Newly diagnosed

Liz, how is your OH's Radiotherapy going?  Are you going with him to the sessions?  If so, it will help to keep him right!

Is it still "empty bowel and full(ish) bladder?". That took a bit of getting right, especially if the sessions before you overran.  Then it was a case of keeping my legs crossed.

I remember my first Radiotherapy session, the enema was a dud!!  I was waiting and waiting... nothing!!!  Had to drink the 2 glasses of water.  Then hope for the best!

Do they have a bell to ring at the hospital for when the treatment is finished?  It will soon be time for your OH to ring it!

I counted mine down (1 down, 19 to go, and so on).

Please let us know how he gets on, and how you get on!!!

Take Care 

Hi Steve ,

thank you for asking 

1st of 6 . He gets one every Tuesday till January . It’s apparently a big doze but don’t know how big 

when we arrived at the hospital went to reception who took his name and told him where to go and someone would speak to him about what was going to happen . As nobody turned up he headed to the loo and set about with the anema. He came out and immediately took his three glasses of water as instructed at the planning

 He started to get a bit frustrated as nobody appeared and he was needing the toilet . Eventually he was taken and she asked if he was ok. . erm no I’m bursting . She said next week ask for me and I will tell you when to start drinking the water . Oh sorry we were running late and don’t bother waiting to see the nurse as she’s not there. You honestly can’t make it up , so we don’t know what to expect .  

over night in Tuesday . He was up every hour needing a pee but it was a drip . So he had two large glasses of water and it worked a treat . 

Wednesday not himself and just feel  yuk . however did his 10 mile walk . But slept when he came in . 

Today he still not great and said he feels he still needs to pee and his back feels like he has sunburn but nothing noticeable still did his walk . He said he will speak to the nurse on Tuesday and see what she thinks .  Yea and I will be there to make sure . If it gets any worse will call them up .

think it’s just taken a lot out of him . 

any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated . 

Liz & OH  xx

Liz, are these the concentrated doses?  I had the standard 20.  The new concentrated Radiotherapy was just coming out after I finished mine ( just over 3 years ago).

Ask for the Flamigel!!  I put a photo in a previous post. It will soothe his skin!!

Hi Steve , I will do . As he’s not on a curative pathway the oncologist decided that OH will have concentrated RT to his prostrate and seminal vesicles but not touch the lymph nodes which is disappointing as his PSA is undetectable with the Prostap & Aberaterone. 

Did you have any problems with the waterworks during RT. 
We are both shattered so maybe a sleep might work . 

thank you for caring 

Liz & OH xx

Hi Liz. With the weekly radiotherapy regime the dosage is normally 5 or 6Gy per session giving a total treatment dose of 30 to 36Gy. 

My husband did have some minor bladder and bowel problems during treatment and was prescribed the equivalent of Buscopan which relaxed the muscles and did the trick. He has had both low dose and hypofractionated radiotherapy and found the side effects from the higher individual dose treatment worse than with the lower individual dose regime but we put it down to where he had the SBRT. I have had a quick read of the literature and it does say that the higher dose can cause more acute bladder and bowel side effects. He was also told to only use something like Dove when he was showering and that he could take paracetamol if he was feeling rough. 

I can always rely on you getting back to me . Thank you so much for the above information . I had already bought some non perfumed shower gel. 

Have a great weekend . 
liz & OH xxx

Liz, at the end of my Radiotherapy, my "flow" was a trickle (if you know what I mean).

I was told it was the effect of the radiation on my prostate, squeezing my bladder.

They did try to give me Tamsulosin but because of my cocktail of tablets for everything else, I couldn't have them.

Now 3 years after my Radiotherapy ended, I am on the Tamsulosin and it's working a treat!

I'd never been able to really keep my pee in.  It was a case of "when I had to go, I had to go!!!"

Now, I am able to control when I go.

Within a week of taking the Tamsulosin I could feel the benefit.

Fingers crossed  

Thank you Steve , OH has been on Tamsulosin for a while . He’s better today so fingers crossed it’s just going to be a few days after RT . 
best wishes 

Liz & OH xx

Hello Liz & OH (johnam) 

Radiotherapy amazed me - just the technology behind it. The bit that worried me was I would get on the "sunbed", the radiologists would throw me about until I was just right to "fry", they would then leave the room, press the radiation alarm and then hide behind a 3 foot lead lined wall.

Ten minutes later they would return with those two magic words "You Alright".

Well I am now but - yes at the time I did wonder!!

He will be fine - I know he's being "zapped" with stronger stuff - but he will be fine.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Brian   Thank you for that . He’s better today and going to the loo easier . He managed to sleep a whole 4 hours last night which is a godsend .

have a lovely weekend 

best wishes to Mrs M too 

xx