I had my EBRT consultation yesterday where the prostate and pelvis area will be treated for 5 weeks at a very low does of radiation. I go in Monday for CAT scan. I asked the doctor how long between EBRT and brachy and he said 2 to 3 weeks. Now my questions are, does it matter how long one waits? I know that I have to wait based on radiation toxicity, but what about SE's. Lets say I have side effects from the EBRT isn't it best to start brachy after those have gone away which would lead me to believe that it would be longer than 3 weeks?
Can anyone write about their wait times between the two where you did ebrt followed by ldr brachy?
Thanks much!

RT - in all forms for PC is a slow road - both to lower PSA and to develop side effects. Months, years, that time scale. Days, weeks isn't anything in the world of radiation. Waiting a few weeks (even a couple of months) shouldn't effect either the effectiveness of treatment or increase SEs.

It's fine, do something fun while your waiting.

Andrew

Stan, he didn't list his prostate size. You are referring to the PHI test score, which is 55.35. Since his PSA was between 2-10 the PHI score indicates a 50% probability of cancer being present. It is used to help determine when a biopsy should be performed.

ldog, different clinics will use different time frames. One large clinic here in Atlanta does the seeds early and then applies the EBRT when the seeds are first in claiming a better cancer killing effect. Many clinics use a sequential method like your doctor is suggesting and others have mentioned. I used HDRBT and had two procedures done when I was about two thirds of the way through my 25 fractions of IMRT. I think I had 7 IMRT fractions after the HDRBT procedures. I just spoke to a friend on Monday that is using the combined approach. He started external beam that day (25 fractions) and will have the seeds implanted the week after the external beam is completed.

Your doctor's protocol looks very normal and should work very well for you as it has for hundreds of thousands men before you.

ldog...I had the combo treatment (HDR brachy) and I have had a decreased urine flow afterwards--maybe 70% of what it used to be. In my case, I take a Rapaflo every 4-5 days (basically whenever it starts to bug me) and all is fine.

I'm through 9/15 external beam fractions. I will do HDR 2-4 weeks after depending on scheduling.

I started Casodex 20 days ago. EBRT in 10 days to treat prostate bed/pelvis area at a small dose of gray, max 28 days. They will have the treatment plan ready in one week. After that, brachy anywhere from 2 weeks to a month after ebrt depending on how the se's are from the ebrt. I'm not rushing into Brachy if my body tells me not to.

I hear ya, seems like he just wants to complain which in fine, but some if not most are here to try and help.

Hi Kit, how long are you still in Atlanta? I am back in town on Wednesday and would love to catch-up with you.

Good to hear Dan is improving.

Jack

Hello everyone
Diagnosed in June after going 6 months with symptoms of what I thought was benign enlarged prostate.
What a surprise when my pcp did a psa and came back 32. Then biopsy was 12/12 cancer positive cores and gleasson 9.
Started on Lupron and casodex then after 3 weeks started External beam radiation. Have finished 14 of 25 treatments. Will have low dose brachytherapy a week after I finish external therapy.
Am receiving treatments at Winthrop Rockerfellow Cancer Insituite in Little Rock at UAMS.
I want to hit this cancer with all the big guns while it is still contained or at least while the micro metastatic cells are too low to detect.
Has anyone found any evidence of following up with a round of chemo just in case there are some micro metastatic cells still lurching around undected

Danho, how's the radiation treatments going for you and what amount are you receiving? I start mine today.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. Good luck with the remaining treatments.

I will tell u what ....you want to know I will tell you ...radiation to prostate is radiation to pelvis ,,same area ...I slowly watched myself get ruined ....1 month passed EBR still leaking not regular taking miralsx ...when I pee and can’t go I crap my pants ...ptobsbly hsve proctitus which can’t be fixed ,,up all night peeing from brachytherapy they r telling me ....I my life is straight up ****ed now ...how’s that ...msyhsve to start Cathing myself st night lovely huh...

Post Edited (Stan1961) : 8/29/2018 2:29:33 PM (GMT-6)

Danho,

I'm one of the guys Michael_T mentioned. Absolutely, if you have any questions, I'm always happy to talk.

- Bill