Hey, all...

DaVinci two years ago and salvage IMRT last spring after recurrence. Since around Christmas I have been having intermittent rectal bleeding with bloody stools and, once in a while, passing a good amount of blood into the bowl. Also have had some blood in the urine with periodic passing of large clots. I was aware of these possible SEs from the radiation.

Saw my digestive specialist and went in for a colonoscopy yesterday morning just to check things out further. I opted for no sedative (should have gotten a very low dose, btw, to relax a bit) and watched the whole thing on the screen while the doc was doing the procedure. Yes, I'm a science geek from a medical family so I have an interest. This is also the second time I've done the colo and stayed awake for it.

Anyhow, the colon looked really good as it did two years ago. No tumors, polyps or any other issues so that was good news on that front. However, there was quite a bit of traumatized tissue in the rectal canal. Numerous spots were oozing blood with some of them fairly good-sized. Most were of the small to medium variety. Additionally, while the main part of the colon was of a standard healthy flesh-tone color, the rectal area was quite red with irritation.

So, the doc gave me the option while we were looking at stuff - go ahead and hit the major spots with the laser or get a script for suppositories that would try to heal things up. Decided to go ahead and get some laser cauterization while in the neighborhood and it was pretty cool to watch that taking place in real time. Had a bit of a twinge on a few of the zaps but not uncomfortable overall. Probably lasered about a dozen spots altogether. They even gave me the pictorial report when done. Will see how things progress and maybe have to get the suppositories anyhow but we're hoping there will be improvement.

I mention this just to underscore that there really is a fair amount of trauma from radiation, no matter how good the technology or proficient the RO and team. It's one thing to talk about it and even know that it is there, but it's another to actually see the damage up close and personal. And, if that was the condition of the rectum, it's possible that the bladder is in similar shape and there's no telling what kind of nerve damage could have also taken place. My ED was not all that bad after surgery but really took a progressive dive after radiation so I know my "spared" nerves at surgery were not all that spared in radiation.

So, that was today's science adventure. Even with all the aftermath, I'm grateful the PCa has been eradicated as far as we can tell and that life continues. Looking forward to my next PSA and Uro visit at the end of the month. May even ask the Uro about scoping my bladder to see how it looks on the inside.

..

I had a fair amount of radiation -- seeds and IGRT -- and a colonoscopy about a year after showed no damaged tissue or polyps.  the doctor said he would see me again in 10 years.  I did have a bout of radiation cystitis about a year ago that lasted several months but it has cleared up.

it was explained to me when I chose my primary treatment that there is a greater chance of radiation damage after the prostate (target) has been removed.

you are a lot tougher than me to go through the colonoscopy and zapping without meds.  I would require heavy sedation !

ed

 

John,
Good for you for doing it awake. I really thought about asking for that when I had my done last year. But, I chickened out and took a nap.
SC

I did one colonoscopy partly awake, once. After that I asked for the maximum legal dose of whatever they were handing out.

My last colonoscopy was 6 six months after beam radiation. The only problem was that my hemorrhoids were aggravated but that was the worst of it. The doc said to come back in ten years and they'll check again. I get bleeding from time to time and the hemorrhoid problems but wipes and suppositories keep it under control.

Andrew