Tomorrow I go for HDR monotherapy. I have read some of the threads , but wonder about why several have had to have more than one treatment. I am scheduled for only one tomorrow and two the following day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). I am not scheduled to go back again for any further treatment. Granted my PCa was caught very early stages. Gleason score of 3+3, with 5 out of 12 samples positive. They also sent the samples for genomic testing and the score came back as 8 on a score of between 1 and 67. Has anyone else only had the one time treatment?

Thanks Ed. I will keep posting post HDR.

You are receiving the normal HDR Brachy treatment with it being done in two consecutive days. There are two schools of technique that deliver HDR Brachy.

One school delivers the HDR first one day (one time) then waits one week or so and then delivers the second round of HDR within a day (one time--or sometimes two).

The second treatment methodology (such as the one you will receive --and the one I received) is having the HDR treatment delivered over two consecutive days---- one treatments on day one, two treatments on day two. Both methodologies, from what I have learned deliver the same amount of radiation--approx. 38.5 grays. This methodology arose from training at MSK (NYC) and now in Chicago also while methodology #1 is pursued by the expert teams in LA and Detroit.

There are upsides and not so upsides for both treatment methodologies but ultimately you are getting zapped with the same amount of radiation directly into the prostate. With a GL6 --5/12 (exactly my profile)... HDR should do the trick and kick the Sh#@ out of that PC. I am 8 weeks out (had it done in Chicago) and am doing well with few --not none-- but few SEs. Best of luck and pleased to answer any other questions.--Make sure they give you the pain pump.... always fun.

BenSam

I had two sessions, two weeks apart.

As I've documented, the first one was worse than the second. If I would've had to lay there with that catheter in my d$&k for 24 hours I probably would've killed somebody. My second session was a piece of cake. I think they adjusted the anesthesia. Though I semed to be more awake in the second one. Maybe the put something to more deaden my lower area.

Anyway, it's not that bad.

More than four years ago I had two HDR treatments one week apart. Neither presented any problems or inconvenience. I liked this method as I was very happy to sleep in my own bed rather than the hospital bed.

Historically, the traditional method developed by Dr. Jeffrey Demanes (UCLA Medical Center) was the overnight stay with HDR fractions on consecutive days. Some years late Dr. Alvarez Martinez in Detroit started using the method of two separate days with no hospital stay. As I understand they both work and each has pros and cons......kind of "six of one and a half dozen of the other".

Best wishes and I am sure you will do very well.