What are the common side effects after salvage radiation?

Posted by gkm @gkm, May 3, 2023

I completed my salvage radiation treatment at the end of July 2022. The treatment included 2 injections of Zoladex. I was told that there would be some side effects related to bowel movements but that they should clear up in due course. I am now 9 months post treatment and still face a variety of side effects; getting up 3-4 times per night to pee, accompanied by a dry mouth, gas, loose stool, diarrhea, occasional trace of blood on toilet paper, feeling an urge but nothing happens. I am coping but I wonder if the symptoms will ever end?

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My layperson understanding is that there can be some permanent damage to the bowel and/or bladder.
What have your Drs said?
A Gastroenterologist consult might be a choice.
I completed 37 IMRT Txs yesterday.
Significant bowel irritation;
ranging from severe burning (7 - 8 pain level) to moderate, mild and sometimes hardly noticeable.
Q: ANY PAIN remedies/treatments working for anyone?
Nothing that I take or try works. Sitting on an ice pack may a little helpful.

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@michaelcharles

My layperson understanding is that there can be some permanent damage to the bowel and/or bladder.
What have your Drs said?
A Gastroenterologist consult might be a choice.
I completed 37 IMRT Txs yesterday.
Significant bowel irritation;
ranging from severe burning (7 - 8 pain level) to moderate, mild and sometimes hardly noticeable.
Q: ANY PAIN remedies/treatments working for anyone?
Nothing that I take or try works. Sitting on an ice pack may a little helpful.

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He suggested taking Metamucil but I was already taking that. I have always dealt with some IBS issues but this is much more than that. However, I can live with it. It is the inconsistency of the side effects that is confusing. Fortunately pain is not an issue as there is no pain.

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I completed mine around the same time @gkm My side effects from that are virtually gone at this point. I'm still taking the ADT meds (orgovyx) so dealing with the effects of that for another year at least....

My effects were fatigue towards the end of the sessions and some IBS type stuff, very mild, in the last couple weeks of treatment. It cleared right up after completion.
Good Luck to you!

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@gkm

He suggested taking Metamucil but I was already taking that. I have always dealt with some IBS issues but this is much more than that. However, I can live with it. It is the inconsistency of the side effects that is confusing. Fortunately pain is not an issue as there is no pain.

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I can relate. I completed 28 radiation treatments to the prostate fossa and PLN in February. I had a six-month injection of Eligard in October. Still getting up 2-3 times a night to pee, which I attribute to the Eligard still being in my system. Did wet myself the other night but that is a rare occurrence. Bowel movements (5-6 times daily) still not normal but very slowly improving. No burning just mostly loose stool. Need to be close, very close, to a bathroom as I get little warning when I have to poop. There are occasional messes. Stopped Imodium in March. Am taking one probiotic pill and one fiber pill daily. Asked my Radiation Oncologist if there was anything else I could do and he said "no". He thought all the radiation side-effects would be gone in a month. Three months later, I am still waiting and hoping for normalcy.

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So what are the LONG term side effects anyone is experiencing from salvage radiation?

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Radiation cystitis and radiation proctitis. Gross hematuria. Lots of bleeding and blood clots. Hyperbaric oxygen chamber sessions. Erroded urethra. Urethroplasty . Total incontinence and the list keeps growing. Only been 4 years since 35 radiation treatments. Good luck.

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@firespooks

So what are the LONG term side effects anyone is experiencing from salvage radiation?

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Well, it's been 11 mos at this point. I don't think I have any side effects any longer, so far. What little problems I do have I attribute to the orgovyx.

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It's been about 18 months since 34 rounds of SBRT 6 months post RRP 3/25/21. I didn't have much for side effects during or after salvage radiation. I did wait a couple months before starting SBRT because the Radiologist said that he goal was to get me back to the level of incontinence post radiation to where I was when I began. I didn't think I had recovered enough and wanted to get that more in control. I just finished 5 rounds of radiation to a lymph node in my chest. I seem to be having more side effects now but too I attribute it to the Orgovyx. I am in a clinical drug trial that pairs the daily Orgovyx with Erleada. 4 weeks into the trail my PSA dropped from 13.56 to 0.15. I am at the 8 week point in the trial. I meet with my oncologist and clinical trial team Monday. That will be followed up with another PET/CT scan, bone scan, CT chest scan and more blood work. Hot flashes are the worst side effect so far.( not to mention ED and minor incontinence)

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