Is 60 Gy / 20 fractions “strong enough”?

Hello Boki02 

That's a very strange question to ask.

Normal radiotherapy to the Prostate depends on many factors and can vary between 5 and 37 fractions and between 60 and 80 gy (greys).This depends on many factors, diagnosis, type of machine being used etc.

I think you need to trust your team and accept they know what they are doing, To me questioning if the radiotherapy is "strong enough", is almost like asking the Bus Driver to see his "Passenger Carrying Licence (PCV)" before you board.

If you are still unsure ask the question to your Radiotherapy team at the planning scan.

Best wishes - Brian.

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Hi,

I asked the same question when I joined a clinical trial, 20 fractions x3 =60 instead of 37x2 =78. (One of the pluses for joining the trial, to me) The short answer is almost certainly YES. In a deep discussion with lead radiologist (I'm an engineer!) it was explained that the increase from 2 to 3 is non-linear, so 60 is directly equivalent to the 78. This is well documented in trials. BTW, my consultant cannot understand why 37 remains SoC...he keeps voting for 20 but 'some dinosaurs of the 'we've always done it this way variety' are not ready to move yet in my trust. Possible risk of stronger side effects, but mine were 'standard' (see profile)

Hang in There

David

"some dinosaurs of the 'we've always done it this way variety' are not ready to move yet in my trust." 

I have reluctantly come to the opinion that this attitude also exists with the length of Hormone Therapy prescribed. It seems to ignore the greater accuracy and efficacy of modern RT - along with an apparent unwillingness to pay much attention to the (often) much reduced quality of life during years of HT.

Luckily, my MDT did not subscribe to these views over both  RT and HT !!!

Hi Moonrakerz,

I totally agree with you on HT duration. I am technically on 3 years, but especially as I've 'doubled up' with Abiraterone (2 years), then subject to hopefully 'undetectable' for18 months, I'm thinking it could be time for a holiday from it. We'll say what they say when the time comes.. How much of a 'sentence reduction' did you get?

David

I have just thinned out and updated my website "Profile" which probably tells you what you want to know. My last entry in that Profile was actually only 3 days ago. I have been more than happy with the response I got when I first floated the idea of stopping the Prostap..................if you don't ask, you will never get !