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extreme fatigue 2 years after prostrate radiation treatment

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will45117
will45117

PLEASE BE PATIENT I AM A NEW MEMBER [ long history post --- short question ]---I was 69 years young --very athletic--healthy -----Two years ago , I went to a urogolist to get a very cumbersome hydrocele repaired . Before the surgery he requested my permission to do a prostrate bioposy [ my bloodwork showed a PSA level in the upper 30's range ] The surgery went well , but the bioposy results showed that cancer was present --- 8 samples drawn showed cancer in varying rates of 80 % down to 10% with 2 samples showing 0% . A bone scan showed no spreading to the bone marrow . I went thru 45 days of radiation treatment and since then I have been on lupon injections every 90 days . PSA now at near 0 levels and the digital rectal exams are very normal as per the doctor's reports .

     My problem is the fatigue levels that began with the radiation and lupon injections . I am at a point that I can hardly function at all ---Extreme fatigue , muscle soreness over my whole body , no muscle tone at all , very , very short of breath , after a simple chore , I have to sit and gasp for breath ---- urologist says he suspects a heart problem ----[ had bypass surgery in 2010 ] I returned for a series of tests with 3 different heart specialists and everything showed up normal . 

     I am at wits end ---- has anyone experienced any of these problems ??  please respond with any advice .  THANKS SO MUCH

0 likes, 36 replies

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  • Roger2Dodger
    Roger2Dodger will45117

    Posted

    Hello Will,

    Sorry that you are experiencing difficulty after radiation trestment. Which radiation was used?

    Some give out more radiation at each treatment. EBRT being the smaller dose type.

    I am going for treatment this Monday, some type of radiation. I am hoping for Brachythearpy.

    I hope you find the cause of fatigue and bteathing, and quite possibly find some relief and end your issue.

    Roger

    • will45117
      will45117 Roger2Dodger

      Posted

      THANKS FOR REPLYING ---- Not sure what type radiation I received --- I am going for a follow-up this next wednesday and I will inquire and reply back .   THANKS AGAIN         Will
    • geoff90305
      geoff90305 will45117

      Posted

      Hi Will, The most common early side effects of external beam radiation therapy are fatigue (tiredness) and skin changes. Also, the lupron has many side effects, including tiredness. So, maybe the Lupron is the main culprit. It is important to tell the doctor at your follow up session that you are not coping due to the tiredness so that they can offer some remedies. 

      Two years ago, when you had your biopsy, did you note down what the Gleason score was..eg, 7 (4+3) etc as the score could dictate what treatment you needed. It sounds like the doctors thought your prostate cancer had escaped the prostate, and while not in your bones, was out there somewhere. 

      ​Geoff

       

    • geoff90305
      geoff90305 Roger2Dodger

      Posted

      Roger, good luck on Monday. Before they do anything to you, make sure YOU AGREE with their plan for you, how many days, Usually 5 on, two off) for several weeks, what strength of radiation. There is a lot of discussion about high levels of radiation over a short period of time, compared with low levels over a longer time. Maybe do a little research before you present there.

      Good luck my friend.

      Geoff

    • Roger2Dodger
      Roger2Dodger geoff90305

      Posted

      geoff,

      Thanks for the info, Yes, they are different strengths of radiation given to shorten the number of days (visits). I have read about that, Newer EBRT techniques focus the radiation more precisely on the tumor. This let doctors give higher doses of radiation to the tumor while reducing the radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissues. I will certaimy listen and ask Questions. Thank you geoff for the tremendous support you have given me.. I will keep you posted.

      Roger

    • will45117
      will45117 geoff90305

      Posted

      Thanks for replying --- I don't know the gleason score , but I have a follow up wednesday and I will find out . I will reply to you then . I have had some serious stomach cramping problems in the last 2 weeks and it is scaring the crap out of me thinking that the pc has spread . Hopefully the doctor will order a scan to find out if the pc has spread .   THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONCERN 

    • will45117
      will45117 Roger2Dodger

      Posted

      HELLO ROGER ---- I went for my follow-up today and I asked about the radiaton type and he said it was EBRT focused beam radiaton , and my Gleason score at the start of treatment was 3+4=7 with a PSA of 36+  --- The bioposy at that time showed varying degrees of cancer in 3 of the 4 prostate lobes of 30 -- 65 -- &  85 percent .

        I did get good news today . The rectal exam results was near perfect as per the doctor . Also , my PSA levels have stayed steady at 0.06 for the last 4 tests . He said if everything goes well , I can cease the injections after May or June .  As far as my shortness of breath and stomach problems , he thinks I have been having gall blader flare ups and the leaky heart valve is really making my breathing very erratic  ---- so a lot of problems still.but on the way up . I SINCERELY HOPE YOUR SITUATION GOES WELL --- I WILL BE THINKING ABOUT YOU  KEEP US POSTED

    • Roger2Dodger
      Roger2Dodger will45117

      Posted

      Hello Will,

      Glad you did get some good news, Address those other isssues ASAP. A Gall bladder removal is very simple these days. I had mine removed a while back, and I was in and out. No problems at all. Leaky heart valve , now that is serious. Did your doctor address this for treatment?

      I will beging my treatments soon, after a CT scan and A MRI,, Getting that done tomorrow. My treatments will be.... 

       RapidArc® Radiotherapy Technology is an advanced form of IMRT that delivers a precisely-sculpted 3D dose distribution with a 360-degree rotation of the gantry in a single or multi-arc treatment.

      The down side of this treatment, you have to drink a quart of water, and hold it until treatment is finished. (Approx. 40 treatments)  reason being is to get the bladder away from the radiation as much as possible. My oncologist is a woman Doctor, and I am very pleased with her, she is very detailed in explaining one's story of PCa.

      Will, take care! I hope you get all your issues taken care of.

      Roger

    • will45117
      will45117 Roger2Dodger

      Posted

      Roger ---- thanks so much for your input -- I wish that your treatment option was presented to me . It sounds more precise , since I had some bladder burn during my treatment but all that has healed and my urine discharge is nearly back to normal .

      GOOD LUCK ON YOUR MRI AND CT SCAN        PLEASE POST YOUR RESULTS     [ I will get the gall bladder problem resolved ]     GOOD LUCK ROGER

  • craig84609
    craig84609 will45117

    Posted

    Lupon decreases Testosterone production so you will feel like crap. My body stopped making testosterone in my mid 30's it was checked and was near 0. I felt like complete sh*t from it. I started feeling better after I began TRT. I would ask your doctor if it is really necessary that you reduce testosterone. If your PSA is 0 then the cancer should be gone and maybe the Lupon is a precaution to prevent it from returning. Some prostate cancers are unaffected by lowering testosterone. If it were me I would have a tough time with this type of treatment and it seems to me that you are not tollerating it very well, so talk to your doctor about it. You had PC, but that doesn't mean that your quality of life should be ruined by treatments like Lupon.

    • will45117
      will45117 craig84609

      Posted

      I feel AWFUL !!!!!      I am at a point that I am not sure if the treatment is really worth it . My psa levels dropped dramatically with the first lupon injection after completion of the radiaton therapy . Before the radiaton my psa level was 36 and after the radiaton and first lupon injection my psa level was at .05---- NEARLY "0"  this was 90 days after the first injection . All of my psa tests since then [5 tests total ] have been at or almost "0" ---- I go wednesday for another follow up . I will post an update then ----- THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPLY AND CONCERN 

    • craig84609
      craig84609 will45117

      Posted

      I am sorry that you feel so bad. If the cancer is gone then maybe the treatments can stop so you feel better. You need to get some quality of life back. A friend of mine had stage 4 throat cancer and went through hell with his treatments and now he has a clean bill of health, but after a year he still has pain in his throat from radiation treatments and he told me if the cancer came back he doesn't think he would go through the treatments again. He said it was that bad. It sounds like to me that you are over most of the hurtles and I think if you stopped HT you would feel much better, but you need to ask your doctor about it. Keep us posted.

    • will45117
      will45117 craig84609

      Posted

      Craig ---- I sent a reply to Roger2Dodger a few minutes ago detailing my doctor follow up this afternoon and I also posted some info from the doctor about my initial treatments and diagnostic values before treatments started . Please read them in his post since I am a ONE FINGER TYPER [ my typing finger is killing me !!!!  ] THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPLYS TO ME ---- I WAS TOTALLY DOWN         WILL
  • Hoser
    Hoser will45117

    Posted

    I'm about to enter the same realm. Starting 1/30 I will be going to under rad therapy myself . Total dose of 7700 Grys. I'm a 30 + year rad protection tech and it scares the b Jesus out of me but I hope it will put an en end to the PSA crap. I've done the surgery and PSA tests still show a positive after a year. What you have described as tiredness after the end of the therapy is normal for this type of local does treatment. This will go away in time as should as any bowel issues. Give it  4 months on the outside. I also suggest a good schedule of walking or riding bikes if you can. Get some sunshine and eat well. You have to heal from the inside out. Keep sugar off the diet, eat fresh seafood none fried if you can and keep going. While this is easy for me to say as I am just starting the process. I can tell you that it is my profession . All studies pretty much agree. I'm not looking forward to the therapy and I know what I'm going into. The tiredness is normal. Just shake it off, eat and exercise the best you can without overdoing anything, go outside and hold someone's hand. Heal !! 

    • Hoser
      Hoser

      Posted

      Ok well I just just reread the post and I saw the two year mark for you post treatment. Not surprised but it is outside the norm for the period of time. 

      At this point I don't know what can help other than trying to shake it off and living. 

    • geoff90305
      geoff90305 Hoser

      Posted

      Well hoser, at least you understand the process very well and can both control and monitor your progress. I resume you have prostate issues?

      Geoff

    • will45117
      will45117 Hoser

      Posted

      THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN  ----- I SINCERELY HOPE ALL GOES WELL WITH YOUR PC TREATMENTS . THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE ----- GOOD LUCK AND REPOST ANY PROBLEMS   ---- WILL
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