Done with radiation!!

@rlpostrp most of that information I posted about 2 years ago. But, radiation outcomes: (*note, some of these may be due to a combination of ADT and radiation)
1. Severe diarrhea at times, sometimes all day.
2. Anemia.
3. Urgency in urination but without a lot of output.
4. Very little incontinence, mostly when I waited too long to go.
5. Fatigue
6. Some lower abdominal pain over the last week of radiation.

I started radiation/ADT therapy about 1.5 years after RARP. The PC had already left the prostate and invaded the: nerves, 2 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles. I had T3b cancer, Gleason 9.

Congrats! I finished mine on 2/16/26 - also happened to be my birthday, so awesome gift that day! lol

Urinary issues continued for a few weeks after the 28 treatments, Fatigue got better with time as well - but there's also fatigue for me with ADT - so hard to tell how much better I've gotten.

I'm treating this like a "Check List". "Done with that - what's next?" is my motto.

Good luck on your journey - you got this.

@brianjarvis For me, my Health Care Provider outsourced the radiation treatments. So my urologist and primary diagnosed the PC and referred me to the RO. The RO and my Primary Dr together recommended 18 months of ADT and 28 radiation treatments. I saw my RO weekly as I underwent 28 treatments. Once that was done, treatment reverted back to my urologist with my Health Care Provider who is managing my ADT and monitoring my PSA.

I am 4 sessions away from completing 38 sessions of radiation and 4 days away from completing my 6 months of radiation. I had BCR 3 years after my prostatectomy. The diet and keeping my bladder full and rectum empty has been very stressful. The worst part of the Orgovyx for me has been the mental impact, it changes how I feel and think. The combination of this and radiation has caused me diarrhea, fatigue, gas pains and constant gurgling in my stomach/intestines, urinary incontinence which I had prior, anemia, and light headedness when getting up and down due to fluid loss and the drugs. I am looking forward to go back to my old diet and getting back in shape mentally and physically as my testosterone back. Then I can wait for my PSA readings hoping it stays non detectable. Wishing everybody the best and it would be fantastic if they could come up with a drip to stop cancer.

@pamperme orgovyx is also having a big impact on me. What I have found is keeping very busy and active is key to the mental aspect as well as the physical aspect of taking the drug. The hot flashes are still killing me, but I have found. I am able to sleep much better taking some Gummies at night. Now I sleep through the night at least until my shoulders and hip start hurting. Orgovyx also gives me muscle aches, joint aches, some dizziness, makes me anemic and I’m growing boobs. Even though I’m not gaining any weight I’m still getting a little paunch. As a matter of fact, I’m losing weight but it’s still there. I have about another 20 months to go on orgovyx. I am still experiencing some discomfort from the radiation, mostly in the lower abdomen and with diarrhea I wish you the best and please keep us posted.

@chipe
Thanks for the response, you have many of the things I have and mention the thing I badly need and when I do get it I am better, which is sleep. I have many hot flashes and use popsicles to help which was mentioned on this forum and I use oxybutin. I have the muscle aches and joint aches but expected that. The abdomen and diarrhea I currently have from radiation. I was doing well on exercise until I got into radiation which stopped me from being able to do 30 minutes of elliptical daily.
Overall the ADT is the hard part with me, not the radiation. I am lucky I have only 6 months of adt and yes my breast are larger. I wish you and everyone else the best. Now I will be working to get my testosterone and mental health back and start watching the PSA numbers. Please let me know how you are doing.
Timmy

@chipe Radiation proctitis is by far my worst side effect. The gift that keeps on giving for the past 15 months. Kind of like Abbot and Costillo's Niagara Falls skit. "Slowly I turn, step by step, inch by inch.

@chippydoo I'm starting hyperbaric oxygen therapy next week for radiation proctitis. I had 44 IMRT treatments of prostate and pelvis Feb.-Apr. 2025 during which diarrhea started. I finally got that mostly under control in December with Psyllium fiber and probiotic daily. I hope that the hyperbaric treatments will improve my bowel frequency and urgency while also stopping the small bit of bleeding. My gastroenterologist told me not to expect radiation proctitis ever to be completely healed, but I'm hopeful! I'm trying to schedule treatments during the part of the day least likely to demand my presence on a toilet, but I will "depend on Depends," regardless. All the best for your health progress!

I had mine cauterized and the doc stated I might need 3-4 more sessions. Adding soluble fiber to my diet really helped cut down on trips and firm up my stool. I think stool minnows had a part in my urgency. Gastro added Mesalamine to the post treatment mix and after 3 months I had stopped bleeding. 3 weeks after finishing it has started again. Thank you for the info. Headed to PT to see if that will help with bowel urgency. One of the most inconvenient things I have ever had to deal with. One-year psa coming up in a couple of weeks. I will gladly take the trade off if psa continues to be undetectable.
Best wishes
Chip

@chipe Your concerns and issues you've dealt with sound a lot like what I'm going through at the same time as you. I've had 3 Lupron shots that last 3 months. Each shot resulted in a painful week+ where the shot was given - as well as an elevated heart rate that was obvious on my Oura Ring over that time period. I'm starting Orgovyx next month - replacing the Lupron with a daily pill. Hoping it's not worse that Lupron as far as hot flashes, fatigue, weight gain, etc. I had 28 radiation treatments that ended 4 months ago, and now I've started having the cramping and diarrhea issues. Mild, but man, when you have to go you better find a bathroom quickly. lol All part of the journey, I guess.

Any advice on what to expect from Orgovyx? From what I read, it mirrors Lupron's effects - but once you're done with treatment the symptoms you're experiencing are supposed to be relieved a little more quickly.

Best of luck.