Salvage RT

I don't think the spacer will be an issue for you, as there's no prostate to 'space': they'll be irradiating the prostate bed, and so it needs to be as the surgeon left it.

Side effects will vary considerably from one person to the next, and I think fatigue is probably the biggest short-term issue. Keeping as active as you can is the way through it, while also making sure that you do get plenty of rest. The key here, I think, is that you stay in control, not let the fatigue tell you what to do.

Are you also having hormone therapy? That would change the short-term side effect issue completely.

Radiotherapy does not usually cause major long term side effects.

As Heinous has already said it's the hormone therapy that can potentially give u problems although these can go away once treatment is over.

Yes I suppose the spacer may not be as Relevant if you have had the prostate removed. At present it looks like just RT If the RT is not the answer in my case then HT may be necessary at a future time.Many thanks for your reply

Hoping to just have RT to the prostate bed to clear it up .May need HT if its not a success. Throughout my prostate diagnosis I have never had one symptom unless you call an elevated PSA a symptom and that was around 7 pre op.Thanks for your reply

That's good news if u r just having RT , means treatment will be over fairly swiftly. Side effects from RT include bowel issues which normally start about halfway thru and extend to a couple of weeks after treatment finishes.

Hopefully that will sort it but the hormone therapy is always there if any further problems 

Good luck 

Steve

Many thanks for your contact and comments.Hope to post my progress so others can take anything from my own treatment experiences

Worth reading this. Study shows reduction in rectum toxicity in salvage radiotherapy when using the spaceoar. 
Spaceoar use in salvage radiotherapy

Thanks - it makes interesting reading.Might be worth discussing with my oncologist as to whether I would be a candidate and if I could get it on the NHS or not

Fascinating article, all new to me, but to be clear, this is very specifically NOT about the spaceoar, indeed the authors suggest that spaceoar would not be useful except in the case of "only one macroscopically visible lesion that is responsible for local recurrence in very high level of confidence and safety", and they point out "the risk of potential tumor cell shift".

The article is about a rectal retractor, a very different and innovative approach. And I reckon a very good idea, but it's early days for it. Still worth asking if there's a research study using it.

I had long discussions with my oncologist before he agreed salvage radiotherapy. After prostatectomy your anatomy changes. In the space where the prostate was the rectum moves forward and the bladder downwards. I asked if there was a mechanical way to move things out of the radiation path. At that time there was nothing. Spaceoar appears to fulfill this need…..