Any advice or shared experiences with SpaceOAR Hydrogel?

Posted by billd511 @billd511, 1 day ago

Question:
My urologist has presented the option of using the Boston Scientific SpaceOAR Hydrogel between my prostate and rectum. It can be injected during the gold marker insertion procedure. Has anyone here had experience with this product?
Background:
I’m a 71-year-old in good health, aside from a recent T3a prostate cancer diagnosis. My PSA rose from 11 to 15 over six months. An MRI with contrast revealed multiple prostate masses.
My biopsy results showed:
• Gleason 3+3=6 (Grade Group 1): Found in multiple cores
• Gleason 3+4=7 (Grade Group 2): Found in some cores
• Gleason 4+3=7 (Grade Group 3): Found in several cores, with significant pattern 4 (e.g., fused glands, cribriform architecture)
A PET scan showed no spread beyond the prostate, but my Decipher Genomic Classifier score is 0.98, indicating high metastatic risk.
Treatment Plan:
• 24 months of ADT starting Friday, 2/28/25
• 28 fractions of IMRT beginning 5/1/25
After months of tests, waiting, and appointments, I’m ready to go on the offensive. Any advice or shared experiences with SpaceOAR would be greatly appreciated.

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sdzink | @sdzink | 14 hours ago

Bill,

Your situation is almost identical to my own. I am 70 and am currently about 1/3 of the way through radiation treatment, having started the hormone-blocking about three weeks before beginning radiation.

I had the SpaceOAR insert. My radiation oncologist explained it to me and suggested it as a helpful option that I should consider. I read about the insert using some solid sources on the Internet. To avoid peripheral damage to other organs, this just made sense. While not the most pleasant experience (but then, we aren't really in this situation expecting pleasant experiences), it was not significantly more complex than the original biopsy. If you look up the results of its use to date, I believe you will opt for the insert. Of course, in speaking with others at the clinic where I receive my radiation treatments, it is clear that everyone's comfort or discomfort level is different.

Best of luck.