Anyone had Hypofractionated VMAT or radiation with a colostomy?

Posted by robertehughes @robertehughes, Oct 11 8:31am

Anyone have experience with either

1. VMAT hypofractionated radiation therapy to prostate bed post-RP?

2. Radiation therapy with a colostomy?

Curious about your experiences.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

heavyphil | @heavyphil | Oct 12 9:04am

Hi Robert, Sorry but I can only respond to #1.
VMAT is very similar to most forms of EBRT - it focuses energy on the tumor while sparing surrounding tissues.
Hypofractionated means you will have fewer treatment sessions - usually around 25 compared to older regimen of 39 or more sessions. However, higher amounts of radiation are delivered per session so you wind up having the same amount in total.
As far as question #2 is concerned, I am fairly certain other members on the forum have some experience. I can only guess that special attention and care will be made in your simulation to avoid -ostomy tissue where possible. Best,
Phil

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 26 1:28pm

Hi @robertehughes,I hope you saw @heavyphil's helpful reply. I've also added your question to the Ostomy support group to get more responses to the second part of your question. I'm tagging fellow members like @velise @rxharleydude @hodagwi @mumpmom who may have experience with treatment (radiation) and colostomy.

Robert, have you started treatment? How are you doing?

robertehughes | @robertehughes | Oct 27 1:26pm

Hi Colleen,

I should be starting radiation treatments at the end of November (1 year after was told my cancer returned after 13 years). I tried holding off on cancer treatments until I had my colostomy reversed and hernia repaired, but it’s taking a little longer to get that scheduled than I hoped. Overall I’m fine, just a lot of fatigue and muscle spasms from the large ventral abdominal hernia that developed following my colostomy surgery.