Recovering from radiotherapy

That's good news TF, I also had RT in 2017, so far so good.

I know that one possible problem with RT can be side effects starting up to ten years down the line.

However I think that I will  worry about that in 2027.

Best wishes

Steve

I don't know about you Grundo but when I watched that dreaded machine zapping the tumour in 8 marked positions around the groin area I thought about damage to surrounding tissue but isn't the human body amazing that it can heal albeit 2 years down the line. I now hope that the prediction of up to 10 years of side effects doesn't affect me.

My brother had his prostate removed and then caught a serious infection for about 2 weeks and because I don't think he had a very good surgeon he's been left with scarring down his urethra and has to "de-fur" every 3 weeks, ouch!

My PSA was around 16 when I lived in Devon and because the Torbay health authority was completely overrun with prostate they just told me to carry on observing every 6 months, we moved to Torrevieja in 2017 and within 4 months I was having my treatment, I doubt whether I would be alive if I'd remained in the UK!

How about you?

I was on active surveillance for 4 years, it was obviously a slow growing tumour.

I did change hospitals twice, there were various issues that I wasn't happy with.

Not sure where Torrevieja is but I sure that it's at least as good as Torbay.

All the best

S

Hi glad to hear you are better now

I am doing RT for a biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy

The RT is for the pelvic bed.

I wonder ,did you do the whole pelvis with lymph nodes and did they use IMRT or IGRT ?

Would that explain the pain in hips and buttocks?

I see you were in Spain for the treatment,I am doing mine in Xanit Benalmadena ,for reasons mainly of climate as it is psychologically a plus to be in good weather.

They are using IMRT apparently already for 14 years .

I gather you are positive on the Spanish care?

wish you all the best

Hi Troc

I'm pretty certain it was IGRT as the radiologist was directing the beam to the tumour via the image on the screen, the machine did a full circle targeting 

Sorry, it was external beam therapy and the machine hit about 6 specific targets over 39 sessions.

Treatment here in South Costa Blanca is vastly better than Torbay Health Care

thanks

I had considered Germany but also opted for Spain but for reasons of better weather and so better state of mind.

I do however think Germany is generally cutting edge.

What annoys me a bit  here is the lax attitude to queuing etc in the clinic,not enough distance and some people not covering nose with masks.

Luckily the RT area is less crowded so I rush through with my KN95 or FFP2 mask

I have had 32 sessions of 2 Gray and have 3 more to go.

I did not want to do it till the radical prostatectomy effects had healed.

I had achieved very good continence after the OP and am worried late side effects  of RT may harm that.

Currently side effects are mainly some tiredness and some pressure on the bladder.

I hope that this will be curative but I am sadly aware that even with adjuvant or salvage radiotherapy people with Gleason 9 have a 50 per cent chance of a real recurrence.

lets pray we all recover

stay safe 

Obviously there wasn't the problems of Covid for me but if there was a delay, trying to hold onto to a litre of water was almost impossible!

I agree that probably Germany would be preferable but nevertheless as I said before I have found Spain to be so much better than the"envy of the World" NHS, totally overwhelmed with prostate cancer and having had cancer since 2008, I've seen how the treatment had deteriorated until we left for Spain in 2016, I had to contact them to get my delayed results and often no contact with my consultant even though my PSA was up to 16.

I hope that the treatment is successful for you and I wish you all the best for the future.