My Radiotherapy Side Effects Summary

We will all have different experiences of radiotherapy and some may not be as fortunate as me, but I wanted to share my experiences as an encouragement to those haven’t had theirs yet, to provide hope and show that it is possible to have a reasonably positive experience. 

I started my radio on 11/4; that was just before Easter, so I had 4 treatments that week, then four days off, then 5 days (with a Saturday added to compensate for the previous Bank holiday Monday), then 5 days, then 4 days (another Bank holiday weekend!), then 4 days (plus 1 brachy), then 3 days (and the second brachy) - so 25 in total. 

Re side effects - I had been worried about these but:

I had asked my CNS beforehand if I’d be able to drive myself to and from treatments. She said I’d likely to be fine for the first couple of weeks but may struggle after that - so I decided to play it by ear. In the event, I drove myself to every appointment bar three! The three I was driven to were my 2 brachys and my final day, and Dave drove me as He really wanted to see the hospital for himself  - it wasn’t because I needed him. So no tiredness, other than evening time when I was resting anyway.

Towards the end of my second week, my pee felt a bit warmer than usual, but it didn’t sting or hurt. Between the second and third weeks, I started getting wind (I don’t normally) and some urgency when needing to poo, also frequency of needing to go, and the radiographer suggested peppermint tea or peppermint capsules. I started these, but unfortunately it got worse and I was getting IBS type symptoms. The radiographer (and on duty registrar) suggested Buscopan but at the lowest dose as it can lead to constipation. I bought some but didn’t start taking them. The weekend happened and my symptoms got worse - with my rectum and anus really hurting. I was really upset and worried - but then I smelt peppermint and it dawned on me that I might be reacting to the peppermint oil.I read the small print and found that in some people it can produce a burning sensation! I stopped it, switched to Buscopan, tweaked my diet, and my symptoms reduced by about two thirds! A few days on and it was basically just a sense of urgency when needing a poo, and down to just 2-3 times a day. By the end of week 5, even that had mostly gone. Currently, just over one day past end of treatment. I still sometimes have a sense of urgency when I need to go but it’s not bad nor that often. 

From the brachytherapy I had a warm glowy internal feeling a couple of days after treatment for several hours, but nothing else.

So the above is the sum total of my side effects! Most people get diarrhoea towards the end of treatment, but thankfully I didn’t. Aside from a bit of the runs during my peppermint oil phase, I haven’t had diarrhoea at all.

Again, I know it won’t be the same for everyone, but I hope this is an encouragement to somebody who hasn’t started yet - to prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.