Beginning prostate cancer treatment

Posted by upnort @upnort, Feb 1, 2022

GL score of 7, 4 +3 - suggested course of treatment: 6 month hormone therapy with radiation therapy. Nervous about this course of treatment because of potential side effects. I am supposed to begin my hormone therapy this week: bicalutamide (50 mg for 28 days) and Luprone injection, followed by radiation for 5-6 weeks. Do the final benefits outweigh the side effects? Looking for some reassurance and/or guidance here. Thanks.

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desertrat | @desertrat | Feb 22, 2022

In reply to @rcs "Are they still using the balloon in therapy" + (show)

No one has mentioned a balloon. They did put in a device to protect healthy tissue. It is designed to dissolve after about three months. If they do use a balloon, I will let you know!

dpcarriere | @dpcarriere | Feb 22, 2022

In reply to @desertrat "No one has mentioned a balloon. They did put in a device to protect healthy tissue...." + (show)

The balloon is used in radiation therapy to move organs out of the way of the radiaton beam. It is inserted and removed with every radiation treatment. The balloon mechanism is rectally inserted and then inflated, you have the radiation treatment and the balloon is removed. If your wife can undergo a pap smear you should be able to handle the infamous balloon. Man up - you can handle it. Smile and tell the nurses what a great job they did and go about your life. What's a little balloon among friends??

dpcarriere | @dpcarriere | Feb 22, 2022

In reply to @desertrat "No one has mentioned a balloon. They did put in a device to protect healthy tissue...." + (show)

desertrat the dissolving device they inserted is a gel pack, yes it dissovles with time and is one of the devices inserted to minimize beam collateral damage. The other is the balloon. The wonderful balloon. How well I recall the balloon. The gel is surgically inserted. The balloon does not require surgery just a gentle technician/nurse and copious amounts of lubrication.

rcs | @rcs | Feb 22, 2022

In reply to @dpcarriere "The balloon is used in radiation therapy to move organs out of the way of the..." + (show)

I believe they do not require the balloon anymore.

desertrat | @desertrat | Feb 22, 2022

In reply to @rcs "I believe they do not require the balloon anymore." + (show)

I hope you’re right! I’ll find out on Thursday.

dpcarriere | @dpcarriere | Feb 23, 2022

In reply to @desertrat "I hope you’re right! I’ll find out on Thursday." + (show)

lemme know

desertrat | @desertrat | Feb 25, 2022

In reply to @dpcarriere "lemme know" + (show)

No more balloon!

dpcarriere | @dpcarriere | Feb 25, 2022

In reply to @desertrat "No more balloon!" + (show)

Nice. Can't say I miss that. Good for you.

scullrower | @scullrower | Feb 26, 2022

Every person is different but I suffered very few side effects from the radiation I’ve had and I’ve had two sessions. One of 35 another SBRT of 5. If your Prostate is being radiated, you’ll have far fewer side effects than I had with a prostatectomy. My initial Gleason was 4+3=7. That was 21 years ago. If your cancer has been caught early, you have a long life ahead of you. For me, fighting my cancer has taught me many life lessons, given me a sense that in some ways I control my destiny and made me appreciate every day. Best wishes.

ken82 | @ken82 | Feb 26, 2022

@scullrower @upnort about 3 years ago my Central Iowa urologist and the Mayo MN verified my prostate cancer and gave me my 1st (and it turned out to be my only so far) shot of Lupron.. I then had 20 high powered radiation treatment (every weekday for 20 days).. that ended 2 1/2 years ago.. my PSA has been very low ..but then went up.. then down.. so the doctor pointed out that the tests with different settings often give slightly varied results.. I am reminded that Statistics plays a role in so much of our lives.. Keep track of your own .. History, like in so many aspects of life, has an important lesson..