Radiotherapy 15 sessions in

Hi Dachshundowner, I didn’t - just some bloating and slight urgency from the middle of week 4 onweards. Has she talked to her radiotherapy staff and been given advice or something to help?

ing t’ 

I’ve had 22 external beam so far plus 2 brachytherapy with 4 Cisplatin chemo. Last weeks chemo was postponed because my platelets were too low. I have the final 3 radiotherapy this week and 2 more Cisplatin chemo to go. Then 4 cycles of Carboplatin/Pacletaxel. I have 3C serous cancer.

I have not been sick though have felt nauseous and take Metaclopromide to try and keep that at bay. 

I haven’t lost my appetite yet but have struggled with bloating and intermittent diarrhoea which is unpredictable and nigh on keeps me tied to the house.

My main struggle at the moment is my moods. I view this cancer, I think rather pragmatically. I have cancer, I need treatment, I’m getting treatment and hopefully it will work. However every now and then it’s like my mood just drops like a stone and I cry for no reason and it’s unsettling when I’m not normally a crier. 

Pam

She gets to see her oncologist weekly. Last week they gave her tablets for the loose stools. Her oncologist said they will review things this coming week. 

Mum had 6 sessions of Carboplatin/Pacletaxel. then a month rest. Then onto Radiotherapy. She’s the same with the urgency to use the loo. Which is difficult when you have to be at the hospital everyday. She was fine for the first 2 weeks. 

 Mums the same with her moods. I tell her to do whatever she needs to do. Just to get through it. It’s a huge toll on your body and emotions. You don’t have to be a warrior everyday. Some days you just need to cry ️ 

Hi

I had the same but from the first few days. I recommend her talking to her radiotherapists as there are lots of different combinations of medication that they can try. Sometimes its about the way in which the medicine is taken. 

For the nausea I had to take the same anti sickness meds as I had in chemo. The first one didn't help but the ondansetron did. I had to take one 30 minutes before each treatment. 

For the cramps I was prescribed buscopan.

For diarrhoea I was prescribed loperamide and I had to take 2 tablets 30 minutes before I ate and also codeine phosphate. This along with following a bland diet meant I was able to complete the treatment. 

I think going through the chemo first can also have an effect and I know that I wasn't recovered from it when the radiotherapy started. 

I hope it settles for mum- sounds like she has had a long journey so far. 

Jane

Hi Dachshundowner, when I had my treatment, I was told to tell a radiographer about any side effects that cropped up. When I started having the bloating, I told a radiographer when I arrived and an on call oncology registrar came down to see me to have a chat. I didn’t have wait till I saw my own oncologist. 

Hi Dachshundowner

I had 25 external beam radiotherapy sessions but before my chemo.  I also struggled with stomach issues, I spoke to the CNS and was prescribed loperamide, she suggested taking one every morning whether needed or not to help with the travelling back & forth to the hospital, luckily I have a GP for a daughter in law who I can also get advice from and she suggested cutting right back on fibre in my diet so I went on a "beige" diet, I didn't eat anything green for weeks but it helped.  I also got burnt skin after about 4 weeks and a moisturiser I was gifted, Moogoo, really helped with this. 

I'm having chemo now and still having stomach problems but not quite as severe. 

Tell the staff at the hospital, they are there to help and don't want your Mum to suffer unnecessarily or in silence. 

H 

The dietary advice I was given before my radiotherapy started was to avoid broccoli, cabbage, sprouts, cauliflower, greasy foods, as they can cause wind, and also anything high in fibre, such as jacket potato skins as they can be harder to digest, especially if the bowel is a bit sensitive from the treatment. So that’s what I did. I also limited my fruit to 1-2 pieces per day.