Post Brachy and Alternative Therapies

Post Edited (Mike's Wife) : 2/27/2008 6:08:27 PM (GMT-7)

Just saw an interesting fact in my post-treatment surfing... "Chondroitin Sulfate for Relief of Osteoarthritis Symptoms in Prostate Cancer Patients By Charles “Snuffy” Myers, MD" http://www.malecare.com/prostate-cancer-treatment_26.htm

...in which he says that the Chondroitin that often accompanies glucosamine in suppliments may actually contribute to a reoccurence of the disease. Guess I'll pass on that particular tablet from now on.

Couldn't help but notice that John Thomas has sustained some bruising on the underside...I'm guessing that's how the purple penis announces its arrival. Won't the wife think that a clever trick!

But aside from that and some tenderness, still doing pretty good, and I'll pass along these notes as I go.

But, preamble aside, I thought I'd check in to say I'm feeling better than I likely have any right to. If I do that Kegal flex, there's still a twinge to remind me that 10 days ago, near strangers were pokin' at me in what seemed an untoward manner.

If asked, I have to say that I'm a little tired after any exertion...throwing down the traction aids a half/dozen times to get the car up the short but icy driveway left me surprisingly winded (if that sounded dirty, I'd better report we must have close to 3 feet of snow here)

...but all my bits and pieces are functional with little show of blood.

I also noticed that If I don't use the flowmax, I seem to need to push a little more...hence the aforementioned Kegal flex. Given that I don't feel any side affects from it...except for an admonition not to drink after 7:00 pm (does that include weekends, too?) to keep from getting up in the night...I guess I'll continue to take the stuff.

Now when I started this thread, I was asking about supplements that might ameliorate any sides like the incontinence and ED that are such distressing aspects to PC treatment. I took notice later in JustJulie's thread that at Princess Margaret (all locales Toronto, eh?) her husband was advised not to take any.

I discussed the issue up front with my people...GP, Naturopath, and my Radiation Oncology team at Sunnybrook (part of the University Health Network, as is Princess Margaret)...and they were ok with it, but among the MD's it was more a matter of 'it ain't gonna hurt none, so why not?'.

I'm still doing the supplements. Does it help? Who knows? Tell ya in 50 more days, when I'm officially 'out of treatment.'

Happy Trails

Mike's wife...glad to hear things are going well...enjoy that scuba trip.

Myself? It's almost 3 weeks in, and I did note some effects from the radiation on the weekend...bowel and stuff. Nothing really serious, but accompanied by a unaccustomed level of tiredness. My understanding is that if I'm going to feel poorly, it will ramp up for the first 2-4 weeks, and maybe plateau for another month until the 60 day half-life is reached. One day a week for each of the last 3 is all that I could really say I've felt off. The fatigue is no big deal, as I'm taking it easy on my back anyway. Still...not enough to scare the horses, so no regrets.