Let's get it started: My journey with SBRT (radiation)

Posted by toolbelt @toolbelt, Dec 5, 2023

Start saying your goodbyes cancer.
Testosterone...see you in June.
SBRT starts next week Thursday.
Stay Strong Brothers

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

@mikewo

You are as anal as I am writing everything down in a log. I live with Excell spread sheets. I keep getting asked by the nurses and PAs were you an engineer. No, I just used a lot of statistics in my manufacturing career. Keep up the log as it is very helpful to a lot of us. How about sex drive and ejaculations?

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👍 Thanks.
No sex drive, haven't even given the old boy a try at this point.....

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@northoftheborder

One thing that might help: my radiation oncologist explained to me that the radiation keeps working for about six weeks after the SBRT treatments finish, which is why side-effects sometimes don't surface until then.

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Yeah the organs at risk (OAR) can take a while to manifest the damage incurred from the radiation.

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@toolbelt

For those Brothers currently doing, or are going to do SBRT here is an update. I will likely do a weekly (or there abouts) update.

I am on day32 of Orgovyx and have no side effects....yet....

Finished my 5th SBRT on December 28th. I had a Barrigel spacer placed. Other than first evening fatigue has not been a problem.
That evening I experienced slight fatigue. That night I got up to pee three times (one time had been typical for me).
Day 1 post treatment- Some urinary urgency. Started two Flomax a day.
Day 2- Only peed once that night, urgency improved.
Day 3- Did not need to pee overnight. Back to one Flomax.
Day 4 - GI urgency, some mucus passed, watery blood on toilet paper. Butt feels like it did after TRUS biopsy.
Day 5 – GI urgency/constipation, watery blood on TP, only peed once last night. Burning with urination. Butt still sore.
Day 6 – GI urgency/constipation, less blood on TP, burning on urination improving. Butt soreness decreasing.
Day 7 – GI greatly improved, butt soreness essentially gone. Urination burning gone. Peed three times last night
Day 8 - Two "urgency" episodes that I did not need to act on last night. A little constipated this morning. Urination is fine.

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I completed: 2/2 SBRT, 24/25 EBRT and soon will complete 4 months of ADT. My body, UT and rectum, *urgently* need to recover after being injured by radiation and by taking those awful drugs. I have uncomfortable hourly urination and had two episodes that nearly sent me to ER (passing stone and temporarily blocked urine). I’m praying that all cancer is gone, however, should it reoccur, I won’t be concerned that I didn’t add the last 180 cGy and I’m confident that the options, in say 10 years, for diagnosis and treatment will be significantly improved. I look forward to my recovery/monitoring and to the removal of the wretched target marks that are precisely what the infamous Zodiac killer is associated with, a cross in a circle.

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@toolbelt

For those Brothers currently doing, or are going to do SBRT here is an update. I will likely do a weekly (or there abouts) update.

I am on day32 of Orgovyx and have no side effects....yet....

Finished my 5th SBRT on December 28th. I had a Barrigel spacer placed. Other than first evening fatigue has not been a problem.
That evening I experienced slight fatigue. That night I got up to pee three times (one time had been typical for me).
Day 1 post treatment- Some urinary urgency. Started two Flomax a day.
Day 2- Only peed once that night, urgency improved.
Day 3- Did not need to pee overnight. Back to one Flomax.
Day 4 - GI urgency, some mucus passed, watery blood on toilet paper. Butt feels like it did after TRUS biopsy.
Day 5 – GI urgency/constipation, watery blood on TP, only peed once last night. Burning with urination. Butt still sore.
Day 6 – GI urgency/constipation, less blood on TP, burning on urination improving. Butt soreness decreasing.
Day 7 – GI greatly improved, butt soreness essentially gone. Urination burning gone. Peed three times last night
Day 8 - Two "urgency" episodes that I did not need to act on last night. A little constipated this morning. Urination is fine.

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Praying with you. Great thought about the future. Thanks for the update.

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@seasuite

I completed: 2/2 SBRT, 24/25 EBRT and soon will complete 4 months of ADT. My body, UT and rectum, *urgently* need to recover after being injured by radiation and by taking those awful drugs. I have uncomfortable hourly urination and had two episodes that nearly sent me to ER (passing stone and temporarily blocked urine). I’m praying that all cancer is gone, however, should it reoccur, I won’t be concerned that I didn’t add the last 180 cGy and I’m confident that the options, in say 10 years, for diagnosis and treatment will be significantly improved. I look forward to my recovery/monitoring and to the removal of the wretched target marks that are precisely what the infamous Zodiac killer is associated with, a cross in a circle.

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My severe side effects from salvage radiation (w/ balloon insertion) dissipated over 4 weeks following the end of tx.
4 mos of ADT "wore off" about 4 mos after end of tx.
Best wishes.

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@michaelcharles

My severe side effects from salvage radiation (w/ balloon insertion) dissipated over 4 weeks following the end of tx.
4 mos of ADT "wore off" about 4 mos after end of tx.
Best wishes.

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Thank you.
All the best Brother.

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@toolbelt

For those Brothers currently doing, or are going to do SBRT here is an update. I will likely do a weekly (or there abouts) update.

I am on day32 of Orgovyx and have no side effects....yet....

Finished my 5th SBRT on December 28th. I had a Barrigel spacer placed. Other than first evening fatigue has not been a problem.
That evening I experienced slight fatigue. That night I got up to pee three times (one time had been typical for me).
Day 1 post treatment- Some urinary urgency. Started two Flomax a day.
Day 2- Only peed once that night, urgency improved.
Day 3- Did not need to pee overnight. Back to one Flomax.
Day 4 - GI urgency, some mucus passed, watery blood on toilet paper. Butt feels like it did after TRUS biopsy.
Day 5 – GI urgency/constipation, watery blood on TP, only peed once last night. Burning with urination. Butt still sore.
Day 6 – GI urgency/constipation, less blood on TP, burning on urination improving. Butt soreness decreasing.
Day 7 – GI greatly improved, butt soreness essentially gone. Urination burning gone. Peed three times last night
Day 8 - Two "urgency" episodes that I did not need to act on last night. A little constipated this morning. Urination is fine.

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Finished 5 day sbrt Friday 1/6/24.Taking 1 flomax and urinating 6-7 times a night.4 last night.Small bowel movements.

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@vshirley

Finished 5 day sbrt Friday 1/6/24.Taking 1 flomax and urinating 6-7 times a night.4 last night.Small bowel movements.

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Congratulations!!
It took a while for my GI to reboot if for no other reason than I was on a low fiber diet (no gas) and had done an enema on that Tuesday(Tx #4) and Thursday (Tx #5). As of today I am at 12 days since my SBRT. Urination is essentially what I was at pre-treatment ("typical" BPH symptoms) and I continue with one Flomax a day. As to GI, urgency has improved last two days, gas seems less, no blood, BMs are reduced in size and I am still somewhat constipated.

Stay Strong Brother!

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Post SBRT Day 9 - 15
Continuing my reporting on my experience after 5 SBRT treatments with focal boost, Barrigel spacer, urethral steering to try and avoid GU side effects. I am 68, in good shape, one 4+3, one 3+3, Decipher .84, PSA 7.8, PSMA PET confined to prostate, 6 months Orgovyx. Flomax started with treatment and continues.

9 - Some constipation, watery blood on TP, mucus. Urination fine.

10 - Urgency last night a couple times, once needed to get up and hit the can. Lots of gas…..This morning urgency ok, still a bit constipated (take that with a grain of salt as they used to set the Atomic Clock based on my "regularity". Urination fine.

11 - yesterday was best GI has felt since treatment ended. A little urgency and gas. Hopefully this will continue. Urination fine.

12 - GI continues to improve, less urgency. Still some constipation.

13 - Other than reduced diameter of stool and a little constipation GI is nearly normal. Urination continues at pretreatment levels (with Flomax)

14 - Stools nearly back to normal, urgency gone, urination fine. No fatigue.

15 - Pretty much back to normal

At this point I will only post when and if side effects occur.

As to Orgovyx, currently on day 39 and have yet to experience any side effects.

If anyone has questions please let me know.

Stay Strong Brothers.

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@toolbelt

Post SBRT Day 9 - 15
Continuing my reporting on my experience after 5 SBRT treatments with focal boost, Barrigel spacer, urethral steering to try and avoid GU side effects. I am 68, in good shape, one 4+3, one 3+3, Decipher .84, PSA 7.8, PSMA PET confined to prostate, 6 months Orgovyx. Flomax started with treatment and continues.

9 - Some constipation, watery blood on TP, mucus. Urination fine.

10 - Urgency last night a couple times, once needed to get up and hit the can. Lots of gas…..This morning urgency ok, still a bit constipated (take that with a grain of salt as they used to set the Atomic Clock based on my "regularity". Urination fine.

11 - yesterday was best GI has felt since treatment ended. A little urgency and gas. Hopefully this will continue. Urination fine.

12 - GI continues to improve, less urgency. Still some constipation.

13 - Other than reduced diameter of stool and a little constipation GI is nearly normal. Urination continues at pretreatment levels (with Flomax)

14 - Stools nearly back to normal, urgency gone, urination fine. No fatigue.

15 - Pretty much back to normal

At this point I will only post when and if side effects occur.

As to Orgovyx, currently on day 39 and have yet to experience any side effects.

If anyone has questions please let me know.

Stay Strong Brothers.

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Hey Toolbelt
Glad to hear things are going well for you. Today I hit 30 days out from SBRT. Did have some constipation too but began a regiment of Metamucil gummies. Seems to do the trick. Otherwise, no side effects from day one. Let's keep this trend going. I'm on month 4 of the Orgovyx. Very mild flash here and there but not really worth mentioning. Looking forward to my follow-up in March. Exercise is the key.

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