@pesquallie I think that my radiation oncologist (RO), meducal oncologist (MO), and I spent most of my time coming up with ways to minimize/avoid short/medium/long-term side/after-effects. (Quality of life was of equal priority with successful treatment.) After months of discussion, we came up with this (attached) list.

Then, one-by-one we went through the list and devised a method to (hopefully) avoid that side/after-effect.

Ultimately, I chose 28 sessions of proton radiation (due to its Bragg-Peak characteristics) + SpaceOAR Vue + 6 months (two 3-month injections) of Eligard. My treatments were scheduled at about the same time each day (2:30, 3:00, or 3:30); that made it easier to manage the full bladder/empty bowel routine.

(The 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.)

As for the possible Eligard side-effects, my MO advised me about this well ahead of the 1st injection (and I had read about it myself) - to start a robust resistance-training (weightlifting) regimen. So, immediately after each treatment, I would hit the gym for weightlifting and cardio. (As a gym rat, it was easy enough to ramp up my exercise routine during the entire time the ADT was in my system.) Once my testosterone level returned to normal, the few minor side-effects I did have subsided.

If I had it to do over again, I don’t think I’d do anything any differently - except perhaps to use Orgovyx rather than. Casodex & Eligard,

@pesquallie
The SpaceOAR saved me from 90%_of the diarrhea. I started taking Orgovyx in August and expect to be done in February 2026, subject to my readings then.