Radiotherapy

Hi chlorakas, very well done and thanks for updating us on your first session! As you have been given your whole schedule at once, be prepared for occasional changes as sometimes they do have to swap them round. How many machines does your hospital have? I think the usual advice is eat normally then switch to low fibre if you have any issues but, from the viewpoint of the patient, I think it’s just as well to start the low fibre etc early as this may delay, lessen or prevent side effects or issues that may interrupt the smooth flow of the treatment on the day (eg wind). Are you sure all the appointments are treatments? You may find that some appointments are reviews or your planning mini CT for your brachy, 

Hi Marmite,

Just back from my 2nd appointment, all went to plan and only there for just over half an hour. Although felt rather giddy when I sat up after the 5 minutes Radiotherapy, I mentioned it and was told it was normal also felt a bit nauseous in the car and once home for a short time glad it's better now. There are 3 machines. They are all appointments as the reviews etc are extra on the schedule, I am hoping to close the gap between Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy as it's taking longer than I thought, but not sure yet. I agree with you re the diet as would rather be do all I can to help with side effects. 

Hope all is going well for you with follow up appointments etc.

Hi Chlorakas, well done, that’s another one ticked off! I used to make sure I got up slowly after the treatment, and perched on the side of the table for a couple of minutes or so to make sure my head was settled before I got down. Regarding your schedule, it might definitely be worth asking your CNS if the appointments could be rejigged a bit. Just to show you, this is what my schedule was like - my oncologist said she did it like this so that my treatment was over quicker. You can see where my radio appointments are, and then where my brachy planning mini CT is, and then my two brachy treatments. So on a day when I had brachy, I didn’t have radio. (Just to say that I chose to enter my radio treatments in my diary in descending order so that it gave me more sense of getting them down, on a countdown! The letter afterwards is the machine letter - ours are labelled alphabetically A-G) 

Thanks for that very useful, didn't realise they inserted Brachy in between the Radiotherapy as mine are 3 at the end. Just back from number 3 all went to plan still had the dizzy feeling when sitting up so just take it steady, no nausea feeling today which is good, I changed what I ate to toast so it may have made a difference or I wondered if having my Radiotherapy mid-afternoon the day before and then early morning yesterday that may have affected me. Anyway weekend off looking forward to a sleep in before it all starts again next week. Hope you have a good weekend.

Well done for getting another one done! Yes my oncologist said she wanted to try and do it that way so that my treatment finished sooner. It also saved me a couple of journeys as my planning CT for my brachy was done on the same day as a treatment. You could always try asking if yours could happen like that. I’m glad for you that your first week has been a shorter one, and that you can have a bit of a break now and maybe eat your favourite foods again between now and Sunday! 

Hi Chlorakas- I had nausea towards the end of my radiotherapy treatments and in the end they prescribed some anti sickness meds that i had to take 30 minutes before treatment. They did help. There are different kinds if one does not help. I also ate a lot of plain toast and avoided anything high fibre

Like many other  people I didn't have a separate appointment for the brachy planning; It was carried out at the First Brachy session which was therefore a bit longer than the others.  I hope you can get these done without the long gap after the external sessions..

Hi Anne, Fingers crossed.

Will give it a try. Cheeseburgers tonight !

Hi Jane, Thanks will bear that in mind.