brachytherapy

Hi mum999. I had 4 sessions of brachytherapy and it was ok. The first appointment was about 40 mins in total as they did a CT scan first to determine measurements etc for the probe. Then I was taken to the treatment room for the actual treatment which was about 10 mins.It's relatively painless but I did take paracetamol about 30 mins before my treatment just in case! 

The only side effects I had was a few weeks of intermittent cystitis but that was all,  so I was very lucky. You should be fine for your holiday. My 4 treatments were done over a 2 week period. 

Hope everything goes ok.

Love Sandy xx

Hi mum999 I have had brachy for my recurrence. I had PDR brachy. 3 days in hospit, 21 hours in a room having radiotherapy on the hour.  Your brachy will be dependent on your treatment plan and mdt team. Hope things go well for you. Dawn x

thank you Sandy xx

HI Dawn I am having PDR at The Christie Manchester. I have read the leaflet and it seems it takes about 14 hours ( over night stay ) and most people do this twice. thank you stef xx

Hi Stef I was lucky just the once at Weston Park, Sheffield. Hope things go well for you. I' ve no side effects although I had fatigue for a few weeks x Dawn

thank you Dawn - just want to get my christmas break away , got my daughter and family coming over from DUbai , son and financee from slovaki, daughter and boyfriend from USA and my eldest daughter and family who live close by - there will be 15 of us in total - can't wait xx

Hi Stef, I had the two 14 hour sessions at the Christie. You can't feel the hourly treatment at all, the only reason you know it's happening are the bleeps from the machine and the nurses closing the radiation proof door. The worst part for me was the stiffness and aching of my back caused by lying still for so long. I found a thin memory foam cushion helped a lot.

thank you - can i ask did you have many side effects afterwards ? x

Hi Stef, I didn't notice any side effects particularly from the brachytherapy. I had a few issues with urgent bathroom trips for quite a few months post op, but since I also went onto metformin for diabetes at around the same time, I think most of the bowel issues were related to that.

Sorry me again with more questions. I read in the Christie handbook i was given that the bracy is best given 6 to 12 weeks after hysterectomy. Mine will be end of november at the earliest 6 months after hysterectomy as i have been having chemo ( 6 rounds). When did you have yours?  I am thinking of asking doc if i can leave it until January rather than have it in December - wonder if a few more weeks would make much difference? xx