My husband was diagnosed in April. PSA 177, biopsy most were Gleason 8 one Gleason 9 (5+4). CT/PET showed 2 places of cancer in his spine as well. With HT and casadex his PSA now is looking good, .08 last week. Went to the Onocologist today and he wants him to do spot radiation on the two places on his spine and his prostate. In y'alls experience, what are the real side effects of 8 weeks of radiation? Thanks
Hello and welcome to HW, Debbie.
Sorry to hear about your husband's cancer. You will find many other women here that speak for their husbands. What surprised me, is that spot radiation for mets doesn't usually last 8 weeks. 8 weeks is more in line with full radiation treatment.
The most common side effects are fatigue that comes in gradually for most men, some will have urinary urgency, though if they are only hitting the mets, that might not be the case. Nausea is a rarer side effect.
I hope he does well. I have been through major radiation twice in the past 12 years, the most recent was for my prostate cancer almost 3 years ago. I tell people that radiation, especially for 7-8 weeks is an endurance contest, best to worry about one treatment day at the time. Eventually you make it to the finish line.
Good luck to both of you, and please keep us posted on how he does with it, or if you have any other questions.
David in S.C>
Age: 60, 56 at PC dx, PSA 16.3
3rd Biopsy: 9/8 7 of 7 Positive, 40-90%, 4+3
open RP: 11/8, Catheter in 63 days
Path Rpt: 3+4, pT2c, 42g, 20% tumor, 1 pos margin
Incont & ED: None
Surgery Failed, recurrence within 9 months
Salvage Radiation 10/9-11/9, SRT failed within 9 months, PSA still rising
Spent total of 1 ½ years on 21 catheters, Ileal Conduit Surgery 9/10,
7 other PC-related surgeries
Member of Prostate Cancer & Chronic Pain HW Communities Since 10/2008
“I live in the weak and the wounded” – Session 9
Sorry to hear about your husband's cancer. You will find many other women here that speak for their husbands. What surprised me, is that spot radiation for mets doesn't usually last 8 weeks. 8 weeks is more in line with full radiation treatment.
The most common side effects are fatigue that comes in gradually for most men, some will have urinary urgency, though if they are only hitting the mets, that might not be the case. Nausea is a rarer side effect.
I hope he does well. I have been through major radiation twice in the past 12 years, the most recent was for my prostate cancer almost 3 years ago. I tell people that radiation, especially for 7-8 weeks is an endurance contest, best to worry about one treatment day at the time. Eventually you make it to the finish line.
Good luck to both of you, and please keep us posted on how he does with it, or if you have any other questions.
David in S.C>
Age: 60, 56 at PC dx, PSA 16.3
3rd Biopsy: 9/8 7 of 7 Positive, 40-90%, 4+3
open RP: 11/8, Catheter in 63 days
Path Rpt: 3+4, pT2c, 42g, 20% tumor, 1 pos margin
Incont & ED: None
Surgery Failed, recurrence within 9 months
Salvage Radiation 10/9-11/9, SRT failed within 9 months, PSA still rising
Spent total of 1 ½ years on 21 catheters, Ileal Conduit Surgery 9/10,
7 other PC-related surgeries
Member of Prostate Cancer & Chronic Pain HW Communities Since 10/2008
“I live in the weak and the wounded” – Session 9
I just finished 6 weeks of PSA bed SRT. 2 more to go.
Honestly, must admit that it is no big deal. Only side effect I can really say I have is a little burning when I pee. May have a little fatigue, but I work every day, doing fairly rigorous work, so a liitle nap when I get home seems normal.
Continence remains good, ED unchanged.
Big question remains what PSA will do.
Good luck to you guys.
Goodlife
Honestly, must admit that it is no big deal. Only side effect I can really say I have is a little burning when I pee. May have a little fatigue, but I work every day, doing fairly rigorous work, so a liitle nap when I get home seems normal.
Continence remains good, ED unchanged.
Big question remains what PSA will do.
Good luck to you guys.
Goodlife
Age 58, PSA 4.47 Biopsy - 2/12 cores , Gleason 4 + 5 = 9 Da Vinci, Cleve.Cl 4/14/09 pT3a NO MX,
Neg Margins, PSA 6 wk,<.03, 3 mo. <.01 (dif lab),
mo. <.03 , 6 mo. <.01, No pads, 1/1/10, 9 mo. < .01, 1 year .01, 15 mo. <.01, 18 mo. .01, 21 mo. .02, 24 mo. .03, 27 mo. .02 , 30 mo .02, 33 mo .04, 36 mo. .06. 37 mo. .06
SRT begun 6/14/12
It might not be spot radiation, it is going to be 8 weeks, 5 days a week. I meant that they are going to radiate just those 3 places, sorry, I didn't mean to mislead. I've only really learned about prostate cancer since April, so may have the terminology wrong. Thanks. He hasn't had any real side effects from the HT other than ED, but that has been a problem for awhile. And, for y'alls info, I'm perfectly fine without the sex. I'd much rather have my husband, my best friend, than the sex. I'm sure most of y'alls wives feel the same. (my two cents)
That makes more sense, that he is getting some kind of full radiation, especially with his diagnosis. And I am sure most if not all the wives here feel the same way on the sex part. The HT can cause fatigue too, so that added with the radiation, could be a problem later own, but for many men, it fades after in the weeks after the treatments end. Does you husband still work, or will have to work during radiation?
david
Age: 60, 56 at PC dx, PSA 16.3
3rd Biopsy: 9/8 7 of 7 Positive, 40-90%, 4+3
open RP: 11/8, Catheter in 63 days
Path Rpt: 3+4, pT2c, 42g, 20% tumor, 1 pos margin
Incont & ED: None
Surgery Failed, recurrence within 9 months
Salvage Radiation 10/9-11/9, SRT failed within 9 months, PSA still rising
Spent total of 1 ½ years on 21 catheters, Ileal Conduit Surgery 9/10,
7 other PC-related surgeries
Member of Prostate Cancer & Chronic Pain HW Communities Since 10/2008
“I live in the weak and the wounded” – Session 9
david
Age: 60, 56 at PC dx, PSA 16.3
3rd Biopsy: 9/8 7 of 7 Positive, 40-90%, 4+3
open RP: 11/8, Catheter in 63 days
Path Rpt: 3+4, pT2c, 42g, 20% tumor, 1 pos margin
Incont & ED: None
Surgery Failed, recurrence within 9 months
Salvage Radiation 10/9-11/9, SRT failed within 9 months, PSA still rising
Spent total of 1 ½ years on 21 catheters, Ileal Conduit Surgery 9/10,
7 other PC-related surgeries
Member of Prostate Cancer & Chronic Pain HW Communities Since 10/2008
“I live in the weak and the wounded” – Session 9
I've had both the 8 week version and seperate spot radiation. Wasn't bad at all for me on both accounts.
11/09 Dx at Age 44 -------------- 4.03
12/09 DaVinci Surgery
1/10 T3b, G9 --------------------- <.05
2/10 Adj. Radiation -------------- <.05
3/11 PSA Rise/Scans/Spot ------- .09
on Pelvic Bone
4/11 HT / XGEVA ------------------ .06
5/11 Spot Radiation -------------- <.05
12/11 - 6/12 ------------ <.01
11/09 Dx at Age 44 -------------- 4.03
12/09 DaVinci Surgery
1/10 T3b, G9 --------------------- <.05
2/10 Adj. Radiation -------------- <.05
3/11 PSA Rise/Scans/Spot ------- .09
on Pelvic Bone
4/11 HT / XGEVA ------------------ .06
5/11 Spot Radiation -------------- <.05
12/11 - 6/12 ------------ <.01
We both still work full time. He's 61. He is not planning on taking any time off. Thanks for the replies.
I only had six weeks of radiation but the worst of the symptoms was fatigue and it set my hemorrhoids off. There was some urgency issues too. The biggest immediate effect was having to get myself to the clinic every day - got to be a bit of an endurance test by the end. It was only with the support of my wife that I got all the way to the end of that ordeal.
The long term effects are harder to gauge but there will be some. The radiation hasn't caused much ED. The fatigue and emotional roll coaster this PC sent me on was one thing that made sex more difficult and our relationship in general more one sided as in my wife being more of a care taker and me less of partner during my treatments. But now that I am six months out life is in better balance and I am back to taking the trash out.
y'all will do just fine.
Andrew
I'll be in the shop.
Age 52
PSA 4.2 10/11, 1.9 6/12
GS 3+4
Stage T1C
2 out of 14 cores positive
Treatment IGRT - 2/2012
My PC blog
The long term effects are harder to gauge but there will be some. The radiation hasn't caused much ED. The fatigue and emotional roll coaster this PC sent me on was one thing that made sex more difficult and our relationship in general more one sided as in my wife being more of a care taker and me less of partner during my treatments. But now that I am six months out life is in better balance and I am back to taking the trash out.
y'all will do just fine.
Andrew
I'll be in the shop.
Age 52
PSA 4.2 10/11, 1.9 6/12
GS 3+4
Stage T1C
2 out of 14 cores positive
Treatment IGRT - 2/2012
My PC blog
Hey, I never got out of taking out the trash ! I think I screwed up.
DebbieMH,
My experience was much like the others: some urgency, hemorrhoids (get some wet wipes), weariness of the early morning routine. (I scheduled my sessions very early) I exercised all the way through -- helped with the fatigue I think. I worked a full schedule. No one has mentioned .. drum roll .. the water. Most of us were required to have a full bladder for each session. I would down my water before I left the house and hope they were running on time. I was so glad to be done with running to the bathroom after my sessions. A few times I just picked up my shoes, hustled down the hall, and put them on in the bathroom when I had relieved myself. Good luck.
SC
Age 52; dx at 50, PSA 54.9
open RP, 2010; removed 14 lymph nodes
Pathology report: T3bN0MX, SVI, neg margin, Gleason 9
HT: ADT2, 36 months: 16 months left
Finished Adjuvant RT, 75.6 Gy, 9/11
Finished Adjuvant Taxotere (6 x 60 mg/m2), 6/12
Latest PSA <0.03, T=11
Age 52; dx at 50, PSA 54.9
open RP, 2010; removed 14 lymph nodes
Pathology report: T3bN0MX, SVI, neg margin, Gleason 9
HT: ADT2, 36 months: 16 months left
Finished Adjuvant RT, 75.6 Gy, 9/11
Finished Adjuvant Taxotere (6 x 60 mg/m2), 6/12
Latest PSA <0.03, T=11
Southern Comfort said...
DebbieMH,
No one has mentioned .. drum roll .. the water. Most of us were required to have a full bladder for each session.
SC
DebbieMH,
No one has mentioned .. drum roll .. the water. Most of us were required to have a full bladder for each session.
SC
I successfully wiped that from my memory but yes it was on the joys of the daily grind. First figuring how much water was required. Then when to drink it. Then hope everything went on time. They first told me to drink 32 oz but man I couldn't hold that much for very long. In the end I was doing just 16 oz about an hour before treatment. The RO said that for okay for me.
The other big problem was that there was this jigsaw puzzle in the waiting room and each day we guys would put in a few pieces. After two weeks of working on it we discovered that five or six pieces were missing. Drove us crazy. :)
I'll be in the shop.
Age 52
PSA 4.2 10/11, 1.9 6/12
GS 3+4
Stage T1C
2 out of 14 cores positive
Treatment IGRT - 2/2012
My PC blog
Thanks everyone. Sounds like it will be a grind, but not that bad. I appreciate the insights, again thanks.
The water is a tough part. Especially when the machine has a problem and you have to wait, teeth gritted and eyes watering. By the way, I'm half way through 34 treatment. First play of the second half was today.
Turner 2 = George
Age 56
PSA 9/2011: 8.5
DRE: nodule on left side of prostate
Biopsy: 5 of 12 cores positive
Gleason score: 4+5
Pre Op CT Scan & Bone Scan clean
RRP: 1/27/2012
Post Op Pathology: all margins clean, Gleason Score-4+5, Seminal Vesicles Involved T3a
Adjuvant radiation started 7/2/12
PSA
3/15/12-<0.1
5/2/12 <0.03
Turner 2 = George
Age 56
PSA 9/2011: 8.5
DRE: nodule on left side of prostate
Biopsy: 5 of 12 cores positive
Gleason score: 4+5
Pre Op CT Scan & Bone Scan clean
RRP: 1/27/2012
Post Op Pathology: all margins clean, Gleason Score-4+5, Seminal Vesicles Involved T3a
Adjuvant radiation started 7/2/12
PSA
3/15/12-<0.1
5/2/12 <0.03
DebbieMH, all of us wives and partners agree with you when it comes to sex. Just going through all of this together and being close in other ways fulfills my desire. I have him here - with me - where he belongs. We haven't totally given up but there are other things to deal with, so the ED is on the back burner. I wish your husband best wishes as he battles the monster than PCa is!
Much blessings,
Aimzee
Husband Ron, age 63
4/1/10 PSA 5.5 Prostate size = 50 grams
Biopsy on 4/20/10 12 samples. Adenocarcinoma: 3 positive cores on right side - No Perineural Invasion Gleason 6 (3+3) Bone Scan/CT Negative 8/18/10 - Da Vinci Prostatectomy. Post Op: Gleason 7 (3+4) Negative surgical margins & lymph nodes. Both nerve bundles spared. ED a problem /No incontinence. Testicular pain. 10/11 PSA 0.01
Husband Ron, age 63
4/1/10 PSA 5.5 Prostate size = 50 grams
Biopsy on 4/20/10 12 samples. Adenocarcinoma: 3 positive cores on right side - No Perineural Invasion Gleason 6 (3+3) Bone Scan/CT Negative 8/18/10 - Da Vinci Prostatectomy. Post Op: Gleason 7 (3+4) Negative surgical margins & lymph nodes. Both nerve bundles spared. ED a problem /No incontinence. Testicular pain. 10/11 PSA 0.01
Thanks for the well wishes! It has been a challenge so far, I'm sure it has for everyone here. He is getting his CT scan now and his "marks" to start the radiation in about a week or so. Guess we are tied down for the rest of the summer and part of the fall, but that's ok. After the radiation is complete, we will take some time off.