End of 5th week of radiation

InTheShop,

Hang in there .. almost done! You will probably have another week or two of acute side effects after you are done, but then you should see some rapid improvement. Be sure and celebrate by doing something fun when you are done.

Intheshop,

I faced the same problems with the radiation therapy. My doctor gave me pills and suppositories. The therapy continued till 8/2011,then I had a colonοscopy.The final results? All are OK now.
Be patient. Hang on. One day you'll recall the past and you will really laugh.

I had some of the same symptoms as you, but no or minor fatique. about 2 weeks after RT all had gone except hemmorioids. I started using hydrocortisol cream by prescription and they are back to normal,but still using it as they seem to flare up more often now.

I am like you and hope that RT has taken care of the PC. I have my first PSA in March. Dr said not to expect it to be as low as it will get. Seems like it takes about a year for PSA to settle down to new normal.

Thanks for all the encouragement.

and I did get all the fun hemorrhoids prescriptions - cream, suppository. As my RO tells, "I've got lotions and potions to help you get through this."

My Uro said they'll schedule my PSA test for June. Right now that sounds like a long time but I understand the wait - even though I want results right now. ;)

Bert - my RO gave me 80% odds that this one treatment would knock it out and 95% if a second treatment was needed. Frankly it was just too much information for me at the time to ask, "What is the second treatment?" So I don't really know what he meant and wasn't planning on asking unless the PSA comes back too high. I only had 28 treatments which is low compared to what I've heard from others. When I started out I just couldn't think to far in the future but when I see the RO next week I'll clarify with him. Might be good to be mental prepare to hear the bad answer just in case.

I've asked about the colonoscopy and was told they'd like me to wait a few months before I have that just to give things plenty of time to heal. I've had polyps in the past so there is a bit of concern on my part about the risks to my colon. Right now my RO and Uro are thinking of referring the colonoscopy back to my PCP with a recommendation that she follow up in July on that (note all my Docs are part of the same HMO and get to see all my records).


Andrew

I am not second guessing the number of RT treatments you are having, but it does seem low. Most of the men that I talked to around my appointment time was doing at least 40. I had 44 even with only gleason score of 6 on one sample.

Maybe your Dr knows that we are being over RT'd for treatment.

I do know that when I first talked to oncologist 38 was mentioned than the next time it was 44. I ask why and he said team review thought 44 would be best.

Shop,

I'm 3 years post-op and 2 1/2 years post radiation, 35 rays, (had a close margin on the path report) had similar symptoms but not as severe. Like my Rad Doc said "you will learn to trust your bladder and rectum"......The rad fried some blood vessels so the ED recovery went way way back past zero, finally getting slight reaction from pills but Trimix works all the time. Now the only real concern I have is the dreaded 'secondary cancers' radiation can cause, not too worried though.

Would I do it again? That's the cards I was dealt!

Intheshop, I am with EMS2158. I dont understand the rational behind the number of treatments or why mine went from 35 to 44. Like you I just figured they knew what was going on. I do think sometimes it is what the insurance will tolerate, unfortunately.

I guess the number is by no means an exact science, just their best guess.  I am in the camp that the number does not matter just as long as the cancer is gone and does not come back.

Hang in there and stay in touch on the site. Good luck!

Post Edited (Joko) : 2/19/2012 12:25:29 PM (GMT-7)

Boris... said...
HI,

Now on 29 out of 35. Ok not feeling quite as perky as when I started and had to decline an offer of a Champagne lunch next weekend but relatively OK. My thoughts now turning to the post radiotherapy waiting game. Seems to take ages before you really know if it worked

Wish you all the best, hope the negative effects fade away post treatment and will keep looking here to seeing how you get on

Boris

The reality of the post treatment wait is starting to pop up in my mind. The only good part of that wait is that I should feel better physically for that discussion.

Today is a holiday for the clinic so I've got an extra day off from treatments which I feel I could use today. It is a bit of an endurance test for sure. I spent most of the weekend looking for creative places to nap.

I got my Calypso implants last Tuesday. Get my C-scan next Friday. then some weeks down the road I start my IMRT. So I will be not too far behind you. Hope u r doing fine now.