What should the prostate gland feel like after radiotherapy?

Hello Big Col  I can answer "half" of your question - I am the "nosey" type who likes to ask questions and asked my Consultant when he turned up at my hospital bedside with a load of students - what he was looking for.

The students were told a normal prostate is symmetrical with a groove down the middle and two rubbery soft feeling areas. After feeling mine he announced "Millibob's prostate is rock solid so he's possibly got Prostate Cancer - and that was that!!

Towards the end of my RT - I asked what my Prostate looked like - and the answer was - we do a positioning scan each day and on that it looks like a "mush" so the treatment's working.

As to what it should feel like after radiotherapy - I have not had the pleasure of that examination yet so can't help you on that one. I can only suggest you contact your team and ask if it's normal. I would like to know.

Best wishes - Brian.

Me to 

Hi Big Col and Brian, had a cystoscopy two weeks ago, prostate shrunk from 90mm to 30mm, looked a little frayed and was soft, "well nuked you might say", If you want to know what your bladder looks like after RT, let me know.

Eddie

Thanks Eddie 

Now I'm confused  why is mine hard after radiotherapy?A question  to ask my oncologist. I'll let you know when I eventually have the camera op.

Hi BC

My understanding is that after RT the gland turns into a kinda mush so in theory suppose soft but that's just my interpretation.

Steve 

Hi Big Col.

My husband's MRI's mention fibrosis in the prostate after radiotherapy. My understanding is that fibrosis means hardening of the tissue - like a scar - and can have a woody type texture. I have only found 1 article so far which mentions that what the DRE exam after radiotherapy is looking for is the evidence of nodules or abnormalities relating to things like bleeding. Definitely one to ask about and please come back with the answer.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11763846_Efficacy_of_digital_rectal_examination_after_radiotherapy_for_prostate_cancer

Hi ,

I was told a healthy prostate feels like when you touch the tip of your nose , an unhealthy one feels hard like when you touch your eyebrow,  absolutely no idea after RT , 

all the best

Tony 

Thanks the information is invaluable. I'll get the next step out the way.....ht, psa test and ct scan. Then talk to my oncologist. 

Looked at your profile you've had a rollercoaster ride with pc.  I might be in for similar  I was made redundant about 7 times over my 30 odd year career...so good luck with job hunting