Driving during radiotherapy

Hi KT89, I had radio and brachy last year (mid April to mid May). My hospital (Southampton) is about an hour away from home. Before treatment started I asked my CNS if I’d be safe to drive and she said I should be fine for at least the first 2-3 weeks. I asked if it could ever happen rhat I drove to hospital and then didn’t feel able to drive home. She said no - that I’d know that morning when I woke up if I felt too tied to drive. She said rhat side effects usually start 2-3 weeks in, so I thought I’d just see how it went. I drove myself to and from every single radio appointment. I had expressed a preference for afternoon appointments so I’d have time to properly wake up, walk my dog, have a poo and get well hydrated before my appointment. I’d try to leave home a couple of hours before my appointment so I’d have time to chill and catch up with messages in my car before going in. I really loved my drive in - had the radio on my favourite station and did a lot of singing! After my appointment I always snacked before driving home, usually a banana and Quavers! And then when I got home I often had chocolate or ice cream as it’s important to keep up calorific intake during treatment. I had some mild bowel side effects during weeks 4-5 but Buscopan (advised by the registrar that the radiographer called in) mostly took care of that, I’m really glad I drove myself all through, gave me the head space I needed, 

Thank you MarmiteFan59  for your inspiring and informative reply.

I feel I need my own space with this so driving myself would be good as I am struggling with "putting on a face". I need peace and quiet. It is hard to explain how I feel  I'll have a chat with my Macmillan nurse too.

I hear you. For me, if I’d have been with someone else I’d have felt I’d needed to be aware of how they were, and how they were reacting to or affected by how I was presenting, or appearing to present,  rather than me being able to just focus on and being true to how I was actually feeling. On a Friday I’d sometimes divert to  a drive through McDonald's on the way home and treat myself! 

You get it!

Receiving the cancer news is a huge adjustment - another major challenge to get through - after a life that has not been easy. But everyone has their story to tell. I see people at the cancer centre looking so frail and poorly. I look like I'm bursting with health. I then feel guilty for feeling a bit sorry for.myself sometimes. Such a mixture of emotions.

Getting in my car is a joy. My independence and my freedom back for a short while. No making conversations required. Time to "just be."

I do! It was also that I wanted to think of the rest of my world at home going on as normal. I wanted to be able to think of my husband being there painting, gardening, playing golf, doing his usual things, and being there with our dog - life continuing in its normal routine in spite of it all. 

Hi KT89

I always had a lift there and back. I started feeling rough from the 3rd session with tummy issues.( I had chemo previously which may have impacted it) I found someone to chat to helped me and also I had a fair amount of fatigue, some nausea and diarrhoea. Towards the last couple of weeks I did feel quite weak but every one is different. My consultant said I had quite an extreme reaction to the radiotherapy but that they can never tell in advance who will just have a few mild effects and who would have more. I was given a fair amount of medication to control the side effects so felt safer with someone with me.

My advice is to see how you go and hopefully you will only have some of the milder effects and if you do get more, then tell them and they can normally give you medication that will help. Most people who had pelvic radiotherapy with me did have someone who took them after the first few sessions. 

Good Luck

Jane

I was lucky in that I only needed to drive about 2 miles to the local park & ride into Leicester where I transferred to a free bus that goes around the city and stops very near the hospital. I was out of the house for longer than I would have been, but didn't have the stress of wondering if I'd be able to park in the hospital car park, which can be a nightmare. Most of my appointments were around midday and I knew that I could either do something before I left home, or once I was back, but not both. Fortunately I had no problems with doing this, but I know that if necessary I could have had a lift or company to my appointments. 

Thank you jane2511 

Fantastic advice too. Everyone reacts differently and taking it day by day is important I agree.

Thank you Maths 

I appreciate your post. Lucky you lived so close. Part of my journey involves the M25 and we all know how unpredictable that can be. I will have a good long think about this. Bottom line is what is the safest option. I think I know the answer.

KT89, my husband was happy for me to drive every day with him on call if needed. So I was able to take each day as it came. And he trusted me to go with my gut. If you leave early enough the M25 need not be an issue - and whoever drives you would have to negotiate it too! Bear in mind btw that when I went I could be away from home for anything from 3 hours to 8 (that only happened once) because of delays, linac machine issues, power cuts, staff issues, so that was another reason I preferred to go on my own. Hospital parking was never an issue for me as I arrived early enough to wait to park if needed. I’d say give it a try!