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Brachytherapy

Posted , 5 users are following.

StevenRose
StevenRose

I just wondered what other peoples experience is of Brachytherapy for prostate cancer?  This along with Radiotherapy has been offered to me to treat my prostate cancer

2 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • gale10132
    gale10132 StevenRose

    Posted

    I had great experience with Proton Radiation. If your cancer is contained in the prostate this may be a very good option with very little side effects. One limitation is that it is not offered in the UK but when it comes to life and your good health do not let this be a handicap. 
  • alfred5
    alfred5 StevenRose

    Posted

    Hello, my other half had brachytherapy back in January. The actual procedure was simple enough, didn't cause much trouble, but a week or so later he did start having quite bad side effects. He has prostatitis caused by radiation, symptoms mainly an aching prostate especially when sitting and radiation induced cystitis which caused severe burning on peeing. It took lots of different medications, including antibiotics which he still takes, but he is getting better slowly. He is a farmer and can't rest which doesn't help. Apparently only 10% of patients suffer this way. We know 3 people that had brachy and had no side effects whatsover. 
    • StevenRose
      StevenRose alfred5

      Posted

      Thanks for the advice, I will bear that in mind.  When I had a biopsy I had lots of bad side effects and eventually ended up being admitted into hospital, with prostate infection that made me so unwell.  The effecrs that your partner has suffered are exactly what I have discussed with my consultant. 

      Thanks again

    • alfred5
      alfred5 StevenRose

      Posted

      Yes, the biopsy caused prostatitis, not bad like you obviously suffered but a dull ache that wouldn't go. He was on antibiotics on and off for 4 months but it never really improved, then he had the brachytherapy, but we think the biopsy caused the prostatitis rather than the brachytherapy. So he has been on antibiotics since biopsy last July. Only about a month without them. Can't be doing him any good. He had no symptoms before the biopsy.
  • glamour
    glamour StevenRose

    Posted

    Hi Personal20,

    i read about Brachytherapy while I was in the US earlier this year.As I understand it, a radio active source is placed within the prostate by injection. It can be associated apparently with some fine Gold leaf. Again I understand that the purpose of the gold leaf is to reflect a proportion of the radiation back into the prostate in order to minimise the damage to local tissue and utilise the source to its full killing potential. Seems a good idea to me and i would have taken that for my own treatment if it had been offered.

    However, I cannot understand why you would require Radiotherapy at the same time. I would expect them to wait until the results of the implanted source had been assessed. Perhaps I have misunderstood

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