonated drinks. 

Lee 

Hi Lee

I completed my RT 8 weeks ago with no issues. Followed the verbal instructions, no beans, pulses, green leaf veg or alcohol or anything you think will give you wind! No issues with the micro-enemas (boy I don't miss those!!).

Tired and fatigued from week 3 - the need to wee increased and 8 weeks post RT I am slowly getting over the fatigue and the need to pee - I think that's an age thing - I am 67!

In a nutshell follow the Radiologists instructions. I think the sleep issue could be just something you have, possibly worry about the treatment - I am not aware of anyone else having this issue - but as many on chat on here will tell you - I have been wrong before!

I hope it all goes well for you.

Brian.

Hi Steve, 

It's early days for me and obviously I'm hoping the side effects don't get too bad in the coming weeks and months ahead, just now I'd give anything just for a decent nights sleep. 

I really pleased your in remission, makes it all worth while. 

Lee

Hi Lee

Isn't it interesting to see how differently hospitals treat us. The diet sheet I received from Poole hospital was quite comprehensive. The table covered a side of A4 and went against any healthy diet I have ever seen - beige was how I described it!

As previously mentioned, the only time I had problems was when I took a chance and ignored it. A number of the other guys were having 'a glass or two' of whisky or similar a night, so I thought for Christmas lunch I would bend the diet rules. Not my best idea and fortunately, as the next day was Boxing Day,  I didn't have any RT. Would have been impossible to get to the hospital.

Regards

Stuart