Spine Radiation Treatment Next Week

[wendle3007]

Since my last post where I'd had an MRI scan and they were concerned about size of lesion on my T12 vertebrae, several people have reviewed all my scans. Yesterday I met with Consultant Radiographer and recommended to have treatment. I'm not in any pain but this lesion is starting to surround the spinal cord so they want to arrest it before it causes any damage.

I'll be having 5 shots - 1 per day for 5 days (ending Christmas Eve 🙄) but I'm pleased to be cracking on with it not having too much time to worry about it. The only concern I have is that because it's near my stomach I'm likely to be sick and they have prescribed Ondansetron which I know from my chemo days causes severe constipation. Because I'm taking Ibrance I don't want to take laxatives so it looks like prunes and orange juice are back on the menu!

If anyone has any tips for any other radio side effects please share!

[blms]

Try Chlorella or put brown sealed extract for bowels. Also, Magnesium asportate works pretty well.

[NPmary]

Recommend an easy t o take 400mg or 500mg capsule of magnesium for constipation.

[Laskia]

I had radiation to L1, L2 and T12. I was having significant pain due to a partial collapse of T12 and did get some flare of pain after the radiotherapy. I had just one big blast rather than 5 separate treatments.

The sickness was managed well with Ondansetron and I took paracetamol, codeine and ibuprofen for the pain. I wasn't sick at all, but felt a bit queasy on occasion.

I was given Laxido and Senna for constipation.

I have since heard that the anti-histamine, Loratadine, is good for radiation pain.

I'm on Ibrance and Letrozole.

[wendle3007 in reply to Laskia]

Oh thank you, that's all really useful. Codeine on top of the Ondansetron - It's no wonder you needed the laxatives 😅

[Andersl]

Ondansetron doesn't work well on my nausea. Fortunately there are many anti sickness drugs around. I'd try a different one.