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BRACHYTHERAPY and long term S.E's?

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Posted 1/31/2015 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Got my LD Brachytherapy anniversary coming up for the five year mark. There is some talk about possible hematuria appearing around the five or six year mark after the procedure especially if the prostate size exceeded somewhere around the 40cc mark. For a few months, I have been peeing blood but on an inconsistent basis but no aches or pains and absolutely no difficulty urinaring. May go for two or three days with no blood in the urine then suddenly will be peeing some blood in various amounts. Within about the last six months, I have had three (3) CT scans, one ultrasound, a Ureteroscopy and a Lasix Renalgram but nothing can be found to cause the passing of blood. The ureteroscopy is the procedure of moving a little camera from the urethra through the bladder, up through the ureter and into the kidney. That also showed NO tumor all the way from the peewee into the kidney. Anyone else in the long term Brachytherapy gang experiencing such a troublesome event?
Posted 1/31/2015 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
Could it be a UTI? Have they cultured your urine, or have you tried antibiotics for it?
Posted 1/31/2015 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, been tested for bacteria-UTI. Tests all negative. These tests have all been accomplished at a VA Hospital. Hopefully the last CT scan with contrast just last Wednesday (1/28/15) will be beneficial for the Uro Doc to make an accurate diagnosis. Three CT scans in a period of about six months would normally have me quite worried about their radiation effects but being 78 years of age, I should hopefully outlive any destructive radiation from these tests.
Posted 2/1/2015 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hmmm, nearing the 5 year mark myself. The nurse calls me every 6 months to see how I'm doing. One of the questions is always about blood in the urine. So far I've had none.
Posted 2/1/2015 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
If the bleeding is coming from the prostate, might ask your urologist about taking finasteride 5mg per day. It is known to reduce vascularity in the prostate and is helpful in reducing bleeding in the prostate.
Posted 2/1/2015 7:32 AM (GMT 0)
This is all news to me! Having only just had my LDR I was expecting to see blood in my urine and there is a little. But as time passes I expect that to clear. I had no idea that it could reappear 5 years down the road.

A Yooper. You are at the 5 year mark, what have been your experiences?
Posted 2/1/2015 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Not to worry, Casper. Pretty sure it is not that common.
Posted 2/1/2015 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
GOP is absolutely correct in that it is only a rather small percentage of us long term Brachytherapy folks that might possibly experience having some blood in the urine situation around or after the five year mark. I certainly did NOT mean to imply that this is a COMMON thing. I merely did a computer search on "Blood in urine after Brachytherapy". My posting this possible situation was also NOT meant to discourage anyone from selecting this method of treatment. Without question, I would certainly choose Brachytherapy if I had the opportunity to go back in time and make my choice again. I am still waiting on the CT scan results from my Uro, which may indicate that my prostate has absolutely nothing to do with my seeing red/pink/tan color in my urine. Again, I do not mean to alarm anyone.
Posted 2/1/2015 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
No issues here at all either. As erbob stated this is an extremely rare situation, and I'd also wait until he hears definitively what is going on. Hope this turns out well - and keep us posted!
Posted 2/1/2015 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Yep Yoop, I'll make it a point to post an update after my upcoming meeting with my Uro, who is a VA Doc down in Albq.
Posted 2/1/2015 7:17 PM (GMT 0)

A Yooper said...
No issues here at all either. As erbob stated this is an extremely rare situation, and I'd also wait until he hears definitively what is going on. Hope this turns out well - and keep us posted!


Pheeew! Thanks Yoops. That got me worried for a moment. I though I may be some kind of ticking time bomb,
Posted 2/1/2015 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
For some reason, I had it in my mind that blood in urine was a possible side effect beginning two years after treatment. (Which happens to be exactly where I am time-wise.) But realizing my timing and situation (HDR brachy) are different than yours, all clear over here so far.

Good luck with figuring this out and getting better. Do keep us posted after your appointment.
Posted 2/2/2015 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
One of the things that is really wearing me down is the anexiety of what color the pee is going to be at each bladder emptying. Might be real red, slightly red, rust color, brown, pink lemonade color, straw, clear.
Might be almost clear for a couple days which is quite uplifting and then the next day will be red.
Posted 2/5/2015 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Well, back again. Talked briefly via phone with the VA Urologist down at the Albuquerque VA hospital and he wants me to have the second Ureteroscopy which is set up for March 6th. Only told me that there is what they believe is a suspecious cytology showing up and they want to check it out with a possible biopsy. So, I'll go through the procedure AGAIN. The actual procedure itself is a piece of cake for me but the only thing that I dread is the placement of a stent in the ureter which makes taking a leak dang near as bad a having a kidney stone lodged up there. Guys, please keep me in your thoughts as I have already experienced three different cancers and sure don't need a fourth. Thanks!!
Posted 2/5/2015 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Dude! not the call you wanted to get - sorry you have to do that again.

Here's hoping it works out for the best.

Keep us updated.

Andrew
Posted 2/5/2015 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
erbob. Not good news, but hopefully not bad news either. Lets at least hope they get it sorted this time round.

The very best of luck to you.
Posted 2/5/2015 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Andrew and Casper. I feel that it may be something rather minor since whatever it is was, was apparently missed by the Uro's who did the first procedure. We shall see. At least there is an event (gun show) in that city the day after the procedure, that I will have to check out.
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