delaying radiotherapy

I am on here now updating my situation, as you have all been so kind as to help with your comments.

I am now planned for radiotherapy - yaaay.  Have had the planning ct, just an mri to go, and the sessions start on 27th February, 20 sessions in all.  I had my hernia surgery on 16th January, and have made an amazing recovery from this.  The oncologist was pleased and gave the go ahead to start the treatment. 

One thing I am a little confused about is the time of arrival at the hospital.  My RT treatment is at 9.10, every day the same fortunately, but I have been given a time to pass urine and start drinking which is 45 minutes before.  I am very fortunate in that I am eligible for patient transport, and my grand daughter is a planner for this!!  I was a bit uncertain that I might be getting preferential treatment because of her, but no, everyone in my situation is automatically entitled to it. 

I have to give her the details for the planning now.  Any of you on here that has gone through this, would you recommend that they plan to have me  at the hospital for the earlier drink time, rather than the RT time.  I can easily drink on route, but am a little nervous of traffic interfering, or some other unforseen situation preventing  me getting there in time. 

I am getting a bit panicky now I think, more to do with making sure all the elements of the treatment are in place than the actual treatment.  I did notice when I was there for the planning ct, several men sitting in the waiting room with their little drink bottles and waiting, but a couple just turned up with a bottle in hand and went straight through.  They could have been sitting elsewhere of course I guess.  And then there is all the bowel emptying as well, getting that right.  It's very complicated isn't it. 

anyway, if anyone has anything to tell me that will help me get this all straight in my head I'd appreciate it.  I find to have advice for people who have been through it is more valuable than advice even from the hospital staff.  

Hi John

i had a course of 20 sessions of RT in June - July 2024. The idea is that you drink a volume of water which they should have told you at the planning scan at least 45 mins before your RT treatment as a full bladder state is required for RT scan. That timing is crucial as it takes about that time for water drunk to seep into the bladder.  The rationale is that a full bladder pushes the bladder away from zapping by the RT beams thus protective.  They may have asked you also to empty your bowel an hour before RT treatment - to protect the bowel from zapping.

The folks you see drinking are either being told to drink more water after when they got onto RT scan, their bladder checked and found to be below safe level of fullness. They could also be drinking their water there and wait 45 mins before their RT time.

Expect to need wee very urgently by the time your RT zapping finishes (my zapping took less than 3mins once it starts). I came close to wetting on the scanner and had 2 accidents in the changing room. The nurses and assistants were very understanding as they see accidents!  RT does that to you from after 2-4 sessions. It affects the bowel in the same way too! Piece of advice, have a wee before you get in car for home and be prepared to stop on way. I bought a wee flask from Amazon and put on men’s pad lol!

Good luck, you’ll be fine and the sessions goes quickly! Eddie 

Peter

Hello again  to everyone who has been so kind with their responses.  I have now begun my radiotherapy treatment, have had 3 very straightforward treatments so far.  But guess what, this time not so straightforward, and i wanted to ask if anyone else had these issues throughout their treatment. 

Before I started, the radiographer told me to take the enema the night before the treatment.  This seemed to have worked, but yesterday, they said my bowel wasn't totally empty, although it was empty enough for them to proceed.  They then advised to take the enema in the morning before leaving home for the treatment.  I did, and it worked pretty much straight away at home.  

When I got onto the machine for the treatment they weren't able to do it as they said my bowel wasn't empty enough.  So I then had to go and use another enema, which worked, and start from the beginning with emptying and filling my bladder.  As I mentioned before I was having patient transport, which involved leaving home very early, but I have now been given a permit to park for free.  I initially hadn't wanted to drive there and park as the car park at this hospital is nightmare to get in and find a space.  However, they did tell me as my appointments are early, the chances are the car park wouldnt be likely to have filled up.  So I am going to try this, so I should be able to leave home a little later. 

Is this something that happens, occasionally, or often or what.  I have struck up a conversation with another chap in the waiting room who is 7 treatments ahead of me, and he hasn't had this happen to him.  I'm not sure now which is the best way round this, and would be interested to hear what regime others have been subjected to.  

Good to know it's not just me!!  She did explain right at the start how 'picky' they are about everything being exactly right, as they should of course.  They were very understanding, it's not an issue, there is always a space for such eventualities.  They suggested a slightly amended bowel regime, and will see how that works.  Might mean being at the hospital just a tad earlier, but I only have 14 more early starts, so that's OK. 

Hi - yes that is what they now advise.  First of all they advised doing the enema the night before, as it appeared to take quite a while to work.  But now that seems not to work, so they ask me to get there one hour before the treatment rather than 45 minutes.  Do the enema first as soon as I arrive, and then do the bladder emptying and filling 45 minutes before. 

My wife was a bit concerned that, once i'd started filling my bladder, if I then had to empty my bowel, I would have to wee as well!!  No, that doesn't happen for me, women are made very differently down there (as we all know), so it wouldn't be a problem for me. 

Today is a later appointment, and it will be the first time I do the new regime so we'll see.  I knew before I started that I could be in the department anything from one to two hours and I now know why!!  They also gave me a great deal of dietary advice, no peas, beans, sprouts etc, no caffeinated drinks, little alcohol, and keep well hydrated.  All that's worked fine, but am definitely missing the 'wind' making foods.  But it's only for 4 weeks, hardly a lifetime.  

I really appreciate that people take the time to respond, its really reassuring.  My wife has been in contacted with our local cancer charity, who support people in treatment, and those who are supporting them.  They're really great, so kind and helpful, and provide 4 free complementary treatments, massages and the like.  They asked had I been in touch with, or looked at the prostatecancer  uk website, and was happy to tell them about this wonderful forum.  

Good for you then! My similar embarrassment moment was actually the planning scan. I had gone through the procedure of taking a laxative the night before (my hospital didn't ask for an enema), pooing in the morning. and then arriving early and drinking the required volume - to discover my bowel was too full. I was given what they called a "mini enema" which worked perfectly except that I weed as well, and had to go through the whole business of drinking and waiting all over again. I felt awful, but credit to the staff for being so considerate over it.

It is all part of the journey.....

Thanks all, I am reassured that so many of you have gone through the same thing.  Not that I would wish any of this on anyone, but it has to be done and hopefully all will be well in the end. 

Interesting the point about the appointment times.  Most of mine are scheduled for 9.10 am (arrive and drink time 8.25)  Since the 'failed' preparation, the next two appointments were later, the first one went OK, the second is today.  My new regime, suggested by the staff, is to empty bladder, drink the water, then use the enema, as fortunately up to now I won't wee at the same time.  Yesterday it worked, today we'll see.  I won't get into such a tizz about it in the future.  It is what it is.  

I am finding, after 5 treatments, that I am needing to wee rather more frequently, and am having to get up in the night, which luckily for me has never been a problem.  But again, my wife keeps telling me, welcome to my world.  She has IBS so knows about bowel issues, and due to childbirth, as many older women, has pelvic floor issues too.   Seems to me that we need to get a 'where is the nearest toilet' app when we go somewhere different. Presuming there is such a thing. 

John , not an insurance broker or lawyer, Google prostap and you get this.

 "is also known as Prostap or Staladex. It is used in the treatment of prostate cancer and"

They may interpret that as you are still having treatment. The RT also continues to work after the sessions have finished.  Better to pay £1k up front rather than £20k because sometimes goes wrong.

Thanks Chris