Post Prostate Radiotherapy Side Effects Treatment?

Hi Gary

I do remember having urinary issues like yours that started midway through RT and finished a couple of  weeks after the RT was over.

Your treatment finished a couple of weeks ago so should be over soon.

However there are meds to help , can't  remember what it's called but think your GP can prescribe 

Best wishes

Steve 

Could it be something like this?

"Radiation cystitis

Radiotherapy can irritate the lining of the bladder and the urethra – this is called radiation cystitis. Symptoms include:

• needing to urinate more often, including at night
• a burning feeling when you urinate
• difficulty urinating
• blood in the urine.

Symptoms can start within a few days of your first treatment. They usually begin to improve when your treatment ends. But some men get symptoms for several months. And some don’t get symptoms until months or even years after their final treatment.

Symptoms such as blood in the urine can be worrying, but this is quite a common symptom of radiation cystitis.

If you get symptoms of radiation cystitis, tell your doctor or nurse. They can check whether your symptoms are caused by your treatment or an infection."

The information is from this:

https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/living-with-prostate-cancer/urinary-problems

It also says this:

"What can help with radiation cystitis?

There are treatments that can help with radiation cystitis, as well as things you can do yourself.

Lifestyle changes

Drink plenty of fluids (1.5-2 litres, or 3-4 pints a day), but try to avoid fizzy drinks, drinks containing caffeine – such as tea, coffee and cola – and alcohol, as these can irritate the bladder.

Although the evidence for this isn’t very strong, some men find that drinking cranberry juice helps. But you should avoid cranberry juice if you’re taking warfarin to thin your blood."

It looks like this is a known problem, and one I may have to encounter, as I have yet to start radiotherapy.

I hope this is some help.

I am equally certain that someone more knowledgeable will be along in a moment.

Hi,

Thanks, Im just over the 2 week mark since I finished my RT treatment so Im hoping it will start to ease off soon.

Hello mstev2 

mstev2 said:

I am equally certain that someone more knowledgeable will be along in a moment.

That reply is probably better than the one I would have put up had I not been out at football so thank you.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi GaryW congrats for getting through the RT.  My immediate thought on reading your post was that you had got an infection but if your sample is negative then the next thought is some sort of irritation from the radiation.  There is a great temptation once RT finishes to assume everything is back to normal, but the RT is still working I believe for some time after.  Do you have the RT team phone number?  If so, personally I would give them a buzz and see if they have any suggestions.  Secondly, have you got the number of your cancer nurse specialist?  If so try them and always keep your team updated.

If you can’t locate a professional, I know it sounds counterintuitive, but increase your fluid (water) intake even though your head is telling you to reduce to stop the pain.  Definitely stop all fizzy drinks, alcohol and coffee.  Please let us know how you get on.  Best wishes, David

Hi Gary

mstev2 has given you a great reply with a lot of useful information. Please let me add my two-penneth. 

Today I finished my 5 SBRT sessions under the PACE NODES clinical trial and have been suffering from 'radiation cystitis' for a few days now - Ouch!  At the end of my session I had a review with one of the medical staff to discuss such issues. I've been taking daily Tamsulosin, which helps with flow by relaxing the musculature around the bladder/urethra and helping with the pain associated with poor flow/dribbling that some men suffer from. He suggested that taking it after dinner could give you a better night's sleep (healing time), whereas I told him it says "take after breakfast" on the blurb in the box. Worth a try. He also said that ibuprofen helps for some men as it can also relax the appropriate bits.

All the best 

BitO 

Hi BitOrange,

I was having issues about 2/3rds of the way through my RT overnight with frequency of needing a pee, hesitation & poor flow (funnily enough, during the day it wasn't a problem) & was put on Tamsulosin.  I was advised to take it in the evening to help get a better nights sleep & that whilst it recommended taking it after breakfast in the blurb, this was aimed more at the majority of men who have issues during the day.  It certainly helped & cut down getting up during the night from anywhere up to 8 or 9 times down to 2 or 3.

Thanks for the reply, Buzzers. 

Yes, I suppose Tamsulosin is mainly for those with an enlarged prostate, hence the advice in the blurb.

I'm glad you're getting a positive result from taking it in the evening. I've been taking Tamsulosin after breakfast for a few weeks now and notice that it's effect (mainly re increasing flow) seems to drop off markedly in the evening for me. After today, I will try and get the timing right and try later in the day.

Cheers 

BitO 

Hi

thanks for your input, I have been given anti biotics in case of infection, but after 2 days everything looks the same. Im pretty sure its the standard sort of radiation irritation.I have maintained the same regime as when I was getting RT. Thst is no fizzy drinks, caffeine, spicy food etc. so theres no change there. Im due urine teat results back by Friday but dont expect them to find anything. If thats the case will touch base with the specialist. 
Gary

My Macmillan nurse said Tamsulosin takes about 2 hrs to work and lasts for 12 hrs so I was advised to take in the evenig.