Radiotherapy effects

Hi Apriltwo,

My husband had radiotherapy after his throat operation for cancer 14 years ago. That damaged his larynx which had to be removed a year later. He then took another 18 months for the neck to heal up properly. They said it was poor healing due to radiotherapy. So, you are still early days! He was very tired after the operation to remove the larynx, but he eventually got back to health. It takes time. xxxx 

Thank you, it does help knowing it can take a while. You start to wonder if you are ever going to get back to anything resembling normal. xxx

Hi I completed radiotherapy and brachytherapy 4 years ago, and have found I now have bowel and bladder problems that weren't there before.  As I already had M.E. and fibromyalgia before surgery and treatment I was already extremely fatigued so not sure if that's got any worse or not, it's a bit hard to tell!  I know for some people their side effects do settle down eventually, I tend to think mine are more likely to be long term damage now.  Hopefully yours will settle in time.

Hugs, Lesley xx

Hi and welcome to our spot in the Online Community.

I had my hysterectomy last September followed 6 weeks later by 3 Brachytherapy sessions. I was stage 1b/grade 3. Nearly a year on I'm experiencing changes to bowel habits which Ill be bringing up at my next consultation on 16th November. I can cope with it but it's annoying. Getting up in the middle of the night with bad tummy pains, going to the loo and either letting loose wind or a bowel movement. It also seems I'm going more than I used to and when I have to go I have to go!

I've also got some chest pains, shortness of breath and a painful shoulder for which I'm just about to have ECG & CT scan. Bloods are showing elevated inflammation markers. At the moment my GP doesn't think they're connected but I did read something on the CT scan referral in code ?C/?M which I'm interpreting as Cancer mets?. Hope I'm wrong but like everyone else on these forums you have a feeling it'll never go! 

I'm not suffering fatigue as such but certainly don't have the energy I used to, however still walk 4/5 miles daily with dog.

Sending hugs, Barb x

Thanks for that Lesley.

Hope yours do settle down too xxx

I'm impressed you are walking so far. it's excellent.

I am swimming 1/2 a mile four or five days a week but not walking that far. Want to build it back up though.

Thanks for replying and take care xxx