Treatment now very close

Hello Peter (Guern017) 

Welcome back. I am pleased to see you have a plan of action and hope all goes well for you. I confess you are the first Community member I have come across on a 

Guern017 said:

mini dose of brachytherapy

I had the standard 20 fractions and although there was fatigue I worked full time during the RT. 2 Years on I haven't got any side effects of the RT.

Keep us posted as to how you get on.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Brian

My Oncologist says the mini-brachy is a new idea that can take 1 week (5 sessions) of radiotherapy off the whole treatment, so 15 instead of 20.  It needs a night in hospital and a 2 hour session under General anaesthetic and the probably uncomfortable bit is that it's done in the same way as my biopsy was, through the perineum with multiple needles.  It sounds horrific and probably not everyone would go for it, but hey, why not try.  He offered a wider option of doing the lymph nodes as well, but as there's no sign of it there, why do that. My thought is if the lymph nodes are affected, we'll find out sometime in the future when techniques and treatment will be different again.  The consultant Radiotherapist is also Macmillan funded and I know her, (professionally), so I know i'm in good hands, even though it's a step into the unknown....!  I will indeed keep everyone updated.  Maybe not every step of the way, but updates will be forthcoming.

Hello Peter (Guern017) 

Well I keep saying "everyday is a school day" being a volunteer on here and I have just added a new treatment to my list!!

It's very interesting that they can include the lymph nodes in this treatment and as you say "not everyone would go for it".

Don't answer this if you feel uncomfortable - which hospital or hospital trust or area is this being used?

I do wish you well with this - please do keep us posted.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Brian 

Just to confirm, the lymph node treatment is part of the radiotherapy not the brachy session.  Discussion with the oncologist showed that it's too early in the trials to see how much it reduces further treatment needs and/or life expectancy, so my thoughts were that they are zapping a wider area for no known benefit so lets not bother.  That's different to the brachy, they know what that is and what it does.  Although here is a very small chance it won't make any difference and I'Il still need 20 sesions of radiotherapy - Hmm!  The Oncologist said in your position I'm not sure I would know what's best either.

I don't mind telling you that i'm being treated in Poole, at the Dorset Cancer Centre.

Thank you Peter (Guern017) 

All very interesting - I confess to having my pelvic lymph nodes "zapped" whilst I was on the "sunbed" . I actually found 20 fractions very easy and I don't think a General Anesthetic and an overnight Bed and Breakfast with an "all inclusive" wristband in exchange for 5 sunbed sessions to be a good deal!! (Personal thoughts only).

But i am interested to see how it goes - thank you for the details.

Best wishes - Brian.