I am very new to this site and would love to ask for advice
I will be starting radiotherapy on the 18th August 3 weeks of IMPORT LOW. I will be attending the Royal Marsden in Sutton everyday for 3 weeks and they told me it will take 15mins,
I will be traveling on public transport as i dont drive and the journey will take me 1 hr 30mins there and same back.Will i be ok to travel after treatment,also i am working will i still be able to work.I am asking a lot of questions but i am now begining to think hard about the treatment
Thank You All
Mary
Hello MOTHER48
Welcome to the forums, I’m sure other users will be along to support you soon.
In the meantime you may find it useful to contact our free helpline on 0808 800 6000, opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.00 – 5.00 and Saturday 9.00 – 2.00.
I have also attached a link to our publication on Radiotherapy breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/bcc_radiotherapy_final.pdf
Best wishes
June, moderator
Hi Mother48.
I had my radiotherapy this year, at Sutton Royal Marsden, as part of the IMPORT high study. My treatment was 15 days as well. I dont know what the similarities are with the studies, but I was randomised into the arm which had a targeted higher dose of rads to the tumour bed. I had no problems whatsoever with the treatment; no burning, pain or tiredness. However, I drive and only live 20 minutes away, so had it quite easy.
Julia xx
Hi
I finished 35 rads sessions a few weeks ago. Like you I had a long journey on public transport, in my case into Central London. I was perfectly ok to travel afterwards, although towards the end of the 7 weeks I was getting quite tired and started driving to the station to avoid a walk at the end of the day - this was during the heat wave too which didn’t help. I think saying it takes 15 minutes is a little optimistic - the treatment itself is very quick, but there is often quite a lot of waiting around before treatment.
I wouldn’t have thought you would have a problem working through rads if you can get convenient appointment times. Good luck - hope it all goes well.
finty xx
Hi Mary I had my treatment, chemo and rads, at the Marsden in Sutton too,I also don’t drive and had to get 3 buses there and back.I was lucky in the fact that the bus stop is right outside my house and the last bus stop is right outside the hospital so I didn’t have to walk far.I was fine with the travelling and just had a bit of burning towards the end of treatment and for a little while after.Make sure you slap on loads of cream I brought a big tub of aqueous cream from boots it cost about £2.
Good luck Mel xx
Hi, I have recentl had 15 doses of rads. I did not find it too tiring during the sessions even tho I was also on chemo (CMF). However my journey was only 45 mins each way and friends gave me lots of lifts and I wasn’t working.
I typically had to wait for about half an hour so although the treatment is quick there can be frequent delays.
I think you could work half days if you don’t have any serious side effects. My side effects did not kick in till I was 3 weeks post last treatment, when skin broke down a little and I got a slight infection. I do think your journey will be rather tiring though and it depends then how far you’ll have to travel to work. Some people do get very tied with rads but you couod see how you go and if necessary stop working for a week or two if its too tough. I found it surprising that the side effects peak about 14 days after treatment finshes so be prepared for that.
I have been more tired over the last 2 weeks and onc. told me this was due to the combo of Rads and chemo, even though rads finished 6 weeks ago. My blood counts are rather low now, hence the tiredness, but we proceeded with chemo this am,.
Hope this helps.
I’ve just finishes rads at Sutton, it was all quite easy going really, it can be a pain sometimes if the appt is in the middle of the day. I drove home afterwards, although I only live 10 mins away, it was fine.
I think the tiredness has just hit me in the last week, so making sure I have little naps where I can to rest.
Paula xx
I too had rads at The Royal Marsden and would agree with the others that sometimes you can be waiting around for ages. Sometimes they take a machine out of commission or the have a backlog of patients.
The hospital can arrange transport for you if your journey proves difficult.
Good luck with your treatment.
AlexG