Proton therapy

They should have described the entire process to you in detail during the CT Sim procedure.

(I had 28 proton radiation fractions during April-May 2021.)

Yes, full bladder/empty bowel routine at every session. The full bladder/empty bowel routine was easy to manage. In the weeks leading up to my radiation treatments, I practiced every day. By the time of my first treatment, I had the routine down to a ritual.
> I never had problems holding that little amount of water (for me it was just 18 oz of water 30 minutes prior to treatment; those numbers vary person to person). Immediately after each session, I would then use the restroom, change back to my street clothes, drive to the gym for strength-training/cardio, use the restroom again, and then return home. It worked like clockwork every time and never caused an issue.

> The rectum being “empty” didn’t mean it had to be clean like it is for a transrectal biopsy; no need for an enema. What my radiation oncologist told me was what they really mean is to have nothing in the lower intestine, material or gas, that might move during the radiation treatment and cause the prostate to move. So, no gassy foods that might cause issues.

So at the same time as emptying the bladder 45-50 minutes prior to treatment (mentioned in #1 above), I would also empty bowels. Worked every time; never had a problem.

It’s easy to do…….

@betterhealth2
I agree with @brianjarvis.

Every question you listed should have been gone over with your prior to start of treatments.

Where are you going for treatments? Did they have simulation day where they set up a treatment bed, and or did measurements. They would have had you drink water to see how much you should drink to move bladder away from prostate. Then they check your markers to get measurements, etc.

Did you haver markers put in? Did you have Space/Oar type implant? Did they go over your diet to prevent gas from getting into the colon/rectum which can push up agaist prostate and move it? I had this happen one time as I took a protein supplement not knowing it was soy. Sure enough techs came in and said you got gas and we are going to have to move you around to correct the movement of your prostate.

All those are important for us to know to give you our experience and answer your questions.

Drinking water helps move bladder away from prostate. How much you are to drink is done on simulation day or what ever they call your prior set up plan.

If you had Space/Oar type implant that helps move your colon away from prostate to help minimize radiation damage.

The empty bowel will help keep anything from pushing up on prostate but I don't think enamas (check with your provider) are done during radiation treatments (I did not do them).