1. < Prostate Cancer

Questions about radiation for prostate cancer: Can I drive myself?

Posted by paulcalif @paulcalif, Jan 31 10:07am

Question to you who have been through radiation treatment for prostate cancer or have knowledge of the proceedure.
I'm considering some type of radiation treatment for my cancer. My main question is, will I be able to drive myself to and from?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

marlow2 | @marlow2 | Feb 9 6:48pm
In reply to @jc76 "@marlow2 One question. Did Jim have the Decipher test done? If so he should have that..." + (show)
@jc76

@marlow2
One question. Did Jim have the Decipher test done? If so he should have that done before making any decisions on treatment and hormone drugs.

I was classified as intermediate based on my biopsies and May oncologist/radiolgist stated radiation and hormone treatments but (thank God) mentioned doing a Decipher test. I had that test and came back low risk not intermediate which does not have a recommendation for hormone treatments just curative radiation (words of my radiologist/oncologist).

So I had 30 rounds of proton radiation at UFPTI as May Jacksonville does not have proton radiation to treat prostrate cancer only photon. UFPTI radiologist/oncologist did not recommend hormone treatment either.

I have heard very sad stories of those takign hormone treatments and some that tolerate them quite well. But for me I did not want them and was glad that the Decipher test showed was not needed.

If you have not been told the hormone treatments are to starve the cancer cells of totosterone and keep from growing. Asked your oncologist/radiologist about the Decipher test. FYI, I had very little side affects from 30 rounds of proton radiation at UFPTI.

Jump to this post

Thanks for your comments. Jim was told he had intermediate cancer. When we worked with the radiologist, they said that some of the skeletol muscle was involved and that’s from calling the pathologist who did the biopsy. Now they are saying that he is high risk which involves 18 months of hormone instead of 6 months which would have been intermediate cancer. So, when you did the decipher was that an injection or what?

From: Mayo Clinic Connect
Sent: Friday, February 9, 2024 4:41 PM
To: marlow2@cox.net
Subject: @jc76 mentioned you in comment on Mayo Clinic Connect

## reply above this line ##

Mayo Clinic Connect

@jc76 mentioned you in comment on Fri, Feb 9.

Message
@marlow2
One question. Did Jim have the Decipher test done? If so he should have that done before making any decisions on treatment and hormone drugs.

I was classified as intermediate based on my biopsies and May oncologist/radiolgist stated radiation and hormone treatments but (thank God) mentioned doing a Decipher test. I had that test and came back low risk not intermediate which does not have a recommendation for hormone treatments just curative radiation (words of my radiologist/oncologist).

So I had 30 rounds of proton radiation at UFPTI as May Jacksonville does not have proton radiation to treat prostrate cancer only photon. UFPTI radiologist/oncologist did not recommend hormone treatment either.

I have heard very sad stories of those takign hormone treatments and some that tolerate them quite well. But for me I did not want them and was glad that the Decipher test showed was not needed.

If you have not been told the hormone treatments are to starve the cancer cells of totosterone and keep from growing. Asked your oncologist/radiologist about the Decipher test. FYI, I had very little side affects from 30 rounds of proton radiation at UFPTI.

REPLY
1 reply
mikewo | @mikewo | Feb 9 8:33pm
In reply to @marlow2 "We saw the radiologist at Mayo this morning. My husband is set up for a urological..." + (show)
@marlow2

We saw the radiologist at Mayo this morning. My husband is set up for a urological surgery to place a spacer between the prostate and rectum. Has anyone had this procedure and how long does it take to recover. He is also set up for a euroflow to check on any urine concerns. He is also set up for another MRI of the prostate before 5 weeks of ProtonBeam Therapy. Because the radilogist that did the biopsy said that it spread to the skeletol structure just outside the prostate, they are recommending 18 months of hormone therapy. Depending on how he handles it, it could be only a year. Jim was hoping not to have any hormone therapy. I know this hormone therapy is very individual, but can anyone talk about their experiences?

Jump to this post

I had the SpaceOar gel inserted by Dr. Frendle at Mayo Phoenix when he also put in the fiducial markers. Never even knew the spacer gel was there.

REPLY
1 reply
marlow2 | @marlow2 | Feb 9 9:00pm
In reply to @mikewo "I had the SpaceOar gel inserted by Dr. Frendle at Mayo Phoenix when he also put..." + (show)
@mikewo

I had the SpaceOar gel inserted by Dr. Frendle at Mayo Phoenix when he also put in the fiducial markers. Never even knew the spacer gel was there.

Jump to this post

Dr. Frendle is also Jim's surgeon for the Spacer. He also did his biopsy.

REPLY
1 reply
jc76 | @jc76 | Feb 10 7:30am
In reply to @marlow2 "Thanks for your comments. Jim was told he had intermediate cancer. When we worked with the..." + (show)
@marlow2

Thanks for your comments. Jim was told he had intermediate cancer. When we worked with the radiologist, they said that some of the skeletol muscle was involved and that’s from calling the pathologist who did the biopsy. Now they are saying that he is high risk which involves 18 months of hormone instead of 6 months which would have been intermediate cancer. So, when you did the decipher was that an injection or what?

From: Mayo Clinic Connect
Sent: Friday, February 9, 2024 4:41 PM
To: marlow2@cox.net
Subject: @jc76 mentioned you in comment on Mayo Clinic Connect

## reply above this line ##

Mayo Clinic Connect

@jc76 mentioned you in comment on Fri, Feb 9.

Message
@marlow2
One question. Did Jim have the Decipher test done? If so he should have that done before making any decisions on treatment and hormone drugs.

I was classified as intermediate based on my biopsies and May oncologist/radiolgist stated radiation and hormone treatments but (thank God) mentioned doing a Decipher test. I had that test and came back low risk not intermediate which does not have a recommendation for hormone treatments just curative radiation (words of my radiologist/oncologist).

So I had 30 rounds of proton radiation at UFPTI as May Jacksonville does not have proton radiation to treat prostrate cancer only photon. UFPTI radiologist/oncologist did not recommend hormone treatment either.

I have heard very sad stories of those takign hormone treatments and some that tolerate them quite well. But for me I did not want them and was glad that the Decipher test showed was not needed.

If you have not been told the hormone treatments are to starve the cancer cells of totosterone and keep from growing. Asked your oncologist/radiologist about the Decipher test. FYI, I had very little side affects from 30 rounds of proton radiation at UFPTI.

Jump to this post

@marlow2
The Decipher test is done on the biopsies taken. It is not an injection or another procedure. Since he already had biopsies done they use the same biopsies to obtain a genetic test on that.

I see he has had the cancer spread to muscles. Another test is PSMA. This shows whether cancer has spread outside the prostrate.

I am sorry to hear the spread. I would also recommend second opinions on diagnosis and treatments.

REPLY
retiredboomer71 | @retiredboomer71 | Feb 10 8:38am

Bens1, thanks for mentioning the BioProtect spacer. I get it next month for HDR Brachy at UCLA, but it's relatively new compared with SpaceOar so I rarely see it mentioned.
The main advantage of BioProtect is the extra spacing it provides compared with SpaceOar. I believe BioProtect is also a bit easier to work with.
Downsides of BioProtect? I haven't seen any mentioned.
Maybe someone with first-hand experience will chime in.

REPLY
bandit11 | @bandit11 | Feb 10 8:47am
In reply to @marlow2 "Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Jim seems to be OK with the spacer..." + (show)
@marlow2

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Jim seems to be OK with the spacer surgery. What he does not want to do is to have Hormone Therapy. They suggested Eligard however he checked all the hormones that they use and it scares him that they can cause a stroke or a heart attack. Has anyone had the proton beam therapy without hormone therapy?

From: Mayo Clinic Connect
Sent: Friday, February 9, 2024 5:22 AM
To: marlow2@cox.net
Subject: @bens1 posted a new reply to your comment "We saw the radiologist at Mayo this morning. My husband is set up for a urological..."

## reply above this line ##

Mayo Clinic Connect

Reply by @bens1 to a comment you posted on discussion "Questions about radiation treatment for prostate cancer"

Excerpt of your comment
We saw the radiologist at Mayo this morning. My husband is set up for a urological...

Their reply
I had spaceoar inserted a week or so before my radiation. That was in December 2022. If I had to do it again today, I might try BioProtect instead but the spacer makes a difference in protecting healthy tissue. I was knocked out and had a spaceoar technician in the procedure room along with an anesthesiologist and my RO. I did not feel anything afterwards not even the full feeling some have afterwards.

Jump to this post

Had proton therapy two years ago without hormone therapy after diagnosis of (4+3). Had Decipher test and PSMA pet scan before declining such. Last PSA level was 1.1; looks good so far😄.

REPLY
2 replies
marlow2 | @marlow2 | Feb 10 10:48am
In reply to @jc76 "@marlow2 One question. Did Jim have the Decipher test done? If so he should have that..." + (show)
@jc76

@marlow2
One question. Did Jim have the Decipher test done? If so he should have that done before making any decisions on treatment and hormone drugs.

I was classified as intermediate based on my biopsies and May oncologist/radiolgist stated radiation and hormone treatments but (thank God) mentioned doing a Decipher test. I had that test and came back low risk not intermediate which does not have a recommendation for hormone treatments just curative radiation (words of my radiologist/oncologist).

So I had 30 rounds of proton radiation at UFPTI as May Jacksonville does not have proton radiation to treat prostrate cancer only photon. UFPTI radiologist/oncologist did not recommend hormone treatment either.

I have heard very sad stories of those takign hormone treatments and some that tolerate them quite well. But for me I did not want them and was glad that the Decipher test showed was not needed.

If you have not been told the hormone treatments are to starve the cancer cells of totosterone and keep from growing. Asked your oncologist/radiologist about the Decipher test. FYI, I had very little side affects from 30 rounds of proton radiation at UFPTI.

Jump to this post

Thank you for all the info. He had a regular PET Scan & I suppose that is not the same or is it?

REPLY
1 reply
marlow2 | @marlow2 | Feb 10 10:49am
In reply to @bandit11 "Had proton therapy two years ago without hormone therapy after diagnosis of (4+3). Had Decipher test..." + (show)
@bandit11

Had proton therapy two years ago without hormone therapy after diagnosis of (4+3). Had Decipher test and PSMA pet scan before declining such. Last PSA level was 1.1; looks good so far😄.

Jump to this post

I sure hope you continue to do as well as you are doing. Thanks for the information.

REPLY
mikewo | @mikewo | Feb 10 4:04pm
In reply to @marlow2 "Dr. Frendle is also Jim's surgeon for the Spacer. He also did his biopsy." + (show)
@marlow2

Dr. Frendle is also Jim's surgeon for the Spacer. He also did his biopsy.

Jump to this post

He also did my biopsy. He did piss me off a little because even after I did a 30 core transperineally biopsy with a local and didn't flinch once he still insisted on knocking me out for the Space Oar and marker insertion. I am someone who does my colonoscopy with no sedation at all. I like watching and seeing what is going on.

REPLY
mikewo | @mikewo | Feb 10 4:39pm
In reply to @marlow2 "Jim is scheduled for the pacer surgery on 3-14-24. Then on 3-15-24, he will have the..." + (show)
@marlow2

Jim is scheduled for the pacer surgery on 3-14-24. Then on 3-15-24, he will have the CT and MRI scans. As of yesterday, he has decided not to do the 18 months of hormone therapy that was suggested by the doctor in radiology. He thinks that Eligard and all the other hormone injections cause too many side effects. Has anyone had the Proton Beam therapy without Hormone injections & how did they do?

Jump to this post

Look up the study "Radiotherapy with or without androgen deprivation therapy in intermediate risk prostate cancer". It says that it makes no difference in patients over 70 as Jim is.

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