I'm interested in conversations about and I want to talk about

Know exactly what you want?

Show search

Notification

Error

Start of radiotherapy

Email this conversation Print this conversation

User

Posted 08 Sep 2015 at 06:52

Its happening this week for sure Maureen -- for both of us. Best wishes today

If life gives you lemons , then make lemonade

User

Posted 08 Sep 2015 at 07:53

Hi Maureen,

Please wish Steve "Good Luck" for his treatment. I found it a relief to finally get it underway, it must be for you too.

I hope everything goes well.

Steve x

User

Posted 08 Sep 2015 at 08:07

Hi Maureen and Steve

Best of luck for today

Arthur

User

Posted 08 Sep 2015 at 12:22

Yah, job done and now on our way home. It reminded me of dropping our daughter off to school for the first time! It'll take a few sessions for him to get into the swing of things and unfortunately tomorrow he has to be at the hospital for 7.55, as he's going to work after he'll be driving so that'll mean a 6.15 start for us.

I offered a slap up lunch treat but he's opted for "pie & mash", I'm sure only the Londoners on here will see the attraction in that, liquor not gravy! :-).

Thanks for your good wishes

Maureen x

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." A A Milne

User

Posted 08 Sep 2015 at 12:24

Yum yum! Manzes is the place to go

User

Posted 08 Sep 2015 at 13:04

Great Maureen , so pleased for you both at last . Will his Taxi be glowing on winter mornings x

If life gives you lemons , then make lemonade

User

Posted 08 Sep 2015 at 13:22

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Jellied Eels next! Glad it went well!

User

Posted 08 Sep 2015 at 15:10

Arthur - absolutely, with chilli vinegar of course!
Chris - if he is it'll save on the heating bills :-)
Pablito - jellied eels are lovely but it's not very ladylike spitting the bones out!

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." A A Milne

User

Posted 09 Sep 2015 at 14:55

Hi Maureen,

Hopefully Steve's getting into the routine a bit now. Is it St. Thomas's where he's having the radiotherapy? I've been working across the water at parliament on the terrace today. I was thinking of you both. Did you see all the boats on the water at 12.30pm? Could have met up for chat.

Anyway,I hope everything's going well.

All the best.

Steve

User

Posted 09 Sep 2015 at 16:11

Glad you re out and about Steve. PS You mail box is full !!

Maureen when I was a child, many many moons ago, one of us children would be given a bowl and we would have to go to the pie mash shop, collect the pies and mash all covered in green goo.
I hated the look and smell of the stuff and have never eaten it, although pie and mash, now you're talking!!

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 09 Sep 2015 at 16:48

Hi Maureen,

Glad it's going well, you will get into the routine quick enough xxx

User

Posted 09 Sep 2015 at 20:30

Hi Steve

Yes Steve is having his radiotherapy at St Thomas' so we were on opposite sides of the Thames today, although I do work 10 minutes walk from the Houses of Parliament so if you're ever going to be nearby again let me know. Sadly I didn't get to see the boats, as I arrived late for work I didn't want to take the P with a long lunch!

I hope you got some good photos.

Maureen

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." A A Milne

User

Posted 10 Sep 2015 at 01:38

Hi Maureen,

I'm in London quite often (five times in the last eight days), so it would be good to meet up sometime for a chat. I used to work regularly for the Forensic Science Service when they were based just across Lambeth Bridge, not far from St. Thomas's so I'm quite familiar with the area.

Today I was working for the Home Office photographing an award ceremony. Presenting the awards was the Home Secretary, Theresa May which was good because I know her quite well because she lives in my area and I've photographed her many times. She's a good subject because she usually does most things I ask her to do because she realises the value of a good photo. Anyway I got some decent pics today.

Anyway, hope Steve continues with the RT ok and doesn't suffer the problems I had after two days treatment. I had very early side effects, not being able to pee properly (corrected by tamsulosin tablets, which I still take now).

Hope all goes well.

Steve

Edited by member 10 Sep 2015 at 01:42 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 19 Oct 2015 at 09:46

Well I'm back from a short break from the site, there's a lot to read through after a week! This conversation should now be called "End of Radiotherapy" as Steve completed his 25 sessions on the 9th 😀. I appreciate that individuals react differently to RT but thought I'd put up a short summary of Steve's treatment:

Weeks 1&2 - not much change apart from weeing more often, well there is an additional 2 litres of water a day to get rid of! Week 2 starting to get up in the night, no previous occurances of this - apart from after a long drinking session! Urine flow reduced.

Week 3 - getting up several times each night, fatigue has kicked in probably a combination of lack of sleep and treatment. A sudden onset of diaorhea, but this this started on the day of his 3 monthly hormone injection and flu jab so may be a reaction to either of these. Started to get burning / stinging when weeing, started on cranberry juice. Wiped out for a couple of days but picked up again after a break from work, went back but reduced hours - the good thing is he's self employed so can stop when he wants but the bad thing is he's worrying about not earning 😔

Week 4 - getting up 4 times some nights, fatigue is still an issue. Burning / stinging is not always present but he has mentioned it to the care team. Now weeing every 20 minutes during the day!! Flow problems continue.

Week 5 - hospital have tested for urine infection but that's clear - hurrah! Back to getting up twice during the night, burning / stinging has eased slightly, back to weeing every 40 minutes.

End of RT +1 week - last couple of days getting up once each night, burning / stinging much reduced, flow a bit better and now weeing about every 45minutes during the day.

The treatment team did explain that things might get worse before they get better but as Steve had no previous problems he may get off light. 🙏

Steve will have a combined RT / brachytherapy follow up appointment as brachytherapy is planned for 18 Nov - that will be another story!!

Thanks for of the good wishes during the RT cycle, they have been greatly appreciated.

Maureen (&Steve)

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." A A Milne

User

Posted 19 Oct 2015 at 10:28

Superb post Maureen
Very informative thanks and keep us up to date a bit further down the line .
Best wishes to Steve and great that it went so well for him

PS Taxis cost enough as it is without the driver keep getting out for a wee ( meter running of course )
Chris

If life gives you lemons , then make lemonade

User

Posted 19 Oct 2015 at 20:22

Hello MLJ,

thank you for posting your and Steve's experiences. It's encouraging to know that Steve was able to work during his treatment? I suppose you are now patiently waiting for follow-up appointments.

On Wednesday, my wife and I go to see the oncologist for the first time.

My peeing symptoms were and are awful. On some days, I can visit the loo up to 22 times during the day. At night time I can go up to 6 times a night, although the average is 2 or 3 times a night. Not very funny, but that's how it is.

Frank.

User

Posted 19 Oct 2015 at 20:44

Hi Frank

Steve easily fitted his working hours around his appointments, I went to them all with him bar one as I work very close to the hospital (and have a lovely boss who let me make my hours up by starting earlier / working later) - I was usually out of the office for about 2 hours.

The only thing that effected Steve working was a bit of fatigue as the weeks went on - oh and frequent weeing, not great when you drive a taxi for a living but I believe he now possesses a mental map of public toilets in London!

Good luck with your consultation.

Maureen

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." A A Milne

Email this conversation Print this conversation

Join the online community now.

Click through to become a member and gain access to support, information and real time replies.