Driving and radiotherapy

Hi Guern017 

my OH drove into the hospital for his RT . He was fatigued after his 6 big RT blasts which ended 7th January . They expected it to start around the 3rd doze according to the paperwork he was given.
He is still fatigued but walks 10 miles a day and now started the gym to strengthen his upper body as he has lost a lot of muscle tone from the HT . 

best wishes and just see how you are and accept help when needed . 

Liz & OH xx

I had 37 sessions of radiotherapy and drove myself to every one; it was a 20 mile round trip. You should have no problem but be aware that it does make you tired.

Hello Peter (Guern017) 

I was lucky, I live a mile from my hospital and walked, the days it rained I caught the bus. I had a bit of fatigue but was well capable to drive. However you need to be aware of the following:

* Parking at the hospital can be an issue - mine had a gated car park for RT but they don't all  You need to consider how busy the car park is - you don't need the stress.

* As the fractions progress you will find you need the toilet more. If you are driving any distance be aware of toilets - Costa Coffee, MacDonalds etc, Carry an empty fabric conditioner bottle and if travelling in the country side a lay-by with a large tree! .

* Keep away from any food that can give you wind, fizzy drinks, alcohol, green leaf veg, beans and pulses.

I wish you well with the Rt - keep us posted as to how it's going.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Guern017 , just like Roger That I had 37 sessions and drove myself with no problem at all.  I did have a problem after one session in that there was a major accident on the M3 and I was stuck in it and dying for a pee.  Not sure how I didn’t burst, so after that, I carried a 4pint empty milk bottle in the car for any emergencies.   David

As expected I did leave driving for a week or so following my Brachytherapy having been taken to and from the hospital by friends, which was a great blessing! I finished my 20 sessions of Radiotherapy last week and managed to drive myself there and back each day, but just a 20 minute journey to have free parking was a real blessing also even if quite busy sometimes. As. Millibob says its wise to make good use if toilet facilities some days after my post treatment pee I went again on leaving the hospital and was often busting by the time I got home and twice had to stop at a convenient place and have a run off behind the car! When the roads were going slow —the joys of bladder full treatment!

Thanks for the replies chaps.  I know my brother was interested in the insurance side of driving whilst receiving radiotherapy, but it seems as if you've all done it with no issues, so I'll not bother checking.  As for the carry a bottle advice, that really is good advice and one will be procured for that very purpose.  My drive to the hospital is 10 mins on a good day, 30 in the rush hour.  It's on very busy main roads (most direct route), or another very busy one, slightly longer, or a dual carriageway with very little options for finding somewhere quiet.  If it comes to it it's main roads and then pull in somewhere and use trhe bottle come what may.  If I'm chauffered, it would be easier.  Thanks also Millibob for the advice on the food stuffs.  Ive read the literature, but your list is a little wider and comes from experience!  I'll update everyone on the tretment forum as and when and if there's something to report, but it doesn't start for a month yet, so don't hold your breath!

Hi Guern017,

I drove to & from all my appointments, a round trip of about 40 miles.  The only time I had an issue was on my way to one of the initial sessions where I think I must have been a bit over zealous with the amount of water I had already drunk that day to ensure I was well hydrated.  Luckily I had anticipated this possibility & had a container in the back of the car so quickly pulled over, jumped in the back (thankfully well tinted windows) & took the opportunity to have a pee).

The actual treatment is a doddle compared to the stress of finding a car parking space so my best advice to you is to leave plenty of time to find one unless there are allocated spaces.  The car parks at the hospital I went to are all chargeable, but as RT is a cancer treatment I was given a code to use on exit each day which overrode the need to pay.

Hope it all goes well for you.

Best Wishes

Brian

Respect, what a legend "10 miles a day" 

 Looks like my OH is going to have HT and 37 sessions on salvage radiotherapy following a recurrence after a prostatectomy .  I hope you don't mind me asking besides from the fatigue how did you go on with the radiotherapy?

In respect of the driving, I understand that you can drive unless otherwise advised by the medical profession. Obviously common sense has to have some influence depending on your own circumstances.

As for being able to do so after radiotherapy (20 sessions)  my wife came with me but I felt no fatigue at all. My bowel did try to rule my life after about the first week but otherwise basically it was a 'walk in the park'. After the third week my wife insisted on driving as it was her turn to be behind the wheel, she loves driving!

Having HDR brachytherapy and radiotherapy may be different to the more normal twenty or more sessions and of course we are all different. If you can I would suggest taking another driver with you for the first few sessions and see how you go.

Very best of luck with your treatment and please let us know how you get on.