Hi there,

Firstly let me say I love your sense of humour. I cant understand consultants who speak like that, That makes me mad, they really do need training in bedside manners. I had 37 radiotherapy treatment for preostate cancer but I was one of the lucky ones who didnt suffer bad side effects aprt from a little bleeding from the back passage which was sorted out with suppositories. I did suffer a bit of diarrhoea but I used imodeim instants and this controled it very well.

My team did tell me if I felt tired to go and lie down for a while and I did as I was told (honest) and after a quarter of an hour I was okay again. But in your case when you add in four hours travelling on top, which is tireing in itself, it's no wonder you feel tired. Speak to your team (not the consultant) as they may be able to offer something to help.

Best wishes and please let us know how you get on, Brian.

Thank you Brian.  I will mention it (and ask about Imodium as well), but certainly not to one of the doctors.  When I was told that I HAD to have chemotherapy following surgery, I asked how long I would have if I didn't have it.  Without breaking her stride while tapping the keyboard and staring at the monitor, the doctor just blurted out "months" and carried on typing! For what seemed ages but I suspect was only a second or two, I just stared at her in disbelief and, even now, I don't know whether it was the shock of what she said or the way she said it (most probably both) but when it sank in, I just burst out crying and STILL she carried on typing.  It seems we're on an "invisible" conveyor belt which mustn't stop, or even slow down, for anything.

How are you now Brian?

Do take care and, once again, thank you.

BB 

Hi BB,

I am so sorry you have such inconsiderate and rude doctors. When one has cancer, most people find that there is the cancer itself to deal with,but what some doctors dont seem to realize, there is also the emotional  and even mental effects it has on us and is certainly not helped by remarks like what you have had tossed at you. I was very lucky and had briliant treatment right from day one from all levels. The radiotherapy nurses were brialiant and I had many laughs with them. When a man is having radiotherapy to his prostate, the nurses always ask if you have drunk plenty of water as this limits damage to surrounding areas. This one day the nurse asked me the usual question and I replied, "If I drink any more water nurse. I shall look like a flaming camel". Back came the reply, "Would that be a one humped or two humped camel". Made the whole experiance of treatment so much easier.

I was very lucky and my PSA is still very low four years after finishing all treatment; thanks for asking. I got my Immodium from my local chemist shop and I used the instant type as it does what it says on the can (or in this case the packet)  and works within an hour.

Take care, sorry about the house work, my wife allready has me doing the vacuming and I am absolutely hopeless at ironing ha ha. Sending kind thoughts and best wishes your way, Brian

Hi BB,

I am so sorry you have such inconsiderate and rude doctors. When one has cancer, most people find that there is the cancer itself to deal with,but what some doctors dont seem to realize, there is also the emotional  and even mental effects it has on us and is certainly not helped by remarks like what you have had tossed at you. I was very lucky and had briliant treatment right from day one from all levels. The radiotherapy nurses were brialiant and I had many laughs with them. When a man is having radiotherapy to his prostate, the nurses always ask if you have drunk plenty of water as this limits damage to surrounding areas. This one day the nurse asked me the usual question and I replied, "If I drink any more water nurse. I shall look like a flaming camel". Back came the reply, "Would that be a one humped or two humped camel". Made the whole experiance of treatment so much easier.

I was very lucky and my PSA is still very low four years after finishing all treatment; thanks for asking. I got my Immodium from my local chemist shop and I used the instant type as it does what it says on the can (or in this case the packet)  and works within an hour.

Take care, sorry about the house work, my wife allready has me doing the vacuming and I am absolutely hopeless at ironing ha ha. Sending kind thoughts and best wishes your way, Brian

Hello again Brian.  Yes, having friendly staff makes such a lot of difference.  When I had to go in for the investigation, they forgot to arrange an overnight bed for me and their attitude was almost as if it was my fault.  A bed was eventually found in a private room.  Goodness me.  I had edible food and staff kept coming in to talk so much so that I wished they would go so I could get some sleep.  After my operation, I was put on a ward.  The food was awful and the same staff who I couldn't get rid of before didn't even say hello unless I spoke first and then they just answered and left.  My radiotherapy is to my pelvis so, like you, I have to drink like it's going out of fashion but if that is going to help, then I'll certainly do that.

Do you mind me asking which hospital you were in?  The staff there sound so caring as well as professional.  It does make all that difference, doesn't it?

So as you're refusing to do my ironing and vacuuming I shall have to get myself well watered and rush around like a lunatic trying to at least get some of it done before it all starts again tomorrow. 

What makes it even worse is that the DLR staff are supposed to be going on strike on Tuesday and Wednesday so I think I'll take a tent up there and camp overnight as I've no idea how long it will take me to get up there and back home again.

Do take care.

BB

Hi BB,

Yes, having good caring staff makes so much differnce. I was at two hospitals. Princess Royal at Haywards heath was where I was diagnosed but I had my radio therapy at the Sussex Cancer Centre. I could have driven there but as the parking was so difficult, I used my bus pass as there is a bus service which was only a five/ten minute walk away from my home and it dropped me right outside the cancer centre. So I only had about an hour to get there. I have calculated since, had I used my car I would have travelled about a thousand miles just to get my radiotherpy treatment. This saved me a small fortune in petrol and parking charges.

I also met some wonderful people as patients and I am still in contact with three couples.

Take care, Brian.

Hello Brian

Oh yes, what would we do without our Freedom passes?  Even with mine I still got lost each day last week as I was trying different ways to get to the hospital.  Two buses which is the easiest for me take about two hours and because of road works almost everywhere in central London, there is often only single lane traffic.  Consequently a ten/fifteen minute journey now takes fifty minutes and because the buses are so behind schedule, they terminate at earlier points in order to turn round.  Last week I found myself chucked off the bus at the Tower of London which made me quite paranoid as I thought they hate me at the hospital and have told the bus to send me to The Tower!  If my little fat legs hadn't been hurting so much and I had been more awake, I would have enjoyed looking at Tower Bridge and The Tower but I  just wanted to get home and collapse in the chair.  I made it by finding Tower Gateway DLR, changing at Shadwell and taking it from there.  Perhaps I should try a Boris bike once my legs start doing my bidding instead of their own, or even a motorised wheelbarrow.

It's been nice "talking" to you Brian and I'll say night night for now.

Take care.

Carol (BB)