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radiation side effect question

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Posted 9/8/2013 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
I've now finished treatment number 4 of the IMRT Radiation treatments.

I see the Doctor Monday after my treatment and will ask her this question also.

Ever since the 2nd day of treatment I have a strange sensation around my belly. Its about 3 inches below my belly button. Not really a pain or uncomfortable. Just feels like a constant tightness.

I wonder if anyone else has experienced something like this. I keep thinking perhaps its my mind playing tricks on me. Since I'm thinking about my treatments constantly during the day.

Lewvino 

Posted 9/8/2013 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
You are doing the right thing, by bringing this to your RO when you have your weekly meeting. It's probably in the realm of "normal", whatever normal really means. When I had my disastrous SRT, I began to sense burning in one particular spot on my 4th treatment. The operators blew it off and said it was my imagination. My RO the next Monday, said there was no way I could be feeling anything. But to make a long story short, I was being burned as the result of having a 100% empty bladder, and it only got worse with each progressive treatment. Morale of my story, absolutely mention it the doctor and get it on record.

If it continues, or gets worse over the next few treatments, insist that the RO investigate closely why you are feeling what you are feeling, don't want you or anyone else to end up like I did.

Hopefully, its no big deal, please let me know what the doctor says.

Good luck,

David
Posted 9/8/2013 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
Agreed, check with your RO( at Vandy?). I never felt anything but some dizziness and fatigue from my treatments. Urinary urgency too, but that's not anything like you're describing.

You are keeping a full bladder for each session, right?
Posted 9/8/2013 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
I had no sensations of any kind, if that means anything.

I would agree, bring it up. Under the belly button sounds kind if high, but if could be a referred pain from somewhere else.

Good luck. Hope you zap those little buggers.
Posted 9/8/2013 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Nothing from my rad until about 3 weeks in, as predicted, mild urgency to go...."you will learn to trust your bladder and rectum" the R.O. told me...lasted maybe a week. Having a full bladder was highlighted in my initial consultations and they asked every day, and I always drank a bottle of water on the way to the clinic and in the waiting room..
Posted 9/8/2013 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
I got burned a little lower but it was toward the end of my treatments.  your skin may be getting irritated.  have you tried something like bag balm after each treatment?

ed

 

Posted 9/8/2013 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
That's something to talk to the RO about for sure. Way too early in the treatments to be feeling many SE. I never had that kind of irritation (everyone is different of course) but got a lot of fatigue towards the end of my treatments.

but as my RO often told me, "we've got potions and lotions to help with the side effects," so at the least they should be able to do something to easy the discomfort.

Andrew
Posted 9/9/2013 11:45 AM (GMT 0)
It was interesting that the sensation ended yesterday. I will mention it to the Dr today when I see her.
I'm getting my radiation treatments local not at Vanderbilt where I had my surgery. Just not logistically possible to stay 2.5 hrs away from home for treatments at Vandy. I have full confidence in this Doctor and she has been in consultation with Dr. Smith at Vanderbilt about my case.

I will monitor and see if the sensation returns this week. Its not a 'pain' just a tightness and slight tingling sensation over a wide area.

Today is treatment number 5.

lewvino
Posted 9/9/2013 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
One thing to watch out for is that during the treatments I found myself a bit hypersensitive to any change in my body. Random aches and pains come and go but during RT I worried about each little thing and wondered, "is this because of RT?"

Best to ask, often my RO would just reassure me that it was nothing or sometimes tell me it won't get better till the treatments are done or once in awhile he'd give me sometime to easy the symptoms.

Hang in there, this RT this is a bit of an endurance test.

Andrew
Posted 9/9/2013 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Just arrived home after my 5th IMRT treatment and the visit with the Doctor.

She answered all my general questions, told me if I had ANY concerns or questions during treatment to let the staff know immediately and she would talk to me if I needed.

After discussing the weird sensation in my abdomen she made note, She doesn't believe it is related to the radiation and my gut feeling is also that it is not. But she did emphasis that if it occurs again any time this week to let her and her staff know immediately.

I may have mentioned before but she lost her husband to colon cancer so she is very caring and LISTENS to her patients.

She also shared with me several of my images and the outlines of where they are radiating.

Lewvino

Posted 9/9/2013 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Lewvino,

I wish you the best of luck during your RT. I hope that it is successful.
Keep us posted of your progress. I might have to embark on this road as
well because of my positive margin.

Are you getting your RT at Vanderbilt as well?

All the best,

Joe.
Posted 9/9/2013 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Lewvino,

I too wish you luck with your RT. My husband is starting RT this Thursday, so I will be following your progress.
He is nervous and just wants to get started with the treatments.

Sincerely,

Kathy
Posted 9/10/2013 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
I had no problems with the radiation except I had a red rear end, fatigued, no pain anywhere, but my bowels have never been the same since.
Good luck with your treatment.

Mal.
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