how long between chemo and rads?

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Hi Everyone ,
I know im a bit previous here as im only on my first out of 6 chemo but i am due to have 20 days of rads after that.
How long is there in between chemo and rads ,my onc said 3 weeks but is that 3 weeks after you go to hosp for your last chemo or 3 weeks after you have had you 18 weeks chemo(6 x 3 weeks) .Sorry i know it all sounds really confusing but the difference to me will be wether i am still having treatment at christmas or not .
Thanks Sharon xx

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Hi Lisha

I had my rads planning session 10 days after my last chemo, my actual rads treatment started three and a half weeks after my last chemo infusion.

I think it varies from hospital to hospital, some people have had to chase things up but others have had no problems. Mine happened automatically.

Hope that helps- good luck with the chemo and ask for a specific rads planning appointment when your chemo has finished so that you get the rads when you want them. If it doesn’t happen keep on asking. Bear in mind that if you have low blood counts you may have delayed chemo sessions so it may take longer than 18 weeks.

Diana

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I saw my Oncologist today and this was one of the questions I asked her. She said that as soon as my bloods were back to normal following the last chemo - so should be around 3 weeks after that.

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Hi Lisha,
My last chemo was on 14th Oct. 2010 and i started 15 Rads on 10th Nov and was all completed by 30th Nov 2010. Hope this helps you. Wishing you good luck for all your treatment. It might not seem it now but it is doable.
All the best Angie

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I think the norm is usually 4 weeks after last chemo. If you are only just starting chemo you could predict more or less what date the rads will start but it will all depend on if there are no delays for any chemo dates due to bloods not being good enough etc.
They won’t do any rads planning until you are near the end of chemo. Hope this helps
Debs

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Thanks everyone thats really helpfull.
Love Sharon xx

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Hi Sharon

My last chemo is on 19th August and my rads planning session is booked for 31st August. The nurse said today that treatment usually starts pretty soon after that. Bring it on I say! Sooner started, sooner finished! Good luck with your treatment. Lynne xx

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Thanks Lynne ,
Glad to hear you are nearly at the end of your treatment and all the best for the future .XX

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Just to let you know my onc has agreed to let me have rads during chemo so that will cut my treatment schedule down by 6 or 7 weeks! On a different thread I am on there are a couple of ladies doing this and irs going well. My onc says they dont do it as a matter of course at my hospital but theres no clinical reason not to, just that side feects can be heightened but the efficacy of the treatment is the same. Thay are going to see how I go and will probably be offering it as an option in the future. I am on a different chemo regime from you, ecmf which is 12 doses over 26 weeks so was keen to try and shorten things as much as poss as three young boys and a job to deal with.
hope this helps! Rachel