RADIOTHERAPY UPDATE: 8 DOWN, 22 TO GO

Summary

Edie shares her experience with radiotherapy, undergoing eight of the planned thirty sessions so far. She describes the process as painless and short, lasting about eight minutes per session. Despite initial concerns, she confirms no needles are involved. Edie anticipates side effects towards the end of treatment but remains optimistic. She humorously contrasts the free, albeit slow, hospital transport with the cost of her upcoming European trip, highlighting her resourcefulness. Edie also mentions a current headache, her first in a while, indicating early treatment effects.

Takeaways

• 🏥 The speaker is undergoing radiotherapy at the hospital, which is a treatment they describe as 'fairly harmless and painless'.
• 📅 They have completed eight sessions so far, with a total of 30 sessions planned, each lasting about eight minutes.
• 🕗 The treatment is administered Monday through Friday, with weekends off, and the speaker is currently about a quarter of the way through.
• 👩‍⚕️ The speaker has been assured by medical staff that the treatment is painless initially, but side effects may occur later on.
• 😷 The radiotherapy process involves wearing a tight-fitting mask and lying on a table, with the speaker noting a distinct smell from the machines.
• 🚑 The speaker is transported to and from the hospital via ambulance due to mobility issues, but experiences long wait times.
• 📶 Despite the wait, the hospital's Wi-Fi is good, allowing the speaker to use their smartphone and social media while waiting.
• 💡 The speaker plans to travel to Europe a week after the radiotherapy ends, indicating they are hopeful about their recovery.
• 💰 They mention the cost savings from using hospital transport instead of taxis, which they plan to use for their European trip.
• 🤒 The speaker has started to experience headaches, a side effect they attribute to the radiotherapy.
• 🌟 The speaker remains optimistic about the treatment's potential benefits, acknowledging the discomfort but focusing on the potential for improvement.

Q & A

What is Edie undergoing?

Edie is undergoing radiotherapy.

How many radiotherapy sessions has Edie completed so far?

Edie has completed eight radiotherapy sessions.

How many sessions are there in total for Edie's radiotherapy?

There are a total of 30 sessions for Edie's radiotherapy.

How long does each radiotherapy session last?

Each radiotherapy session lasts about eight minutes.

What is the total duration of Edie's radiotherapy sessions?

The total duration of Edie's radiotherapy sessions is approximately 240 minutes.

Is radiotherapy painful according to Edie's experience?

According to Edie, radiotherapy is fairly harmless and painless.

What is Edie's concern about the radiotherapy process?

Edie is concerned about the potential side effects and pain that may come later on in the treatment.

What does Edie have to wear during the radiotherapy sessions?

Edie has to wear a tight-fitting mask during the radiotherapy sessions.

What does Edie smell during the radiotherapy sessions?

Edie smells a bon-like sensation from the machines during the radiotherapy sessions.

What does Edie plan to do after her radiotherapy ends?

Edie plans to go on a trip to Europe after her radiotherapy ends.

How does Edie feel about the hospital transport for her radiotherapy sessions?

Edie finds the hospital transport to be time-consuming but appreciates that it is free.

What is Edie's current physical condition during radiotherapy?

Edie's physical condition has not improved or worsened; it has stayed the same.

Outlines

00:00

🏥 Radiotherapy Experience

Edie shares her ongoing experience with radiotherapy, emphasizing that despite its name suggesting a radio station, it is a medical treatment. She has completed eight sessions out of a total of 30, each lasting approximately eight minutes. Edie finds the process reassuringly painless and harmless, contrasting her initial fears based on its description. She discusses the procedure, which involves wearing a tight-fitting mask and lying on a treatment table, and mentions the unique smell of the machines that she finds somewhat disturbing. Edie also talks about the hospital transport, which is provided by ambulance due to her mobility issues, and the long wait times she endures, using the hospital's Wi-Fi to pass the time on her smartphone.

05:01

💸 Cost-Effective Radiotherapy and Travel Plans

In the second paragraph, Edie discusses the financial aspect of her treatment, highlighting that using the free hospital transport saves her money, which she plans to use for an upcoming trip to Europe. She calculates that the cost of 60 taxi rides would be equivalent to her European vacation expenses. Edie also mentions experiencing a headache, a new symptom since starting radiotherapy, and her intention to buy paracetamol to alleviate it. She reflects on her physical condition, noting that it has remained stable despite the treatment. Edie concludes by expressing her determination to complete the radiotherapy sessions, acknowledging the potential for side effects towards the end of the treatment, and looks forward to her next video update.

Keywords

💡Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, is a medical treatment that uses radiation to kill cancer cells, shrink tumors, or control their growth. In the video, the speaker is undergoing radiotherapy as part of their cancer treatment. They describe it as a comforting term, akin to an easy listening radio station, despite its serious medical implications. The treatment consists of 30 sessions, each lasting about eight minutes, which the speaker is currently in the midst of.

💡Sessions

In the context of the video, 'sessions' refers to the individual appointments or treatments the speaker has for radiotherapy. The speaker mentions having completed eight sessions and having 22 more to go, indicating that they are partway through their treatment plan. Each session is a short, focused treatment that contributes to the overall therapy.

💡Side Effects

Side effects are the unintended consequences or adverse reactions that can occur as a result of medical treatment. The speaker is warned by medical staff that while the radiotherapy itself is painless, they may experience side effects later on in the treatment process. This term is central to the narrative as it foreshadows potential challenges the speaker will face as their therapy progresses.

💡Painless

The term 'painless' is used by the speaker to describe their experience with radiotherapy so far. They express relief that the treatment does not involve needles, which they have a fear of, and that the process itself is not causing them physical pain. This term is significant as it contrasts with the speaker's expectations and helps to normalize the experience of undergoing cancer treatment.

💡Mask

A 'mask' in the video refers to a tight-fitting facial covering that the speaker wears during radiotherapy. This mask is likely used to help position the patient and target the radiation accurately. The mention of the mask highlights the precision and technology involved in the treatment process.

💡Machines

The 'machines' mentioned by the speaker are the medical equipment used to deliver the radiotherapy. The speaker notes a distinct smell associated with these machines, which adds to the sensory experience of the treatment. The machines are a crucial part of the therapy, representing the technology that enables the treatment to be administered.

💡Hospital Transport

Hospital transport refers to the service provided by the hospital to transport patients to and from their appointments. The speaker mentions using an ambulance for their radiotherapy sessions due to their mobility issues. This service is important for the speaker as it allows them to access the necessary treatment without the burden of arranging and paying for private transportation.

💡Smartphones

Smartphones are mentioned as a source of comfort and entertainment for the speaker while they wait for hospital transport. The speaker appreciates the hospital's Wi-Fi, which allows them to use their smartphone for social media and internet browsing. This highlights the role of technology in providing support and消磨时间 during what can be long and tedious waits.

💡Travel

Travel is a significant aspect of the speaker's life, as they mention planning a trip to Europe despite being in the middle of their radiotherapy treatment. This reflects the speaker's determination to maintain a sense of normalcy and enjoy life despite their health challenges. The term 'travel' symbolizes hope, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness outside of the constraints of medical treatment.

💡Paracetamol

Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, is an over-the-counter medication used to relieve pain and reduce fever. The speaker mentions buying paracetamol to manage a headache, which is a new symptom they are experiencing. This term is relevant as it indicates the speaker's proactive approach to managing their health and the physical effects of their treatment.

Highlights

Edie is undergoing radiotherapy treatment, which she finds comforting despite its serious nature.

She has completed eight sessions so far, with a total of 30 sessions planned.

Sessions are held from Monday to Friday, not on weekends.

Each radiotherapy session lasts about eight minutes.

Edie describes the treatment as harmless and painless so far.

She was initially concerned about the procedure involving needles, but it does not.

The radiotherapy process involves wearing a tight-fitting mask and lying on a bed.

Edie notes a distinct smell from the machines used in radiotherapy.

She is assured by medical staff that the treatment is painless at first but side effects may occur later.

Edie mentions planning a trip to Europe after her radiotherapy treatment ends.

She uses the hospital's Wi-Fi to pass the time while waiting for transport.

Edie is being transported to and from the hospital by ambulance due to mobility issues.

She has experienced long wait times for the return ambulance, sometimes up to three hours.

Edie is considering the cost-effectiveness of her hospital transport compared to a taxi.

She is experiencing a headache, which is a new symptom for her.

Edie's physical condition has remained stable despite starting radiotherapy.

She expects the treatment to get worse as it progresses towards the end.

Edie is looking forward to completing her radiotherapy in about a month.

Transcripts

hello steady Edie here H with a brief

update on how radiother therapy is going

uh

radiotherapy you know I'm assured that

that's that's on the sign at the

hospital radiotherapy this this way um

so it sounds like an easy listening

radio station doesn't it it's kind of

comforting you know being called radio

therapy but um you know i' I've had done

eight sessions up to now three last week

and and Monday's a Friday this week um

ideally I mean it should be seven days a

week you know but you know they take you

know they take time off at

weekends uh but but it's it's it's it's

going well I mean it's 30 30 sessions

sounds like a lot um but each one lasts

about eight

minutes so that's about 240 minutes

overall so I'm told that they could do

that all at once but it would probably

fry my brain so anyway for those um are

undergoing radiotherapy or or you know

have it in the pipeline or know someone

who's had it I can tell you that it's

it's it's fairly fairly fairly harmless

and

painless you know I was read the I was

read the you know the description of it

before my first session and uh you know

you always get to feeling that to try to

talk you out of these things are you

sure that you really want to go with go

ahead with this and okay fine um yeah

you know and I they asked me questions

about it you know they said they said

have you got any questions and I said

yeah it does involve any

needles that was my answer to it because

I my three month stay in hospital was

was surprisingly painless but I just

don't like needles I don't like

injections you know

put put it in your arm and bl out and

all all that that's the thing I'm still

squeamish about and they said No it's

it's okay so so my my radio therapy

which is 8 minutes um thereabouts it

involves me wearing a tight fitting

mask and lying down on on a a a a a bed

I think you you know you have to call it

a bed or or table or something and

these machines I'm kind of used to these

machines you know I mean there's a smell

I can there's a smell from these

machines which are which is disturbing

and it's it's um it's like a bon kind of

smell that's what I can smell from these

machines a bon sensation I'm not

imagining that but you know it's it's

it's um yeah you know it's well but

overall it's it's painless but I'm

assured by by a doctor who I spoke to um

the other day and the nurses and the

assistants I'm assured that it's

painless to begin with but the pain

comes later on and there the side

effects all come later on remember I've

had eight sessions of it another 22s to

go so you know I'm I I'm you know a

doctor the other day told me

you know that it's it's okay now but you

will

feel you know some side

effects uh towards the end of the

treatment so oh thought you know there's

me thinking it's going to be painless

but so I've got that to look forward to

and the doctor said to me he said so you

be a little bit wobbly after after um

you know your radio therapy finishes in

you know at the end of it after at the

end of 30

sessions so um you know I you know we

spend a couple weeks

recovering I hope he's not watching this

because I I didn't tell him that you

know a week after radiotherapy ends and

I'm planning on a trip to

Europe yeah you know but

um but anyway that's it there's not much

to to say but with the hospital

transport um I'm getting an ambulance

there and back because I can't walk

properly uh but but you know it's it's

you have to wait a long time for these

things I've waited up to up to three

hours for for the return Journey

and but you know the hospital Wi-Fi is

is is excellent you know so I take my

you know thank God for smart you know

for smartphones and social media I'm

able to you know have have internet

while I'm waiting for the uh you know

for the returned transport but you know

from door to door I mean i' done it in

two hours the other day but but the

following day it was five hours H you

never know what patient transport but

it's it's free I mean some people have

suggested that I should get a taxi there

and back I mean well that's 60 Journeys

that would cost me a lot of money let me

just say that 60 Journeys in in a

taxi what would cost about the same as

what what is my flight and hotel hotels

do that European destination that I'm

going in five days so you know people

you know you know say how can you how

can You' afford to to to travel to all

these all these countries well because

I'm shrewed with money I I looking at

that way I'm saving on money with the

hospital transport and uh you

know you know that that's that's that

would pay for my my European break for

five days you know the hotels and the

and the flight anyway so listen radio

therapy is going well but I'm assured

that it's it will get worse as it as it

get towards the end I've actually

started you know I'm actually feeling a

bit of a headache a headache right now

and that's something I haven't had for a

long time so I want to go go H you know

go shopping later I will buy paracetamol

now in the days when I drunk and I had

hangovers I would never ever not have

paracetamol at home it was an essential

in case I woke up in the middle of the

night with a you know with a screaming

Heche but you know I it's it's having

its effects now and you know I thought

when I begin with radio therapy that my

improve my physical Improvement would go

backward but they haven't they haven't

they haven't gone backwards but they

haven't gone forward they basically

stayed the same so anyway anyway like

this is just a little video to tell you

how I'm how I'm doing with radio therapy

it's it's it's um it's an altery well

I'll say it's an alterntive but it's

it's it's these softer options of

chemotherapy and I just want to get it

out the way where but know 30 sessions

over six weeks oh I make it about

another month that I've got to got to go

uh before my final day of radio therapy

but um you know it is what it is and if

it does the B then so be it anyway uh

I'll I'll see you in the next video

thanks for watching