Radiotherapy

[pusskin]

Does radiotherapy always follow chemo if it doesnt work?

Do you have radiotherapy every day of the week?

[ethandron]

It depends on a lot of things...type of cancer, where it is, how advanced, treatment plan, etc.
Some people have radiotherapy and chemo at the same time, some only have radiotherapy, some have none.

[woofgang]

Sorry Pushkin but my answers won't help you
1 no not always, it depends
2 no not always, it depends
I don't mean to be snotty but it depends on type and location of cancer, and stage it's at, type of radiotherapy, general health of person, and to some extent opinion of specialist from their knowledge and choice made by patient.

[rowanwitch]

No...
Sometimes it is given on its own, before or after surgery, before or after chemo or concurrently with it, It can be used with curative intent to control an incurable tumour or for pain control or other palliative reason.

It is usually given on consecutive weekdays but some variations use alternative days or a single dose or fraction The aim is to give a certain prescribed dose in these fractions to minimise side effects with maximum effect.

[Sqad]

I cannot anything to the above accurate posts.

[pusskin]

Many thanks abers.

My reason for asking is that my brother is having radiotherapy this week I have just found out. he has Myloma and has been in remission for at least 6 mths. He has always said that he's fine and not to worry, but lump in his elbow has appeared and so has the illness. Will find out more when I hope to get to speak to him tonight all being well.
I lost a brother last year with Lyphoma and he couldnt take the 2nd dose of chemo, was too weak and he passed away. x

[rowanwitch]

see if you can find out a little more but I can see why you are so worried

http://www.myeloma.org.uk/

if you haven't already tried this site the info seems a good place to start

[Sqad]

pusskin....thanks for being more specific.......in the relapse phase, soft tissue deposits and particularly bone deposits may well respond well to radiotherapy.

[pusskin]

thank you for the link rowanwitch, will read it with close scrutiny x

[pusskin]

thanks sqad, I'm a bit shook up this week, so I hope that Radiotherapy gets to the bones to do its good work x

[pusskin]

hi Abers! Just a quick update --Rang my brother just now and he sounded quite cheerful. he has another session on Mon, Tues,Wed, then some tests to see if its kept at bay.
Many thanks for all replies and the helpfull link, its all seems much clearer to me now xx (fingers crossed ay)

[Sqad]

Thanks for the update.......much appreciated.

[pusskin]

Thats ok squad, its only fair to keep you updated when you've all gone to the trouble to answer my query! many thanks to you all x

[littleja]

RADIOTHERAPY AND CHEMOTHERAPY CAN BE GIVEN TOGETHER OR SINGLY DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF CANCER. I HAVE HAD RADIOTHERAPY ONCE A DAY FOR SIX WEEKS. ALSO TWICE A DAY, MORNING AND EARLY EVENING FOR SIX WEEKS. THEN ONCE A DAY FOR FOUR DAYS PER WEEK FOR SIX WEEKS. MY CHEMOTHERAPY HAS BEEN INTRAVENOUSLY FOR FOUR DAYS ONCE A MONTH FOR SIX MONTHS. AT PRESENT I AM HAVING INTRAVENOUSLY FOR THREE HOURS EVERY THREE WEEKS. THE CHEMOTHERAPY HAS BEEN DIFFERENT, FIRST TWO LOTS WERE A MIXTURE OF TWO LIQUIDS. THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT FOR RECCURRING CANCER. I DID MEET A LADY WITH NOSE CANCER SHE HAD RADIOTHERAPY, SAME DAYS AS ME, THEN WENT STRAIGHT UPSTAIRS TO HAVE CHEMOTHERAPY, SHE WAS SO BRAVE.

[littleja]

PUSSKIN MY BEST WISHES TO YOUR BROTHER GIVE HIM A HUG FROM ME. THIS MUST BE SO TRAUMATIC FOR YOU, ESPECIALLY WITH LOSING YOUR BROTHER LAST YEAR. HOPE THE RADIOTHERAPY WORKS AND GOOD LUCK FOR YOU AND YOUR BROTHER. XX

[pusskin]

oh dear littlejar, you have been through the mill havent you ay. So sorry to hear that, and I wish you better and hope your treatment is working well for you. my brother has his 3rd lot of radiotherapy tomorrow and after that he has to see how he gets on with the results of blood tests etc.
I hope everyone who is going through the same things have a speedy recovery and good health. x