The degree to which radiotherapy affects your daily life will depend very much upon the nature of your radiotherapy and how you respond to it. It is very important to remember that there is no ‘right’ way to live through this process, and that both the emotional and the physical effects will vary from person to person. Some people prefer to continue with as normal a routine as their radiotherapy schedule and physical energy will allow, as this helps them to retain some sense of control over their lives. For others, this may not be physically possible, or they may decide to make quite dramatic changes to their lives so that their time and energy is focused around their treatment. Most people will fall somewhere between the two. It will take time to adjust as the radiotherapy progresses, and you will need the support of family and friends. Don’t be afraid to accept offers of help, either at home or driving you to your hospital appointments, for example.
Following surgery, Gary underwent an intensive course of radiotherapy for a tumour which had recurred in his brain. His treatment was given twice a day, morning and afternoon, as an outpatient on Monday to Friday over four weeks.
As I lived some distance from the hospital, I stayed with a friend for the duration of my treatment, going home only at weekends. The radiotherapy made me very tired and lethargic, and I had to make the journey to the hospital by public transport twice a day -I was not allowed to drive because of the possible effects of my tumour. Friends helped out by driving me to or from the hospital when they could, but it was hard to stay motivated and believe that the treatment would be worth all the effort. I didn’t suffer too badly from other side-effects, although eating sensibly, keeping myself occupied (other than sleeping) and generally looking after myself were hard work. The point of relating this is not to put other people off, but to emphasize that sometimes you need more support and encouragement than you appreciate at the beginning of your treatment. You just have to keep remembering (and it helps if other people repeat it) that it is just too important not to see it through. Against the odds, I have been completely clear of cancer for over a year now.
Coping with your cancer and its treatment is discussed in more detail later in the book.
When your treatment has finished, your progress will be monitored via regular check-ups. It is extremely important for you to attend these appointments, as it is your main means of contact with your doctors. The knowledge that you will be attending check-ups on a long-term basis can be very reassuring. These appointments are a good opportunity to talk about any worries or queries which have arisen and you should never feel afraid to contact your doctor between appointments if you have a specific problem.
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