Beginning of the end?

Good morning Richards Dad . You have already started with the hormone therapy which will have shrunk the cancer and should keep it in hibernation whilst the radiotherapy does its job of killing it. Try and get your body used to drinking a couple of litres of fluid a day and your bowels into a regular routine. Most men are given advice to avoid caffeine, fizzy drinks, alcohol and wind producers like beans, brassicas -so maybe no sprouts for Christmas. It is hopefully the beginning of the end but only time will tell. The experts will be monitoring your PSA, and more specifically the rate at which it has initially dropped thanks to the hormone therapy. The Brachytherapy and EBRT should reduce it further over the next 18+ months with the aim of getting it to a negligible figure. During this time your PSA will be monitored but don't worry if it bounces around a little, the criteria for further investigation will be if there is a continuous rise over a short period of time or if the PSA rises to 2 above your nadir (lowest level). During your radiotherapy let the team know if you have any problems with your bladder or bowels and they will give you advice. All the best for tomorrow and let us know how you get on.

All the best and take care of yourself.

Hello Richards Dad 

Good luck with both the Brachytherapy and the Radiotherapy. Not everyone gets a Christmas present from the NHS but I can confirm it's an exclusive club (I had an indwelling catheter fitted at 4.00am on Christmas Day morning 2021 - click on my avatar for the full story!!).

Keep us posted as to how you get on.

Best wishes - Brian.

Experts monitoring PSA?

The only PSA test I have had was the original one that showed my PSA level at 6, now 8 months later coming to the end of radiotherapy with another 16 months hormone therapy I have had no more PSA tests

I have been told that I may get one 6 weeks after the radiotherapy ends.

Good morning Safeways . I can 'hear' your frustration as you don't seem to have had the monitoring despite asking your GP for blood tests and being let down with getting your ADT injection in a timely manner. In mid January start pushing for a blood test as it is important to monitor how well your body is tolerating the hormone therapy as well as checking that it is working to reduce the PSA. Also, have you sorted out who is responsible for monitoring you post radiotherapy and more importantly who you should contact if you have any problems.

Hi.

i was apprehensive about my Radiotherapy and posted here on the forum. I received excellent advice and reassurance from the good people who always answer.

I finished my 20 fractions of RT on 30 of October and it all seems like I dreamt it. The 4 weeks flew by with no problems at all. The actual sessions on the sunbed were a non event, 15 minutes from start to finish with no drama or worries. Halfway through I had a little fatigue which soon passed and a little burning when I passed water which now after 5 weeks has also disappeared. 

I didn’t have the brachytherapy but I did have the Spaceoar under general anesthetic. Which helped avoid bowel problems.  Like yourself I’m hoping this is the beginning of the end of this illness because I have no more treatment scheduled, just waiting for results now.

Good luck with your journey and best wishes.

Peter r

Three days on from Brachytherapy under the care of a superb team of caring and professional staff a Leeds St. James things are going Very well! Procedure took best part of two & half hours only pain relief needed was a couple of paracetamol in recovery, peeing going very well after removing catheter the next morning. Glad to get home for a bit of rest after little sleep over night feeling very emotional but very glad to have got through this so well , it seems I am well on theway now!

Hello Richards Dad 

GREAT NEWS - and thank you for sharing it. It sounds like the NHS at it's very best.

Long may your recovery last, just the "Sunbed" to go now, so please keep us posted how the Radiotherapy goes.

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks will do

Thanks Peter starts today!