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Cheshire Chris's Treatment Thread

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User

Posted 07 Apr 2019 at 13:49

Arthur

It must be a common theme getting withdrawal symptoms after you finish radiotherapy. I got to know the receptionist very well and also the nurses who gave me my treatment every day. The day after I finished my treatment schedule I was sat at home on the sofa sort of semi shellshocked. In some ways the tradition of ringing a brass bell and getting a photo taken at the end of your treatment gave you some sort of closure, and I have some lovely photos taken by the receptionist as we left for the last time

User

Posted 10 Apr 2019 at 07:39

Two weeks after RT now, and I’m happy to report that the problem of frequent overnight urination has now cleared up; the last three nights I’ve only had to get up once, which is the way things were before I started RT. I’m still taking the Tamsulosin at present - I’m going to give it another week and then try stopping that and seeing what happens.

Cheers,

Chris

User

Posted 10 Apr 2019 at 13:49

That’s good Chris. It’s exhausting when you’re up several times each night.

Ido4

User

Posted 10 Apr 2019 at 17:46

It certainly is. I had a period of a couple of weeks where I wasn’t able to go any longer than 45m between peeing, and that results in major sleep deprivation. I’m very happy that it’s over!

User

Posted 10 Apr 2019 at 21:29

Superman Chris

How do you cope on your own with your hectic life?

I think you really should write a book about your life style/health /appointments/travelling between home and medical places.

My local hospital is Royal Free ,Hampstead heat-(London) Its just around the corner to me but you have to travel such a long journeyj to get treatments etc.you live on your own ....never mind the physical support how about the emotional support ..how do you cope?

Regards

D.R

User

Posted 12 Apr 2019 at 08:02

Good luck with everything!

User

Posted 13 Apr 2019 at 07:36

I've just seen the invoice my insurance company has paid for my RT: £23,426, plus another invoice of £2,450 from my oncologist. After years of paying in to my private medical insurance plan and not having any treatment, I think I've now got my money's worth out of it!

Cheers,

Chris

User

Posted 13 Apr 2019 at 10:57

My oncologist initially refused to offer me salvage radiotherapy and I started costing it privately. I don’t have private medical cal insurance so thank goodness an MDT recommended I have SRT.

The private companies where I am pay to use the NHS machines as they don’t have them!

You've certainly got your money’s worth.

Hope you are doing ok.

Ido4

User

Posted 13 Apr 2019 at 13:58

Thanks, Ido. It's the same at Clatterbridge: one group of RT machines, with the treatment area having two entrances, one from the NHS hospital and the other from the private clinic.

User

Posted 18 Apr 2019 at 19:35

Three weeks after the end of RT. After a couple of weeks of feeling pretty good, for the last two days I’ve been experiencing a constant burning sensation in my rectum. I’m not passing any blood or mucus, but the sensation isn’t at all pleasant. If it’s still there after Easter I’ll give my oncologist a ring and ask his advice on the matter.

EDIT: I see that this is a common symptom of radiation proctitis and is apparently common after RT. That’s not good to hear - I thought I’d escaped without it, but it would seem not. Apparently though, in most cases it clears up within a few months of the end of treatment, so hopefully it won’t last too long. It is pretty uncomfortable.

Edited by member 18 Apr 2019 at 19:56 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 18 Apr 2019 at 22:09

Hi Chris

Sorry to reading your last update....must be extremely stressful.....your a superman because of the health issues you been going through they can be for some men unbearable!!!
Besides your a single man whom dealing with his problems himself.....!

I hope that some men whom have partners can read your health issues than they can stop moaning for little things like sissy girls!!

Happy Good Friday

D.R

Edited by member 19 Apr 2019 at 22:39 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 19 Apr 2019 at 07:50

Hi Chris

I've been following your thread with interest.

I've got 2/20 RT sessions left next week but for the last week I've suffered from proctitis probably due to the beam hitting my bowel as well as my prostate. My Onco says its a common problem when radiating patients with enlarged prostates, he has given me fybogel which helps bind my poos, downside is fybogel itself causes flatulence and bloating so each time I feel the need to do something I have to visit the khasi, better to be safe than sorry!

Consequently not straying too far from home and had a couple of close calls on the M55 on my way to RT.

Onco reckons 3/4 weeks after treatment the proctitis should settle down but he also said don't expect your bowel to be as good as it was before and to be prepared for different bowel habits in the future (whatever that means - 3 visits a day instead of 1?).

John

User

Posted 19 Apr 2019 at 08:07

Thanks, John. I don't have diarrhoea, nor any particularly increased urgency to "go", just a constant burning sensation in my rectum. It's nothing more than a minor annoyance - certainly not severe enough to require any painkillers. Hopefully it'll ease off in a few days. It's curious that it should start now, more than three weeks after my treatment ended, though!

Cheers,

Chris

User

Posted 20 Apr 2019 at 15:17

Happily, the proctitis has disappeared again, so everything's fine once again.

I'm going to stop taking Tamsulosin tomorrow to see if I'm able to manage without it. Next week marks a month since the end of my RT, so I'm hoping that the radiation-induced inflammation of the prostate which necessitated the use of Tamsulosin will have subsided. Obviously I'll start taking it again if I do experience problems.

Chris

User

Posted 22 Apr 2019 at 07:55

Hi Chris

I dont know all those medical words the one you mentioned in your message but your a true fighter my friend, I admire you!

You will be OK. We will go to Ibiza together get drunk have party on the boat with girls:)

Happy Easter bank holiday.

D.R

User

Posted 22 Apr 2019 at 09:56

Thanks, DR. Stopping taking the Tamsulosin wasn't a good idea - problems peeing started within 24h - so I'm back on it again. It really is a "wonder drug" - one of those medications that almost instantly starts working and makes life a lot easier!

Cheers,

Chris

User

Posted 22 Apr 2019 at 10:18

Chris

I'm sorry if I'm being nosey but do you contribute for your any kind of medications?if so God helps you!

Beside struggling to have a wee sound terrible. Hope your medicines helps you.

Also I insist with ibiza:)

D.R

User

Posted 22 Apr 2019 at 12:48

Anyone diagnosed with cancer is entitled to a “Medical Exemption” NHS card giving free prescriptions. I hope you have one, DR! If not, get a form from any chemist and get it signed by your GP.

User

Posted 22 Apr 2019 at 19:03

Hi Chris (tough guy)

Good to hear that you dont have to pay for your treatment and medicines.

I didn't know about medical payments exemption thing surely I can request one.

Regards

D.R

User

Posted 22 Apr 2019 at 19:17

You may need to beat your surgery reception with a large nailed stick to get one. Mine played absolutely dumb on the subject as they did not want to pay out so I had to get the oncology nurses at the hospital to sort one out for me.

Unsurprisingly enough my surgery has a 1* rating on the NHS rankings.

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