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Not Good News after prostate biospy when MRI didn't look too bad
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 6 hours ago | Replies (290)Comment receiving replies
After being on phone waiting forever I sent in a request via a form they have for appointment with Doctor Parikh. Now more waiting.
I was looking at the side effects of ADT, there sure are a lot and the treatments of radiation seem to be a little strange. Side effects mention were hot flashes, fatigue, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, weight gain, muscle loss, osteoporosis (bone thinning), increased fracture risk, metabolic changes (diabetes, high cholesterol), heart arrhythmia and potential cardiovascular issues. Then the RO said and a search seems to verify is bowel urgency/blood down the line in 1-2 years. That seems odd that it would tale 1-2 years, some places I found it could be sooner, but RO said down the road 1 - 2 years.
The person I talked to today while cleaning up at our church said he didn't have that ADT, gel or full bladder for radiation. Then he did mention there were some bladder and urethra issues that need fixed. Actually, took a piece from inside his cheek and put in urethra.
Seem to make getting it cut out not so bad. Only about 5% to 10% of men may experience long-term, permanent incontinence. Its a gamble and skill of doctors and radiation folks need to be on the mark. Neither is a walk in the park or sure thing.
Replies to "After being on phone waiting forever I sent in a request via a form they have..."
Yes, both methods have pros and cons unfortunately : (. Radiation can cause immediate discomfort (so called early toxicity) and also late toxicity that happens couple of years down the road. Late toxicity is more dangerous since it tends to linger and can become actually worse over time.
Radiation damages healthy tissue and inflammation and mutations that happen in healthy tissue degrade more and more over time. That is why incontinence of a bladder and colon can appear and happen down the road as well as ED.
What your friend described was a damage to urethra - it can harden and it also can constrict and make urination difficult due to formation of scar tissue.
Radiation also effects processes of blood production and can cause anemia or low white blood count which effect immunity.
About 15-20 % of patients develop late toxicity grade 2 (mild to moderate) and about 2-5% grade 3 (severe).
ADT brings the whole another set of side effects.
All in all - unfortunately there is NO method that does not have some risk , it is just the matter of how you personally feel about the whole process and what looks less scary to you at this particular moment in time.
Wishing you all the best and sending good vibes for your medical team to respond better and faster - my husband went through tons of delays and calling around and he was also treated in top cancer center : /, so I understand your frustration : ((.
@diverjer Don’t know his particulars, but NOT having the proper bladder/rectum protocol is a HUGE no-no!!
No wonder he wound up needing his urethra grafted…that SE is rare when proper protocol and preparation is followed.
Phil
@diverjer
The symptoms you describe are common with effective ADT.
With a radical prostatectomy, it is not uncommon to be left with impotence and urgency I continence.
RT can result in bladder and bowel maladies.
Once you decide on which therapy you desire and the consequences after, you must follow your PSA every 3 months for 1 year and depending on the results, every 6 months recognizing it may not be zero as a small amount is produced by some urethral cells but what is more important is the level and the course.
Best of luck with your decision.
Dr. B
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@diverjer
I have heard from a lot of people that have had radiation, I had salvage radiation for 40 sessions. Very seldom hear about problems with Bowel urgency/blood. It may occur in a few cases, but it is not a common problem. I’m over 10 years past that radiation and the Only problem I have encountered is incontinence That started six years after radiation and nine years after surgery.