Radiation after Open RP Question

Positive1,

Everyone is different, but I did fine with it. I felt tired at times, but was able to walk/run on a daily basis throughout. I had the expected loose stools

My incontinence was terrible after surgery. Oddly, when I started radiation it got better. Radiation probably made it plateau for awhile and weeks/months later it got much better.

Radiation was not bad at all. As others said, it was a but of fatigue and diarrhea. I was able to work all through the course. However, looking at your dad's stats I don't think thus is a foregone conclusion that he needs radiation. I would suggest another opinion.

Positive, I made it through radiation with no urinary side effects - in fact, the only significant side effect was fatigue, which completely ended about 6 weeks after the treatments ended.
My rad oncologist told me that urinary complications such as stricture, etc. are less than 2%, and secondary cancers due to the radiation happens in about 1 in 2000-3000.

Based on my research and what the docs told me: you are most likely to end up at a permanent level of continence / incontinence corresponding to where you were when you began radiation treatment. In other words, the radiation can prevent you from further progress. That is one reason why they tend to want to delay radiation after surgery as long as feasible. It sounds to me that your father will probably be in pretty good shape by late spring.
Jeff

Positive 1 -- WHY are you being told of the need for radiation.
I can't help the feeling that we are not aware of all the story..

Radiation is an absolute last resort ,
Radiation kills things, bad and good.. Radiation causes things to get worse as flesh hardens or dies..

Did the Pre-Op bone scan show up other "Hot Spots"
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positive, i too dont understand why radiation is already planned for your father. he does not have recurrance, or any evidence this early on that he will. his positive margin doesnt mean he will have recurrance, just means he might.

radiation is a serious matter, not to be taken lightly, if he uses it, it will be his secondary treatment and his last curative shot available.

my radiation went badly. i ahd 39 session totalling 72gys. It was the 2nd time in 11 years tht my body went through major radiaton for cancers.

for me, it was painful from the start, i still have chronic fatigue a full year later, and the radiation damaged my bladder and bladder neck so bad, that i had to have a suprapubic catheter for a full year after, and eventually and recently, had to have a urostomy, so now i pee into a plastic bag from a stoma, and will for the rest of my life.

rare, perhaps. but its not all roses for those undergoing radiation. my advice would be for you father not to have radiatio until and unless he has firm evidene of the cancer recurring.

david in sc