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HDR Brachy Boost...what to expect?

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Posted 12/8/2016 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
On the fourth leg of my treatment plan (Quadruple Play??). I already went through Chemo, EBRT (25 treatments) and I'm on Lupron. Next one is HDR Brachy boost on 12/19.
From what I'm told and read it shouldn't be that big a deal...expecting to be at work 2 days after because cathoder comes out next day. Anyone I should know about or ask doc's at my pre-op?

I should have never google the procedure....looks midevel with 20+ tubes.

Thanks
Todd
Posted 12/8/2016 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
I always ask my docs if they know the winning lottery numbers. They never do. Useless.

never get the pictures of the procedures.

You'll be fine.

Andrew
Posted 12/8/2016 1:23 PM (GMT 0)

InTheShop said...

never get the pictures of the procedures.

I wholeheartedly agree! When I was scheduled for open-heart surgery, my wife asked if I wanted to view a video of the procedure. I'm glad I didn't see it - would have left the country right then and there.
Posted 12/8/2016 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
The HDR procedure is easy. My catheter came out at the end of the procedure and I was at work the next day. Why are they leaving the catheter in?

I asked to see the tubes after they were removed. My rad onc said no at the first procedure because he wanted me to come back for the second! During the second procedure I asked again, and he said yes and showed them to me right after he pulled them out. Of course they were a bit bloody and I was amazed at how deep some of them went in....the ones that treated the seminal vesicles. I had 15 tubes each time.
Posted 12/8/2016 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Only problem I had was that when I urinated it burned like fire. You pee blood for a while. I think there's some meds that help, you may want to ask.

Tom
Posted 12/9/2016 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
Your urinary pain is because the urologist did not use an analgesic cream with the catheter. If it was used you would not have the urinary burning. Ask for it before the next procedure.
Posted 12/9/2016 1:48 PM (GMT 0)

JNF said...
Your urinary pain is because the urologist did not use an analgesic cream with the catheter. If it was used you would not have the urinary burning. Ask for it before the next procedure.

Had the same pain from my first procedure. Wonder why they don't automatically use the cream? Must be a reason.
Posted 12/10/2016 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
I had 4 HDR procedures and they wouldn't show me the needles until after the last one. My wife was there each time they pulled them out and after the last one she told me she would never complain about childbirth ever again .
Posted 12/10/2016 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
I had some urinary burning and urgency following my HDR brachy, but it went away after a few weeks. Subsequently, the only SE is that I don't pee quite as well, although when that bugs me enough I take a Flomax.

I had a lot of pain during my first procedure, but it was due to my spinal stenosis and the lack of proper support for my back. (As a result, I overdid on the pain pump during round one.) Other than that, the only painful part was when the removed the template that held the catheters in place, which was sutured to my perineum. But overall, the procedure never felt painful (or barbaric.)

Another HWer had HDR brachy a month or two after me and his wife showed me a picture of the catheters in place. I found the image more bizarre than anything else, although I guess I was glad that I saw that after I was finished. Good luck to you!
Posted 12/10/2016 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for the replies. Side effects have not been my friend with most of my treatments and I get the "I never saw that happen before" with almost every one I've had. Even my port got screwed up..major infection and had to cut it out and now have a huge scar. Hoping this is uneventful.

Went to see endocrine surgeon Thursday...he is removing my adrenal and the tumor on it in January. It grew 15% in 6 months while I was on chemo so he wants it out. No one has dx's it to date except the Dr. who read my scan and said it's strong possibility of being malignant. RO wanted to wait longer but surgeon said there no reason to...I agree. Little to no SE's and we will know definitively what were dealing with.

Next chapter is the diagnosed lesion on my hip...another wait and see what it does....right now it may or may not be a bone island...no diagnosis yet.

Todd
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