Radiation

Hello 1966 .

Sorry that your husband is getting side effects from the radiotherapy. The radiotherapy causes 'bruising' which can reduce the size of the urethra plus affect the muscles which influence urine control as well as irritating the bowels. First thing is to make sure that the radiographers are aware of this and ask if they have any suggestions. Reducing fibre may help but mainly avoid wind producers such as beans, cauliflower, broccoli, caffeine, fizzy drink..... In the meantime to give him confidence why not try TENA for men pads which are discreet but effective. Muscle control can be helped with pelvic floor exercises and the Squeezy app is great for ensuring they are done properly.

Hi 1966 , sorry to hear your husband is having side effects so soon.

Firstly, he must make the RT staff aware of all his issues.  Secondly, wind and RT don’t go well together, so certainly change his diet to more bland foods (come back if you want help on this).  I hope things settle down soon but at least you are half way there already.  I had 37 sessions and it seemed endless, but once over you soon get back into a routine.  Best wishes, David

Please don’t worry- this is a common short term side effect and should reduce and return to normal over the coming weeks. AW

Quite common, I had a small problem with this.Then went away, but 3 months after last radiotherapy and Hot, has returned. Again I'm told this can also happen as things try to return to the new norm.

Hi

In addition to the others suggestions, Poole hospital told us not to eat green veg and avoid caffeine and alcohol. In fact, apart from the alcohol, the diet they suggested was exactly what I was told was an unhealthy diet!

I still have the diet sheet if you are interested.

Regards

Stuart

At 2 weeks in you should be told to expect some side effects.  I was told to tell the radiotherapists immediately I noticed any changes because they could either prescribe something or get someone down to see me.

Thank you for all your helpful replies. Such lovely people on here

He  completed the radiation last Friday so over a week

He has been suffering in the evenings and through the night, having to wee or open his bowels about every 45 minutes so not much sleep for either of us

Will speak to the hospital again  tomorrow but they just say expected side effects

Just so worried that this will be it for him

Not sure how to carry on the thread, hopefully I’ve done it? 

So we are hoping things will be ok but understand things can change 

Hi 1966

These side effects are very normal during RT, I remember them well.

U could ask your GP for meds to help but from memory side effects started getting better

about  10-14 days after treatment finished..

At least, hopefully, it's all over now, I don't know his original stats so  difficult to comment further.

Best wishes 

Steve 

I’m sure that the hospital will be able to provide some medication to ease the problem and get him on the right track. It will all be due to inflammation, and there are medicines that can alleviate it.  Try not to worry: in my experience, the radiotherapy oncology people are brilliant at supporting patients. Call tomorrow and don’t take no for an answer.   AW

This is not unusual in the months following radiotherapy.  It is best to seek some guidance from your consultant or radiotherapy centre if you can - I suggest you call either the consultant's secretary or your radiotherapy department where he had his treatment.  I was having far too many bowel movements - just a small amount but quite a few times a day at this stage, so was put on a daily immodium tablet and fybogel - which bulks up the bowel movements so you should have fewer movements a day.  However he needs to seek advice either from the radiotherapy department or his consultant.