Why do doctors not offer radiotherapy?

Hello all

 

I have looked for this subject in the archives but couldn't find out what I wanted to know so thought I would ask.

 

My husband, whose cancer was shown to be advanced, has been given hormome treatment only.

 

I understand that surgery would be no good now that the cancer has spread but why wasn't he offered radiotherapy?

 

Is it because the doctors hope that the hormone therapy will be sufficient to contain the cancer or is it that the window of opportunity for any benefit from radiotherapy has already passed?

 

Thank you

 

Julia

Julia,

Targeted Radiation Therapy can be used to control pain at some point, IF it were to come to that. Medication (hormone blocking) therapy is often enough for a number of years as a first line treatment for cancers with bone mets. Your DH's cancer is not treatable by means other than medication, complete removal of the testes and / or chemo. I am sorry that no Physician has taken the time to explain this to you. They assume we can read their minds. Right now, we'll all hope his PSA responds well to treatment for a long, long time :>)

Swim

hi julia: my husband also has advanced pca which has spread to his spine, pelvic and shoulders. he has had several radiation treatments whenever he has pain. our oncologist's nurse said that radiation helps kill the cancer cells, while another will disagree. same goes for urologists and oncologists. go figure. anyway, my husband started radiation shortly after diagnosis and starting hormone therapy since he was in pain. it gets confusing but we were told that they start with one therapy and try to hold off on the next so if one stops working there is a backup therapy. you can only have so much radiation to the same area that's affected. do research and if you aren't satisfied with what your doctors say, question it. i have learned to take whatever documentation and articles i can find with us. they seem to pay more attention if you come prepared. push for what you want, don't just sit back. it is your husbands and your future at stake not their's. it's been a roller coaster ride for us but as you go through this you will learn to be assertive with doctors. you have to be. it's been a year and one half since my husbands diagnosis so if you have anything you want to know or want to just talk i'm here. good luck and god bless you and yours.

Hello and thanks to you both for your replies yesterday

I guess as my husband isn't in any pain at the moment, they are holding of the RT in case he needs it in the future.

As for being assertive, we do find it very difficult. I was brought up to be a 'people pleaser' so end up nodding and saying 'yes I understand' when inside I'm thinking 'but why can't he have this or that' when the doctor or nurse tells us what treatment will be best. This is something we will both have to develop.

Lifeline, you say that your husband has been battling this for a year and a half. Do you mind me asking how long he has been experiencing pain? Did he have the mets when he was diagnosed? I guess I'm wondering how long it takes before the HT stops being effective against the pain. Sorry if it's too personal, no need to respond if it is.

This forum is a godsend. Who know how we would have found out information or been able to ask questions as and when they pop up?

Sending very good wishes to you and yours,

Julia

 

Hi wingsofeagles

Good to hear from you and thank you for responding

I gather Zolodex + Casodex is quite a common combination given in the U.S. We are in the U.K and I am concerned that we are lagging over here (survival rates are MUCH higher in the U.S) so wonder whether to push for the two drugs.

I so want to do all I can to enable my husband to get the best treatment but often feel like a passive observer rather than someone taking the bull by the horns - if you know what I mean!

I think that being informed is a big part of the battle and I am not confident that I (or my husband) has a good grip on treatment options etc so far. The consultant just says 'do what you have always dreamed of doing now - don't wait' He also said that Rick 'could' have several years ahead of him. This is not a very pro-active way to be. Surely we can do more than sit it out?

I know I'm ranting a bit here. Sometimes feel a bit on the desperate side

Sorry, Julia

I am battling advanced PC with my dad...and have been for right at two years now.  He is 62 years old.  He has had lymph node removal(was supposed to be prostate removal, but had spread when they opened him to do surgery so they took the lymph nodes instead.), an orchiotomy, 7 months of taxotare chemo with DN101-a clinical study, and now...he is doing Casodex for about 2 months now.

We too were given mixed reviews on radiation.  It was explained to me that PC is a "whole body disease"-at least once it has spread.  Radiation is for "point specific" areas...like if the cancer is only in the radiation bed.  They said to radiate my dad's areas of spread-at that time was pelvic..it would be dangerous to his surrounding areas-could damage organs.

I just keep researching...trying to find new things that work..or are in the works.  I recently heard a new drug called Satraplatin is in the works for getting tested for FDA approval.  It is a drug that works when hormones have failed and shows promise for reversing Hormone Refractory patients.  That sounds very promising.  My theory is to buy as much time as we can by finding things that work for at least a while..and pray like crazy that something will come along that actually "cures".

The Casodex so far is working on my dad..and he has had no side effects.  His PSA at last check was 0.6..and we go back to MD Anderson in Nov.  We recently started at this location about 2 months ago...moving over from Cancer Centers of America.  His scans are all clean with the exception of a suspicous spot in his bones that was very small -that we are watching.

I know that like with my precious daddy...if only LOVE could cure him...he'd be all better by now :)  I love him so much...it frightens me to think of even losing him.  It sounds like you love your hubby as much so I truly understand.  You'll be in my prayers.  Hang in there!