Posted , 4 users are following.
Can someone link me to any recent discussions in the community on aftereffects of Cyberknife. I have a friend who finished the initial stage. Thanks.
0 likes, 7 replies
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charles61038 mark02906
Posted
Hello Mark, in what part of the country do you live? I considered Cyberknife as a treatment option for prostate cancer when I was first diagnosed 3 years ago. I looked online for the treatment options available to me at that time. I wasn't having any symptoms, but my PSA was at 5.6, and a biopsy showed 2 out of 12 core samples contained cancer cells. Fortunately the numbers were low and the type of cells showed to be a non aggressive type. 2% in one sample and 10% in the other. I met with an oncologist who told me about my options - and there were many. Watchful waiting was an option. I really didn't want to watch and wait... I just thought the longer I wait, more time to worry about it, and I may develop other health issues that would make treatment more difficult. So I wanted a treatment that would get rid of the cancer. Cyberknife sounded like a great option. The high intensity radiation was another option. The 3rd option he told me about was Brachytherapy. That is low dose radiation seed implants. After Dr. Amaduri (the oncologist) explained each treatment with the pros and cons, I decided on the Brachytherapy. It is a one time treatment done as an outpatient procedure. It takes about 45 minutes. With any of the treatments, there are side effects, but tolerable. The Brachytherapy seemed like the one with the fewest side effects. It that had not been available to me, I would have chosen the Cyberknife which was 5 treatments - I believe he told me that they were about 45 minutes per treatment. The high intensity radiation would have been 36 treatments. I just had my 3 year check up - and all is good. Everything works that way it should, no incontinence, no erectile dysfunction and my PSA is 0.16.
I live in south Texas and found Dr. Amaduri at the START Center. They do Cyberknife, and also the Brachytherapy. My urologist is Dr. Michael Sarosdy. He is a Brachytherapy specialist. He and Dr. Amaduri worked together on my procedure. Check out your options... and just make sure what ever you choose, make sure the doctor has performed that procedure successfully many times. Good luck to you.
mark02906 charles61038
Posted
I am very glad that things have worked out well for you. While I may need this information in the future (given that my dad had prostate cancer who died of other issues), I will pass this onto my friend who lives in Michigan. You have helped others who are searching this forum for Cyberknife by detailing your decision.
henry53420 charles61038
Posted
Great information
we all need as much information as we can get as this is one hell of an emotional roller coaster ride as to try to make the correct choices .
But to let everybody know i just came across a vaccine that has worked and i am trying to locate if it is done in the USA the vaccine seems to be safe and past a ten year point . also how many people had their genes tested .
did you know that 70 % of men with prostate cancer does not have the PTEN gene
I I believe this gene is one of the key ingredient in having prostate cancer.
Has anybody had there genes tested ?
Best of Luck to All
Henry C
james01944 mark02906
Posted
I had Cyberknife treatment 2 years ago. The biggest after effect is painful urination. The treatment can temporarily damage the urethra and it becomes very painful to urinate. You have a severe burning sensation when you urinate and the stream is very weak. I had to take a steroid for a total of 2 weeks (1 week each at different times) because it was so painful when urinating. The sensation will go away after time.
mark02906 james01944
Posted
James - Thanks for the advice. I will pass along to my friend. He is experiencing this pain as well as urinary and fecal incontinence. He revisited the hospital today and was told he had an infection.
charles61038 mark02906
Posted
I had the same burning when urinating too after the Brachytherapy. I think most treatments will have similar side effects. The radiation burns the urethra a bit and it takes a little time to heal. I had to take a couple of meds that helped with side effects. Tamsulosin (generic Flormax) was one, the other was Dutasteride (generic Avodart). I took those 2 prescriptions for about 6 months. I tapered off them, taking one ever other day until I stopped taking them all together. I also took ibuprofen for discomfort. All seemed to help.
mark02906 charles61038
Posted
charles - thanks for the detailed posts. It will be good information for those who are considering alternative treatment options. As far as the aftereffects of Brachytherapy, I will pass your comments on to my friend. He just revisited the hospital and was told that he an urinary infection on top of everything.