Will i be able to go to rad treatment using public transit?

CelineFlower

i am finally regainning my strength and independence, i want to be able to go and come back myself..

my husband works... my sister lives outside the city, she would come if i need her... but after six months of basic bed rest during chemo... i want to remain active...

will i be to tired or in pain after? the trip is 2 buses and a metro (subway train) about a 90 minute trip each  way

coraleliz

The bus/subway ride will be more tiring than the treatment. RADs doesn't cuase pain but it was very awkward for me to have to keep both arms raised above my head. Especially the first time(the dry run). That took longer. Maybe try travelling 1 hr by public transportation, somewhere fun, independently and see how you do.

I had both sides radiated. I see you had 2 tumors, were they both in the same breast? I'm hesitant to say it won't be a problem for you because the women who was right ahead of me on the RADs schedule had a friend bring her each time. Chemo was rough on her. She was probably in her late 40's.

Good luck!

flannelette

Celine - you live in Canada. the Canadian Cancer society provides a free car-ride to any cancer tx! (Unless quebec is different). I went to every rads  - about a 45 minute drive to Kingston, with a volunteer driver. He waits while you get rads then deposits you at your door. all you have to do is call.Once in a while you might share a ride with someone else near you scheduled for the same day, but that was rare. I have ridden with volunteers who have taken patients to Toronto (3 hours) and into New York state. they are amazing, and usually retired, bored to death, and sitting at home. I believe the CCS pays them gas.

cookiegal

I walked the first few weeks...20 minutes each way. By the last week I was really fried and had to take a cab. I needed about a week of downtime at the end, I was burned and blistered.

I guess I am saying you'll be fine the first few weeks, but may need help at the end.

liefie

I drove myself to Victoria, BC, every Monday, and back every Friday for the five weeks of rads. It is a 3-hour drive. During the week I stayed there with my son, and drove myself to rads treatment every day and back. Chemo finished for me 24 days before rads started. I was still weak, tired easily, and could not walk far, but I managed the driving well. For me rads was a breeze after chemo. I slept longer during the night than normal during rads, and often took a nap during the day too. That took care of the rads fatique. I believe you will be okay.

Scottiee1

I worked all day teaching and then took public transit daily to get to my rad treatments...

It is very doable.

Moderators

CelineFlower, that seems like a long way to travel every day, even when you're feeling 100%! As flannelette suggested, the Canadian Cancer Society provides drivers. Here's the link to their Community Services Locator, so you can check on availability in your area. There's also an 888 number to call.

Maybe you could arrange for their volunteer drivers, and scale back to 3 days a week as you go along, depending on how you feel?

• The Mods

CelineFlower

Thank you for all your suggestions and support.

Canadian cancer society has helped in many ways, especialy financialy.. as they will reimbourse me for the bus fare.

The CC rides are offered to people who live 60k away or more, and there are also volunteers who will drive me...but i have to go according to their schedual, ei: my appointement might be at 3pm, but the ride could be at 9am. And many of the drivers are not keen on driving downtown montreal , the traffic around the hospitals is HORRENDOUS. 

I use public transit often, and feel up to it at this time, it feels good to be mobile and independent...

I have heard that right after treatment some feel tired, i am wondering if this happens right away or will i have time to get myself home...?

Anonymous

Hi CelineFlower --

I just finshed rads treatment #19 (over half-done, yay) and I've been taking public transit about an hour and a half each way for the whole time.  So far, knock on wood, I've had no problems.  In fact I've found it relaxing and less stressful as I don't have to deal with rush-hour traffic and crazy drivers. (Plus it's MUCH cheaper, given the price of gas these days.)  I've brought books to read, but usually just look out the window to see things I never really get to look at when I'm the driver and enjoy myself doing that.  I also have one or two transfers, depending on connections--one/two buses and a streetcar.

As for fatigue, everyone is a little different as to how or even if fatigue hits them.  My treatments are in the morning and my fatigue has been more like a sleepiness that hits in the later afternoon. Occasionally I take a nap but more often I just keep doing whatever I'm doing and it passes after a while.  For me, it's annoying but not debilitating.

My own opinion is that public transit is definitely worth trying if that's what you want to do.  You'll know soon enough it it doesn't work for you and can then make other arrangements if necessary. 

ruthbru

You should be fine. Sit back, relax, and read a book. Even if you get tired, you won't get so tired that you can't do that. I actually felt my energy returning during rads, so maybe you find that to be the same (chemo was so crummy that anything had to be better!). I lived 100 miles away from my radiation center & was lucky enough to have friends drive me every day; but we always went out to lunch afterwards & sometimes even did a little shopping (retail therapy ).

CelineFlower

Oh i love retail threapy! wish i could do more lol

thank you nyama... i enjoy the bus rides to. 

I feel much better making the decision to go myself now that i have heard your pov's

thank you, i'll let you know how it goes

coraleliz

nyama's post makes me want to take a bus ride. Unfortunately there isn't much public transportation where I live. I was worried about fatigue but it never hit me. I had bilateral RADs, chestwall & axilla to both sides. So probably twice what most get. I found that keeping busy kept my mind of the burns/blistering. A bus would have been preferable to the car shoulder belt.

cookiegal

I started rads NYE. I had almost no fatigue through Jan 20, but by the 28 it was major. By the last three days I was a zombie.

Letlet

For five weeks I took the bus from New Jersey to New York for almost and hour and then took the subway then walked to sloan-kettering. Towards the end I was so exhausted that I would get in the house sit on the couch sleep and wake up for the next rads treatement.

But, I was able to do it by the grace of God somehow I did it...even with open blisters and burnt skin at the end

CelineFlower

thank you letlet... 

Good to hear its doable.. just one more challenge

Claire_in_Seattle

The trip sounds like a drag, but I think you should be just fine.  It sounds like there is help if you need it towards the end.  I also think that if you can get out and do at least a daily walk, it will also help moving forward.

Rads isn't fun, but a breeze compared to chemo.  I think the three hours of bus/metro time sounds a lot worse than the treatment.  One way to make things more fun is to plan a detour here and there.  Or perhaps a nice lunch/coffee as you finish each week.

I also planned a Global Virtual Wine Party for when done.  Because I really was done with active treatment at that time.  Yes, a bit tired, but I was still out there walking and cycling.  Most of my energy came back in a rush 3.5 weeks later.

CelineFlower

Thats good to hear claire..

I think in this heat there may be days i will be asking for lifts..My sister has been there for me from the beginning and i know she wants to be there for me so, if i need it, i have no qualms asking. 

My DH and i are planning to do mini road trips each weekend.. something to look for ward to at the end of each week. We usualy go camping in the summer , but we have put if off till fall this year.

Our dog and compagnion for 12 years died in march, and we are finaly ready to get a new puppy.. my DH is on vaca as of the 20th... so we are planning to get a puppy ..

I know i could/should wait a few more months... but its just so lonely without a dog in the house

ruthbru

No, get the dog right now. He/she will be so good for you....take your mind off yourself and give you lots of fun and puppy kisses!

Anonymous

I really had no fatigue during radiation treatment. Definitely agree that it was a breeze compared to chemo. I worked full-time, drove myself to treatments mid-day. (Since I work with my husband in a self-employed setting, I was "allowed" to take off whenever I wanted, LOL!)

The road trips will be great, and so will the puppy!

BTW, we went on a hiking tour in Tuscany 6 weeks after I finished radiation -- so obviously, no fatigue issues. 

Anonymous

I really had no fatigue during radiation treatment. Definitely agree that it was a breeze compared to chemo. I worked full-time, drove myself to treatments mid-day. (Since I work with my husband in a self-employed setting, I was "allowed" to take off whenever I wanted, LOL!)

The road trips will be great, and so will the puppy!

Also, we went on a hiking tour in Tuscany 6 weeks after I finished radiation -- so obviously, no fatigue. 

CelineFlower

IT IS DOABLE!! lol

had firsat treatment yesterday..

nice ride... worse part is the heat, so i am going to ask them to switch it to mornings...

humidex was at 38c yesterday

Thanks for the support ladies... 

I'll update ont he puppy...soon

oh...tuscany... wow *swoons*