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SBRT Side Effects: Are they short-lived or long lasting?
Completed five consecutive days of SBRT for my prostate cancer at UCLA almost three weeks ago. Main side effect is urination: struggling at times to get a stream started and when it does start it’s weak and short lived. Waking up almost every hour at night to pee. Doc says this is normal and should subside in the next few weeks. I’ve been taking two Flomax (.4 each) before bed and occasional ibuprofen. Was prescribed 6-day course of steroids, but holding off. For those of you who have done SBRT, what short term side effect are you experiencing and how are you dealing with/mitigating them? Thank you in advance!
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@glabelle & @bens1 Midway in my 5-treatment SBRT (April 9 to 21, 2025), I was asked if I experienced a burning sensation during urination. I said no. After my 5th radiation, my oncologist mentioned that my immediate side effects might peak in the 3rd or 4th week post-SBRT. I noticed some mucus and blood in my stool in the 3rd week, but it cleared on the 4th week; I had no problem when my wife and I went on a cruise this past May 12 to 19.
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2 ReactionsExact same side effects as you. They resolved in two months.
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1 Reaction@vircet
Happy that everything went reasonably well for you. Smooth sailing😄
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1 ReactionI’m 3 treatments in with SBRT MR Linac. Starting feeling some of the side effects yesterday after treatment. Mild fatigue…..some burning and feeling like I can’t fully empty my bladder.
For those who have been through this do your side effects get significantly worse as you went through the last couple treatments?….also how long did the side effects last post treatment? When do you start feeling better
My brother had those five treatments and the burning and difficulty urinating went on for a couple of months after treatment. He did take Flomax every other day, which did help a lot.
Someone else in this forum said they used Uribel and it really works to stop burning while peeing.
They sell AZO in the pharmacy without a prescription to alleviate burning, It works for some people.
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2 ReactionsI had none at the time, but got the burning sensation a year after the end of radiation therapy, and it lasted about 5–6 months in its acute phase. I still have mild irritation now, but it's not a serious problem.
@broderbund1, I added your question to this existing discussion:
- SBRT Side Effects: Are they short-lived or long lasting?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sbrt-mri-side-effects/
Also see this related discussion:
- What side effects have you experienced from SBRT for prostate cancer?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-side-effects-have-you-experienced-from-sbrt-for-prostate-cancer/
@broderbund1, how are the urinary and fatigue side effects for you? Have they started to improve since completing radition?
SBRT in November 2025 with SpaceOAR and fiducials. My side effects began shortly after finishing the treatment. I had a fever that lasted a couple of days, frequent urination and diarrhea. After 10 days or so, the side effects were gone. I had started ADT six weeks before the SBRT and continued it for six months. I had the usual side effects, the most annoying being the flashes which occasionally interrupted sleep. I kept up my exercise which I think help minimize any sense of fatigue.
@broderbund1
I had some mild discomfort during treatment to pee and hot flashes that were not all that bad (from orgovyx/adt). Fatigue was my side effect of most impact and exercise helped tremendously. The urinary discomfort has returned for me (8 months post treatment now). My doctor(s) recommended stopping tamsulosin (flo max) for a bit and that has worked fine - no discomfort and I am able to pee nearly normally (some urgency). I am supposed to stop drinking coffee to help but have not (probably won't but did cut back to 2 cups in the a.m.). The side effects for me have been tolerable and my function is nearly as normal in all areas. Good luck - this will work out.