Radiation Fatigue

I’m now finding out that one of the other things I wasn’t told was that radiation fatigue lasts a long time. I’m not really sure how long, but one estimate I found says six months. Delightful.

My stamina gives out after about twelve hours. It’s almost as if I hit a wall. I can still lay down and do things on the iPad or read, but forget any significant activity.

I plan to write a post soon for others that addresses the questions I should have asked before I so happily agreed to radiation therapy.

Zofran Enters

Called the radiologist this morning about last night’s vomiting episode. He prescribed the anti-nausea drug Zofran, which I took before the radiation treatment.

Took the fourth radiation treatment.

Radiation Induced Vomiting

My wife and I meet with the radiologist and discuss the first vomiting episode. I’m pretty sure it was just stomach flu. There’s not much else to address.

I take the third radiation treatment.

I vomit twice that evening, the second time was much worse than the first. It makes sense after I think about it. This was due to the radiation. There was nothing in my stomach to cause it. It felt like I was trying to throw up my stomach lining. This is one trial learning for me – don’t throw up when there’s nothing in your stomach causing you to throw up. I make a commitment to myself not to throw up again from radiation.

First Radiation Treatment

My wife and I meet with the radiologist to go over final treatment details. It turns out the MRI found a third tiny cancer spot on my spine. Fortunately, it’s close to the other two spots and the radiologist made minor changes to the treatment plan to treat the new spot as well. I’m OK about this.

I get my first radiation treatment. The radiation from the top lasts about 15 seconds top and 25 seconds from underneath me.

I vomit this evening.

Decision Made

My wife and I meet with the radiologist. He reports his findings of discussions with colleagues on my treatment: a slight majority say I should wait for pain before treatment, a very vocal minority say I should treat due to my age. I decide to go with treatment, despite his recommendation. Fifteen treatments are prescribed. The expectation is I will have few or no problems except fatigue. I’m feeling good. I’m in control and doing something!