VIII. Radiotherapy

Dear All

I've now completed day 5 of 15 radiotherapy sessions. I wouldn't quite say 'time flies when you're having fun' but it certainly hasn't been too bad, so far. The main effects appear to be tiredness, some funny tummy sensations, oh and an emotional moment on a rainy Friday afternoon!

The radiotherapy itself has been very 'efficient' (a word I've used a lot in reference to St Luke's Cancer Centre) and the process is all in all pretty quick.

After changing into a rather attractive gown, I enter a radiotherapy room. The room is much larger than I had originally thought, it was light, open with 'florence and the machine' music playing in the background. The hard bench is similar to that of the CT scanner, and when the lights in the room are turned off, green and red laser lights project from certain points in the ceilings and walls and align with my mini marker tattoos (see CT planning blog).The radiotherapy machine sits above the bench like a big lens.

With great skill, patience and some strength (to haul my heavy frame) the radiographers position me precisely with lasers, then leave the room while I'm zapped. On my first session I didn't actually know for certain when I was being treated. I learnt later that it was indeed when the buzzer sounded but it didn't feel like long enough!

The radiographers then pop back into the room, the large lens flips below the bench and the process is repeated from below, through the clear bench into my back.

Before I know it, it's over and I'm off getting changed and on my way! After 5 days I can confirm that it takes longer to get a cappuccino from the main hospital branded coffee shop!

I've been using aqueous cream on the sites which appears to be heading off any issues.

So five days down and ten to go....

Best wishes

Stuart