Anyone had Concurrent Radiation and Chemo Therapies?

It took a couple weeks for the pain of the esophagitis to go away. Fatigue was my biggest problem and to overcome it I walked a little each day. I tried to push myself a bit farther every day.

My last radiation treatment was on April 21st. I have started daily walks, starting with 30 minutes and now I'm as an hour. I need to get my strength back and put on some lost muscle mass (when I look in the mirror, I can see that I've lost too much weight)!

@andycapp, congrats on finishing radiation. You’ve come a long way, and the walks will help. 🙂

I have stage 4 nsclc has spread to kidney, a few lymph nodes and 6 tumors in the brain. They started with brain radiation, because my brain had already shifted 2.5cm off midline, and I was losing left side muscle control. I had ten radiation treatments in 2 weeks. I had my first chemo May 7.

My energy level dropped 2 days after last radiation. I got tired and breathless quick, my hair started falling out about the same time. And my taste buds were affected.
I gained most of my energy back by the time I started chemo. I was suprised that the first 2 days were really good.
On the 3rd day pain set in. Neuropathy in feet and finger tips, also intermitten stabing pain in various places that only lasted a few monents. Elbow ,both knees, temple and bowels. The worst was being achy from the knees to my toes

@dsteel65 The fatigue and breathlessness can be from both the radiation and chemo (double whammy). I had/have the same side effects. They will take some time to dimimish. Hang in there!

I will have a CT scan tomorrow (5/15) and then see my medical oncologist to discuss results and next steps. Hopefully the CT will show that the combo treatment was effective (successful). Oncologist mentioned previously that Imunotherapy is next; so, we'll see.

I'm starting to feel better. I am still dealing with fatigue and shortness of breath, especially upon exertiion of any kind.

I'm still dealing with esophagitis but it's not as bad. My radiology oncologist said to keep taking famotidine until all esophigial discomfort is gone.

I am interested in know if we will wait to start imunotherapy until all side effects of the combo therrapy have disappeared.

@andycapp
My oncologist told me that I’ve graduated. No more treatment.
She said that the 10% improvement odds of going through immunotherapy isnt worth the risk of damage to other organs (since imuno therapy previously attempted caused damage to my liver and colon).
So, it’s now recover and scan every three months.

@andycapp, Wishing you well in your continuing recovery. Your body will appreciate this break in treatment! This can leave people with a range of emotions; relief that it's over, and fear that it may not be the right decision. Are you comfortable with this decision?

@lls8000
I’ll tell ya Lisa, I have mixed feelings.
Yesterday, I received the radiologist report about the 5/15 CT scan.
There are some positives to take away in so far as the impact on the mass. However, my lungs are in bad shape (fibrosis and emphysema and new pneumonitis indicators). I have to be a realist and recognize that the treatment bought me some time but the likelihood of a cure and/or long term survival doesn’t look very promising.

Anyway, I’m hoping that my red blood cell numbers improve so that by breathing improves.