Towards the end of IMRT x 28 I began to have issues. The care team always asked about "burning". It was so consistent that I suspected a conspiracy to make me tolerate the frequency, the urgency, the weak stream etc, etc, with: "At least I don't have the burning!" And then finally I got the burning.

For the first 3 weeks after ringing the bell the urinary issues got worse. Tamsulosin (Flowmax) in week two of treatment worked for the first few days and then didn't seem to help (although the last time I forget a dose was definitely worse). Next step was daily Ibuprofen - who knows if it helps. Next they put me on a 10 day course of the steroid dexamethasone - this definitely helped me... eat everything in the refrigerator and beyond. Lastly, two weeks after treatment they gave me phenazopyridine hydrochloride which turned my pee florescent yellow and stains anything it touches. I've been sitting down to pee more and more frequently and with the cool, all-staining urine, now I only stand to pee in urinals and once or twice daily at home as an optimistic test.

My radiation treatment went so well that I felt I should be 100% 'cured' the moment I rang that bell. I'm okay with reporting that everything else improved immediately but the peeing got worse and worse. Finally, 4 weeks after, I think there is light at the end of the tunnel. I've surely figured out that drinking alcohol does not help, makes it much worse, and my nice night out yesterday led to a much worse night at home. Cutting back on drinking can't be a bad thing but I'm certainly not going to avoid it completely.

Good luck and don't despair about these issues. Things sound much worse for the RP folks. Treat it as a challenge to overcome for several weeks and hope, like I'm still hoping, that the end of the tunnel is near.

Also, I told very few people about my PC. After the bell I told a few more but most of my family and friends do not know. However I found it easier to tell people I had a urinary issue due to my PC treatment (if they know) or some vague 'medical treatment' (if they don't). Makes it easy to joke about your many trips to the bathroom. I'll say things like: "I'm going to the bathroom, see you in 20 minutes!" Don't suffer in silence and embarrassment. Good luck!