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Salvage radiation therapy after radical prostatectomy
Hello:
I had radical prostatectomy in 2020 but now PSA is high at 0.26 so radiation specialist recommended salvage radiation to prostate bed.
Can you share your experience with Salvage Radiation? Side effects to
1. Bladder
2. Bowel
3. Sexual function.
Thank you
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Both of my doctors, urologist and oncologist, agree. That the next treatment would be Lupron injections. But they want to wait until doubling time gets more frequent. Then I would possibly have another PSMA done. And maybe radiation if cancer is found in a different part of my body.
Salvage radiation is considered to have about 2/3 success rate and side effects rated under 2-3% but many on the forum have reported more side effects which raises the thought if one is low risk (Gleason 7 and PSA-DT>12 months) to wait and watch? Feel for firespooks...
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1 ReactionWhat a total bummer - not many of us think past the possibility of salvage radiation failing…what do the doctors say are your next steps? Hormones, chemo? So sorry you have to go thru this.
Good that PSMA is not reveal anything. There are some studies that shows if Gleason is 3+4=7 and PSA-Doubling time >12 months, one can go 10-15 years metastases free survival although there may be more variables. Hopefully, it stays well...
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2 ReactionsYes , my surgery was at 55. After my radiation, my PSA went to 0.01 for 2 years, then started slowly rising. I did have a PSMA scan done earlier this year. But it did not reveal anything.
If I do the math correctly, your surgery was at age 55. Did PSA drop after radiation in 2013? Looks like you have been dealing with it for quite some time. Was PSMA PET or MRI pelvis done? Did it reveal anything? Good luck...
My Gleason score is 3+4 =7 . My PSA before Prostatectomy was 5.53. Before salvage radiation was 0.22. Now PSA is 1.16. I am 73 years old.
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1 ReactionHope you are coping with your symptoms. May I know your Gleason score and PSA-DT and age? Wish you best my friend...
I had a Prostatectomy in 2006 then had 39 radiation treatments in 2013 for recurrent cancer. I now have urinary frequency, bowel movement frequency and ED. I’m now on my 2 nd recurrence and both of my doctors are just watching and waiting on my PSA levels.
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2 ReactionsGleason Score
Grade Group
Prostate Specific Antigen Velocity
Standard of Care
Pelvic Lymph Nodes
Whole Pelvic Lymph Nodes
Gya - a measurement of the amount of radiation administered.
If you are going to be around for awhile dealing with treatment decisions, it pays to build your vocabulary, makes for more informed discussions with your medical team.