Radiation treatment for Prostate ancer.

@kujhawk1978 LOL Go Rams! Not! But seriously, husband is facing 38 treatments driving to Mayo Clinic in FL which with traffic is 1:15 drive each way. post RP he has some UI currently, 1 small pad per day. Left nerves were not spared. They’ve talked to us about bowel prep and drinking water, etc. They are proposing Photon IBRT which I’ve read can damage other areas as compared to protons but needed for treating larger area (PSA rising but nothing showing on scans - go “assuming” its in prostate bed).
What “bladder hassles” did you have? Any advice for him as he gets ready? Currently, when we get to Mayo he has to go straight to the bathroom. But now with having to drink water on way up, for appts trying to figure that out.

@susanocl

The bladder issues were related to drinking enough water to have the bladder full enough to be out of the way for the radiation treatments.

Invariably I would arrive for treatment and have to let some out to make it through the treatment without an accident or being in "agony" trying to hold it.on the table without letting too much go.

Not an issue with the whole pelvic lymph node radiation,

With the SBRT my bladder was too full and had to get off the table twice to let some out before the radiation techs were happy.

If you’re ordinarily fine with driving that far, you’ll have no problems.
> at 65y, I made the 40-minute drive there, and 40-minute drive back myself (28x).
> at 79y, my oldest brother made the 30-minute drive there, and 30-minute drive back himself (28x).

Do you have the full bladder/empty bowel routine all set?
> I only had to drink 18 oz of water, 30 minutes prior to treatment; it was no big deal.
> I always used the restroom immediately after each session; never had any issues on the drive home.
> If they don’t overshoot your prostate, you’ll experience little to no fatigue.
> You may spend 10 minutes on the table, but the actual radiation time might be two minutes.
> The table has 6 degrees of movement, so it’ll move you around a little to get you exactly situated.
> You should have no irritation of your rectum if they use a rectal spacer.

This is the easiest part - you just lay still while they do the heavy lifting.

@pnb
Wow! your drive is twice as long as mine and so was the number of your treatments. that's a load off my mind. I hope I can complete my treatments while minimizing the side effects.
thank you!

@brianjarvis
Thanks for the info!
Arriving with a full bladder and not wanting to head for the bathroom is my big concern. I'm drinking 16oz of water one hour before my procedure. I'll see how that works out.