Carbon Fidicial Marker, SPACEOAR Surgery & Proton Therapy

It is the best treatment. I had 20 treatments at Mayo Phx last January. Proton beam side effects are minimal. I had some problems with urination and flomax quickly relieved that problem. Some tiredness but that goes with it and much less than standard radiation. You are going to right place. While invasive there really no pain. Good Luvck

Has anyone experienced bleeding following the insertion of the SpaceOAR prior to Proton therapy and if so what was the source or area of bleeding from and how long did it last?

I didn't really have a choice as to the type of radiation (or I should say I didn't ASK for a choice). My urologist recommended a Dr. that runs the radiation dept. at Memorial Hermann hosp. here in Houston where I did mine. My urologist is also in the same hosp. system. I must say I was putting all my confidence in my urologist as to my best course of treatment so I hope I made the right choice. I finished the 2nd of July with 39 treatments and so far so good. You are lucky you will not need ADT as that stuff is rough on some people. Good luck with your journey and remember all treatments will have some side effects, I looked at my history with drugs I have taken over the yrs and I have had none to very few side effects so hopefully this will be the case with my radiation.

Thanks for your reply. I hope you well with your recovery. As with us all having to deal with it, we can only hope and pray the doctors are doing the best thing. I’ll post my progress as I move through the treatment.

Anyone who has had IMRT out there would you have any encouragement that I’m doing the right thing? I would like to know your experience and how your treatment worked out. Many thanks.

Hi @tmurphptown, welcome. You'll notice that I moved your question to this existing discussion about prostate cancer, SpaceOAR and proton beam therapy that @kansascityhusker started a couple of days ago. I did this so that you can connect with @cdcfbw @joenfl2017 @rcs @remoteman7 @wrig1jam who have experience with SpaceOAR hydrogel and/or proton beam therapy.

@tmurphptown have you already had the SpaceOAR gel inserted and are experiencing bleeding?

I had 44 proton beam treatments at Mayo in Phoenix and they went well. I am now in my 5 th month with no detectable PSA levels. I had the carbon fiduciary markers (4 of them) no problem here either.The ADT is where I have my issues. I had a six month Eligard injection in November 2020 and I still have hot flashes and fat accumulation around my abdomen. My testecals have shrunk to 1/3 there normal size. My current testosterone is 12ng/ml the normal is greater than 175ng/ml. My oncologist said I most likely will never have normal testosterone because of my age 79. If possible I would go without the ADT. good luck. Jim

Thank you, Jim for your candid feedback. You helped reinforce my prior decision to go without ADT. Wishing you the best as time moves forward….

I am scheduled to have it done this next week and I am apprehensive about possible bleeding or other side effects after the insertion.

I also have issues with the ADT (Lupron). Same as yours and from what I read we can expect no relief until around 1 yr from the last shot. I'm going to be 72 in Oct. and am hoping for relief at my age as well but my oncologist only told me I would be reducing my testosterone TEMPORARLY.......so what does that mean? Good luck with your recovery and maybe someday we will get back to somewhat normal conditions.