Radiotherapy

Hi Princess Xena, that’s good news! Firstly don’t google! Secondly, have a look at the dedicated thread on this group where you can read about other women’s experiences and get some tips! Thirdly see if your hospital has an online or hard copy about pelvic radiotherapy which should include some dietary tweaks you can make to help lessen the likelihood of side effects. Bear in mind that it varies from person and some have very few if any. I had my radio (and brachy) last year - finished in May 2022. I drove myself to and from my appointments (45-60 mins each way). My CNS said I should be fine doing so for the first couple of weeks at least but that side effects were normally around from week 2/3 onwards. Well, I had none till half way through week 4, and even then it was just a bit of bloating, wind and a bit of urgency. I had a bit of slight looseness, but didn’t have diarrhoea at all. I followed the dietary suggestions from just before I started my treatment, relaxed it at weekends, but carried it on Monday to Friday. And I believe that helped me. Do you have your date yet for your planning CT?

• Thank you. Don't have my date yet. Will need to have a look to find the thread. 

Sorry I meant to post a link!

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../radiotherapy-support-thread-inc-brachytherapy

Hi Princess Xena

Everyone is different with side effects from pelvic radiotherapy and dietary changes can really help. When you have your planning scan for the radiotherapy they will give you all the information. I found avoiding fibre and having less dairy helped me but for others it may be different. 

I found the treatment tiring, but it was partly due to the traveling to and from the hospital. My main effect was diarrhoea and that seems to be common. I tended to meet the same people most days and the ones having the pelvic radiotherapy mainly seemed to have it. However they can give you medication to help with it. I also had some nausea. 

During radiotherapy they will ask how you are each day so there is always an opportunity to get support and you would normally have a radiotherapy or consultant review each week. 

I would avoid googling to find information as its not particularly accurate and can be quite scary- instead I would be prepared to have a bit of a dodgy tummy later on in the treatment and have to watch what you eat. I also had a bit of bladder irritation- a bit like if you are coming down with a UTI.

I finished my radiotherapy a year ago and still have some effects. Most people do not and if they do they are mild. 

I remember being told I would need radiotherapy and my first thought was that I would never cope with 25 sessions but it is surprising how quickly you can get into the routine. I crossed out the days as I did them. Due to the prep needed before each session it meant I had time waiting before treatment each day and this in a way was good as it gave a chance to speak with other people having the same treatments. It helped pass the time. 

Good Luck and if you have any questions please ask. I see that Marmitefan has posted you the link for the radiotherapy thread which is helpful.

There is also a radiotherapy forum on here that you might be interested in.

 Radiotherapy & Side Effects forum - Macmillan Online Community

Good Luck

Jane

Hello everyone,

I'm expecting pelvic radiotherapy too. What is the planning CT scan for?

Hi KT89, it’s to get a baseline positional image of your pelvic area which they will then try to reproduce on the treatment table. The LINAC (radiotherapy) machine is preprogrammed based on the calculations from the planning CT so, at  every treatment session, the staff will assist you to get into a position that mirrors the planning CT position as closely as possible. Before treatment starts (each session) we have our bladder scanned (with mine it had to be 40%+ full) and then have a mini CT to made sure our position matches the parameters, and then it happens! 

Thank you MarmiteFan59 

That is really informative and reassuring.

After a few radio sessions where the position has been right, they don’t necessarily do a mini CT session every time, which cuts the time down a fair bit. 

Thank you. This site is so very helpful.

Thank you.