Any one had prostate radiated?

I'd like to her from guys that had prostate radiated instead of a complete prostatectomy.
I am a gleason 6, doing active surveillance. I think about having radiation done as an option so as to avoid surgery.
Those that did have radiation done:
1. How is the erection department working?
2. How is the orgasm department working?
3. How is the urination department working?
4. Over all, how are things, what do you think about radiation therapy?

I am 56, DX in 2014 with Gleason 6, PSA is bouncing around, 4-5 range for last several years. 2 subsequent Biopsies done in December 2015, and May 2016, showed NO CANCER and recent Prostate MRI in November of 2016, looked good as well.

Thanks

Brian, I understand your need to look ahead but your AS sure looks good for now. I had LDR Brachy 8 years ago. I am happy with that choice but if choosing today would thoroughly investigate SBRT and HDR Brachy to make sure I was fully educated. To answer your questions:

1. Erections. Same as before - no change. I'll be 71 this year.

2. Orgasm. They feel pretty much the same but I have lost 90% of my ejaculate which is a common SE.

3. Urination. No change. I still get up once per night.

4. How are things/opinion on radiation therapy. Things are great and life is good. I think radiation therapy is a great choice. The value proposition of surgery is immediate knowledge of pathology (which was no big deal to me). The value proposition of radiation is a better chance of avoiding onerous side effects like ED and incontinence (which was a big deal to me).

Good luck,

Jim

Good evening, As others have said if possible AS is the way to go. I didn't have that option, with my G7 (4+3) I had to have treatment. I chose SBRT with a intergrated boost to the specific tumor it was a clinical trial at UAB. As far as your questions I have no regrets as to my choice I have good urinary function, bowl function and if it wasn't for the Lupron I think little Wille Nelson would be back on the road again. Hang on to AS as long as you and the Doc's are comfortable because it is the only thing with Zero side effects. One other thing is I am still on Flomax but I have cut back to every other day and within about another week I think I will be able to stop completely. (Fingers Crossed)
Good luck and God Bless
Perry

I chose SBRT with seeds after. Gleason score 7. I do ED problems, and urinary urgency problems and frequency problems. Ejaculate 90% gone but orgasm is normal if not better. I am happy with my choice.

I agree with AS. Why treat something that is giving you every indication that it doesn't need to be treated?

Take your time and stay on top of the situation with effective monitoring. That may be treatment enough.

I assume you're doing some forward thinking just in case things change for the worse. Lots of options for a guy like you so the more you know the better. Narrowing your choices down now might make your decision easier in the future if necessary. Lets hope you never do.

I opted for Proton Therapy at UFPTI. I had excellent urologist and surgeon but when he said ED was 50% I began to seriously consider other options. I kept surgery on the table but decided if that was to be my choice I'd have Dr Patel do it. I considered Brachytherapy and IMRT but eventually chose Proton.

It's been 2 years since treatment and I havent had any notable SE's yet. Sex is still excellent although semen has decreased about 80-90%. I realize that radiation SE's often dont occur until a few years down the road so I'll keep my fingers crossed that I will continue to avoid any.

Actually, I had my first visit today with my urologist since my diagnosis in June 2014. I have not been seeing him since I made the decision to have radiation. I've had 3 visits with RO at UFPTI since I finished treatment but he hasnt had to do anything for me except DRE. I decided it wasnt worth driving a 1000 miles just for that. I'm glad to say that I got an excellent report from my urologist today. My prostate has shrunk to about a 1/4 of its size before treatment and feels like that of an 18 year old he said. That and the 0.75 PSA were good news.

My negatives about radiation are these:

1. You have to wait a long time to have a sense that your treatment might be successful. It's not uncommon for radiation patients to take 3-4 years, some even longer, to reach a low nadir

2. During this waiting period, it's not uncommon to have 1 or more PSA bounces along the way to reaching a nadir. PSA tests are bad enough without having a bounce and waiting another several months to see if it was a benign cause.

3. If you've had prostatitis before radiation treatment you can still continue to have periodic attacks. Another potential rise in PSA to suffer through.

4. You still have a prostate after radiation so there's always a chance of a new cancer occurring. Not likely, but possible.

In summary, I honestly dont know if I would do radiation again.