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fungooleyruley's avatar
fungooleyruley
Member
13 years ago

Radiotherapy side effects

I am currently into my third week of a six week radiotherapy course for early detection breast cancer and I am interested to know if anyone else who has been through the treatment experienced any side effects related to stomach discomfort.

For the past week I have struggled with stomach pain.  I asked the radiotherapy staff at the centre I am having my treatments if it could be a side effect and they did not think it would be.  I ended up going to see my GP and she does seem to think that it could be caused by the radiotherapy treatment I am having and so did the pharmacist who gave me something to help it settle down.  My husband seems to think that I have developed an ulcer.

It is not only painful but is also causing me to suffer from constipation.  Zantec and Liquid Gaviscon are helping but with another three weeks of treatments to go I am finding it very disconcerting.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of side effect during their radiotherapy treatment?

radiotherapy

2 Replies

  • fungooleyruley's avatar
    fungooleyruley
    Member
    13 years ago

    Thanks for the advice smileo and this bunch of flowers is to help celebrate your last chemo.  I'm limiting my food intake to mostly small low fat meals with dry crackers if I am feeling like a snack.  My stomach is feeling quite a lot better today and so I had an icecream treat.  I think I am going to have to take each day as it comes with the stomach issues but I will speak to my oncologist next week about it and see what she recommends.  Thanks to Mich for your advice as well!

  • Mich_x's avatar
    Mich_x
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hey Fungooleyruley

    I had 35 sessions of radiotherapy and didn't develop any tummy problems but that doesn't mean it couldn't be happening to you.

    I did find with my experience of radiotherapy that there was a bit of a brick wall if any side effects were mentioned that MAY?? have been caused by radiotherapy. If you haven't already - speak with the radiotherapy oncologist rather than the staff and push your point? As you say you still have a ways to go and you do not need this to get worse for you.

    I am sure if any of the other girls did suffer tummy problems they will post on here for you.

    Perhaps get a referral to a gastroenterologist because as you say you may have an ulcer not necessarily caused through your radiotherapy.

    Wishing you luck through the rest of your rads. You are half way finished. Well done.

    Lots of love, Mich xoxo