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Posted 2/8/2010 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hey all. Been along time since I have been on so I wanted to send my hellos. My dad's is going through radiation after having his prostate removed. It has been quite painful for him actually, with a lot of diarhea. Wondering how many of you experienced pain and diarhea with your radiation?? He has just reached the halfway mark. David, I hope you read this. How are you since you finished with your radiation????

Kelli (from Ireland- not really ha ha)
Posted 2/8/2010 7:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kelli (and Dad)

Sorry about your dad's diarrhorea problem. I'm interested given my own history/numbers look pretty simialr to your dad's. The diarrhorea is one of the possible side effects I am not looking forward to if they decide to give me radiotherapy.

Did he have a high post op PSA level, or did they just decide to use radiation because of the SVI?

My first post op PSA was 0.1, but they only plan to offer me radiation if it goes over 0.2

My understanding is that guys with SVI are right on the borderline when it comes to additional therapies. I found the following at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1476128/

"External beam radiotherapy, used postprostatectomy at the time of prostate-specific antigen signalling cancer recurrence, may not benefit patients with a history of SVI."

I am therefore planning a long discussion with my doc if my PSA rises. before agreeing to anything.

Alfred
Posted 2/8/2010 11:57 AM (GMT 0)
Kelli,
I am half way thru my IMRT and had some problems with loose bowels but the medicine I take for post op neuropathy actually causes constipation. So I have to take colace for that. The pain I have is from the neuropathy which I think is exacberated by radiation. I hurt more in the evening and have to rest when it hits. My meds for neuropathy usually helps with the pain, but once again cause constipation, i.e Neurontin, Cymbatla. The bind is that most pain meds will cause some level of that. I would talk to his Dr. at the radiation clinic asap if you have not already. Hope that your father heals soon. David can likely provide you with his perspective, but each person has their own unique aspects to tx. Take care.
Michael
Posted 2/8/2010 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
Kelli,

I had some of that--painful bowel movements and diarrhea. The painful BMs really started near the end of treatment.

A prescription for proctofoam, along with changing my diet to a low-residue one (and definitely getting rid of all scratchy-type foods) helped tremendously. Imodium controlled the diarrhea easily.

In my case, the problem resolved itself within a matter of weeks after treatment stopped.

Best wishes for your father.
Posted 2/8/2010 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
kelli, so good to hear from you, and sorry you dad did indeed, need to go through the radiation too.

mine ended at the end of November. i had lots and lots of post radiation pain, even this far out. 3 weeks ago, i had another corrective surgery, and for the past 3 weeks, i was wearing 2 catheters at the same time. yeah, terrible. one was removed this morning, so i am back to just one, for at least another 2-4 weeks depending.

hope your dad holds up through the rest of his. for some men, the radiation is the easy part, for some of us, its the most difficult part. every person reacts differently to the effects of radiation poisioning.

give my best to him, and I hope he's on the mend soon.

david in sc
Posted 2/8/2010 6:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to everyone that responded. David, sorry to hear about your continued troubles but so very good to hear from you. English Alf, I don't know all the lingo and I apologize for that but due to the cancer not being contained in the prostate, like they had originally thought, they were afraid the cancer would return if they did not do radiation. They described it as a preventative measure in order to get all the microscopic fingers that might be left behind. He PSA level was non existant post surgery. He is working with his Dr. and taking pain medication and Immodium for the diarhea. However, I do wonder what the future effects will be when he is all done. I'm hoping for the best.
Posted 2/8/2010 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Kelli, I see that you didn't forget about us, even if you may have been gone a while...(Yes, I remember you) smilewinkgrin Sorry to hear Dad is needing some radiation, but let's pray that it will zap the baddies and all will be good. scool Keep us updated and come around as often as you want..
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