Welcome mbellshell- Question about seeding and radiation

Welcome mbellshell to HW, glad you found us.

We have a few men that have underwent seeding, sure they will be happy to share their experience with you. With a Gleason score of 6, your Uncle should have a wide range of choices.

If you could include the other information from his biopsy report, it would be helpful for others here.

Please keep us posted, and good luck to your uncle.

David in SC

mbellshell;

I had seeding in May and 6 week later had 25 sessions of IMRT. The seeding was an hour procedure and I resumed all of my daily activities the next day. I had urinary urgency and frequency for about 4 weeks that was very controllable with Flowmax and didn't impede anything I wanted to do. The followup radiation for 5 weeks had no affect at all on me. I couldn't even tell if I was getting it. It's been 3 months since I completed all treatments and I've never had the slightest problem; like it never happened.
You have to do your research and find good doctors, as both treatments vary with the doctor's skill. The only reason you would want to do both, instead of seeds only, is if the tumor is large or you have a Gleason 7 or higher where you may need a higher dose or radiation.

The cure rate for seeds is exactly the same as for surgery and without question the side affects are much less severe. If you have anymore questions ask them on this thread and we will try to answer them.
JohnT

Hi Mbellshell,

I had seeds in Jan 08 but PSA began rising beginning of 09. Three successive rises meant failure of the seeds so started Lupron hormone therapy Apr. 09.  PSA dropped from 3.9 to 0.5 after 1 shot. Second shot Aug. 21, next due Dec. 21.  Will get PSA checked prior to that shot.

Had some urinary urgency and burning at various times since the seeds.  Also developed radiation proctitis (damage to the rectum) but moderate in severity.  Currently getting hyperbaric oxygen treatments at local wound care center.  Today was nr. 39.  May need a few more.  Get sigmoid exam Nov. 5 and will find out how I'm healing.

Overall, I would still choose the same procedure, which in itself is pretty straightforward, in and out the same day. Had a catheter for overnight.  Took it out too soon and had some difficulty urinating for a few days. Took Flomax and am still on it.  I suspect that the seeds caused some scarring in the urethra or bladder neck. 

The worst problem I've had is the rectal damage, but even that is responding to Metamucil, lots of water and an occasional stool softener. I should mention that I also have IBS, so I'm not surprised by the rectal problem. I doubt that every seed patient has the side effects that I have had.

For a number of people here, and at least one in a local support group, the seeds pretty much slammed the cancer. For me, they didn't.  See my signature for some more details.

Gene in Md