Having experience with undergoing radiation is still useful —> Remember that with radiation, anything it doesn’t hit won’t be affected.

With your plans for salvage radiation, do you know - as much as is humanly possible - exactly where the sites of recurrence are?

> if the radiation doesn’t hit your intestines, colon, or rectum, you shouldn’t have any bowel issues.

> if the radiation doesn’t hit your bladder, sphincter(s), or urethra, you shouldn’t have any additional incontinence issues.

> if they can avoid radiating your penile bulb, that may also be beneficial.

Work with your radiation oncologist to avoid any other organs or tissues at risk (again, as much as is humanly and technologically possible).

I’ve attached the list of radiation-induced side-effects that my RO and I discussed. Some may still be applicable to someone heading into salvage radiation for the first time.

(I have not had surgery - only proton radiation for initial treatment. But my RO and I spent many, many months discussing potential radiation-induced side-effects, and methods to avoid/minimize those risks.)