ADT and SRT Journey Part 4

Skypilot, thanks for asking. Wasn’t sure about posting what seem like routine details, but here goes.
So after two weeks (8 treatments because of a one-day delay and July 4), the SEs are manageable. Stayed up for Hamlet in a park in White Plains on Thursday, drove home 3-1/2 hours yesterday, daughter and husband arrived for the weekend, mowed for 2 hours this morning on my Kubota, and feel OK except for getting tired around 2:30 in the afternoon, which is more Lupron than radiation, the radiation nurse said. Yesterday had some stomach discontent and feared it might the onset of another SE but fine today. Tickets for Barber of Seville in Cooperstown tonight so another late night.
Had a scan on Wednesday and bladder was adequately full (MSKCC protocol is once a week). The techs at Westchester are experienced and knowledgeable, based on their responses to questions I asked while knowing the answers from HW and other sources.
Nice feature of satellite facility instead on NYC is that they are very loose about my getting to the machine at the appointed time. I drink my 20 oz of water an hour before, drive 25 minutes to the facility, check in, go unescorted to the locker room when I think it’s time, and just before scheduled time change into a gown and get to the waiting room. They’ve taken me on time every time. Once I went through a different door, overshot the corridor to radiation in the maze, and ran into my RO, who got me turned around. I like the informality and trust. In NYC, by contrast, you must arrive an hour before treatment and be accompanied, they tell me.
Have had two brief but fine weekly meetings with RO, mainly focussed on SEs that I’m not having but might have later.

Wishing the best to everyone who is starting, in the middle of, or recently finished SRT.

So, my last Lupron shot was in December 2017 and my last Casodex pill was May 29 2018. I'm still having some insomnia and hot flashes, but not quite as bad as when on the pills. The last couple of days my hand pain has come back. Is this normal? Energy level is a lot higher, that's a good thing.
Thanks for extending the thread.
Noggin

trailguy said...
...You get a 6 month shot, 6 months later you begin to recover from that dose and it takes about 6 months after that point to get to your new normal. Some of the side effects may not go away.

Yup.

I started feeling much better at about the six month mark, about two months later my T recovered quite well which I suspect had a lot to do with feeling better. I think it took a full year to get back to the way I think I used to feel .

For those dealing with sleeplessness and hot flashes, ask your RO for an Effexor prescription, after my RO doubled the dose I was finally sleeping well.

I got really tired in the afternoons from the radiation, after the Gy units were reduced I wasn't nearly as tired.

One other thing. I got my PSA results today and again it was < 0.01, keep them coming.

Post Edited (Noggin2u2) : 7/16/2018 2:48:58 PM (GMT-6)

Noggin.. congrats on that psa! My hand pain gets worse starting about 6 at nite sometimes gets so bad I can't sleep now also starting to get it in right shoulder. So far Alleve does a pretty good job of making it bearable.

Larry

Noggin and Skypilot;

My hand pain has been constant since the first Lupron shot in December. It feels like tight rubber bands are around my hands right by the knuckle. Same with my feet. SO far it hasn't interfered with sleep much, but that's probably because it doesn't come and go. Nightly hot flashes on the other hand...

Best of luck guys.

Rob

Good question, Rob. I don't think TA follows the Journey thread, you might want to post it as a new topic.

I don’t think the subject nomogram covers persistent PSA nor have I found one that specifically does. Without the source being discovered, which is problematic, it’s a tough condition.

Zzarth, i personally believe that radiation really takes a toll on the body, This is just my opinion based on what I have seen and observed I keep in contact with quite a few people that were at the Hope Lodge the same time as me, a couple of the women with breast cancer are still 6 months later having side effects from treatment. One of the guys described symptoms like you are experiencing. Then add in Lupron and boy life can get interesting!! I don't know if your able to exercise but if you can do as much as possible I think this helps with the SE's more than anything!

Larry

John what are the exact symptoms your experiencing in your legs?


Larry

Richard, thanks for posting about ksk54 good to hear success stories!


Larry

How are you doing post SRT, Richard?

Glitter sandals retired?

I still have a bit of fatigue, occasional but improving rectal/urinary urgency, and a persistent low grade skin rash. Minor irritants for this journey to be over for me.