Starting Radiotherapy – Day 1

I’m curious enough to record my actions and reactions as regard my five-day course of Radiotherapy at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford. When I say curious, I remember that the last time I had radiotherapy (in1982) it was similar but different, and the mists of time have so obscured it that I wish I had recorded my feelings at the time. Now I can do it, so I will. I had the previous Friday travelled to the Radiography Unit for a “Planning” session, where a nice nurse (they are all brilliant at the Churchill, with good humour – just see the notes the patients have had fixed to the wall) put me through a special scanner to “fix” the area where they would irradiate me with some kind of tiny tattoo. (I remember last time it was crosses scrawled on my torso in gentian violet!)

My first day was quite simple. I was asked to lay on a kind of narrow bed while the machine was passed over me to the precise point and focused on the tattoo on my midriff. The machine delivering the radiation was spun around me to “do” me from behind first (about 2 minutes of bleeping while the nurse left the room), then the same from above. That was it. A few minutes, and then the long drive home.

They said I might feel sick after about two hours, but this didn’t happen – everyone’s different.

Next morning I feel fine. No after-effects as yet. Will keep you posted.

On another subject, I am confused by the various views on cancer and iron supplements, so if an oncologist happens to read this, a view would be appreciated. Does supplementary iron (the cancer is bleeding and so I’m anaemic – my GP has prescribed iron in liquid form)) make tumours grow faster? There does seem to be a dichotomy of opinion on this.

My Song of the Day: Bob Dylan – To Ramona