Radiation question

Hello and welcome to HW, Debbie.

Sorry to hear about your husband's cancer. You will find many other women here that speak for their husbands. What surprised me, is that spot radiation for mets doesn't usually last 8 weeks. 8 weeks is more in line with full radiation treatment.

The most common side effects are fatigue that comes in gradually for most men, some will have urinary urgency, though if they are only hitting the mets, that might not be the case. Nausea is a rarer side effect.

I hope he does well. I have been through major radiation twice in the past 12 years, the most recent was for my prostate cancer almost 3 years ago. I tell people that radiation, especially for 7-8 weeks is an endurance contest, best to worry about one treatment day at the time. Eventually you make it to the finish line.

Good luck to both of you, and please keep us posted on how he does with it, or if you have any other questions.

David in S.C>

It might not be spot radiation, it is going to be 8 weeks, 5 days a week. I meant that they are going to radiate just those 3 places, sorry, I didn't mean to mislead. I've only really learned about prostate cancer since April, so may have the terminology wrong. Thanks. He hasn't had any real side effects from the HT other than ED, but that has been a problem for awhile. And, for y'alls info, I'm perfectly fine without the sex. I'd much rather have my husband, my best friend, than the sex. I'm sure most of y'alls wives feel the same. (my two cents)

I've had both the 8 week version and seperate spot radiation. Wasn't bad at all for me on both accounts.

I only had six weeks of radiation but the worst of the symptoms was fatigue and it set my hemorrhoids off. There was some urgency issues too. The biggest immediate effect was having to get myself to the clinic every day - got to be a bit of an endurance test by the end. It was only with the support of my wife that I got all the way to the end of that ordeal.

The long term effects are harder to gauge but there will be some. The radiation hasn't caused much ED. The fatigue and emotional roll coaster this PC sent me on was one thing that made sex more difficult and our relationship in general more one sided as in my wife being more of a care taker and me less of partner during my treatments. But now that I am six months out life is in better balance and I am back to taking the trash out.

y'all will do just fine.
Andrew

DebbieMH,

My experience was much like the others: some urgency, hemorrhoids (get some wet wipes), weariness of the early morning routine. (I scheduled my sessions very early) I exercised all the way through -- helped with the fatigue I think. I worked a full schedule. No one has mentioned .. drum roll .. the water. Most of us were required to have a full bladder for each session. I would down my water before I left the house and hope they were running on time. I was so glad to be done with running to the bathroom after my sessions. A few times I just picked up my shoes, hustled down the hall, and put them on in the bathroom when I had relieved myself. Good luck.

SC

Thanks everyone. Sounds like it will be a grind, but not that bad. I appreciate the insights, again thanks.

DebbieMH, all of us wives and partners agree with you when it comes to sex.  Just going through all of this together and being close in other ways fulfills my desire.  I have him here - with me - where he belongs.  We haven't totally given up but there are other things to deal with, so the ED is on the back burner. I wish your husband best wishes as he battles the monster than PCa is!

Much blessings,

Aimzee