Starting Radiation Soon

I'm 67 with 8 core positive G6 with one core upon second opinion rated G7
I Will begin a 9 week course of radiation therapy at 5 day's a week. My treatment will be complicated by my use of testosterone replacement. My oncologist is aware and told me the danger of increased risk for side effects. I will do my best to resist taking injections during treatment but may end up doing so. I'll take half my usual amount if I do get injections. I know this is risky but I stopped 52 day's and my T went to 42 as I do not make testosterone naturally. By 62 day's I could not bear up to the emotional strain.
I think the doctor choose the longer course to help mitigate my testosterone use.
PSA was 4.2 which is my normal
My hope is to hear from you who have had this treatment and what to expect. ED is not a big concern as I've had it over 10 years already. Loose stool is not too worrisome as I'm usually bound due to using buprenorphine for pain.
My main worry is not being able to urinate. Leakage I can deal with. Very afraid that one can maybe get so backed up that it can kill.
I also fear having to wesr a lifelong catheter.
Any thoughts are welcome
Thank you

Glen

Glen, to second CYCLONE, have faith and confidence in your treatment team. Let them work for you! Each day will bring you closer to putting PCa in the rearview mirror. T management should become easier at that point, too.

Wishing you all the best,

Djin

Post Edited (DjinTonic) : 11/9/2020 12:49:31 PM (GMT-7)

I finished 45 IGRT (Tomotherapy) treatments on August 17th. Major - though not overly bad - side effect was fatigue. My treatment was at Monmouth Medical Center in West Long Branch, NJ - - Dr. Sang E. Sim. No hormones taken.

Going in, my PSA was 8.4 and Gleason of 3+4=7. I am 71 y/o, diabetic and have high blood pressure. Only med I took was Flomax - - and it worked as advertised.

Each session took a total of less than 15 minutes. The techs were World Class. I saw Dr. Sim each Tuesday.

You can go this, Glen.

And you will!!!

NJ Fred

Glen, I would question your doctor who claims that there is increased risk of side effects among patients using TRT during radiation. NONE of my consultations, direct (where I was present) and indirect (those conducted by my doctors with other doctors on my behalf) EVER raised that as a possibility. I’d like to know his/her source. As I have noted before, I have had no issues with my use of TRT before, during and after radiation treatment. All of my side effects were either normal ones (some burning on urination, urgency, etc.) or related to my long-term IBS (intestinal cramping, radiation proctitis, etc.).

I question any increased incidence of side effects related to TRT because, to quote Dr. Abraham Morgentaler (Saturation Theory, re: T and PCa), “Your body cannot tell the difference between the T it might have made internally and that which you bought at the pharmacy.” As long as you keep your T within the normal range, you shouldn’t have any problems. (BTW, the lab my Uro uses states that its normal range is 300-1100.)

Thank You Paxton
I am in agreement with you simply because I know that I'll not be able to stay off for long and yes the paradigm is changing albeit slowly. I think but do not know 100% that TRT may increase prostate size.
I will therefore use a modicum of caution and reduce my dose and maybe stretch the injection time period to closer to 17-20 days (also cheaper because I'm charged $83 per injection and I'm on fixed income)
As I've said before, I dread the emotional side effects of low T and am not taking it for body building or the like. I can do okay on half the 400mg dose.
I must say I am very pleased that you see things this way. My urologist and to some extent the oncological radiologist said negative things about the newer studies on testosterone (I did not engage in back and forth as I'm not good at recalling details of studies Etc.)

Back on my PC so I can write easier. Those cellphone's are a great gadget (encylopedia in one's pocket) but typing is quite the chore between needing reading glasses and my big fingers striking the keys.

Anyway, I'm off to the race's! The office called and scheduled me for Wednesday the 18th at 1pm for the CT Scan. I'm no go NPO after midnight, do an enema in the morning and then on the way to the clinic, drink 32 ounces of water to have a full bladder.
I'm "borrowing" a "relaxant" from a friend because with my claustrophobia, even Ct scans are a bit of a horror. I failed the first one my urologist ordered then he sent me a second time with a script for "Lorazapam" also known as Ativan. I felt a wee bit "high" but that was a side benefit to the fact that the CT scan went very well and I could have even done another. I broached the subject with the RO but he did not seem to want to order a pill for me. I did not want to argue and be considered a "drug seeker" so I did not go any further.
I suppose if he did prescribe one I'd have to drag my wife up to the clinic with me for my "safety" Which I think is pretty silly as I'm a cab ride from home but will most likely take the Broadway bus.

The treatment so they say, will begin a couple of weeks after.
A side note: Two days this past week I had a little blood in my urine. This however is not uncommon as I used to get UTI's quite often and when they were bad, I'd bleed quite a bit (also consider I'm on Xaralto a blood thinner) It has cleared up.

lastly, I want to express my gratitude to everyone here. I have good friends and my wife (well she's a friend as well lol) to talk to in general and extended family but you all have been or or going through the same thing and I feel a deep kindred spirit. I talk about this forum often with my wife and explain to her how much it has not only informed me, but has offered hope and encouragement.

Glen Heinsohn Manhattan and Wappingers Falls New York

Oh BTW, I am reading the "Tempflightrestriction" item right now. Good information

G

Thanks to Djin tonic, NJ Fred and Tudpac as well. Not sure if I acknowledged your best wish's

Glen

Thank you MG

Glad you made it through

Glen

I had 40 sessions of IMRT/IGRT (1.8 grays each) five years ago and had zero problems during and after the radiotherapy. I didn't have to ED, gastrointestinal or urinary problems at all. During the entire treatment I would get up at 4:30 go to work, and then leave work at 3:00 and stop on the way home for my treatments. For me it was a none event. During my exit exam with the RO, I honestly asked him if I really did receive the radiation.

As for fatigue, if I did have fatigue I really wasn't aware of it.

Nick

theswan
you mean..when the "Balls" get rolling! lol

Concerning the fatigue, my RO said that she notices those who report fatigue seem to have nothing they must attend to. She may right - I worked all through my RT with no noticeable fatigue.

I’ll second the notion that those who had the most to do seemed to feel the least fatigue. True, I had SBRT, but I did manage to go to work every day, then to treatment, then to the gym after. I did not alter my workout routine in the least. Yes, I did feel tired, but not at all the profound fatigue that others have noted. I am sure it is an individual thing, but I may have just been too busy to notice it. . .

Thanks Paxton and F1 Drifter

On cellphone

Glen