Radiation treatments

I issues during radiation treatments. However two years later I have cystitis and Proctitis I’ve been to ER due to bladder bleeding and developed clots where I can’t urinate. Leave ER with a catheter and a ER bill. Have been scoped twice, no growths just irritated bladder from radiation. Proctitis seems t be improving, slowly.

To me the procedure was no more than a 10 minute x ray 45 times. I was taking casodex and lupron. This was in March 2018. After a few weeks I experienced low urine flow, constipation and an angry, itchy anus. Nice huh? Occasional blood in the stool, still to this day. 2 er visits for kidney stones 2018 and 2019. Still have occasional blood in the urine. Sex drive is 99.9% gone. I’ll keep .% because I still know a pretty woman when I see one. Although nice landscaping or a cool car are more likely to get my attention. I was ‘high risk’ with Gleasons in the 7’s, 8’s and 9’s. I stopped lupron in early 2019 cuz I thought I was losing my mind. 12/19 my psa jumped from 0.1 to 32 with metastasis to a rib bone. Back on Lupron injections and Zytiga pills. PSA went down to 2 but is now at 8. So they ordered a bone scan and a pet scan. Bones were ok but a lymph node between the lungs lit up so they biopsied and it’s positive for prostate cancer. They switched from Zytiga to Xtandi pills but chemo is right around the corner. So here I sit, 63 years old, stage 4 prostate cancer met. to bone and lymph nodes. I’d be surprised if I see my 65th birthday. My hope lies in clinical trials. I also have leukemia, dx’d in 2003, started a trial in 2005, got so sick they took me off it after 3 of 6treatments of chemo but it worked! I’ve been in remission since 2008. Then pc came along.
Ed

The actual radiation sessions are more about timing on when your bladder is full and your rectum empty of everything especially gas. On the table you feel nothing. It is only 5 to 7 minutes. Immediately go for a pee. If you regularly exercise and walk you should not have any real side effects. Some people feel fatigue. I didn't have any fatigue. In fact I drove 50 miles in the most horrendous traffic 5 days a week during the RT. Effects start after 1 or more years. You will get some burning and maybe blood while urinating. It depends on how well the radiation protocols are followed and the quality of the radiation team. I still have some buring sensation while urinating 3 years after RT. You will have some rectal bleeding and maybe from piles. However, if RT is done properly then it should be mild and maybe needs no medical attention. I cannot repeat often enough that it is entirely on the skill of the radiologist and the team. If you have ADT in the case of intermediate and high riskPCa that is more troublesome than the RT.

Hi . I'm assuming from your description that you are having external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). There are variations on this and if you would like to share any additional information that would be fine and might help men chime in if it matches their specific treatment. This article from our editorial team gives an overview of the various forms of radiation therapy and discusses potential side effects: https://prostatecancer.net/treatment/radiation-therapy. I can tell you that a few years ago my father-in-law had a combination of traditional EBRT and Cyberknife. He also had androgen deprivation therapy. To this point his results have been very good, with no sign of cancer and quite a good recovery. I want to note that, while it is good to get feedback and gather information, everyone's experience is different and the individual circumstances, overall health, and of course how the treatment goes all play a role in the outcome. Wishing you the best. Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)