Photon Radiation Treatment After Effects FYI

I updated a post with this response and then noticed the post was from 2024. This made me want to post my experience with the photon radiation treatment I got for anyone thinking about doing it. I had 28 treatments of photon radiation for prostate cancer that was localized and a PSA of 22 when I started. Within weeks I got the side effects they said would go away in weeks or a couple months after treatment ended. Initially it was frequent urination & a stinging sensation when I urinated. 6 months after treatment ended the after effects started getting worse. Very frequent urination/3+ bowel movements a day/a lot of gas when I go to the bathroom every time/bad stomach discomfort on and off all day/feeling light headed all the time/weird itching all over my body. The itching & stomach problems mimicked symptoms of maybe a more serious issue happening not related to my treatment. So I went in for tests over the next 4 months. Blood tests for every organ - liver, kidneys, pancreas, thyroid/Total CBC Blood Test Panel for blood cancer/EKG/Electro-Cardiogram/CT Scan. All tests came up negative for serious issues. Now I am 13+ months from my last treatment. I do stay hydrated so I documented how many times a day I go to the bathroom. Average is 10 times a day with still 3+ bowel movements and gas all the time. I never know what is going to come out. After doing research I have diagnosed myself as having severe "Radiation Cystitis & Radiation Fibrosis". Google those to see what can happen that I wasn't told about. The oncologist I had fried me good. According to google AI It seems I maybe got higher doses than needed of radiation which has contributed to the severity of my after effects and it mentions that radiation does act differently on people. I have read many posts about other's experience with radiation but have yet to come across one that sounds as bad as mine. The oncologist said my treatment plan was "normal" and wasn't different than what others get but I find it hard to believe my after effects are so much worse than normal. My CT Scan also showed my bladder being affected and I quote "a distended bladder with mild wall thickening is a common finding following radiation treatment for prostate cancer". According to my Urologist my bladder fills up but doesn't empty because of damage caused to nerves that make the bladder contract so I go multiple times a day. Am I happy I did radiation instead of surgery ? Yes and No. The good news is my PSA has dropped faster than expected so hopefully the cancer is gone and by 2 years out my PSA should be close to 0. I opted for no hormone treatment, only radiation so I am glad I don't have all those side effects I see from people. I probably should have gotten the surgery if I knew I would feel like this everyday but too late now. I am in my 70's which is why I opted for radiation as I didn't want to be unable to have sex after surgery or have to wear a diaper or pee pad. It's hard enough now at my age for the sex thing lol... Kind of a man thing I guess. Since I have to suffer I am glad I don't have either one of those problems to deal with. Anyway, that's my experience so far. I just hope these symptoms don't get worse or kill me as they really suck as it is. My research says they could get worse so fingers crossed they don't. Good Luck all that have to deal with this. I hope this info helps you ask the right questions & do your own research to see all the possible issues if you are looking into doing this. I didn't and trusted my oncologist who basically just gave me a 3 page print out that mentioned some possible side effects but nothing close to what I have been experiencing for the last 7 months. All the Best to everyone.