I'm going to call this a success (April test results)

As I said in the title, I'm going to consider my April PSA a success. For reminders, I was diagnosed last July with favorable intermediate risk PCa, 3 cores G6, 5% or less involvement and 1 core G3+4, 15% involvement. I chose CyberKnife SBRT, finishing it the day before Thanksgiving, 2016.

PSA progression is:
At diagnosis: 5.69
1 month post treatment 4.75
4 months post treatment (April) 3.03

I'm not at all discouraged by the slow decline, as I remember TA posting (or sending me) a link to a study that found that radiation patients who demonstrated slow, gradual PSA declines fared better over the long-term in disease progression measures.

While I'm quite pleased with the apparent disease control results, I am still struggling with some unpleasant after-effects of the radiation. I have had IBS for years prior to treatment, and I believe that the radiation has aggravated this condition. Immediately after treatment I had a month or so of very uncomfortable radiation proctitis. That resolved. . . for a while. I now have what I think is radiation enteritis, as well as a recurrence of the proctitis. I see my RO next week and will discuss, probably going to see a gastro doc for help with it.

Don't get me wrong - I'd much rather deal with this now than have had to deal with unnecessary progression of the cancer in the future. I'm also not questioning my choice of radiation therapy as that choice was made with both eyes open, being well aware of my surgical/medical history and the elevated risks I would have faced in surgery (long-term heart patient, open-heart surgery, pacemaker, etc.).

I'm still a happy camper, although not always the most comfortable one.

My urinary urgency peaked near the end of my 44 session traditional IGRT series in 2013. In a couple of months it got much better, but it took a couple of years to really settle back to baseline. These radiation irritation effects can take time to resolve.

Have you asked your RO about it? Mine was quite keen to help if there were any side effects at the time.

Hey Paxton....good news for sure .....just want a down down down direction........I too have been many years with the IBS, but strangely enough , I`ve had no post radiation problems. I`m better than ever on all fronts, except that 6 month Lupron shot last June seems to STILL be a factor. I go for my 1st -4 month PSA today. Sure hope for a good number without the help of the Lupron. Keep the faith.....and you seem to be so positive ...so important for all of us . Life is way too short.....David

My proctologist gave me a scrip for Canasa (mesalamine suppositories), but I don't think I ever used it because the radiation proctitis cleared up quickly after that. Mesalamine is a specific anti-inflammatory for enteric tissue. They make it as a douche and as pills too. The pills might be more useful if the upper bowel is inflamed. Probiotics may be very helpful.

Good for you, Paxton! sounds like good progress!

I had radiation proctitis that lasted a few weeks but later became slight rectal bleeding. Very slight bleeding where I would see small amounts of blood on my stool and sometimes on the wipes. This did not cause any changes in my hemoglobin or hematocrit but was still concerning to me. After 3 years, it disappeared.

I would recommend using wipes and Desitin ointment for the proctitis(I administered with a Q-tip). The mesalamine that TA recommended is excellent if your discomfort is higher up the colon.
I think your symptoms will get better soon. Make sure you do not get constipated and strain during BM's. That would aggravate your situation.

thanks
Paul

Great news Paxton,down is good.Its a waiting game for all of us and we all will get that PSA anxiety when the next draw is around the corner.I had a small bounce from 2.40 to 2.45 so my anxiety level is already elevated come June.You will be fine.SemperFi,John