Thanks to everyone that replied to my questions. I start tomorrow for the next 6 weeks of radiation therapy. Tried to keep busy today but my anxiety level is high. You replies have helped a bunch. Any words for my first day would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Rbsw1
hope you have some one to hold your hand - if so, hold hands - a lot and do lots of things you like so you don't waste energy worrying - I know, easy to say ...
You did your homework...have confidence in your treatment AND in you. Good luck to ya. Now, it's time to move FORWARD!!!!
You will be a bit anxious on your first day but you soon get into the rhythm of it. I enjoyed chatting to the other patients before and after me.
To RBSW1,
For me, 39 "Zaps" of my prostate bed was a nothing burger.
President Roosevelt said it best "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself".
Note: Every now and then, bring some donuts for the crew.
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n
j-o-h-n said it all about the therapy crew. You’ll be with them 5 days a week for 6 weeks so a solid relationship is important. Best of luck!
meditate and exercise. You got this!!
Once you get in there, the therapy crew makes you feel that you are not alone and they will normalize it to some degree for you. Hopefully you're meeting with your RO every week so I focused on a week at a time. God Bless and best wishes for your successful therapy.
The worst part is the trip back and forth every day. Relax, keep your bladder full. You can do this.
I agree with knowing your treatment crew and having a light heart. Everyone is doing the best they can and you’re in good hands. Actually being in a good/light mood will help the staff help you.. I don’t think you’ll ‘feel’ anything…. Good luck. Tim.
Plenty of good feedback below. I avoided caffeine and went for it first thing in the morning - I would just chill and go zen on the machine. They’d let me select the music station too.
It was a few years ago now but don’t recall anything especially hard other than the daily time and travel. And holding a full bladder!
The Best to you, RBSW1. I chose radiation also, 28 sessions , got though it with very , very minimal SE's . I felt so great after my first treatment , was sky high all week , knowing I had finally started on hopefully the get better path. I told my RO that at the first week meeting and she said that was pretty common.
try your best to keep calm and centered. Breathe and feel Gratitude for the crew and the technology that is going to stop your cancer. It will be fine.
As an aside but relevant to RT: I had a met treated two years ago and in consultation with the Radio-oncologist mid-treatment I told him how warm and gentle and welcoming his staff were considering what a disorienting place and experience the radiation clinic is. Dim light, giant machine, stange alien sound, everyone leaves the room except me. Surely, I said, some folk have nervous anxieties about the experience. Yes, it is common, he said and the staff is trained to be as welcoming and as possible to reduce the fright response. He had a patient who was mildly schizophrenic, known prior to treatment, who went through the pre treatment protocols and after lying on the table for 30 seconds walked out of the room and never returned. They called, then called using personal phones, had patient doctor call, all with no response.
The magic is not for everyone.
Thank you
Just want to share my experience with radiation treatment. I had 38 days and was anxious like you before treatment. It was a new process and like others just had to learn how to experience it. I had a great team, they explained the process what would happen and gave me confidence in them. The hardest part was laying in one position and not moving for 10-15 minutes. Getting the change in my eating habits to have an empty intestine and colon was not a big deal. I was fortunate and had little side effects mostly fatigue and would tire easily. After it was completed my energy level returned. And as a side note when I saw others in worse condition and much younger, I was thankful that cancer had not struck me earlier. You will do great just take it on with confidence in the result. I have a pretty strong faith and that was a real blessing to me.
My first wk of IMRT was a big, "that's all there is?" reaction. I was anxious, scared and knew this would alter my life...forever. But, the staff were supportive, recognizing the fear and terror in all of the patients' eyes. You made the right decision. Try as best you can to relax (ain't gonna happen, right?). My first side effect was having to pee more...a LOT more, particularly at night. That's when I knew this was real and was zapping the little mother fucking cells. Hang in there. You got this. And, as trite as it sounds: this, too, will pass. We're all behind you, man.
EdinBaltimore
After ADT
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SBRT for favourable intermediate - interested to hear your experience
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Medicare Supplements 
