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What does IMRT radiation do to your blood?

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Posted 4/12/2017 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi folks,

I'm approaching my 8th week of IMRT radiation and yes I am having side effects but manageable except
ONE. In the past week I am really suffering from fatigue and not like I need a nap but where things are a struggle. I'm still working but I am basically useless. Is there a particular blood test I need to ask for? what exactly does this treatment do to your blood? they told me weeks ago not to take multivitamins so I'm just taking B-12 and vitamin D. Any info would help and as always I appreciate it. Have a great day.

Thanks
Jay
Posted 4/12/2017 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
During my radiation my platelet count dropped so they were keeping a check on that. Other blood tests were normal. RO said a drop in platelets can happen with treatment.

Good luck

Carl
Posted 4/12/2017 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Jaydubs, are you also on hormone therapy?
Posted 4/12/2017 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Long-term IMRT often causes fatigue. It seems to be due to the increase in inflammatory cytokines (like when one gets the flu), and worsens with the number of treatments.

The only thing I've seen that combats radiation-induced fatigue is exercise. It's the last thing you feel like doing, but the first thing you should be doing. Well-meaning friends will encourage you to "take it easy," which is exactly the worst advice you could take. Instead of relaxing, get a trainer at the gym during your radiation therapy.

This has been proven in randomized clinical trials:

"Men who followed advice to rest and take things easy if they became fatigued demonstrated a slight deterioration in physical functioning and a significant increase in fatigue at the end of radiotherapy. Home-based, moderate-intensity walking produced a significant improvement in physical functioning with no significant increase in fatigue. Improved physical functioning may be necessary to combat radiation fatigue."

A randomized, controlled trial of aerobic exercise for treatment-related fatigue in men receiving radical external beam radiotherapy for localized prostate carcinoma

"Regular, moderate-intensity physical exercise improves functional capacity, decreases the production of inflammatory markers and fatigue, and has a positive influence on QoL in high-risk PCa patients during RT."

Physical exercise for functional capacity, blood immune function, fatigue, and quality of life in high-risk prostate cancer patients during radiotherapy: a prospective, randomized clinical study

"In the short term, both resistance and aerobic exercise mitigated fatigue in men with PCa receiving radiotherapy. Resistance exercise generated longer-term improvements and additional benefits for QOL, strength, triglycerides, and body fat."

Randomized Controlled Trial of Resistance or Aerobic Exercise in Men Receiving Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Not only does it alleviate fatigue, but it helps the radiation work better and reduces its toxicity. It also helps combat depression.

Modulation of Blood Flow, Hypoxia, and Vascular Function in Orthotopic Prostate Tumors During Exercise

The effect of aerobic exercise on treatment-related acute toxicity in men receiving radical external beam radiotherapy for localised prostate cancer.
Posted 4/12/2017 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
TA, Thank you for the info. I will do some exercise but your right as it feels like the last thing I want to do.

Jay
Posted 4/12/2017 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
That's why a trainer is a good idea, even if it's just a session or two to get you started. For me, there's no motivation as good as a trainer who will charge me anyway if I cancel the session.
Posted 4/12/2017 10:53 AM (GMT 0)
TA is dead on. I cut my daily running back to 6 miles a day for the first year of my treatment, then had to stop weight training for a while when I fell and broke my hand. As soon as possible, though, I went back to it. It really helps with the depression.

Radiation therapy increases the oxidant levels in all of the living cells in the radiated area, blood cells included. Since cancer cells are messed up inside, they usually have far fewer mitochondria to mop up those oxidants so the oxidants tend to accumulate inside those cancer cells. When the oxidant levels get too high inside the cancer cell, it dies. :applause: Normal cells can fight off those oxidants though, so they are less affected by the radiation. It is presumed that the large number of dead, dying and damaged cells in the affected area are the cause of the fatigue we experience from radiation treatment.

The hope is that all of the cancer cells get over-stressed and die while most regular cells stay healthy. Some doctors want you to not take anti - oxidant supplements during radiation treatments because living cells can use those to help fight the rising oxidant levels. Presumably, cancer cells included. The jury is still out on that, however.
Posted 4/12/2017 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
Your RO might have upped your Gray units which could explain an onset of tiredness. I had more Gy's early in my 33 sessions and needed a one or two hour nap in the afternoon. When I was down to the last few sessions I wasn't nearly as tired and asked my RO the reason. She said the Gy's were reduced.
Posted 4/13/2017 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys, Yes they said they did something called a Boost that started early last week where they tighten the beam to where the cancer is instead of around the area outside the prostate. I think I got that part correct.
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