Photons on the Prostate - V

Tolerance helps through

My radiotherapy session yesterday was the latest in time for all visits to The Christie Hospital at 18h15, it represented the longest time between the weekday treatments as there are no weekend sessions. I was first in on Thursday morning at 08h00, the receptionists and staff had not arrived when I got to the hospital for my appointment.

With 7 done, we are over a third of the way through it and I have a better understanding of what to expect. I am tolerating radiotherapy well, but fatigue is a downer, much as I want to be active the body is sending signals I cannot ignore, and tiredness gets respite with sleep at irregular times leading to nocturnal insomnia where you wake up in the middle of the night and even though you are tired, you cannot sleep.

The side effect is more related to fatigue than insomnia being a documented side effect of radiotherapy when it applies to the prostate. It royally screws up the day that you need to become flexible about how you are productive.

Take each day

I would do whatever I can when my energy levels are up, regardless of the time of the day, and take the rest as needed when the fatigue sets in.

The waiting rooms during the evening sessions are quite busy and this time, as I was waiting to be called into my usual suite, I was reassigned to another suite where I was immediately called in for my radiotherapy treatment.

One other thing I have noticed is my ambulatory performance is quite low compared to my usual walking speed, it reminds me of the months of recuperation after chemotherapy in 2010, I just took my time putting one foot in front of the other knowing I would eventually get to my destination. The distance to the hospital on my good walking days I could do in 60 to 70 minutes. It is not something I have contemplated currently.

The smart thing now is prioritising the responsiveness to treatment over other situations and variables, and making the best of the weekend breaks on the treatment plan.