Five weeks are done!!

Denise1966
Denise1966 Member Posts: 90
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Finally....my five weeks of radiation and 5fu are done! That seemed like forever. I hope this did something to shrink the tumor. I go to see my surgeon on Thursday to see what my next step is, whether it's a colonoscopy or CT scan and then I find out when surgery is. How soon can they do a colonoscopy after radiation? I guess they told me that it's a 4-6 week window to have the surgery. Right now I'm just dealing with the 10-15 trips to the bathroom a day, I hope this slows down a bit soon. Other than that, I guess I can just try to function normally until my next step comes along. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.
Denise

Comments

  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    Congratulations, one giant part of treatment done!! 10 - 15 times a day is a lot, mine did slow down after a month, but my doctor pushed me to use immodium and lomodial to slow things down a bit. You might want to talk to your doctor about it if you haven't already done so. Logistically it will make your days much easier. Memorizing the location of every bathroom when you want to go out is such a drag!

    Good luck and keep us posted. I hope you get good news when you see the doctor. Again - congrats - I know it is a very long five weeks. It's nice to be without the pump all the time isn't it.

    Pam
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    I'm dancing for you, Denise!

    My GI gal said she wouldn't do a scope for at least a year post-rads. The radiated tissue is very fragile, and she didn't was to risk a perferation. I didn't have my resection till 8 weeks after the treatment was over...gave the area time to heal...

    The trips to the bathroom will slow. Especially with your can-do attitude. Watch what you eat, just like a child, don't add multiple foods at a time, until you find which are ok. Example: When I get fast-running, I eat a bananna. If more extreme, BRAT diet (bananna, rice, applesauce, tea) until things slow down. If I get plugged, ramp up the fluids, and more fresh fruit (for me, apples work great!). I do not take meds unless absolutely necessary (while visiting Prague I ate too much dairy, finally, after 2 hours on the pot, took some immodium...I wasn't about to let it spoil my trip..lol!).

    Hugs, Kathi