Radiation treatment

If you want a specific answer, I suggest you rephrase your question indicating what type of radiation and whether it is high dose or low dose.

I assume this would make a difference in either the types of side effects or their severity.

My husband suffered hair loss in the genital area mostly at the site where he got one of the tattoos for the beam. He also suffered general energy loss which has improved in the past almost 8 weeks since radiation ended. He also suffered some incontinence, frequency, urgency all of which have improved.  Everything except genital shrinkage, ED and the loss of his scent have  improved. But we believe that's more the result of the hormone therapy which is ongoing and so these side effects are likely permanent and not helped with viagra like drugs

Roger,

I have a friend that retired from the Cancer Research Center here in San Antonio, Texas where I live. She told me that there is fatigue associated with any type of radiation... hari loss is not common. I had the low dose radiation seed implants, and I have some fatigue on and off. The doctor says to listen to your body when you feel tired. So I try to do that - when I do physical work and start feeling tired, I have to lay down on the sofa for a little while. The fatigue is not every day and should pass when your treatment is completed. What type of radiation will you be having?

Charles

 

All radiation treatments have some side effects. With time, they will become less and less. As for the Brachytherapy - no sexual disfunction here. It was recommenended to obstain from sex for the first 2 weeks after the treatment. After that, as you wish. From what I have learned through friends who have experienced the external beam radiation (and I am not knocking that treatment because it too works), side effects begin later in the treatment. With the Brachytherapy, side effects start sooner, but they are over sooner too. Any radiation treatment will cause some inflammation to the urinary tract and to the prostate, but it also becomes less and less with time. For me, it seems that the inflammation occurs mostly when I do too much physical activity. I am currently doing some renovations to my home and I know I overdue it a bit.  Ibuprophen helps the inflammation. Cyberknife I think would also be a good treatment option. I considered that too - do research on all your treatment options. I guess you can make a better decison once you get your next results.

keep us posted... and good luck.

Charles

Roger,

Just keep in mind that June 2nd will help you decide on your treatment options... there will be a solution for you. What ever treatment you decide on, make sure the doctors have done that treatment many times successfully. My oncologist, who I really like - explained all treatments available to me. He even drew pictures on a large tablet to help explain the procedures. He would be the doctor that would perform any of the treatments that involved radiation. The first opton was the IBRT (external beam radiation), which he said would be 8 to 9 weeks each day. Those are very short sessions. Basically you don't feel anything in the beginning. Side effects start to come later in the treatment... but they get less with time after the treament ends. The other option he spoke of was the Cyberknife. The first session for Cyberknife involves having 4 fudicial markers inserted into the prostate. Those markers help focus the radiation beam where it is needed and helps avoid other tissues. Then a week of so later, treatment begins. 5 treatments every other day for 2 weeks. He said I would have to have a fleets enema before each session. Then drink a large glass of water to fill my bladder. I would have to hold my full bladder for the 45 minutes of the treatment. The reason for the full bladder is that it helps hold the bladder away from the prostate and the radiation beam. The Brachytherapy was the next discussion - and it seemed like the best for me. For the Brachytherapy, the prostate has to be within a certain size range. Fortunately, mine was correct for this. He was not pushing me towards any treatment. He was just giving me information to make my own decison. He gave me his personal cell phone number and his email address so I could contact him for any questions or concerns before I made my decsion. He told me that any of those treatments would cure my cancer. Which is the main goal here... and of course a treatment with as few side effects as possible. To me, it sounded like a good choice of the Brachytherapy. I really considered the Cyberknife as well. I have been in communication with a guy that lives in Connecticut who had the Brachytheray 6 months ago. He and I are the same age, so I ask him questions and get updates on his situation. And he is doing really well.

Prior to the Brachytherapy procedure, my urologist put me on Tamsulosin (generic Flomax) even though I was not having problems with urination. He said this was precaution to help keep me going after the treatment. With any radiation, there will be some inflammation and the Tamsulosin will help... and it does. He said this will not be a permanant prescription, and eventually I can come off taking it.

I will be wishing you the best of luck on the 2nd of June.

Charles