I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 90 in October 2023 and placed on ADT with Eligard 6 month injections. I have continued on ADT since with changes to Zoladex and now Firmagon.
My cancer is a Gleason 8 with cribriform, no large cribriform glands were observed in the biopsy. At age 91 is sought curative treatment. The oncologist I used suggested the short course SBRT treatment of 5 to 6 sessions in two weeks. This was concurred in by the radiologist. However, after a review by the group’s tumor board it was decided that SBRT would be too harsh at my age and the recommended treatment was Image Modulated Radio Therapy for 28 sessions of 2.5 grey per session for a total of 70 grey. I accepted that and completed the 28 sessions in June 2025.
During the radiation I went to the gym for an hour of exercise after the radiation 3 days a week.
Side effects have been mild and in the case of rectum proctitis found only by a stool blood test.. About a month after the radiation I started to have mile incontinence problems. A small pad had to worn when I went out to prevent embarrassment from any wet spots on the pants. This resolved itself without any treatment but recurred at about the 5th month and again went away without treatment. In the sixth month I had a stool test for blood. It was positive and a sigmoidoscopy confirmed mild proctitis. No treatment was recommended since it was mild. Now at the tenth month another stool test came out negative for blood. At no time did I have any physical systems of the proctitis.
I experienced no fatigue as a result of the radiation either during or after the radiation.
The PSA at the 10th month is 0.024
This is my experience with radiation treatment at an advanced age. Remember every man is different and others may have different experiences.