Radiotherapy

[karenmarriott99]

My mom has just completed a week of radiotherapy for lung cancer. She got through chemo successfully and was quite well for most of the time with very little side effects. She was left from the beginning of July to the end of September for a follow up appointment with her Oncologist. She was than referred for a reduced dosage of radiotherapy as the consultant said that he didn’t think she would tolerate the full dosage. She is not very good at all, she is losing her balance and has had a number of falls. She is unable to walk more than a metre without help or without losing her balance. She has just completed one week of treatment and due to start the second of two weeks treatment tomorrow. I am extremely worried as she is so unwell I am unsure whether she is fit enough to be having the treatment. I am worried sick about her falling when I am not with her, my nerves are in shreds! She also told me that she was struggling for breath on Friday, I believe this can be a side effect of radiotherapy, the cancer is in the upper part of the lung. Has anyone else experienced any of these symptoms and is it normal to be left for 3 months with no treatment. My mom has sclc.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

HiKaremmarriot99,

I am sorry your mum is having frequent falls and has been breathless on Friday.You will have been given a contact number to phone the radiotherapy department if she experienced difficulties.However as the radiotherapy department will probably not have been open over the weekend, by now you might have phoned her GP to assess her to identify whether there is any other reason for the breathlessness and the falls(which might not be related to the radiotherapy).

In relation to the hospital clinic appointments you should have been given a number to contact the lung cancer clinical nurse specialist involved in your mums care between her scheduled hospital visits should you have any concerns you wish to discuss with her.

I have attached a link regarding radiotherapy treatment documents.roycastle.org/Rad...

Kind regards,

All the team at the Roy Castle Helpline

[Pamann247 in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Hi Karemmarriot

Hopefully in the time you posted someone has shed some light. I wonder if they have looked for pneumonia. My husband developed this after radiation and it went undiagnosed quite awhile.

Blessings to you and your mother

Pamela R

[karenmarriott99 in reply to Pamann247]

Hi Pamela, thank you and thank you for replying to my post. Sadly things have changed for the worse. My mom completed her 2nd and final week of radiotherapy, was extremely fatigued by the end of it.

Unfortunately she had a fall in her home on Monday and has been hospitalised. We have since discovered that her cancer has spread and that she has two lesions in the cerebellum area of the brain. We have been informed that it is untreatable. After being quite well all the way through her treatment, she is now bed bound and has lost the use of both of her hands, we have also been told that her condition is time limited. I don’t know where to go from here. I feel helpless and broken 😢

[Pamann247 in reply to karenmarriott99]

My heart breaks for you Karen. The treatments are so mean, as mean as the cancer itself.

It is a hard thing to be called to care for a loved one who is dying. I stayed with my husband every moment until the end. It was the hardest and biggest blessing God ever assigned me.

I pray God's gentle loving presence guide you and strengthen you my sweet lady.

Much love and prayers

Pam Richardson

[karenmarriott99 in reply to Pamann247]

Hi Pam

I haven’t been on here since my last post so have only just seen your response.

Sadly during hospitalisation and tests we discovered that my mom’s cancer had spread to her brain. She was given 3 - 4 weeks left to live. The prognosis couldn’t have been more accurate, she passed away on 5th January. We had an awful Xmas and new year, birthdays on 3rd & 4th Jan came and went. We couldn’t even make the festive period nice for her, the hospital care was shocking, all we could do was be there with her to ensure she was fed and had drinks, as she couldn’t do anything for herself as she had lost the use of her hands and was too weak. I feel she went through the radiotherapy treatment for nothing as it wasn’t lung cancer that took my lovely mom, it was the aggressive secondary cancer we knew nothing about till it was too late. Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post and I wish you well. I hope that you are okay following the loss of your husband, at least you were together when the time came. Best wishes for the future xx

[Pamann247 in reply to karenmarriott99]

Hello Karen

Thank you for your reply. I'm so saddened to hear of your mother's passing.

I completely understand your feelings that the radiotherapy was for nothing. I feel like the hospital and staff will continue any and all treatment even if it does nothing to prolong life or increase the patients quality.

I know that no one can predict the future, but I feel the staff and doctors should provide some estimate as to side effects vs time. It's all for nothing the torture and weeks of failing health.

I pray for God's comfort and strength to you and your family.

Blessings dear Lady

Pamela R