Completed SBRT and Doing Great

Hi,

Just wanted to send an update note that I completed my 5 treatment sessions of SBRT on this past Tuesday Jan 02. I am doing well with no pains or SE from the radiation as of Friday, Jan 05.

During the radiation treaments, after the 2nd treatment, I did have some burning while urinating and urgency to urinate. As for as bowel or rectal SE I did not have any except for some minor "soreness" type of pain but my bowel movements have remained normal. Surely hope going forward I do not have radiation SE and now will wait to do my PSA test after 3 months. I am retired so no worries about having to go to work but I do regular excercize of running/weight lifting and was able to keep this up during my treatment. More details below for those that could be interested.

1) My SBRT Treatment
At UTSW in Dallas, Tx. 5 Sessions on Tuesday/Friday from Dec 19 - Jan 02 each 9.0 Gy for total of 45.0 Gy to the Prostate with 3.0 mm margins around the Prostate. I did have the Spaceore Gel Spacer between my Rectum and Prostate and had 3 markers located in my Prostate. The machine used was a Varian Truebeam.

2) Side Effects (SE)
I started taking 1 FlowMax (0.4 mg) per day about 5 days prior to my first treatment. I had no SE after my first treatment. After my second treatment I had burning in my urethra while urinating and increased frequency and urgency and some "soreness" in my rectum area. Any gas caused pain and urgency to urinate. I made some adjustments to my diet to reduce gas. I was very concerned that these SE would worsen progressively with the next 3 treatments. After my third treatment I had meeting with RO and he advised my to double my Flowmax to 2 (0.4 mg) per day and he suggested taking pyridium (AZO) for the burning pain. Also, my RO advised me to take steroid (4 mg Dexamethasone) only on the day of the treatment. I took the advice of the RO except I did not use the AZO (pyridium) and instead began taking Aleve ( 1- 220 mg every 12 hours ). The SE were lower after my fourth and fifth treatments and have now cleared up as of Jan 05. Currently I am still taking the Aleve and Flowmax but expect to reduce these and discontinue within the next 1 - 2 weeks as long as my SE do not come back.

Best wishes as the new year progresses.

Busman: Welcome to the club. I am just 10 days ahead of you. May you be well.
I have had some urinary issues, burning and slow flow. Made tolerable using .8mg Flowmax and Phenazopyridine. I did have some minor to moderate BPH symptoms pre SBRT so it is normal for what I am experiencing now.
I made the right choice for me and I hope you feel the same for yourself.

I look forward to hearing how you are doing as we move towards that first PSA test.

Roger