Follow ups after surgery and radiotherapy

Hi Autumnglow, when did your treatment finish? Are you still following the pelvic radiotherapy eating plan or have you fully returned to your normal diet? Mine finished in mid May 2022; I had a follow up with internal check in the September, plus a DEXA bone density scan, and in the December. They then wanted me to go onto patient led follow up but I asked if I could still be seen in person. So through 2023 I had check ups and internals every three months. My last appointment was in January 2024 and at that time I asked for the next one to be six months instead of three. So my next one is due in July. I may ask for the next one to be a year but I’m undecided at the moment. 

Hi 

 thanks for quick reply.

 I finished treatment in August 22 but did not have the proposed 6 months of chemo as I had such a bad reactions to the 2 lots I had. I had 5 1/2 weeks of radiotherapy. I had a follow up  examination in Dec 22.  Then one in May and Dec 23.   I had to ask for these.  I was told it would be next Dec24  I have only just had internal examinations.

I know nothing about a pelvic radiotherapy eating plan.  They also forgot to give me dilators but luckily somebody told me I should be using them.

I still have some bladder and bowel effects. I had chemo and then radiotherapy- finished treatment in September 2022. What helped me most was keeping a food and toilet diary. At check ups, I was able to look at it and work out patterns. I now have food intolerances and certain foods will make symptoms flare up. 

It does get better but it takes time. 1 loperamide may not be enough and there are others medications that they can suggest. 

At my hospital it is check ups every 12 weeks for 2 years. If I need to be seen sooner then I can contact my CNS and request to be seen.

I would suggest that you contact your CNS and ask for an appointment and then it is an opportunity to have the internal examination and also to discuss the radiotherapy effects. At my hospital they can refer you to a Late effects clinic with any symptoms that remain after 6 months. 

There is some good information in this link and I found them helpful.

Pelvic Radiation Disease Association (prda.org.uk) 

Diet, nutrition and PRD (prda.org.uk)

Jane