Hi All, hope all is well. Since my last post I have switched hospitals and the new team I have seem to be a lot more 'switched on' and up beat , which is re-assuring. My latest CT/MRI scan shows the cancer has not spread , which means there Is still a chance of cure-circa 50% I think. I have stage 1 grade 3 and locally advanced , It Is pushing up , but has not invaded the seminal vesicle. I had a meeting with the bladder surgeon and he was great , balanced and empathetic. Unlike the previous hospital both the surgeon and radiologist are saying both treatments have the same chance of success. Unlike the last hospital my radiologist said she will give me a curative dose of radiation. Previously I had been told that my radiation treatment would be to keep things at bay rather than cure. This team seem a lot more positive but also frank about the pros and cons of each treatment. I am on the cusp of choosing which way to go and favour the radiation as opposed to surgery. They say the chances of long term side effects of radiation are relatively small but are unable to put a % chance on it.
Some of the patient stories I have read who have Pelvic Radiation Disease(long term side effects which can appear weeks/months after treatment has ended) are pretty grim....and I wondered If any one on here has any advice/experiences of life during and after pelvic radiation?
I have a meeting with my radiologist on 3/8 to discuss things.
Many thanks
Pienmash
Hi Pienmash . I had radiotherapy ten years ago for muscle invasive bc. No long term after effects. Had a recent blip where something unusual was seen but I have to go back for a further check. Besides that, I have had nearly ten years clear with normal functioning bladder. Best wishes.
Hi Jeff. it took a few months for things to settle down. Bowels were erratic for several weeks after treatment and I had bouts of fatigue, but things gradually got back to normal with everything working down there. We know it's pot luck how it affects people but best wishes whichever way you go.
Hi Jeff. My oncologist was a great advocate for bladder preservation where possible. I was told there is no evidence to show one method is more successful than the other. I was deemed a good candidate for radio as there was a large defined target to aim at. Best wishes.
