Radiation for me in the near future...

I have been busy since my Davinci surgery April 24, been to a medical oncologist in St. Louis, started Lupron injections and now have radiation scheduled right after labor day. My incontinence has improved to about 2 barely wet pads a day. I have had 2 psa tests 1st one was 0.62....second one a couple weeks later was 0.59. It was after the second one that I was started on Hormone therapy....next psa test is Sept 28...hoping for something with a zero on the right side of the decimal. Anyhow, what I was kind of interested in knowing is for those of you who have had radiation what should I expect as far as burning, side effects, etc...Thanks, jwb

jwb187 - I'll be looking for your updates and good luck. I am in the same boat as you with a positive pathology report but I have yet to get my first post PSA. Is that standard to get Lupron before radiation therapy?

It is possible that the high Gleason is the reason, but I do believe that it isn't unusual for an oncologist to suggest HT prior to radiation. As I have had to deal with, I was on HT a month before IMRT started. And it makes sense. We have had failed surgery and require additional treatments. HT shrinks disease. And if your hitting a target with a potential cancer killer, it helps to shrink the disease before commencing. In fact I have read different things that are outside of protocol that include the idea to begin HT BEFORE surgery. The logic here is to take high risk patients, usually shown by say my 19.8 pre-op PSA and Gleason 7, and possibly decrease the need for radiation by shrinking disease well enough that surgery can remove it. Not sure if there's too much truth to it. Once the disease has hit the seminals there is clear evidence that it has metastisized and become systemic. In Which case, regardless of PSA and Gleason, you should have a therapy that is systemic. And since your in need of HT, no better time than before radiation. Same logic goes if considering chemo. Start HT, wait 4-6 weeks, begin Chemo over 4-5 months, then wait a bit and begin radiation in hopes the Chemo killed systemic disease and the radiation picks up the higher density location near the prostate. That was a path I seriously considered. I stuck with protocol though and the sequence was Surgery, HT, Radiation.

Tony

Hi JWB

AS you, I had PSA failure on my first post open RRP PSA test - 0.87  and then on the second 1.1 four weeks later. Although my Gleason wasn't as high (3+4 or 7) on pathology, I did have extraprostatic extension, High Grade PIN, tumour bilateral in 4 places and also 4 positive margins. We both have aggressive cancers.

In 06 I had 36 3D Conformal Photon radiation treatments through June and July. I also started on Lupron that I have taken continually both suring and since the salvage radiation therapy. The Lupron is given to bring the Testosterone (T) down to undetectable levels, since it is believed that T feeds the tumor and makes it grow. The primary reason for the radiation is the thought that the cancer missed is still present in the prostate bed and has not begun yet to metastasize in other locations. During your prostatectomy, did the surgeon check any of your lymph nodes? You mention that one seminal vesicle was positive. I chose to have the radiation done even if my PCa was systemic. I figured that anything that might help kill it even if not all was the better way to go.

Send me a message if you want more info about what to expect from the Lupron in terms of side effects. The radiation can also have major side effects, especially impotence.

I wish you well!!

Russ

Thanks for your return comments. Sorry I missed your LN negative in your profile.

As can be seen I have had a pretty good response with the rads and the Lupron. What I didn't mention and should have - don't, and I mean DON'T - start radiation until you are continent -- My rad onc refused to start me ( I had to wait an extra two weeks) until I was continent. I think it makes a difference - one year later and I just dribble a few drops on occasion.

Good luck to you

Russ

Hey JWB---

I had 36 sessions of IMRT last winter post-surg.....  about half way thru I started to feel pretty tired at night...toward the end I had a bit of loose stool and some urinary irritation...nothing I couldn't handle  ...  Now at 5 months since my last rt, I'm having a bit of leakage, but am working on keigels and took demtrol la for about a month...seems to be resolving.  Like you, my nerve bundles weren't spared...before I went on ht, I tried cialis but just got a headache....I had some success with the pump....Since I've been on ht, my libido really took a dive, so its been hard to be motivated to get things going.  Fortunately my wife of 20 years (as of tomorrow!) is very understanding and we've enjoyed alternative forms of intamacy.

GOOD LUCK!

Jwb, et al,
I feel very "lucky" that my nerves were spared. While my stage is the same as you, and I have a similar prognoses, when I look at my 19.8 PSA I ask how'd I get some good luck here? Well I guess its a silver lining. I certainly have you all in my prayers. It's good to have you guys around at this site. I pray that all of us fare well in this fight. Especially my brethren in stage. You give me added hope and my will to survive is supported by yours.

Tony

HI CVK. I wanted to take a good shot at my prostate with a shotun. What a release that would have been. Getting even with something that has caused me so much trouble would have been great.




Mika-mvesr

Radiation itself is painless. Some of the side effects are fatigue, rectal bleeding, bladder damage, but they vary from patients to patient. I got something around 7700 grey over 42 treatments at age 66-67, and didn't suffer any radiation side effects until about three weeks before my final therapy. But even that was not bad. I didn't take naps on three or four afternoons, but I was able to drive myself the 20 miles and back for my treatments with no problems. I did experience some rectal bleeding the last three days, but it stopped the day after my final treatment.

Good luck with your radiation.

Prostate Veteran

Thanks Mama Bluebird for the "Hugs" and "prayers" as I start my next part of my walk. You and all the other concerned members of this forum are greatly appreciated. jwb

Hi JWB, MGL,
I am a month out of RT now. Side effects did come up but they were very managable. And now almost completely subsided. I actually had samy light incintinance that is barely a drop or two. No burning sensation when urinating. Mostly a slight discomfort below the belt, and that did completely subside. Probably the most obvious side effect was one I did not notice until after the treatments. When I was done I started feeling energy. I mean that I did not notice the gradual energy drop off. The fatigue was light but very real. That also has completely subsided. Overall, the RT was very tolerable. I am already back to normal. And back to a full work schedule.

Tony

Hi all,

An update on my radiation therapy.....finally got marked and did my simulation with the Novalis IMRT machine on September 6. I started with my treatments on the 13th and now have five under my belt.....only 30 more to go!!! So far so good, no problems noticed, although it may be a little to soon for any side effects to develop. I am adjusting to the routine of going to the treatment center, changing into my gown then spending all of 15 minutes on the table, then done for the day. I hope any others on this site that are having IMRT treatments that they are going as smooth as mine seem to be. Good luck to all. jwb

Hey ~ JWB, This is wonderful new…. And we really appreciate you staying close!   Keep moving forward because that .04 is just around the corner!!  Our thoughts are with you…   In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy         Yea!!   JWB ~       PSA…    !!! ~~~ >>>   Woo ~ Hoo <<< ~~~ !!!   undetectable   Cause   for    celebration!!!!!   Definitely!!! What a wonderful day it is ~ each and every-day ….     Enjoy it to the fullest.   Yippeeeee!!!!!! From   Lee & Buddy *      *      *      *      *      * The ultimate “goal”… we all strive for… Thank you for sharing ~ that your goal has been met…. It is very important to “all ”of us!   This is a way of positive feedback… A way of showing others Hope… and a way of Sharing.   J   Caring is Sharing ~   Thank You for Sharing   J     Threads started by: jwb187 Just had DaVinci on 4-24!!!! Surgery after brachytherapy??