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Brachytheraphy + urination problems

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Posted 4/4/2018 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Looking for advice, similar experiences for my dad.

He had brachytheraphy on Feb 22 of this year.
Prior to that he had 40 rounds of external beam radiation.

The seeding went well with minimal immediate side effects EXCEPT his urination has turned terrible. He is up to pee 10+ times a night and during the day can pee better but isn't fully emptying his bladder. He is not a good sleeper to begin w/ and this has made it worse.

I'd like to add that how my dad ever got diagnosed with PC was his urination STOPPED. After having a catheter inserted for several weeks and then learning to self catheter, he was able to wean off and pee again really well. Even throughout radiation his urination did weaken but was tolerable. Now it is not.

His radiation oncology nurse keeps telling him to hang on for a bit, symptoms should get better but he is losing his patience. And because of how this all started with urination problems I feel like whatever the seeding did really irritated or obstructed his ability to urinate. On the flip side, I am unsure of why a few weeks of catherter use prior to treatment, he was able to successfully resume urination on his own.

Will add he was recently diagnosed through urgent care with a UTI. He is on strong antibiotics. His urination has not improved.

Any help? advise? similar experiences?
Posted 4/4/2018 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
I also had brachytherapy and external beam radiation. I did have some short-term urgency issues, but nothing as much as your dad is experiencing. Several years out, I have a reduced stream, but it is easily remedied with a Rapaflo. Can I presume your dad is on Rapaflo or a similar med like Flomax? If so, maybe the doc can switch up the medicine and see if that makes a difference.

Also, while your dad's experience is not common, there is someone else here that is pretty much having the exact same issue (and severity) as your dad. https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=3979487

It sure doesn't sound fun and I do hope it eases with time--it certainly should.
Posted 4/4/2018 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
That is a real risk with brachy boost therapy. They often don't give it to men who are already having urinary difficulties. Alpha blockers (eg, Rapaflo) may help, Aleve too. He should talk to his doctor about sleeping pills to get him through the night over the next few days. (If he takes an alpha blocker or sleeping pills and gets up at night, it is very important to sit up and get up gradually.)If it gets worse, he may have to be catheterized again until it subsides.
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