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LDR Brachytherapy Next Week

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 8/2/2016 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Decision made and procedure scheduled (with 5 AM reporting time!!!). Have increased my walking over last month and dropped a few pounds, loaded up on Depends Guards and am putting dog in kennel for a couple days post-procedure. Mentally, I'm ready to go! Logistically, what else should I be thinking about?
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Age 64, Black
PSA 2.5 (01/14), 4.2 (03/15), 4.5 (03/16)
Diagnosed 04/15 - Biopsy 3 of 20 positive, Gleason 3+3
Biopsy 03/16 - 7 of 20 positive (3% - 15%), Gleason 3+3, perineural invasion (right lateral mid)
RALP scheduled 06/01/16 - cancelled in favor of LDR Brachytherapy (Palladium-103 seeds)
RO (with 800+ prostate implants under his belt) not able to get me on schedule until Mon 08/08/16
Additional PSA 4.9 (07/16), volume study completed
Posted 8/2/2016 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
Ice cream, cookies, other treats, and maybe dinner reservations someplace nice.

Except for the poking, prodding and drugs, it's mostly a non-event with a quick recovery.

a soft cushion to sit on might be in order.

You'll be fine,
Andrew
Posted 8/2/2016 5:23 AM (GMT 0)
Rinehart,
Congrats on your decision and getting everything into place! You're going to do great!
Jim
Posted 8/2/2016 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
Brachytherapy is a piece of cake. You will do well. I had HDR so I went through the insertion process twice, you will only do it once. My suggestions from my experience:

Stop all caffeine, acid rich and carbonated beverages. These are tough on the urinary system.

Tell the urologist to use a Foley catheter with has a numbing agent. My worst side effect was peeing razor blades for the first 12 hours and the proper catheter will help. My second procedure had no burning. I had no incontinence and did not buy any pads. My docs said no need and they were correct.
Posted 8/2/2016 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rinehart. I had HDRBRT on the 21st of June, and if it wasn't for the general anesthesia, I would have gone about my regular day as soon as I woke up after the procedure.

LDR is a little different, in that they leave behind little radioactive gifts, but otherwise, it's a fairly similar surgery so you should have few to no issues.

Be fore warned though, it hurt like the dickens when they yanked out the catheter in my case, and I yelped for 24 hours every time I had to urinate, but by day 2 all was normal.

FloooooooMaxxxxxx is your friend!

You'll do fine I am certain. Happy for you that your treatment plan is coming to fruition!!

yeah  

Posted 8/2/2016 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Rinehart and congrats on making a great decision. I'm almost 8 years post LDR Brachy and I sincerely hope you have the same results that I have experienced. If you are at all interested, feel free to copy and paste my long winded journey from my signature.

I think the hard part of your experience is already done, i.e. the volume study. For the LDR Brachy itself you will take a little nap and wake up a little sore. With any luck the catheter will be gone when you awake. Forget about the Depends as there should be no continence issues. You will probably be on Flomax for a few months to help with your flow and you should avoid alcohol and caffeine for a bit to avoid urgency. Because you are having Palladium seeds (I had Iodine) any SE's may occur sooner but will also disappear sooner.

Take a nice Percoset on the night after your procedure. You will be a little tired on the day after but the following day you should be right back to normal (I played tennis on Day 2).

Now...relax and start looking forward to a prostate cancer free life!

Jim
Posted 8/2/2016 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
you will be just fine !!

maybe a bit tired from waiting your turn or if you go early in the morning means getting up before dawn.
but brachy does that.

good luck.

ps 3+3 is low ,so results will be all positive going forward
Posted 8/2/2016 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Rinehart

I had seeds implanted in May. No major issues. Went home without a catheter. Burning sensation when urinating. Still waking up at night to urinate. Incontinance is not an issue.

I was taking Uroxatrol once a day. After a week, switched to Flomax twice a day.

Good luck. You'll do fine.

Al
Posted 8/2/2016 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
X2 what JNF said.

Also had HDR and had the hot razor blade effect after my first treatment. For my second treatment they used a numbing agent and things were much better afterwards. Wonder why they don't automatically use a numbing agent? Must be a reason.

You should be fine.


JNF said...
Brachytherapy is a piece of cake. You will do well. I had HDR so I went through the insertion process twice, you will only do it once. My suggestions from my experience:

Stop all caffeine, acid rich and carbonated beverages. These are tough on the urinary system.

Tell the urologist to use a Foley catheter with has a numbing agent. My worst side effect was peeing razor blades for the first 12 hours and the proper catheter will help. My second procedure had no burning. I had no incontinence and did not buy any pads. My docs said no need and they were correct.

Posted 8/3/2016 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the Brachy Brotherhood. I seriously doubt you will have any incontinence or bowl issues! Soreness, false bowel movement sensation, bruising, burning urination, and a few others have been mentioned. All these early SEs are manageable with walking being the best medication. Please take the time to read directions and discuss the SEs of Flomax as this was more of an issue for me than BT.

Rest assured that very few BT guys on this forum have come back with recurrence issues and/or rare problems with SEs. Please keep us posted and best wishes.
Posted 8/3/2016 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Where are you having the procedure done? Good luck.
Posted 8/3/2016 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
Akai, I live just north of Columbus, OH. Procedure will be performed by Dr. Martin at Ohio State University Medical Center.
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