Side effects after Hormone & Radiotherapy after 18 months

Hello Poldee 

A warm welcome to the Online Community although I am so sorry to find you joining us. I am Brian one of the Community Champions here on the Community - I am also 4.5 years into my personal prostate cancer journey. (You can read this by clicking on my name or avatar).

The Community is divided up into cancer specific groups and I would advise you to join us on the Prostate Group - here's the link you need:

Prostate cancer forum 

Once you click on the link I have provided and the page opens up, click on "join" on the black banner at the bottom of the page. Once you have joined the group, why not introduce yourself in the "New Here - Say Hello" section. You can copy and paste or repost your post above. I can assure you of plenty of help and advice.

I will look out for your post on the group and will reply in full there.

If you do need any help in navigating the Community please do get back to me.

Best wishes - Brian.

10 October 2026

A couple of months passed since my previous post. Breast tenderness seems to have gone, but testicles or perineum aching a little more now. We are putting this down to his testosterone coming back.
Recently he's had a couple of erections, the last time apparently a proper one when he woke; that was about a couple of weeks ago.

He still won't go for check-ups or see his MD for reasons said earlier.
He's still getting the fear, stress, anxiety and worry, particularly in mornings, although this is still getting less.

It's still a struggle to have a good shave, or do small jobs like washing up.
He can't pursue his interests. He knows that he needs to want to want, but it just doesn't happen.
He is now quite depressed, although with winter approaching, it's never been a good feel for him plus a horrid cold doesn't help.
That aside, he feels quite useless, and exhausted with having to control his mind to keep the concerns away as much as possible; exhausted with the mundane daily routine; exhausted with wondering if this will ever end.

We still get out virtually every afternoon for 3-7 hours depending on distance, to give some normality into his life. He won't drive. When we meet friends it's on an ad hoc basis as we know where they go. Socially he's fine, his sharp sense of humour is there and on the surface to others, there is nothing the matter.
But the thought of going home depresses him. We are fortunate that we have a lovely home in a beautuful location, but he just can't 'see' it.
He is suffering such a lot and feels quite worn out.

Hormone and radiotherapy stopped beg February 2025.
Does anyone else experience these types of feelings after so long after treatment?

Hello Poldee 

An interesting situation and with the Hormone Therapy having ceased and his Radiotherapy being completed over 18 months ago all the side effects of these treatments should have worked their way out of his system.

Yes, his testosterone will be on it's way back but I also wonder if some of the other aches and pains he has are just the normal ones for a man of 77 - I am only 71 and I know that my body is telling me it's not as good as it was 5 years ago.

I know he won't accept any treatment and won't seek medical attention but I wonder if reading the paper in this link (yes I know it's for folk who have been cured) may well help you understand where he is mentally?

After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what then?

Don't get me wrong, and I am not medically qualified - but surely the "not knowing" and the lack of professional medical help, regardless of anything else is playing on his mind  - it's not going home that depresses him at the end of the day - it's "not knowing what's next" that is his issue.

I hope my ramblings help - stick with us and do keep us posted as to how you get on.

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks for your post Brian. When the doc called October 2023 to let hub know that his PSA level was 14.6 which indicated prostate cancer, he drained. It was his worst nightmare come to life. Although the HT and RT treatments were successful - he (and I) has to believe, his pain is mental pain. Most of the side-effects have gone.

He was relatively active during and since treatment, but over the last 12 months, he has slowed down to almost a stop physically eg walking more, doing garden stuff, and his hips at times let him know that they've been neglected. It's the physical activity, the 'Doing' that causes the mental pain - stress, anxiety etc. an example that he enlikens the mental pain to: 10x more painful than the dentist drilling on an open nerve. He can suffer physical pain far easier than mental pain. You are right with the "not knowing what's next" when going home. Thing is, he knows that all he is going to do or can do is sit and watch something that will take his mind away from himself. He is losing/lost hope that this mental torture will go away. Having said that, it has lessened, but again, it's taking far so long, it's draining his inner self, as he tells me. The will to pick up on his interests is gone, he never ever thought that could happen.

We have a few cleanly frost-broken terracotta plant pots. I suggest to him at times about us both getting the super glue and fixing otherwise lovley pots - but it's too much to think about let alone do. It has happened that when I do house or garden work, sometimes it spurts him to do something, small though it might be, he's off his bum for a few minutes before the routine getting out in the afternoon. I'll probably start on the pots and well, he may just come and have a look if not join in.

I've had a very quick glance at the link After the Treatment Finishes - Then What?
It's rather long, but saw some interesting word and will read it.

Thanks again Brian