how long from hormone therapy to radiation?

Hi Michael,
Welcome to HealingWell. It's the site no one wants to joing, but we are glad we found it. I started IMRT radiation approximately 5 weeks after my first Lupron injection. But there is no rush. Usually RO's wait until the "flare" from the HT is no longer present, and that only takes a few weeks, even less. Sometimes scheduling is the biggest factor to getting you started, and I suspect that is the case. But HT will keep things at bay until you get started.

If you can, tell us more about your journey. Usually Gleason 6 guys are not running to HT and radiation unless they had poor results from surgery, of a very high PSA...

Peace,

Tony

Hi Tony and Jeff,


Thank you for replying. My story is very frustrating and from what i have read is not the way it normally goes.

I live in Ireland and had a PSA every year, which were normal. I'm 63 years old. In December 08, they found a slightly elevated PSA and sent me for a biopsy. The biopsy was done in February 09. On April 20th, i got the results saying cancer and a gleason 3. We discussed the various treatments and decided on brachy.

Was scheduled for a bone scan, MRI and Transrectal ultrasound scan (TRUS). This took from April until July 30th, when i was told that the prostate had grown too big for brachy and that the cancer had spread to the seminal vesicles and was now a stage 3. I started on Casodex the next day, July 31st for 2 weeks. On August 13th i got an injection of Decapeptyl and continued on the tablets until August 28th.

He told me that the plan of treatment would be; the hormone therapy, 5-8 weeks of radiation, at which time they would assess if brachy was needed in addition. This was because the prostate grew and the cancer spread.

I was told that i would be starting the radiation October 1st, but today found out that i will just be marked that day and the radiation will start, possibly, October 19th. They said it had to be 8-10 weeks after the injection, of course if it is the 19th it will be 10 weeks.

The waiting and frustration have been unsettling and have caused me and my family terrible stress. Each time i complained about the long wait, I was told that i am lucky to be moving along this quickly. In December it will be a year since the PSA test.

So, that's where i am now. Your thoughts are very welcome to me.
Thank you,
Michael

Hi Michael
Welcome to HW i to am from Ireland and the the waiting is very long
as you know if you have vhi it will be a lot faster if is the Medical Card?
I got the markings in June and i started radiation in august i think you will be getting the Radiation in St Lukes in Dublin
I think you should get a copy of your Biopsy reports psa and please post them in your stats
What part of Ireland are you from i am from Dublin
Good luck to you

John, I think you are right ,and sometimes here in the US, long waits usally aren't the norm. I had all my biopsies within a week of them being ordered, my surgeon was 7 weeks from the last biopsy, 1 more than my dr wanted, the hospital was a little backed up at the time.
Thursday, I will have my 3rd corrective surgery this year, and was only ordered last Friday, and tommorow I go for the pre-op. Just kind of take it for granite that things happen fast here.

I am in the West of Ireland and going to University hospital in Galway for radiation. On the medical card. I have to stay in a house there provided by the hospital for the radiation patients who live more than 1/2 hour from hospital. Can go home on weekends if up to it, they tell me.

On Thursday, i will ask all the questions you pointed out and see if i can get copies of tests to post here.

In regards to the seminal involvement...the consultant said after reviewing all the tests, they feel that it has moved into that area and said the treatment would be as i mentioned above. That's it...told me no more.

My sister is in the US and is very mad and upset at the wait over here, and the lack of information. She wants to write to the Heath Services who run the system, but i told her it would do no good, as there are people much worse and sicker than me and they just have to wait.

Thank you for all your information. I will grill them on Thursday, which can't come soon enough for me. To those that had the radiation, how did you feel? Side effects? How long did the radiation go on? (sorry for all the questions, but i see you are all very informed)

Thanks very much.
Michael.

6071,

Those kinds of waits would be totally unacceptable by most all in the US. Good luck to you.

hi Michael

How Far do you live from the hospital?

if you need Transport give the Irish Cancer Society a call and they might get Transport for you

Irish Cancer Society Freefone 1800 380 380
Monday - Thursday 9am - 7pm. Friday 9am - 5pm

good luck to you