I am updating my original post for this topic. I think it is an important issue that the administrator for the site should consider for one of the monthly Zoom briefings. When we are asked to consider radiation treatment, we hope it will kill all the prostate cancer and effectively cure our cancer. Often, this is not the case. Not only does the prostate cancer return, the radiation damages our bodies in different ways for years to come. Are the radiation centers actively working on procedures to better protect vital organs during radiation treatments?
Having said that, in my particular case several months after completing radiation therapy I experienced significant bleeding when I urinated (which caused a lot of discomfort) as well as when I had bowel movements. My bladder and rectum had been scarred by radiation. I was fortunate that I was quickly approved for oxygen therapy; there was a wound center about 10 minutes from my house with four hyperbaric oxygen chambers. I had 40 sessions with pure oxygen which eventually stopped all symptoms of bleeding. Oxygen therapy is very expensive; my insurance covered most of it, but I had to pay the rest. The other drawback pertains to vision. The doctor in charge of the wound center advised me that my vision would be negatively affected and he was right. I had to wait 6 months to get my prescription glasses changed.
So back to my current issue, On Monday this week during urination I passed a large solid item about 1/3 inches long. I believe it was a piece of my bladder that was the cause of my bleeding for several days, and ever since it passed the blood in the urine has stopped. I think this may be the pattern of radiation cystitus, that once the damaged bladder loses a piece, it produces bleeding in the urine until it is able to pass. I hope this never happens again, but if it does, I will have a better understanding of what is causing it.
If any other men have had periodic bleeding that ends upon passing solid matter, I would be interested in hearing your experience. Of particular interest are cases where a number of years has passed before any bleeding occurs following radiation therapy. For me it happened 5 years after my radiation treatment ended.
I would welcome any negative experiences of what you fellows have gone through after radiation therapy. This is an important topic.