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What care, tests, treatment and follow-up do you have after radiation?
I am interested in others experiences in what they had for medical care after receiving radiation treatments for prostrate cancer.
I was surprised that the only medical care I was programmed for was PSA testing every 3 months first year. Every 6 months second, and once a year at third. No MRI, PET Scans, biopsies, etc.
I do have access to oncologist/radiologist via portal, phone for appointments or asked questions and appointment if needed.
Is the above what most of you found as after care and testing after finishing radiation treatments. You would think there would be some type of MRI, PET scan, biopsy, done not just monitoring PSA. But don't have the feedback of what others were given as after care to know if not the norm.
I am only 1 month out from having 30 radiation treatments with pencil beam proton radiation treatments.
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I had 44 rounds of radiation treatment and during that time I had 2 cat scans of all my organs done by the same machine that delivered the radiation treatments. After that a PSA test by radiation oncology and I was completely done with them. No need to see them any longer unless needed for bone pain later on !! Any and all further testing will be done by oncology.
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1 ReactionI think they assume that thing will have gone to plan and psa tests are all that is required.
Personally I am glad that is all there is. Totally over it. I need a few stress free years!
My plan is similar…occasional PSA testing. The results of those tests will indicate if there is a need for any additional testing.
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2 ReactionsI just finished my 20 Proton treatments in May. I saw Urologist on July 27 to have PSA taken ( 1.99). No additional treatment recommended at this time. I will see him on Oct. 26 for another PSA test. I am schedule to visit radiologist or a follow-up visit on Aug. 27. Time will tell.
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2 ReactionsGoing on 3 months since ending 5 high dose Proton radiation and 3 ADT shots. Like you, only blood tests, just had my first this week, all is great and my doctor was very pleased. Sexual function is starting to return but waiting for my testosterone to return is a pain. I’m good for about 1/2 a day and then I hit the wall. My doctor said it’s part of the recovery but I’m getting better by the day. Like the other guy said, glad it’s over and need a total disconnect from all of it. And it’ll be a year next month since diagnosis, what a year.
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3 ReactionsSeems like the PSA is the standard follow up. It is good to get feedback from others if something else is being done different. Hope you feel better as you recover.
Did your doctor say what they were looking for in numbers for your PSA? How quick goes down, how much?
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1 Reactionbrentbackus, looks like you got the every 90 day PSA check like me. What was your PSA before treatment. The 1.99 is low and hope it went down a lot from pre treatment.
Thanks for commenting and your feedback as I am really interested in what others are getting for after radiation treatments.
Did you have symptoms after treatments. Mine seem to be improving with time as they predicted.
I had 45 radiation treatments. Only follow up has been PSA testing. First psa following treatment was .04. Considered zero....very pleased. Now it is PSA every 3 months, urologist visit in 3 months. My primary did an ultrasound of organs/lymph nodes etc. Soon I can get off the treadmill of testing and go to PSA every six months.
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2 ReactionsI finished my 5 proton radiation treatments at Mayo Phoenix 103 days ago and my three-month PSA was undetectable and was 2.9 when my cancer was found.
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1 ReactionI had two rounds of high dose internal radiation (HDR brachytherapy) in April. My only call back is to take a PSA test six months later (Oct 2023). I did sneak one in after two months (during a regular general checkup) and it had dropped from 10.7 to 3.6. I suspect that it will eventually drop to 0.