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HDR Brachytherapy treatment recovery process?

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Dec 8, 2024 | Replies (29)

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@cstrutt52

I had two HDR brachytherapy sessions at Mayo Rochester a week apart in April 2023 (16 needles, then 17 needles). It was an outpatient procedure. Family drove me home both times. Wear loose clothing. Pack lots of things to drink and a pee bottle (I used a wide-mouth Minute Maid lemonade jar). I had a three-hour drive). It is generally a good idea to keep pushing liquids. There was no pain for me. I took a mile-long walk the next day. I didn't feel like hopping on a bike or sliding down a banister for a while but it is only that kind of pressure that make you realize you had something done. They do use a catheter but only during the procedure. One reason for the cath, besides the obvious, is to help them know where the urethra goes through the prostate. They put it in while you are under so no issue there. You are awake when it comes out because they do want to fill your bladder and have you pee before releasing you. No issues with that so don't worry about it. You are still feeling pretty happy and unconcerned at that point). From your point of view, you have a chat with the folks in the room, they say good night, then someone is trying to wake you up in recovery. Since they are burning out your prostate, there can be some swelling. You will be on a flow control drug to help. You will likely worry about getting blocked up and being unable to pee, but it is not likely to happen. The normal 21-second pee time for mammals will move to up to two minutes. But it does get better, though it can take about a year to get back to feeling normal. Ejaculate is a bloody mess for a while (similar to your biopsy but it can chunkier), but that goes away too. Since I only had one doctor for both procedures, I can't give opinions on that. He was great. Staff was great. You will be spoiled for any other medical facility. In the end, you will realize that you wasted time worrying about this procedure. Like the saying goes "worry is paying interest on a debt you may never owe."

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Replies to "I had two HDR brachytherapy sessions at Mayo Rochester a week apart in April 2023 (16..."

Can you recommend a specific HDR doctor there?