Anyone have experience with hydrogel before radiation treatment?

I had a Barrigel spacer placed for 5 SBRT fractions. Please see my profile for posts I made.

The spacer is to protect the rectum. I was put under for the placement and my fiducials were placed at the same time, No problems with placement, and minimal short term GI and GU side effects post SBRT. I finished SBRT on Dec 28.

Stay Strong Brother!!

If you have treatment on an MRI guided machine, you might not need a barrier.

My experience was the same as toolbelt.

Finished 5 SBRT sessions in March. Minimal side effects diminished over time... GI and GU back to normal 2 - 3 months later.

After radiation, during the first month or so I noticed my poop was smaller diameter. No problem, I've used a stool softener for years.

In fact, about a week after SBRT, I increased my stool softener dose. Increased water intake too.

I definitely did NOT want to deal with constipation.

I had SpaceOAR inserted at an urology clinic. I was awake the whole time and conversing with the staff. The whole process took about 20 minutes and then I was on my way home. No after effects other than feeling a little “full” down there for a short time.

This preceded 39 IMRT sessions which were easily tolerated. I did have softer stools during that time and afterward, but no blood or pain. Approaching my 1 year anniversary of completing treatment and there are no lingering after effects. My assessment is that the gel did its job.

Good luck.

I had spaceoar inserted before my 5 MRIdian Linac radiation treatments. There was a spaceoar representative, who was locally based in Orlando, in the operating room and my radiation oncologist did the procedure with me out cold under anesthesia. I did not feel full and did not feel any discomfort afterwards. It was done about a week before my procedure.

In terms of bladder, as others have said, it helps to separate the rectum from the prostate and minimize healthy tissue exposure in the rectum area.

I had Barrigel inserted along with markers while under anesthesia at Mayo Phoenix.
No pain, bleeding or sensations whatsoever. 28 proton beam sessions and I'm on 18 months of Lupron with no urinary or bowel problems. A rectal balloon was inserted each treatment with no discomfort. Finished radiation on 4/5/24, feeling very good.
Good luck to all on here.

I received SpaceOar early last year, along with hormone therapy, 3 shots and 5 dose Proton radiation. Rang the bell in May 2023. I didn’t have any issues and haven’t had any with the gel after. Never even knew it was there. To date I am doing well. PSA is holding steady and no real bad side effects, had some but I’m getting thru them well and a year out their fading. Hope this helps and stay strong, you can do this.

Similar to some of the others, I had SpaceOar implanted when I had the fiducial markers done. I had five rounds of SBRT (TrueBeam STX) and no real issues. I had some minor bladder irritation and bit of blood in the urine, and irregular bowel movements for a few days, but nothing too bad. If offered, I'd recommend a barrier of some sort to protect the bowel from possible "overspray".

Ditto, same results as you-18 months down the road after RT.