Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy for the most recent sarcoma mass commenced last Thursday. This time around I will have 15 treatments over a three week period followed by a break and then a MRI scan. The radio oncologist is hoping to shrink the sarcoma so that it can be removed without requiring plastic surgery. I gather that these sarcomas usually require 25 treatments, however given the location of the sarcoma and being difficult to treat (buttock/anus) he doesn't want to do anymore than required. I'm guessing that surgery will be mid October if this series of treatments does its trick.

The tumour is now quite large. It's larger than my hand with my fingers spread out... I guess about 10cm. It's growing up the side of my bum crack and pushing across and also spreading across the buttock underneath my hip. Pain is a bit of a problem, though it is managable about 60% of the time. It appears to flare up from time to time and will be extreme for 2-3 days before subsiding. I guess it depends on one's activities. Sitting for anything other than a short time is no go. Going to the toilet can stir things up too. I clean the skin mainly with aqueous solution and was also using tea tree oil prior to treatment. I've stopped the tea tree oil while undergoing radiotherapy. I am managing on moderate pain killers at the moment, though the doctor says I may eventually have to be treated continually with morphine. I'm hoping to avoid that. Once radiotherapy is complete I will no longer have to travel and that may not be necessesary. Last time I had radiotherapy pain didn't really start until the second last day of treatment, but then became acute for 2 weeks. With only 3 weeks this time, it might not be so bad. However the sarcoma is in a sensitive place.

Many thanks to those people who have sent me emails and also PM's in various forums, (especially Brad - I hope all is going well with your GIST treatment). Everyone's emails are greatly appreciated.

I hope to keep this blog a bit more update than I have been. I have heaps more to write however I have to get myself ready for today's treatment.

cheers

Rob