Prostate External Beam Radiotherapy

It's done under local anaesthetic and was no worse than the biopsy. You don't feel it afterwards and it dissolves after a year. It greatly reduces the (albeit small) risk of severe reaction from RT, which happens when the rectum gets in the crossfire. It's not available in all NHS trusts, I've had it done privately. I think it's worth asking if you can have it.

I am on the radiotherapy right now.

So far, no real side effects.

The worst thing about it is going to and from everyday, and hanging about.

The best thing is that it is giving prostate cancer a good kicking.

Best wishes,

Steve

How many fractions are you doing? Are you having brachytherapy also?

Did you need rectal spacer?

How much privately if you don't mind me asking? How did RT go?

It was through my workplace private medical insurance, so not sure if the exact cost of the procedure. RT went really well with minimal side effects, giving the cancer a good kicking. My PSA is down from 42 to undetectable so very happy.

I'm doing 37 fractions. I am 2 days short of half way through.

Brachytherapy was not indicated as I have one lymph node affected, so the cancer was out of the capsule.

I discussed SpaceOAR with my oncologist. My research had already indicated to me that the benefits of this, to me, would be limited.

The image guided EBRT that I am being  treated with would, in my case, be coming in from above the rectal area. There is a lie rush off damage. 

My research suggested that the safety margin would be increased by 2-5%, so not  radical.

When I spoke to my oncologist I did not discuss my research but let me her talk it by through. 

In my post off three world the gel  procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic. She was off the opinion that any benefit for investing the gel would be outweighed by the risk associated with surgery under GA.

I decided to make no other enquiries because the benefits did not outweigh either risk or cost.