How Important Is Having A Full Bladder During Radiation Treatment?

@brianjarvis Thanks you very much for sharing this Brian. Unfortunately, it does not appear that my medical team is as dutiful to what you've shared.

More worrisome is that the tech who could visibly see the imaging of the situation emphatically explained that the bladder was not full, but this morning when I receive a call from radiation oncology and bring this up, I am told that "it was full enough" to do the treatment.

So it goes from the imaging tech being concerned about it to the point of being bothered by it, to "well, it was full enough to do the treatment."

In my medical history, I've been a patient in endocrinology, orthopedics, primary care of course, and ophthalmology. Have never felt unsure about doctors in these departments.

But in radiation oncology, I find myself needing to "sleep with one eye open" if I take a nap in a chair there.

I was sent home twice during radiation treatment because my bladder was not full enough according to the technicians.

@lsk1000 Jeez, sent you home? Like a punishment?
At Sloan, guys were always seen sipping water in the changing room because their bladders were not full enough; so they were told to drink more and they’d be seen in 20 mins or so. And so they got the next patient in line on the table…easy peasy.
Your RO team has hopefully learned how to manage a schedule!
Phil

Interestingly, I was not required to empty my bowels for my 20 rounds of radiation therapy to the prostate in 2022 (60 gy total), just to arrive with a full bladder. I still ate lightly before appointments, though.

My husband has been diagnosed with Gleason 9 prostate cancer. His PSMA PET/CT shows that he has a very high grade cancer but it is contained within prostate.
I have watched many videos posted on this Non-Profit to educate prostate cancer patients about the treatment and its side-effects). A known medical oncologist, Dr. Mark Scholz and several others give out valuable information in these videos. Nowhere in these videos I heard that one has to drink 16 oz of water before radiation.
According to the videos radiation oncologists typically use a bio-absorbable hydrogel spacer (most commonly SpaceOAR) or Barel gel as a barrier to protect the rectum during prostate radiation treatment. This gel is injected between the prostate and rectum to create a $\sim$1.2 cm (half-inch) buffer, significantly reducing radiation dose to the rectum and minimizing side effects. The most recent product used as a barrier is called Bio Protect and like the two mentioned above it is biodegradable.

My husband has been diagnosed with Gleason 9 prostate cancer. His PSMA PET/CT shows that he has a very high grade cancer but it is contained within prostate.
I have watched many videos posted on this Non-Profit to educate prostate cancer patients about the treatment and its side-effects). A known medical oncologist, Dr. Mark Scholz and several others give out valuable information in these videos. Nowhere in these videos I heard that one has to drink 16 oz of water before radiation.
According to the videos radiation oncologists typically use a bio-absorbable hydrogel spacer (most commonly SpaceOAR) or Barel gel as a barrier to protect the rectum during prostate radiation treatment. This gel is injected between the prostate and rectum to create a $\sim$1.2 cm (half-inch) buffer, significantly reducing radiation dose to the rectum and minimizing side effects. The most recent product used as a barrier is called Bio Protect and like the two mentioned above it is biodegradable.