Only one session of radiotherapy

Hi Help,

I haven't come across this being mentioned before on any of the posts on here however I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be along shortly with a more specific answer for you.  In the meantime, do you have any more information regarding your husbands PSA results & if he has been given a Gleason score as this may help inform any reply.

Best Wishes

Brian

Hello Help 

Thank you for your post. I think you have had some great answers on this other thread:

 Metastatic tumours on spine 

Whilst none of us are medically trained my best advice at this time would be to stay away from Dr Google and wait for Mike's appointment with Urology so you know just where you stand.

Although we all have Prostate Cancer each health Authority treats the cancer in their own way. To help you best I think we need some more facts - are you able to add a profile to detail Mike's journey so far to include:

* His PSA readings with the dates.

* His Gleason Score and TNM staging from the biopsy.

* Details of his meetings with his GP and his referrals to his team so we can plot the cancer pathway timeline (essential if we need to push for treatments).

To add to his profile on your home page, click on the chair, top right, then profile and then edit. Once you have written something don't forget to save it. (You can get an idea of what to write by clicking on my name or avatar).

We do have Community members here who have received "one shot" of radiotherapy to the cancer where it's gone "walkabout".

Once we have the above, we should be able to guide you forward with a plan.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hello Help .Have you seen the oncologist yet? They are the people who would normally give you a full plan on how to deal with the cancer going forward. A single dose of radiotherapy (probably high dose SBRT) is normally given to deal with a painful metastasis and is usually effective in the targeted area. If you can provide more information on what type of prostate cancer, and where it is, along with any statistics then we might be able to give you more targeted information. Also your husband's route to diagnosis could explain why your husband has been given this treatment so far.

Some men are put onto hormone therapy initially and then a sequential approach is taken as PSA's fluctuate, particularly if only a single or couple of bone mets are seen. Others start off with more aggressive treatment. You are still at the beginning of your journey and it is too early to speculate on what is happening.

Thank you so much for taking time to reply, Mike hasn’t seen an oncologist yet but a urology appointment has come through for May.  So many questions, so much heartbreak. Thank.you for being there 

Thank you Brian, he hasn’t had a Gleason score yet, PSA was around 200

saw GP with excruciating pain in back and numbness in saddle area . Prior to numbness treatment for sciatica.  I will put a more detailed timeline in Mike’s profile.

• I appreciate you taking time to respond to my post. Thank you.

The Urologist will give you some answers but push for a quick referral to the oncologist who is the expert. Also on many occasions you will get a more positive slant on things from the oncologist compared to the Urologist so don't take what the Urologist says as gospel. 

Thank you so much.

The one time radiotherapy session was probably given to help relieve your husbands symptoms. With metastatic disease spot radiotherapy is often used to treat specific areas of the body with the intent of slowing tumour growth and relieving symptoms. A standard course of radiotherapy is normally given a few months after starting hormone injections. I've been having hormone injections for the last 2 years and have enjoyed a good quality of life.

Don't jump to conclusions based on a google search. Obviously your husband's cancer may be serious but there are many treatments available to slow the progression of the disease and maintain quality of life.

You need to discuss all this with your oncologist to fully understand the nature of your husbands disease and options for its treatment and management.

I'm sure you you will feel more positive once a management/treatment plan is in place. Best Wishes Rob