HDR Brachy Promised update

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Hi all, Peter again. I promised an update and here we are. The Brachy went 'uneventfully' and after a night in hospital I was discharged. Back the following day (Wednesday) for the radiotherapy planning session. Then on Thursday the issue started. Couldn't pee. No matter what, just dribbles.

Eventually I was catheterised on Saturday morning (1.7 ltrs drained) and had that in a week. It was removed this morning and then replaced this afternoon because I still can't pee unaided. This one will stay in for a week and half, removed a week next Wednesday.

Just how this will affect the radiotherapy that is due to start next Monday remains to be seen, but I have my suspicions that it will have to be delayed until after the catheter is removed.

I know it's a known possible side effect of the process, but disappointment and frustration are two words I can think of! Still, I plod on and will get there eventually.

Peroni 1 month ago

Hi Guern017

Thank you for the update. Sorry to learn of your difficulty. A drainage of 1.7L seems like a very large indeed, I'm sure that you were glad to get it done.

Did you have flow rate / retention-type issues prior to the HDR Brachy, or did the problem come 'out of the blue'? Do you have any idea of your prostate size? The MRI process normally yields an estimate.

Kind regards, Peroni.

Guern017 1 month ago in reply to Peroni

Hi Peroni, yes, I was very glad to have been drained of that much and yes, I had flow issues prior to the treatment, but they were improving with the prostap injection. I think this is simply post op swelling that my body and the tamsulosin hasn't yet got to grips with. I don't know my prostate size, it wasn't remarked on, so I can't believe it was anything unusual. Hey ho, frustrating but there's many worse off.

Guern017 1 month ago in reply to Guern017

Me again, just to say the catheter hasn't stopped my radiotherapy from happening, I had the first of 15 fractions today and no one turned a hair that I had the catheter in. I was treated no differently to if it wasn't there. So anyone worried by that can rest assured.

moonrakerz 1 month ago in reply to Guern017

https://www.madehow.com/Volume-7/Catheter.html

One must assume that the non-metal structure of the catheter poses no barrier to the radiation beam.

Millibob 1 month ago in reply to Guern017

Hello Guern017

Thank you for the update - I wish you well moving forward. Interesting to note you had your RT with a catheter - I had to wait for mine to be removed before RT.

Best wishes- Brian.

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Guern017 1 month ago in reply to Millibob

Hi Brian. I saw your reply to another question where you had said RT couldn't happen with a catheter in place and that echoed what a nurse said last week. Or rather she said that's what she thought, but would need to check. When I had the phone call yesterday morning saying " Yeah, no problem, come on in" I have to say I was relieved. I've planned my and my colleagues next three weeks around the fact I was having treatment and then a holiday in early May, when I hope to be free of any lingering side effects, so not having the treatment now would throw all that onto confusion!

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