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Cheshire Chris's Treatment Thread

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User

Posted 31 Jan 2019 at 21:24

Not all hospitals require men to do the enema, and not all men need it - it rather depends on your internal plumbing, but that is part of the purpose of the planning appointment. They take all the scan information, feed it into a computer which then writes the programme for your specific measurements / insides.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 01 Feb 2019 at 07:52

Thanks, Lyn.

User

Posted 04 Feb 2019 at 16:17

Had my RT planning session today. It all went fine, although (as expected) the thing with the enema wasn't that much fun! I'm now the proud possessor of three tattoos - a cross on each hip and another above my pubic bone, to align the RT machine.

My actual RT starts next Monday. I'll be having 32 fractions, and my appointments are at 1145, which is a convenient time for beating the traffic, so that's all good.

I'll be seeing my consultant once a week during the RT. Had another PSA test today to act as a baseline for the RT.

So all as good as one might reasonably expect.

Chris

User

Posted 04 Feb 2019 at 16:28

Good stuff, Chris, but in my day a trio of discreet dots was good enough! 12 years later, I can't see them, so I imagine even crosses will face with time.

User

Posted 04 Feb 2019 at 16:37

Actually the crosses might be marker pen - I'm not sure what's marker and what's tattoo. I guess time will tell!

Chris

User

Posted 05 Feb 2019 at 12:37

Can anyone tell me whether it'll make any difference if I use the mini-enema at home before setting out for my appointment, rather than using it at the hospital immediately before my RT session? Ie will the extra hour cause any difference in the state of my bowel?

Thanks,

Chris

User

Posted 05 Feb 2019 at 13:07

If they have asked you to use it on arrival then that is what you need to do. Your planning scan was done with your bowel in a particular state of emptiness and they are trying to replicate that as closely as possible at each zapping.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 05 Feb 2019 at 13:23

I was told the micro enema should be used less than an hour before radiotherapy.

I did tgis in the hospital as my journey was up to an hour.

Ido4

User

Posted 05 Feb 2019 at 13:34

Thanks - I'll stick to "the rules" then!

Chris

User

Posted 07 Feb 2019 at 13:41

Latest PSA score from Monday: 13.0, so it's still moving in the right direction (it was 13.3 at the start of Jan), which is good news.

Chris

User

Posted 10 Feb 2019 at 08:48

RT starts tomorrow. 32 fractions at 11:45 every day at Clatterbridge. I must admit that I'm a little stressed about the possible side-effects, but I know that I need to just get through it and accept whatever comes my way. Clatterbridge is a specialist cancer centre, and I know I'm in good hands. All the same, knowing all that doesn't take away the nervousness!

Oh well...

Chris

User

Posted 10 Feb 2019 at 09:08

Hi Chris

You are an amazing guy who has faced up to and got through some pretty tough stuff. A new treatment is bound to make you apprehensive but you will deal with it because you need to. I read up on the worst things that could happen and went prepared but I got chatting to others who were there for all different reasons and as each day passed I felt more in control. For me the treatment over 33 days passed without incident as I hope it will for you.

Very best wishes,

Kevan

User

Posted 10 Feb 2019 at 09:43

like any treatment it is a range of outcomes. I had very little in terms of side effects for surgery and rt apart from mild ED. Sine I recurred I would have swapped the recurrence nice for more sided effect mind you!!

User

Posted 10 Feb 2019 at 10:30

Chris, i felt exactly as you when i was due to start my RT. Remember what I told you in a previous post you will soon get to know who is in your club once you see people disappearing into the loos and drinking water if that is part of your preparation. I would be interested to know how they are treating you if you wouldn’t mind saying I hope you get ultrasound supported radiotherapy like guided as it makes it a lot more accurate and reduces collateral damage. I do agree that it would’ve been better if you had had the rectal spacer. I am now five months out of my radiotherapy fractions, the diarrhoea has disappeared and I still get the mucus discharge daily. I was told that the radiotherapy can unavoidably damage the nerves surrounding the prostate that facilitate erections. This has happened in my case, but is slowly getting better And I am using a vacuum device a few times a week to limit penile atrophy and I’m hoping I can get back to normal six months after I stop hormone therapy in October.

all the best for tomorrow

alan

User

Posted 10 Feb 2019 at 11:42

Hi Alan,

Thanks (and others, too) for the supportive words.

My understanding of the RT machines at Clatterbridge is that they have a built-in CT scanner to properly align the patient with the scanner and to check for the proper state of the bowel and bladder. I'm told that they are the very latest technology, so I think that there should be as little collateral damage as is feasible.

I was surprised, when I went for my planning session, to be told that, because I'm a private patient (funded by work medical insurance) I'll be having my RT in a private RT suite that's completely separate from the main hospital's facilities. Shouldn't make any difference at all to the treatment, but at least it means that there shouldn't be any delays, and it's all a lot more comfortable. The "five star" version of RT!

Chris

User

Posted 10 Feb 2019 at 12:10

Sounds like you are in excellent hands my friend. I am so grateful to my local hospital in Weston super mare and also Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre that I am now very active member of the Patients Council at my local hospital. I am a lay member of the Cancer Board, along with a lady who has breast cancer. We have an important perspective that helps keep consultants feet on the ground!

I am also on the Quality and Safety Board, which fills a vital role monitoring across every department of the hospital.

User

Posted 11 Feb 2019 at 17:35

One session done, 31 to go...

The treatment itself was no big deal, but a few hours after getting home I started feeling extremely nauseous, which has persisted. I don't know if it's a real result of the radiotherapy or purely psychosomatic (not that it changes anything either way). I'll ask the nurses about it tomorrow.

Chris

User

Posted 11 Feb 2019 at 17:38

Extremely unlikely in my experience Chris. also with those i attended RT with. But we are all different. IMHO more lilely to be nerves or something you ate. but i must state this is my unprofessional opinion. your nurses or radiologist are best suited to advise you on this.

Edited by member 11 Feb 2019 at 17:40 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 11 Feb 2019 at 18:00

Sorry to read about your nausea Chris.

I didnt find nausea to be a probkem with RT. Tiredness and bowel issues yes.

Ido4

User

Posted 11 Feb 2019 at 18:20

Probably just nerves. I didn't get very much sleep last night. I'm sure I'll feel a lot better after an early night and a good night's sleep!

Chris

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