Hi Ange,

Sorry to hear about your father. I hope you and the family are coping okay, if you need further supports don't hesitate to contact macmillan or ask the radiographers for a referral.

To answer your question, I haven't been through it but I am a therapy radiographer and my grandad had the same a few years back.

To answer your question, keep on top of the pain he will need to take regular pain relief. Normally starting with paracetamol/ibuprofen (every 4hrs), and going up the pain managment levels if no better (i.e cocodamol to morphine).

The pain at night is probably due to being non mobile at night - for some moving around does help, however this is obviously not the same for everyone if non mobile.

The treatment will make the pain worse before better. So ensure he get's the pain relief sorted, during and after the treatment (up to 2/3 weeks after).

I'd also suggets moisturising the area being treated during treatment due to causing erythema (redness of the skin) and itchyness - similar to a sunburn effect.

Hope this has answered a little of your question but if in doubt speak to his oncologist. Sometimes GP's don't tend to know a lot about radiotherapy and therefore the side effects.

All the best with the treatment.

x