IMRT & Blurred Vision?

I would have a hard time believing that IMRT for the prostate could affect one's vision, although I suppose anything is possible. I am unaware of vision degradation as ever being described as a possible radiation SE in any of the literature/research and/or treatments that I have received.

Steve

Is he also taking Prednisone? Blurred vision is listed as a SE. Also, blood pressure can cause this.

Never heard of that side effect related to IMRT for prostate cancer, but best clear that with his doc.

Star's suggestion of the prednisone sounds possible, isn't it often used in conjuntion with Taxotere in particular. Prednisone has a long history of severe side effects, so might be worth looking into.

david in sc

My wife had taxotere for her breast cancer and did suffer from some visions problems that have since cleared. Thus, his might be from the chemo, but I wouldn't think it would be from the radiation.

Following my radiation I started experiencing vision problems in my right eye and have been in the care of a retinoligist since. I have Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion and I have bleeding into the eye from a vein occlusion. Left untreated it will cause blindness. My retinologist was clear that the radiation had nothing to do with it. Unfortunately the treatment is an injection of a chemotherapy drug into the eyeball. I get them every three months and will probably do so for the rest of my life.

Thanks Ms Worry Wart,

I wish your mother well. What type of side effects has she experienced? All my shots have been Lucentis as my doctor had concerns about Avastin. As you say there is a huge price difference. My shot in the eye costs more than my Lupron shot in my rear.

JNF... She started the shots a year ago. Since then, her blood pressure now requires medication to keep it in check, when she always tended to be on the low side. Her skin is now very thin and bruises and/or bleeds at every little bump or scrape, she has developed severe asthma, anemia, and as I said, just this week she required 2 pints of blood.

Everything I read about the Avastin injections seem to lend to those side effects. She was incredibly healthy for a 70 year old and within the last year she has had nothing but doctor appointments it seems.

If you don't mind discussing this in an email, I would really appreciate that. I am having trouble getting my Mom to believe that perhaps her doctor really needs to consider Lucentis. Any info in print that I can print and take to her is always a help.

PeterDisAbelard... He backed off the Flowmax, and the blurred vision and dizziness seems to be less. His Med Onc said he has to be weaned off of it, so all he can do is do every other day for a week, then down to none. However, he still needs something to relieve that problem. He is back to having the same problems he had back when he was first diagnosed. And now it is WITH the Flowmax.

My father started experiencing elevated sugar, increased frequent urination ( every 2 hours all night long so he couldnt sleep) and vision changes including double vision ( when using both eyes and distance), blurred vision, shadows, hazy and ghost vision inconsistently. We saw a neurologist and an opthamologist for the double vision and despite multiple visits and a battery of tests ( including MRI) the root cause of the double vision changes are still a mystery and exist on a daily basis. We realized that the increase in urination, the vision changes and the sugar spike occurred 8 weeks after his Eligard shot dose. He started Radiation about 1.5 weeks after these symptoms started ( so not related). Drs argue it’s not related but it is listed as a rare side effect. It’s a 3 month shot, so what’s the alternative when the next shot is due? Has anyone else experienced this??

Welcome to HW, sorry you need to be here.

A new thread might get you more attention to your question.

However, the advance folks will be along with better answers than I have.

Andrew

Parpro,

I started a new discussion thread for you so people can help with your question without having to skip over old comments. Here's a link:

/www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=4041560

Welcome to the forum, by the way. Sorry about your dad's problems but glad you found us. Hope we can help.