Surgery or Radiotherapy? Decision made!

Hi Seamus

Raced 88 times won 22 - cracking dog - managed to rescue him 4 years ago and he's had 4 amazing years with us. Sad to say we are going to lose him later today - the family are off now to the vets to say farewell. I can't get myself to go - it's the hormones......  - but thanks. I hate cancer!!

Brian 

Brian, So sorry to read about your dog but how lucky was he that he came to live with you xx when you feel able have a read of the rainbow bridge poem

Thanks Shar andeddiel He had a cracking retirement after 4 years racing so we are happy with what we have done. Sad day at Millibob Towers but we are carrying on with life!! Thanks again. x

That’s the news we all need WW, like Brian said I’m nxt , well was January but cdiff has changed plans to Feb now as with my Crohn’s it’s a bit risky anyway , glad your doing good and this is the procedure I’d have picked out of the three , so I’m told no cuddling the 21 grand kids too much and four dogs that all sit on me when I get in from work lol 

Well, that’s the planning scan done and I now have my (4!) tiny tattoos, ready for lining me up on the LINAC, starting in a couple of weeks time.  The scan took longer than expected, as one of the radiographers came in mid way and she asked, very politely, for me to pass wind if I could. I had too much gas in my (empty) bowel.  I had heard of this happening before, so I wasn’t surprised. She said she would leave the room again and could I give them a thumbs up if successful!  I hope they didn’t have the volume up too high, because I let out a belter  

LOL

I am gutted - you have better service than me: 

* 4 yes 4 tattoos - I 've only got 3 - where do I complain.

* Never have I been asked to pass wind by the NHS - Mrs Millibob would have been having a word I can tell you!!

Oh - by the way - I hope the Radiotherapy goes well!!

Hi AW , I’m intrigued re this , is it after the brachnytherapy ? As I’m having two blasts of brachnytherapy in February, and glad yours went according to plan by the way , cheers jonnymac 

Hi Jonny Mac,

if you’re having two blasts, then you must be having HDR brachytherapy.  I had LDR brachytherapy (radioactive seeds) in one operation a couple of weeks ago.  See my bio for details.  I’m then having external beam radiotherapy as well , to kill any potential escapees as I have high risk, intermediate PCa (T3a, N0, M0) with some aggressive features (cribriform & AIP).  

This external radiotherapy is the latest IMRT (pretty standard now, in the NHS), and includes the full pelvis area including lymph nodes.  Basically, it is mirroring the successful ASCENDE-RT trial and was recommended by my very experienced consultant at Addenbrookes.  It is very important that seed placement is done by an experienced surgeon (potential damage to urethra if misplaced). My surgeon had done well over 1,000 LDR procedures.  

I found the details during my own research and asked to referred to him on the NHS, as they don’t do brachytherapy at Peterborough or Leicester (my local hospitals). After brachytherapy, I was then placed back at Peterborough, which is an easy commute for me, where they have the fairly new LINAC machines, under the management of a consultant who is a close colleague of his.  This plan has the highest chance of cure for my particular case.   Cheers, AW. 

Ever since I left my fairly disinterested urology consultant, I have had superb service from my brachytherapy, radiotherapy and oncology consultants.  Well done NHS!