Radiotherapy/Brachytherapy

Hi chlorakas, no I didn’t - and I’d advise against taking anything during treatment without clearing it with your oncologist. Where have you been reading? And what is it supposed to help? It’s not on my hospital radiotherapy leaflet. I’d have thought it could have the opposite effect as it can irritate the stomach lining. 

I have bought a book called How to Starve Cancer where it is recommended and since reading googled and it is also confirms this.

chlorakas, I’ll start by saying that as tempting as it may be, stop Googling. Dr Google should be struck off as he/she is unreliable. I’d advise using reliable sites only such as Macmillan and Cancer UK. And the book is just someone’s own experience - you will find lots of theories and ideas surrounding cancer. Just quickly glancing at a synopsis of the book, the author has stage 4 cancer (haven’t checked to see if it’s endometrial - the type of cancer is relevant). Primarily, talk to your CNS and your consultant. Starting taking anything different during cancer treatment when you don’t normally take it isn’t a good idea without having sought medical advice first. Treatment is based on you being the same as you were at your planning CT appointment.

Hi chlorakas 

From what I can gather the author is a pharmacist, has had cancer 3 times and treated each cancer by a different method each time.

Be careful re aspirin as it thins the blood so therefore not a good idea if any surgery planned. I would need marmite's advice and run it past the team first.

A x

Thanks so much for your concern, I have decided against taking aspirin, although it looked a good idea yesterday, I have now investigated further and realise it will clash with other meds I am taking. The temptation was to prevent side effects but  if I get them will speak with the staff at the hospital. Not long now, start treatment on Wednesday!

Hi, thanks will not take Aspirin, as messaged Marmite, so glad I joined this site it's good to share gives me peace of mind.

It’s natural to be a bit anxious about starting treatment. I can still remember going for my first treatment and having to ask where I went as it wasn’t very clear, and it seemed that everyone else knew where they were going! You may find that there’s a special car hospital parking rate (either reduced or maybe even free) for people having cancer treatment. At my hospital (Southampton) I parked in the normal car park, but there was a little machine at Radiotherapy reception into which you inserted the ticket and it then capped it at the minimum (£2.80) no matter how long you stayed. At my hospital there were 8 LINAC machines so it was quite busy. What time is your first appointment?

Hi chlorakas 

If you experience any side effects from treatment, your team are the best placed to help, so make sure you make them aware. 

I echo marmite’s advice not to Google as there is a huge amount of unverified information out there which could be dangerous. Also remember that there are people out there making a lot of money from promoting untested therapies to the scared and vulnerable who might decide to try something which could be very unhelpful at the least and life threatening at worst. 

Personally I’ve seen 3 people I can think of right off the top of my head who died trying things they read about on the internet- they also lost huge amounts of money in scams and schemes they were certain would cure them.

Sarah xx

Thanks for that, glad I posted my message before deciding.

The hospital have given me a parking card to display in the window so do not have to pay which is good. First appointment is 1400 on Wednesday and should receive my schedule for the rest of the time which I hope will be mornings as I was asked what would be preferable. Anyway keeping everything crossed it goes smoothly. I have stocked up on foods recommended for a low irritant, high fibre diet , which was posted by the Royal Berkshire Hospital online and I found really useful, amazing the things they say avoid eg lots of fruits need to be peeled before eating, tomatoes need peeling and de-seeded all sorts of info. won't bother with tomatoes for the duration, and if I need to cook a recipe will use Passata instead. I like coleslaw but have to avoid that but will have potato salad (homemade) instead and will peel the potatoes as skins have to be avoided. Just hope all this effort helps, anyway time will tell.

Thanks once again for all your help.