Starting Radiation tomorrow

Good point. I was told to take Gas ex daily.

This group is at least keeping things light and has good sense of humor while dealing with a serious condition, makes the journey bearable!

Jeff , When I got my 22 sessions of EBRT to the pelvic region , the Urologist and RO both said that my situation did not require it . In the remote case I would need ADT in future they would rather have that available then . I was sort of shocked as I read so much about ADT plus external beam radiation combination. The teams explained that in normal to extreme cases they recommend it, however with a slight mop up isolated to the pelvic region, then it was not advisable. I asked several times. when I got EBRT my PSA was at 0.14 and it had been rising very slowly over 2.5 years since operation. Anyway , that was my experience . That was 2 years ago now. The Dr's feel I have some healthy cells left behind pushing out very low levels of PSA. I gather its not so rare as people say ! Interesting case anyway and yes , I still get very anxious before my PSA tests for sure ! Living life well though ! James on Vancouver Island .

When I had 7 1/2 weeks of IMRT 12 years ago They did give me Lupron two months before the radiation but none after and my PSA stayed undetectable for 2 1/2 years. They didn’t know I had BRCA2 at the Time if they did, they probably would’ve put me on ADT right away.

My PSA started rising at that point, and then I went on Lupron.

If you’ve had a prostatectomy, your PSA should stay undetectable, If you just had radiation, then what you are experiencing is normal for many people.

Had my rectal spacer last week. 5mg of Valium and local anesthetic…they might has well have given me an M&M for all the good the Valium did. I was fully aware, had a smaller audience than you described (doctor, RN, and ultrasound sales rep), and found the pressure more unpleasant than any of my prostate biopsies had ever been. Then they tried to make small talk with me while I was trying to breathe my way through the pain. Light headed and nauseated after, they allowed me to lay down for a brief time after the procedure was done (they never checked my vitals before or after) and after it passed I was sent on my way.

Had my first of 5 accelerated dose SBRT sessions yesterday. No side effects except for vague rectal pressure/burning and the urge to void even with an empty bladder. The whole thing was rather impersonal; two techs (both seemed new to the department) fumbled there way through my vitals (with nary a pleasantry or exchange of names); pointed me to a local room to change (without telling me where
to find the clean gowns) and instructed me to have a seat after in a waiting area where except for myself and one other patient everyone else was sitting in street clothes). Ugh.
The RO technician was pleasant (I had met him at the simulation appointment a week before) but to my surprise I never saw the Radiation Oncologist (whom I’ve only met through a telehealth consultation) though he was reference by the tech as “checking my position from the images” before the RT was initiated (Viewray MRIdian system). I drove home (120 miles = 4 hour in heavy afternoon west coast traffic) after the treatment was over (bladder discomfort but no voided urine). 1 down 4 to go. I presume the after effects of XRT will hit after the 3rd or 4th treatment just as my first dose Depot Lupron (given 9/10) really begins to kick in. Certainly leaves one more appreciative of previous good health, often taken for granted until it is taken away.

Like the song says ‘you don’t know what you’ve got til its gone…’

I have been through radiation three times. First time 36 sessions, second time 15 sessions, last time, three sessions. My side effects were probably minor. Loss of hair in the radiation field area. I believe a little bit tired, but it wasn’t awful like my relatives who had chemo for other types of cancers.

One of the most uplifting parts of the radiation session, was standing in the hall, talking to other patients waiting in their gowns, waiting to be called to their machine room. People can be so positive and uplifting in a time of challenge for us.

Gods Blessing on you and your family

Life during radiation treatment:
“Dang bladder. I just emptied you five minutes ago. How can you be full again???”
“Outta my way - I got to get to the restroom NOW!!!”
“You know I don’t dance but I’m pretty good at the Aztec Two-Step. Honey, remember to buy more toilet paper when you go to Woodman’s.”
“What are those little marks on my biking map? Locations of public toilets.”
“No, honey. I can’t eat brats nor coleslaw (nor raisins, nuts, berries, tomatoes, fruit, coffee, alcohol…) If I vary my bland, fiber-free diet, we’ll both regret it in the morning because we only have one bathroom and the infirm gets first dibs. And you don’t want to be second!!”
“Don’t drink that! It’s pure cranberry juice, so bitter it’s guaranteed to make you gag. Doctor says I have to drink it or I might have to have a Foley catheter inserted in a delicate part of my anatomy, a procedure I previously endured after a serious bike crash years ago. Worst pain ever!! I was cussing and confessing to crimes, real and imagined, in hopes it would put an end to the torture. Yes! It was me who put the hit on Jimmy Hoffa and I will tell you where the body is if you stop trying to insert that tube where it don’t belong!!”
“So, you want me to lie perfectly still on this slab for a half hour while I pass through a dark tunnel?? I’m getting premonitions of death here…”
“Is my bladder full, you ask? No, these little steps I’m making are just a spontaneous interpretative dance I’m performing while I search for the restroom.”

The results are so different with different people.

I had 7 1/2 weeks of salvage radiation. I had no side effects at all. No problem getting up at night to pee. No fatigue, nothing. I would have it done in the morning and immediately go to work all day.