Radiotherapy Begins

Yesterday I began my course of 20 radiotherapy sessions and it went very smoothly.

I arrived about five minutes before my appointment time, 12.45, and there was no hanging about at all. I was encouraged to empty my bladder and then I was on the treatment bed with my shirt pulled up and my trousers and pants pulled down to give the linacc unit a clear shot. It took more time actually to line everything up correctly using the marks they put on my skin last week than to do the treatment itself.

Oh, I had received some advice on possible side-effects and how to reduce them and it looks as if drinking tea, coffee and alcohol is out for a while. How can I survive?

I gather it will probably be a couple of weeks before I start to feel any side-effects kick in but then I can expect more frequent and uncomfortable urination and quite likely a rather loose bowel. Oh well, I reckon that, after what chemo did to me, I can handle that.

In the meantime normal life goes on. Last night we went out for a Thai meal to celebrate our wedding anniversary and I drank a pint of Thai beer which will be my last alcoholic drink until this is all over.