Questions for radiologist?

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FightCRC
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri May 25, 2018 10:39 pm

Questions for radiologist?

Postby FightCRC » Tue Jun 26, 2018 7:18 pm

We are going for our first consultation with a radiologist tomorrow. We are currently on FOLFOX for 6 cycles. Then chemo/radiation. This consultation is meant to be an orientation (I think).

Anyhow, what questions should we be asking tomorrow? Any tips are appreciated, thanks.

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Atoq
Posts: 412
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2017 9:31 am

Re: Questions for radiologist?

Postby Atoq » Fri Jun 29, 2018 3:04 pm

Hi! I would ask what kind of preparation you need to do prior radiation, for example if you should drink water to protect your bladder and bowel. Also if you can use a cream (not before radiation but perhaps after) and which type. If there is something else they suggest to minimize damage to healthy tissues. Food to be avoided, especially in the last two weeks.
It also depends on the size of the tumor, for me for example it would have been essential to just eat liquid food, then I would perhaps have avoided the emergency colostomy due to blockage.

Claudia
1972, 2 kids
Dx rectal cancer 10.2017
T3N2aMX (met left lung 8 mm)
Lynch neg
CEA 1.8
Neoadjuvant chemoradio Xeloda + 25x2 Gy
05.12.17 laparotomic surg. for blockage, colostomy
25.01.18 laparotomic lar, hysterectomy, ileostomy
05.03.18 core needle lung biopsy
07.05.18 CAT scan, lung met 11 mm
04.06.18 ileo reversal
26.06.18 wedge VATS
24.08.18, 31.02.19 CAT scan
12.09.18, 06.02.19 scope, CEA 1.6
19.11.18 scope
20.08.19 CAT, eco
13.09.19 scope, CEA 1.2
18.03.20 CAT, eco, scope, NED
29.11.20 CAT, NED
2023 NED

SpringerSpanielMommy
Posts: 23
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 8:52 pm

Re: Questions for radiologist?

Postby SpringerSpanielMommy » Sun Jul 01, 2018 5:19 pm

I was instructed to take stool softeners or Miralax to be sure to avoid a blockage forming, as my tumor was quite large. I took the Xeloda exactly 12 hours apart and had them schedule my radiation appointments at about the same time every day so that I could have the Xeloda scheduled to be taken one hour before my appointment, and I had to have a full bladder for my sessions to push the small bowel out of the way. I had a complete response to the radiation. I did not use any painkillers even though they were offered, and I did not use any creams with the exception of Greer's Goo as I really had hemorrhoids happen from the 6 weeks of lots of potty times.

The technician told me at my first session to eat very low fat as it will cause bad diarrhea and to eat no more than one gram of fiber a day. All fruits and vegetables are to be canned and peeled, white grains, pasta, no tomatoes, no spicy foods. I ate a lot of peanut butter sandwiches, applesauce, canned green beans, etc. Essentially it was what you feed a toddler. All went extremely well for getting through, the last 2 and 1/2 weeks were dreadful as I could not be far from a toilet and many people do have to use some type of pad liner in the underwear because of leakage. You will make it through and there are lots of very kind people here who have walked this trail before us and have plenty of advice to share.
DX: 2/21/2018 Rectal Cancer: T3c N2 M0, Intramucosal Adenocarcinoma
3/20/2018 Radiation 45gy in 25 fractions, while taking 3000mg Xeloda only radiation days starts 3/28/2018
5/8/2018 Completed Chemoradiation with 5 additional Boosts
6/29/2018 Started 4000mg Xeloda 14 days on and 7 days off. Oxaliplatin Infusion with Power Port.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: Questions for radiologist?

Postby Caat55 » Sun Jul 01, 2018 5:55 pm

Definitely ask about how to protect tissues, prescription and a ver counter ointments. There are other issues for women and men, get info on that as well.
It is so quick, you will be shocked. Drink lots during days for healthy skin.
S
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20

FightCRC
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri May 25, 2018 10:39 pm

Re: Questions for radiologist?

Postby FightCRC » Sun Jul 08, 2018 11:01 am

Thank you all. Information like this is invaluable.

Separate question: What type of radiation treatment did you get?

I asked the radiation oncologist (sorry, not radiologist) about IMRT, which I had read was more advanced than standard radiation therapy, as the beam could be (theoretically) directed just at the tumor, thus sparing healthy tissue as much as possible.

He replied that their version of IMRT is VMAT, which he said was a more advanced form of IMRT.

Has anyone been treated with VMAT? If so, how have side effects been?

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Questions for radiologist?

Postby NHMike » Sun Jul 08, 2018 5:53 pm

I do not know what type of radiation I received and I just checked the radiation center's website and couldn't identify the equipment that they used. But I would say that it worked quite well as it only seems to have impacted the area it was supposed to (the tumor). I did have some burning on the skin and some holes but that's normal from what I've read of other experiences.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT


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