Radiotherapy Experience

George - 15 years old

My name is George I was 15yrs old when I had been having headaches for about six months, drinking 12 litres a day, and getting double vision. I wanted to be a pilot, and so I resisted going to the doctors at first, but eventually it became too much to bear.

To get diagnosed I had to have a MRI scan and a Biopsy in which I went into hospital for 5 days to have surgery as an inpatient.

I was put on a course of Radiotherapy in which I went to Southampton every weekday for 5 weeks as an outpatient.

I now go to an outpatient clinic to see my Endocrinologist Consultant every 3 months and I have a MRI scan once every 6 months.

I learnt a lot about life from my diagnosis onwards, what matters and what doesn’t, obviously it wasn’t pleasant to go through Surgery and Radiotherapy, but the Doctors and Nurses made the journey as pleasant as possible, and made me want to go to my appointment just to see everyone again.

My top tips is to stay thoroughly positive throughout the whole experience, just walk in with a smile and everything will feel much better! Also if you get a bad smell when the radiotherapy beam strike, just count down from when the machine beeps and hold your breath, until that blasts are over, and you’ll never smell it again!

I felt relieved when I was diagnosed, as I knew something was wrong, and at last they knew what was wrong, which meant they could do something about it. It took a while for it to sink in, but my family and friends cushioned the blow tremendously.

I couldn’t have asked for more support, they would always encourage me but never pushed. They catered for my every need and I can’t really say any more; except I couldn’t have gone through it with out them. They were my rock.

Nick - 14 years old

When I was 14yrs old I found out I had a brain tumour when I was out with my friend I blacked out and fell off my micro scooter.

I was rushed to hospital and had some scans then had an exterior shunt to relieve the pressure and could not stand up on my own. Next I had a ventriculostomy that did the same job followed by and internal shunt.

Surgery was followed by six weeks of Radiotherapy every day except weekends, during radiotherapy I lost my hair and felt tired.

Now I`m at college and back out with my mates having a laugh.