I had radiation for a different cancer and it was easy and painless which I hadn't understood ahead of treatment. I wore biofilm to avoid radiation burns on the skin, so I was able to run every day. With prostate cancer it can be important to have a space or placed so that you avoid radiation burns to the rectum, which can bleed for along time after. And usually this radiation effect is in the rectum and can cause sensitive digestion. Radiation can damage your bone marrow which negatively affects bone density. For these and other reasons I favor the 5 fraction MRI guided treatment. I keep posting this link which I think is the best on the subject of radiation treatment. I can also recommend the doctor in the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch
Radiation, I forgot to mention can make you tired. Radiation damages healthy cells in addition to healthy ones. It can cause mild anemia, increased cortisol levels and drain metabolic energy. Bless your struggle with luck.
I’ve had 7+ weeks of IMRT savage radiation. Had no side effects at all. Had it in the morning first thing, went to work right after for a full day. About five years later, I started having incontinence problems, but that could be due to the prostatectomy. I had eight years prior.
I’ve also had three sessions of SBRT radiation to zap a metastasis on my spine. Again, no side effects at all.
Side effects from radiation can vary from
Fatigue
Radiation proctitis
Rectal issues
Rectal bleeding
Bladder infection
Breaks in bones radiation damage to bones
Fibroses in bladder reduce capacity
In general, toxicities after postprostatectomy radiation using photon-based techniques have been tolerable, although the rates of late grade 2 and gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicities range from 10% to 20% with image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).
What this means. “ late grade 2 and gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicities”
Above describes moderate symptoms of damage to the bowel and bladder, requiring minimal intervention but impacting daily activities, and occurring after salvage radiotherapy for a recurrence or persistent cancer after initial treatment. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms can include moderate diarrhea or bleeding, while genitourinary (GU) symptoms might involve increased urinary frequency, pain, or intermittent bleeding.
I had 5 hypo fractional treatments with the Mridian built in MRI radiation machine (vs fused images) so everything treated was in real time and the amount of healthy tissue exposed to radiation was less than other radiation machines. If you have ever had an MRI, that was what the experience was close to. I also had spaceoar before treatment. Some urination restriction thereafter but for me, it did not last long and I took Flomax for about a month afterwards.
There are different types of internal and external radiation.
After about 9 years on active surveillance, I had 28 sessions of proton radiation (during April-May 2021) + 6 months of hormone therapy. Had only 1 day of minimal side-effects. Every day after each treatment I’d head directly to the gym for 1-1/2 hours of weightlifting followed by either a 5K jog or swimming laps for 35-45 minutes.
My proton radiation treatments were relatively uneventful. My wife later told me that if she hadn’t known I was undergoing radiation treatments, she wouldn’t have realized it from any change in me. And the short amount of time that I was gone each day for treatment were no different than any other time when I simply left to go shopping or to the gym.
Radiation kills prostate cancer by destroying the DNA, thus preventing cells from multiplying. This affects both cancerous and healthy prostate cancer cells. However, cancerous cells multiply wildly and rapidly so, when their DNA is destroyed, they cannot repair their DNA quickly enough, so they “die” at a faster rate than healthy prostate cancer cells, which results in the observed plummeting of PSA.
Hormone therapy (ADT) is often used with and following radiation treatments because ADT suppresses the DNA repair mechanism for months after radiation treatment has ended; ADT is a very important component to kill prostate cancer cells.
Radiation is typically used for Grade Group 3 and higher. You’ll spend very little time on the radiation table - and most of that time will be spent getting in the right alignment. (Compare it to getting your teeth x-rayed; not really anything to be scared about. But, radiation treatments for prostate cancer uses higher doses of radiation to destroy DNA.)
Most of the side-effects from radiation treatments that you’ll see mentioned can be avoided or minimized by the choice of treatment regimen, understanding what’s going on and why the side-effects happen, and by simply taking appropriate precautions and preventive actions. Having a competent radiation team (radiation oncologist, dosimetrist, physicist, and radiation team specialists) can play a major factor in side-effects experienced.
Radiation is a modern-day treatment approach to an age-old disease.
I had 5 hypo fractional treatments with the Mridian built in MRI radiation machine (vs fused images) so everything treated was in real time and the amount of healthy tissue exposed to radiation was less than other radiation machines. If you have ever had an MRI, that was what the experience was close to. I also had spaceoar before treatment. Some urination restriction thereafter but for me, it did not last long and I took Flomax for about a month afterwards.
I’ve had 7+ weeks of IMRT savage radiation. Had no side effects at all. Had it in the morning first thing, went to work right after for a full day. About five years later, I started having incontinence problems, but that could be due to the prostatectomy. I had eight years prior.
I’ve also had three sessions of SBRT radiation to zap a metastasis on my spine. Again, no side effects at all.
Side effects from radiation can vary from
Fatigue
Radiation proctitis
Rectal issues
Rectal bleeding
Bladder infection
Breaks in bones radiation damage to bones
Fibroses in bladder reduce capacity
In general, toxicities after postprostatectomy radiation using photon-based techniques have been tolerable, although the rates of late grade 2 and gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicities range from 10% to 20% with image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).
What this means. “ late grade 2 and gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicities”
Above describes moderate symptoms of damage to the bowel and bladder, requiring minimal intervention but impacting daily activities, and occurring after salvage radiotherapy for a recurrence or persistent cancer after initial treatment. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms can include moderate diarrhea or bleeding, while genitourinary (GU) symptoms might involve increased urinary frequency, pain, or intermittent bleeding.
There are different types of internal and external radiation.
After about 9 years on active surveillance, I had 28 sessions of proton radiation (during April-May 2021) + 6 months of hormone therapy. Had only 1 day of minimal side-effects. Every day after each treatment I’d head directly to the gym for 1-1/2 hours of weightlifting followed by either a 5K jog or swimming laps for 35-45 minutes.
My proton radiation treatments were relatively uneventful. My wife later told me that if she hadn’t known I was undergoing radiation treatments, she wouldn’t have realized it from any change in me. And the short amount of time that I was gone each day for treatment were no different than any other time when I simply left to go shopping or to the gym.
Radiation kills prostate cancer by destroying the DNA, thus preventing cells from multiplying. This affects both cancerous and healthy prostate cancer cells. However, cancerous cells multiply wildly and rapidly so, when their DNA is destroyed, they cannot repair their DNA quickly enough, so they “die” at a faster rate than healthy prostate cancer cells, which results in the observed plummeting of PSA.
Hormone therapy (ADT) is often used with and following radiation treatments because ADT suppresses the DNA repair mechanism for months after radiation treatment has ended; ADT is a very important component to kill prostate cancer cells.
Radiation is typically used for Grade Group 3 and higher. You’ll spend very little time on the radiation table - and most of that time will be spent getting in the right alignment. (Compare it to getting your teeth x-rayed; not really anything to be scared about. But, radiation treatments for prostate cancer uses higher doses of radiation to destroy DNA.)
Most of the side-effects from radiation treatments that you’ll see mentioned can be avoided or minimized by the choice of treatment regimen, understanding what’s going on and why the side-effects happen, and by simply taking appropriate precautions and preventive actions. Having a competent radiation team (radiation oncologist, dosimetrist, physicist, and radiation team specialists) can play a major factor in side-effects experienced.
Radiation is a modern-day treatment approach to an age-old disease.
Yes, God has been good to me.
But, God also expects me to do the right things and work with my radiation team (self-advocacy) in order to come up with a treatment (shared decision-making) to get the outcome that I desire,
God always works the individual into the plan.
Yes, God has been good to me.
But, God also expects me to do the right things and work with my radiation team (self-advocacy) in order to come up with a treatment (shared decision-making) to get the outcome that I desire,
God always works the individual into the plan.
@asolidrock
While I had 7+ weeks of IMRT these days they’re using as Few as 20 sessions. They give more radiation in each session and that causes side effects right away for many people. As I mentioned, I had no side effects at all during the 7+ weeks. Not exactly what one would consider awful, It was actually pretty easy.
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I had radiation for a different cancer and it was easy and painless which I hadn't understood ahead of treatment. I wore biofilm to avoid radiation burns on the skin, so I was able to run every day. With prostate cancer it can be important to have a space or placed so that you avoid radiation burns to the rectum, which can bleed for along time after. And usually this radiation effect is in the rectum and can cause sensitive digestion. Radiation can damage your bone marrow which negatively affects bone density. For these and other reasons I favor the 5 fraction MRI guided treatment. I keep posting this link which I think is the best on the subject of radiation treatment. I can also recommend the doctor in the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch
Radiation, I forgot to mention can make you tired. Radiation damages healthy cells in addition to healthy ones. It can cause mild anemia, increased cortisol levels and drain metabolic energy. Bless your struggle with luck.
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 ReactionsThere are different types of radiation.
I’ve had 7+ weeks of IMRT savage radiation. Had no side effects at all. Had it in the morning first thing, went to work right after for a full day. About five years later, I started having incontinence problems, but that could be due to the prostatectomy. I had eight years prior.
I’ve also had three sessions of SBRT radiation to zap a metastasis on my spine. Again, no side effects at all.
Side effects from radiation can vary from
Fatigue
Radiation proctitis
Rectal issues
Rectal bleeding
Bladder infection
Breaks in bones radiation damage to bones
Fibroses in bladder reduce capacity
In general, toxicities after postprostatectomy radiation using photon-based techniques have been tolerable, although the rates of late grade 2 and gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicities range from 10% to 20% with image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).
What this means. “ late grade 2 and gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicities”
Above describes moderate symptoms of damage to the bowel and bladder, requiring minimal intervention but impacting daily activities, and occurring after salvage radiotherapy for a recurrence or persistent cancer after initial treatment. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms can include moderate diarrhea or bleeding, while genitourinary (GU) symptoms might involve increased urinary frequency, pain, or intermittent bleeding.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI had 5 hypo fractional treatments with the Mridian built in MRI radiation machine (vs fused images) so everything treated was in real time and the amount of healthy tissue exposed to radiation was less than other radiation machines. If you have ever had an MRI, that was what the experience was close to. I also had spaceoar before treatment. Some urination restriction thereafter but for me, it did not last long and I took Flomax for about a month afterwards.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsThere are different types of internal and external radiation.
After about 9 years on active surveillance, I had 28 sessions of proton radiation (during April-May 2021) + 6 months of hormone therapy. Had only 1 day of minimal side-effects. Every day after each treatment I’d head directly to the gym for 1-1/2 hours of weightlifting followed by either a 5K jog or swimming laps for 35-45 minutes.
My proton radiation treatments were relatively uneventful. My wife later told me that if she hadn’t known I was undergoing radiation treatments, she wouldn’t have realized it from any change in me. And the short amount of time that I was gone each day for treatment were no different than any other time when I simply left to go shopping or to the gym.
Radiation kills prostate cancer by destroying the DNA, thus preventing cells from multiplying. This affects both cancerous and healthy prostate cancer cells. However, cancerous cells multiply wildly and rapidly so, when their DNA is destroyed, they cannot repair their DNA quickly enough, so they “die” at a faster rate than healthy prostate cancer cells, which results in the observed plummeting of PSA.
Hormone therapy (ADT) is often used with and following radiation treatments because ADT suppresses the DNA repair mechanism for months after radiation treatment has ended; ADT is a very important component to kill prostate cancer cells.
Radiation is typically used for Grade Group 3 and higher. You’ll spend very little time on the radiation table - and most of that time will be spent getting in the right alignment. (Compare it to getting your teeth x-rayed; not really anything to be scared about. But, radiation treatments for prostate cancer uses higher doses of radiation to destroy DNA.)
Most of the side-effects from radiation treatments that you’ll see mentioned can be avoided or minimized by the choice of treatment regimen, understanding what’s going on and why the side-effects happen, and by simply taking appropriate precautions and preventive actions. Having a competent radiation team (radiation oncologist, dosimetrist, physicist, and radiation team specialists) can play a major factor in side-effects experienced.
Radiation is a modern-day treatment approach to an age-old disease.
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Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsI don't understand all that. I just hope you get the help you need. Thanks for the response
That sounds awful.
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1 ReactionWow God has been good to you . Keep it up so you can enjoy more time with your wife and family.
Yes, God has been good to me.
But, God also expects me to do the right things and work with my radiation team (self-advocacy) in order to come up with a treatment (shared decision-making) to get the outcome that I desire,
God always works the individual into the plan.
Yes He does guide you
@asolidrock
While I had 7+ weeks of IMRT these days they’re using as Few as 20 sessions. They give more radiation in each session and that causes side effects right away for many people. As I mentioned, I had no side effects at all during the 7+ weeks. Not exactly what one would consider awful, It was actually pretty easy.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions