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LDR Brachytherapy, Davekc10’s treatment journey

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User
Posted 03 Nov 2022 at 11:55

Recap from Diagnostic journey.

NHS Scotland

Age 63. Intermediate prostate cancer. T2A,N0,M0 PSA8.3

Brachytherapy treatment to be given at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow.

The Hospital is fairly easy for me to get to. 90 mins by public transport or 1 hour by car.

Chapter 1

At my last meeting with the specialist nurse at my local hospital an appointment was made to see the Doctor up in Glasgow. I asked what sort of time scale and was told it would probably the 31st of October.

On the basis of that date my wife and I decided to take a small break. The letter arrived before we went on our trip and it did confirm the date to see the doctor would be the 31st at 0900hrs. We travelled by rail and on the train journey up to Glasgow I felt my first ever attack of anxiety/panic. For twenty minutes or so I questioned myself why was I doing this trip? What if I caught Covid? I honestly considered getting the first train back home. These concerns did evaporate, however I have never felt like that in my life before.

I had very strong emotions on the return journey but that was anger because the train was cancelled and I had to sit on a bus for four and half hours to get back to Glasgow!😂

Spookily the replacement bus passed the Beatson, a building I had never seen before.

When we got back there was another letter from the NHS stating a pre op appointment 🤔was scheduled for  the 26th of October. This was extremely short notice ( there was a Mail strike on at the time ) and if we had stayed away longer I may have missed the appointment and be put on the naughty step at the bottom of the waiting list. I probably had more nightmares about this happening to me than anything about my condition.

26/10/22 Pre op at Beatson. Covid test first, then temperature, pressure and ECG were taken. The nurse then briefed me about my appointment with the doctor on the 31st. I honestly thought it would just be a little chat with the doctor and I would be back in Glasgow City Centre having a latte and a croissant by mid morning or if the meeting ran late a pie and a pint in the Horseshoe bar.

The nurse informed me that I had to be at the ward by 0815. I must have fasted/no fluids from midnight the night before although it was ok to take my blood pressure meds.

I was going to be given a general anaesthetic and I would have to be collected after 1530hrs.

I would have appreciated if the letter I received had mentioned some of these details as we had to reorganise the day at extremely short notice. I don’t mind the extra procedure just give me a heads up!

It turns out that on the 31st a volume check was going to be carried out on my prostate. This was going to be done by ultrasound inserted, well we all know the routine by now 😳 and to get an accurate reading I would have to be  “ put under “.

I was making good time with this meeting and it looked like I would be able to catch the 1600hrs train, all the nurse had to do was take some blood!

Along with my history of hypertension there is a history of medical staff not being able to find my soft veins. The ward nurse tried twice , right arm no, left arm no. I was then sent to the hospital outpatients department to get my blood taken. The outpatients department operates a little bit like a deli counter in a supermarket. When you arrive you take a number and then wait to get called. I collected number 44 and when I looked at my place in the queue. I saw they were currently dealing with number 29!☹️

I had a two hour wait before I was taken and even then the first young nurse had problems getting blood, as usual a more mature  ( shall we say experienced ) nurse came over and got the required blood first time!😎

I had more than a pie and a pint when I got home at 1930hrs.

Top tip: Over the years I have ranked medical facilities on the ability to take my blood and the quality of the empire biscuits in the cafe. The Beatson Cafe, which is located in the Tom Wheldon building, has the best empire biscuits I have ever tasted👍

Top tip too: During my working career before I retired, almost eight years ago, I had to get a company medical every year which was carried out “in house” by the company medical branch. 
The doctor who was looking at my ECG which was taken today thought it had a slight anomaly in it. She reviewed it a second time and decided it was ok. She then said she could always check my previous ECG’s. I had to point out to her that the ECG’s were not done by the NHS so there would be no record of them. I contacted the Chief Medical Officer of the company I used to work for and she informed me that they had the last two readings held in the archives. I will be able to obtain them, however it will take some time ( data protection etc..) So my advice is if you have left or are about to leave a job where you have needed a medical certificate arrange to get sent all your details asap.

Phew!

Rgds

Dave

Edited by member 22 Nov 2022 at 20:09  | Reason: Spelling

User
Posted 29 Aug 2023 at 13:30

Hi Dave,

Don't worry it does get better as days and weeks pass and it will take time for the bruising to go i was black & blue, my psa dropped slowly at every monthly then yearly checks and i did get some blood in poos but was having the normal yearly check ups for cancer from my GP that where coming back clear.I was offered Robotic surgery or Brachytherapy in 2016 and leaned towards Brachytherapy because a friend had the same and had very good results and was back to work very soon after.

I am 7 years on and psa is 0.10 and all good so far.good luck .

John.

User
Posted 04 Nov 2022 at 17:44

Chapter 2

Almost up to date.

31/10/22 Caught the 0600 bus to Glasgow so that I was at the hospital in plenty of time. Had a lateral flow test and my temperature and blood pressure taken. I met the doctor at 0900 and discussed the procedure. The procedure was going to last about 20 mins and it was to check the volume of my prostate by using ultrasound to make sure it was the correct size for brachytherapy.

The doctor would also use this time to calculate the number of radioactive seeds I required and where they should be placed on the prostate.

I asked the doctor if it was worth using a hydrogel space OAR. The hospital had done some trials with it which they stopped. I had priced the fitting of one privately and I had been quoted £7,167.00.
The doctor said I did not need one. He did not expand his answer however other people on this site have suggested it could block areas of the prostate or slip. It does seem to be falling out of favour.

I also brought up the letter issue.

My next meeting was with the anaesthetist who informed me I could have an epidural or general anaesthetic for the procedure. I chose general. I got gowned up was moved into an ante room administered with some intravenous “relaxing” drugs and some oxygen and then woke up in the recovery area at about 1015hrs.

When I was in the operating theatre a catheter had been fitted. I had to pass urine before I could get back to my room. I felt I was peeing a lot and the nurse said that is just the sensation the catheter gives you. I had several cups of water a complete hanging bag of fluid and still nothing in the catheter bag. The nurse said it could take sometime as they had emptied my bladder during the procedure.
I was convinced I was urinating in fact I could almost feel it running down my leg. The nurse looked at the catheter bag it was still empty. She lifted the blanket a bit more to discover that I was lying in a puddle of pee 😂 Somehow I had bypassed the catheter and my urine was coming out normally.

As I had proven I could pass urine the catheter was removed, I was cleaned up and moved back to the ward for tea and toast.

On the table in my room there was an envelope containing letters detailing my next two appointments. I don’t know if it was coincidence or if somebody was trying to make a point🤔 I must admit it made me chuckle.

I remained in my room until my wife collected me at 1700hrs, excellent, rush hour in Glasgow.

My next visit to the hospital will be on the 16th of November for another pre op.

The 21st of November is going to be the day of my op and the day I become radioactive!

I had a stinging sensation when I passed urine for 24 hrs which was probably due to the catheter.

I had a slight sore throat from the anaesthetic.

It then took 48hrs for a bowel movement, probably due to the anaesthetic etc…

I also had sore thighs like I had been pushing weights in a gym. I can only assume my legs were put in some sort of stirrup equipment and they have thought I have been doing some sort of work out. I will ask at my next visit.

Rgds
Dave

Edited by member 22 Dec 2022 at 04:39  | Reason: Yes it was stirrups!

User
Posted 03 Nov 2022 at 11:55

Recap from Diagnostic journey.

NHS Scotland

Age 63. Intermediate prostate cancer. T2A,N0,M0 PSA8.3

Brachytherapy treatment to be given at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow.

The Hospital is fairly easy for me to get to. 90 mins by public transport or 1 hour by car.

Chapter 1

At my last meeting with the specialist nurse at my local hospital an appointment was made to see the Doctor up in Glasgow. I asked what sort of time scale and was told it would probably the 31st of October.

On the basis of that date my wife and I decided to take a small break. The letter arrived before we went on our trip and it did confirm the date to see the doctor would be the 31st at 0900hrs. We travelled by rail and on the train journey up to Glasgow I felt my first ever attack of anxiety/panic. For twenty minutes or so I questioned myself why was I doing this trip? What if I caught Covid? I honestly considered getting the first train back home. These concerns did evaporate, however I have never felt like that in my life before.

I had very strong emotions on the return journey but that was anger because the train was cancelled and I had to sit on a bus for four and half hours to get back to Glasgow!😂

Spookily the replacement bus passed the Beatson, a building I had never seen before.

When we got back there was another letter from the NHS stating a pre op appointment 🤔was scheduled for  the 26th of October. This was extremely short notice ( there was a Mail strike on at the time ) and if we had stayed away longer I may have missed the appointment and be put on the naughty step at the bottom of the waiting list. I probably had more nightmares about this happening to me than anything about my condition.

26/10/22 Pre op at Beatson. Covid test first, then temperature, pressure and ECG were taken. The nurse then briefed me about my appointment with the doctor on the 31st. I honestly thought it would just be a little chat with the doctor and I would be back in Glasgow City Centre having a latte and a croissant by mid morning or if the meeting ran late a pie and a pint in the Horseshoe bar.

The nurse informed me that I had to be at the ward by 0815. I must have fasted/no fluids from midnight the night before although it was ok to take my blood pressure meds.

I was going to be given a general anaesthetic and I would have to be collected after 1530hrs.

I would have appreciated if the letter I received had mentioned some of these details as we had to reorganise the day at extremely short notice. I don’t mind the extra procedure just give me a heads up!

It turns out that on the 31st a volume check was going to be carried out on my prostate. This was going to be done by ultrasound inserted, well we all know the routine by now 😳 and to get an accurate reading I would have to be  “ put under “.

I was making good time with this meeting and it looked like I would be able to catch the 1600hrs train, all the nurse had to do was take some blood!

Along with my history of hypertension there is a history of medical staff not being able to find my soft veins. The ward nurse tried twice , right arm no, left arm no. I was then sent to the hospital outpatients department to get my blood taken. The outpatients department operates a little bit like a deli counter in a supermarket. When you arrive you take a number and then wait to get called. I collected number 44 and when I looked at my place in the queue. I saw they were currently dealing with number 29!☹️

I had a two hour wait before I was taken and even then the first young nurse had problems getting blood, as usual a more mature  ( shall we say experienced ) nurse came over and got the required blood first time!😎

I had more than a pie and a pint when I got home at 1930hrs.

Top tip: Over the years I have ranked medical facilities on the ability to take my blood and the quality of the empire biscuits in the cafe. The Beatson Cafe, which is located in the Tom Wheldon building, has the best empire biscuits I have ever tasted👍

Top tip too: During my working career before I retired, almost eight years ago, I had to get a company medical every year which was carried out “in house” by the company medical branch. 
The doctor who was looking at my ECG which was taken today thought it had a slight anomaly in it. She reviewed it a second time and decided it was ok. She then said she could always check my previous ECG’s. I had to point out to her that the ECG’s were not done by the NHS so there would be no record of them. I contacted the Chief Medical Officer of the company I used to work for and she informed me that they had the last two readings held in the archives. I will be able to obtain them, however it will take some time ( data protection etc..) So my advice is if you have left or are about to leave a job where you have needed a medical certificate arrange to get sent all your details asap.

Phew!

Rgds

Dave

Edited by member 22 Nov 2022 at 20:09  | Reason: Spelling

User
Posted 16 Nov 2022 at 18:28
Chapter 3

I went up to Glasgow for the pre op today. It was not as in depth as my previous one. No ECG, No blood required and unfortunately no Empire biscuits in the Beatson cafe ( I just missed out on the last one! ). My B.P was playing its “ white coat syndrome “ silly buggers today but luckily I have been logging my B.P daily for the last month and a half and the nurses have told me it’s very useful to record this.

So first thing Monday morning I have my brachytherapy procedure. I am a little bit nervous and have some butterflies in my stomach however they better look out because in five days time they are going to get zapped by the 60-80 Iodine I-125 radioactive seeds which are going to get permanently planted in my prostate.😳🦋💥

Rgds

Dave

User
Posted 17 Nov 2022 at 16:05

Hope all goes well on Monday Dave.

Ido4

User
Posted 22 Nov 2022 at 20:07

Chapter 4

21/11/22 0600 bus to Glasgow again. Quick temp, pressure and lateral flow checks.Very quick chat with the Dr performing the procedure and the anaethnatist, same team as previous procedure. I had a general anaesthetic, I was in theatre for about an hour and had 57 radioactive iodine I-125 seeds planted in my prostrate by three long needles.

During the procedure a catheter was attached and not removed until I had delivered 1litre of urine. I was also given some antibiotics.

I was kept in overnight and had to pee into bottles so it could be checked to make sure no seeds had decided to move.

Seen by Dr next morning at 0800 and told I was released.

Before I left I got a card. It wasn’t a get well soon card, it was a card I have to carry with me for 20 months notifying people that I have had an implantation of radioactive seeds.

For the next two months I should stay away from pregnant women and cannot hug or have young children on my knee ( that’s my Santa Clause job application at the local garden centre in the bin🎅🏻😂 ) Pets are also banned from my lap.

I have been prescribed a daily 400 micrograms of Tamsulosin to take until my next clinical review in about three months time.This may help lower my B.P.

I know it’s early days however I feel fine at the moment. Apart from the morphine administered in the theatre I have not needed any painkillers. I am a little bit delicate down below I would not like to have to ride a bike at the moment.

I have had a decent bowel movement ( prunes are your friends )

Slight burning sensation when peeing again probably due the catheter.

It will be interesting to see how the Tamsulosin will affect my daily routine.

The most harrowing part of the whole procedure was when the young masked female second year student nurse was told to remove my catheter. I had to ask her if she had done this before and with what I imagine having a wicked smile on her face answered yes😂

As has been mentioned before prostate cancer and dignity are not good bedfellows😎

Rgds
Dave

Top Tip You get strange looks from the cafe staff when you ask for three Empire biscuits to take away!😝

Edited by member 03 Dec 2022 at 12:17  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 23 Nov 2022 at 10:01
Dave

I have just been diagnosed 3+4 T2 and now have appointments for oncologist and surgeon early December. Have obviously still to decide which procedure to opt for but your posts are really helpful in giving an insight for what is to come. Many thanks

User
Posted 23 Nov 2022 at 13:48

Hope your recovery goes well. Enjoy your Empire biscuits! 

Ido4

User
Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 08:16

Welcome to the Brachy club the hard bits over. i am 6 years on from Brachytherapy with PSA 0.04 you will soon get the hang of it.

Good Luck John.

User
Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 09:09
Yes Phew! The gravy as well as the meat and veg LOL.
Barry
User
Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 14:12

Hi Dave,

I found this site very helpful in the early days with a wealth of information and lovely helpful people and their wives that helped men through the early rabbit in headlights days and I must mention Matron who has a wealth of knowledge and a good sense of humour that keeps us in place.

I had Gout before the blood pressure tablets about every six to eight months but managed to remove most of the things that set it off and it only flares up every two years or so.The only thing i won't give up is white wine and prawns.

If i can offer and help just shout but can't guarantee any of my ideas will be politically correct.

John. 

User
Posted 17 Dec 2022 at 20:58
Hi Paul, diet seems to be one of these subjects which there is a great deal of discussion. Before my diagnosis I was following a keto low carb diet to help me lose weight. After my procedure I cut down on fibre and started eating carbs again. I am about to enter week four after my procedure and my internal radiation is going to peak shortly.

I have decided to go back to keto/fibre as I am having small bowel movements every hour and it is becoming a pain in the @rse ( see what I did there ) it also appears that the pressure of bowel movements has reactivated some blood in my urine.

I think the bottom line is everything in moderation.

I am however, having a sabbatical from spicy food.🌮

Two weeks ago I had a red wine and steak night and had a great nights sleep.

Sorry I can’t offer any more substantial information.

Rgds

Dave

User
Posted 28 Aug 2023 at 16:58
Update.

Today I had my 6 month review ( 9 months after the procedure ) PSA has fallen from 0.8 to 0.5👍 I am still feeling fatigued so I am going to arrange a general blood test to see if that flags up anything.

I currently have some intermittent light blood indications after a bowel movement. I have been told to keep an eye on it. I was told it could be a fissure ( most likely ) or haemorrhoids ( unlikely no discomfort at the moment ). The elephant in the room ( bowel cancer ) was not mentioned.

Next blood test in 4 months.

Rgds

Dave

User
Posted 29 Aug 2023 at 12:45

Congrats on the low PSA Dave. I only had the Brachy procedure done ten days ago and do feel a little more tired than normal. Hopefully it won't get any worse than that. I hope your blood test helps you. I just also wanted to say that I once suffered from a fissure and it was the most horrendously painful thing that has ever happened to me, so for me there would be no mistaking it for something else. I had mine surgically repaired. 

All the best with it

Tom

Show Most Thanked Posts
User
Posted 04 Nov 2022 at 17:44

Chapter 2

Almost up to date.

31/10/22 Caught the 0600 bus to Glasgow so that I was at the hospital in plenty of time. Had a lateral flow test and my temperature and blood pressure taken. I met the doctor at 0900 and discussed the procedure. The procedure was going to last about 20 mins and it was to check the volume of my prostate by using ultrasound to make sure it was the correct size for brachytherapy.

The doctor would also use this time to calculate the number of radioactive seeds I required and where they should be placed on the prostate.

I asked the doctor if it was worth using a hydrogel space OAR. The hospital had done some trials with it which they stopped. I had priced the fitting of one privately and I had been quoted £7,167.00.
The doctor said I did not need one. He did not expand his answer however other people on this site have suggested it could block areas of the prostate or slip. It does seem to be falling out of favour.

I also brought up the letter issue.

My next meeting was with the anaesthetist who informed me I could have an epidural or general anaesthetic for the procedure. I chose general. I got gowned up was moved into an ante room administered with some intravenous “relaxing” drugs and some oxygen and then woke up in the recovery area at about 1015hrs.

When I was in the operating theatre a catheter had been fitted. I had to pass urine before I could get back to my room. I felt I was peeing a lot and the nurse said that is just the sensation the catheter gives you. I had several cups of water a complete hanging bag of fluid and still nothing in the catheter bag. The nurse said it could take sometime as they had emptied my bladder during the procedure.
I was convinced I was urinating in fact I could almost feel it running down my leg. The nurse looked at the catheter bag it was still empty. She lifted the blanket a bit more to discover that I was lying in a puddle of pee 😂 Somehow I had bypassed the catheter and my urine was coming out normally.

As I had proven I could pass urine the catheter was removed, I was cleaned up and moved back to the ward for tea and toast.

On the table in my room there was an envelope containing letters detailing my next two appointments. I don’t know if it was coincidence or if somebody was trying to make a point🤔 I must admit it made me chuckle.

I remained in my room until my wife collected me at 1700hrs, excellent, rush hour in Glasgow.

My next visit to the hospital will be on the 16th of November for another pre op.

The 21st of November is going to be the day of my op and the day I become radioactive!

I had a stinging sensation when I passed urine for 24 hrs which was probably due to the catheter.

I had a slight sore throat from the anaesthetic.

It then took 48hrs for a bowel movement, probably due to the anaesthetic etc…

I also had sore thighs like I had been pushing weights in a gym. I can only assume my legs were put in some sort of stirrup equipment and they have thought I have been doing some sort of work out. I will ask at my next visit.

Rgds
Dave

Edited by member 22 Dec 2022 at 04:39  | Reason: Yes it was stirrups!

User
Posted 16 Nov 2022 at 18:28
Chapter 3

I went up to Glasgow for the pre op today. It was not as in depth as my previous one. No ECG, No blood required and unfortunately no Empire biscuits in the Beatson cafe ( I just missed out on the last one! ). My B.P was playing its “ white coat syndrome “ silly buggers today but luckily I have been logging my B.P daily for the last month and a half and the nurses have told me it’s very useful to record this.

So first thing Monday morning I have my brachytherapy procedure. I am a little bit nervous and have some butterflies in my stomach however they better look out because in five days time they are going to get zapped by the 60-80 Iodine I-125 radioactive seeds which are going to get permanently planted in my prostate.😳🦋💥

Rgds

Dave

User
Posted 17 Nov 2022 at 16:05

Hope all goes well on Monday Dave.

Ido4

User
Posted 22 Nov 2022 at 20:07

Chapter 4

21/11/22 0600 bus to Glasgow again. Quick temp, pressure and lateral flow checks.Very quick chat with the Dr performing the procedure and the anaethnatist, same team as previous procedure. I had a general anaesthetic, I was in theatre for about an hour and had 57 radioactive iodine I-125 seeds planted in my prostrate by three long needles.

During the procedure a catheter was attached and not removed until I had delivered 1litre of urine. I was also given some antibiotics.

I was kept in overnight and had to pee into bottles so it could be checked to make sure no seeds had decided to move.

Seen by Dr next morning at 0800 and told I was released.

Before I left I got a card. It wasn’t a get well soon card, it was a card I have to carry with me for 20 months notifying people that I have had an implantation of radioactive seeds.

For the next two months I should stay away from pregnant women and cannot hug or have young children on my knee ( that’s my Santa Clause job application at the local garden centre in the bin🎅🏻😂 ) Pets are also banned from my lap.

I have been prescribed a daily 400 micrograms of Tamsulosin to take until my next clinical review in about three months time.This may help lower my B.P.

I know it’s early days however I feel fine at the moment. Apart from the morphine administered in the theatre I have not needed any painkillers. I am a little bit delicate down below I would not like to have to ride a bike at the moment.

I have had a decent bowel movement ( prunes are your friends )

Slight burning sensation when peeing again probably due the catheter.

It will be interesting to see how the Tamsulosin will affect my daily routine.

The most harrowing part of the whole procedure was when the young masked female second year student nurse was told to remove my catheter. I had to ask her if she had done this before and with what I imagine having a wicked smile on her face answered yes😂

As has been mentioned before prostate cancer and dignity are not good bedfellows😎

Rgds
Dave

Top Tip You get strange looks from the cafe staff when you ask for three Empire biscuits to take away!😝

Edited by member 03 Dec 2022 at 12:17  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 23 Nov 2022 at 10:01
Dave

I have just been diagnosed 3+4 T2 and now have appointments for oncologist and surgeon early December. Have obviously still to decide which procedure to opt for but your posts are really helpful in giving an insight for what is to come. Many thanks

User
Posted 23 Nov 2022 at 13:48

Hope your recovery goes well. Enjoy your Empire biscuits! 

Ido4

User
Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 08:16

Welcome to the Brachy club the hard bits over. i am 6 years on from Brachytherapy with PSA 0.04 you will soon get the hang of it.

Good Luck John.

User
Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 09:09
Yes Phew! The gravy as well as the meat and veg LOL.
Barry
User
Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 12:09

Thanks guys.
A quick question. I know it’s early days but how long should I keep drinking copious amounts of fluid ( non alcoholic of course ). I am trying to do the general cancer thing of 2-3 litres a day. Is this now for life or just during treatment. At the moment I am designating my minimum main treatment time as sixty days which is the half life of the seeds. My flow is fine at the moment🐎🤞touchwood.
Rgds
Dave

Edited by member 24 Nov 2022 at 12:09  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 12:25

Hi Dave,

I was never told to drink large amounts of water or to stop drinking alcohol ,i think like me in the early days you will be rushing to the toilet many times a day with or without the water. I never changed my diet and drank white wine and still do but don't drink much beer as i used to suffer with Gout and avoid anything with yeast even Marmite that i used to love.

I will not tell you what to eat or drink, but if you need any help i am on here every day just in case a Brachytherapy question comes up.

If you click on my Avatar you can follow my journey so far.

Regards John.

User
Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 13:16
I thought I was pretty well-informed on the biscuit front, but I must admit that prior to this thread I'd never heard of Empire biscuits 🙂.

Chris

User
Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 13:46
Chris this is why this site is so good every day is a school day😂

John yes I have been looking at your bio and your postings, there are not many brachy boys on this forum. I think it is very useful that there is a core of five or six experienced people who have been posting over many years on many topics, it is very reassuring.

Interesting that you mention Gout. I have suffered from Gout for many years ( which I am convinced was started by cheap NHS blood pressure meds 🤬 ). I am on allopurinol for life and I have constantly tested its efficiency with red wine and beer so far 10/10👍

Perhaps someone should start a PhD on the connection between Gout and Prostate cancer🤔

Rgds

Dave

User
Posted 24 Nov 2022 at 14:12

Hi Dave,

I found this site very helpful in the early days with a wealth of information and lovely helpful people and their wives that helped men through the early rabbit in headlights days and I must mention Matron who has a wealth of knowledge and a good sense of humour that keeps us in place.

I had Gout before the blood pressure tablets about every six to eight months but managed to remove most of the things that set it off and it only flares up every two years or so.The only thing i won't give up is white wine and prawns.

If i can offer and help just shout but can't guarantee any of my ideas will be politically correct.

John. 

User
Posted 25 Nov 2022 at 17:26
I am another LDR Brachytherapy case. You have most of the answers, but if there is anything you need to know ask away. I found the information regarding side effects to be a little sparse from the NHS. There might be side effects, at least I had some, but things settle after time. For instance no one thought to mention that my pride and joy would shrink by about 1.5" ( radiation scaring ) or that my orgasms would be dry ( if I managed to have one). I can now say that things have settled and I have got used to the new me. After 4 years my erections are back using Tadalafil and I have some ejaculate ( very small amount , but better than nothing!). John

Gleason 6 = 3+3 PSA 8.8 P. volume 48 cc Left Cores 3/3, Volume = 20% PSA 10.8 Feb '19 PSA 1.2

Jan '20 PSA 0.3 July '20 0.1 Jan. 21 < 0.1 Dec 21 <0.01 June '22 <0.01 April '23  <0.01

User
Posted 25 Nov 2022 at 18:30

Thanks John it has been quite informative going through some of your other posts. I did as much research as I could after my specialist nurse told me that I could get HR/RT or surgery.

I was at a beer festival and an ex colleague worse the wear of beer told me “ my mate had hundreds of little seeds put into his prostrate, he said it was great ( sort of )”. 🍺

That conversation got me looking at LDR Brachytherapy and luckily the MDRT said it was an option.

At the next beer festival my ex colleague can tell people “ I have two mates who have had hundreds of little seeds put into their prostate!”😂

I feel I have had to do a lot of research by myself.

It was also lucky I went to the beer festival.

Rgds
Dave

Edited by member 27 Nov 2022 at 10:27  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 05 Dec 2022 at 20:04

Update. Two weeks on from the procedure.

For the first week I was passing hard stools. The strain of passing these seemed to be causing pressure somewhere and there was a small amount blood in my urine, usually at the last movement of the day. l took a gentle laxative called Lactulose on and off for the first week and this softened the stools and the blood stopped.

I have not noticed any adverse effects from the Tamsulosin.

I have generally been waking up once a night at about 4am, to go to the toilet. This was my normal routine before the procedure. Unfortunately I am having great difficulty getting back to sleep. My mind is racing, nothing to do with the cancer, just the world in general🤔
This is making me more tired in the afternoon and I do generally have a wee lie down after lunch.

On Saturday I tried a Quality of Life experiment and had 3/4 of a bottle of red wine. I did not need to go to the toilet during the night and I thought it was very kind of my body to wake me up at 4am to tell me this!😂

I started my 10,000 steps a day regime the day I got out of hospital.

Hopefully there will not be much more to post. My next clinical meeting will be in approximately three months time, and I will report what is / is not said.

Rgds

Dave

Edited by member 05 Dec 2022 at 20:10  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 17 Dec 2022 at 13:49

Hi Dave, I have recently been diagnosed, Gleason score 7 (3+4) localised T3. Currently gathering info on what to do, so this post of yours is very useful, thank you.

I am an active 64 year old who enjoys golf and gardening, so recovery issues and times scales are important to me. Are there any foods you used to eat that you now have to avoid? Thanks.

 

User
Posted 17 Dec 2022 at 20:58
Hi Paul, diet seems to be one of these subjects which there is a great deal of discussion. Before my diagnosis I was following a keto low carb diet to help me lose weight. After my procedure I cut down on fibre and started eating carbs again. I am about to enter week four after my procedure and my internal radiation is going to peak shortly.

I have decided to go back to keto/fibre as I am having small bowel movements every hour and it is becoming a pain in the @rse ( see what I did there ) it also appears that the pressure of bowel movements has reactivated some blood in my urine.

I think the bottom line is everything in moderation.

I am however, having a sabbatical from spicy food.🌮

Two weeks ago I had a red wine and steak night and had a great nights sleep.

Sorry I can’t offer any more substantial information.

Rgds

Dave

User
Posted 21 Jan 2023 at 11:00
Happy “Half Life”.

It has now been sixty days since my procedure so my emitting radiation of 1.67 Gigabecquerel’s ( GBq ), I have no idea the strength of these units, is now reduced by 50% to 0.83 GBq.

This means I can now stand next to pregnant women, hug children and allow pets to sit on my lap. I still have to wait eighteen months if I want to be cremated ( still not planning that! ).

I have now got into a routine.

I am still on Tamsulosin.

I am only up once a night however I sometimes can’t get back to sleep quickly. This is not due to me thinking about cancer but about the world in general🤬

My bowel movements are normal and I have slowly worked up to managing 90 minutes between pee stops, however the cold weather can cut the pit stops down to 30 mins.

Up until ten days ago I had a slightly uncomfortable feeling in my lower abdomen and groin area. I felt everything was connected and it just didn’t feel right. My testicles were very sensitive ( not in a good way ) to touch.

I found my hair has become very very dry.

The biggest impact on my routine is that I feel the need to sleep 2-3 hours just before lunchtime. This is not a catnap it is full on sleep which is giving me some vivid and surreal dreams and I have stopped using an alarm to wake me as that just made me dopey for the next half hour. I am just letting nature take its course

😴

I cannot finish a small can of beer however red wine seems o.k. I am drinking quite a lot of cranberry juice so l always pretend that is a cheeky wee merlot.🍷

I have my first clinical review on the 1st of March so I will post any changes after that.

Rgds

Dave

User
Posted 21 Jan 2023 at 12:49

Thanks for the update.

Dave

User
Posted 21 Jan 2023 at 14:33

One becquerel is a level of radioactive decay where one atom is decaying every second on average. This is a really low number and the naturally occurring radioactive elements in your body means the whole of your body has a natural level of many thousands of becquerels anyway. Nevertheless, the LDR is going to increase that by probably a million times in the prostate. 1.67GBq is 1,670,000,000 atoms decaying per second and giving off their radiation as a result.

The becquerel is not a very useful unit for treatment effect for a several reasons...

It says nothing about the energy of each radioactive decay, which vary over an enormous spectrum between different isotopes of different elements. Brachytherapy uses low energy radiation so it doesn't travel far in the body (I think not much more than 1cm), and the treatment is thus limited to the area around the seeds. The energy of each decay for Iodine125 is 35keV (kilo electron volts), although mostly from an intermediate decay product. In contrast, the energy of the radiation in external beam which has to pass through much more tissue than 1cm to even reach the prostate is 6MeV, which is 170x more energy per photon. (It would in theory be possible to work out the equivalent becquerels for external beam, but I've no idea what the beam intensity is in terms of photons/second.)

A more useful unit for treatment effect is the Gray (Gy), and this is a measure of the radioactive energy absorbed by a kg of tissue. A prostate LDR brachy is usually 150-170Gy in the case of using Iodine125. This is a high figure compared with any of the other radiotherapy treatments (EBRT 60 or 74Gy, SABR 37Gy, HDR 32Gy) because more energy is required for the same treatment effect the longer the treatment takes, and it's about 200 days for LDR brachytherapy using Iodine125 before the rate of radioactive decay in the seeds drops too low to be treating any more.

User
Posted 21 Jan 2023 at 15:40
Phew! Thanks Andy I hope there is not going to be a written exam after this. I used GBq because that’s the only reference point I have. Not much information has been forthcoming from my doctor🤔

Rgds

Dave

User
Posted 01 Mar 2023 at 16:32

Update! Today I had my first clinical review since my procedure in November. My PSA has fallen from 8.6 to 0.8 in just over three months. My Consultant was very, very pleased and said he very rarely sees such a quick drop ( he said he usually plans for 9-12 months ) and his aim is to get the PSA under 1.0
All my other bloods were ‘normal’.
The Consultant told me he does not really need to be involved any more ( although he will be available if required ) and I will be handed over to a CNS at my local hospital ( so no more excellent empire biscuits for me ☹️)
I can try stopping my Tamsulosin to “see what happens”.
Next check in about six months.
Although I am very happy at the moment I keep having the thought of I hope nobody cocked up the blood test 🤔
Rgds
Dave

Edited by member 23 Apr 2023 at 21:55  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 11 Jun 2023 at 13:43
Just bumping this up to the top as recently there have been a few queries about Brachytherapy and I can’t work out if I can make an internal link.

Rgds

Dave

User
Posted 28 Aug 2023 at 16:58
Update.

Today I had my 6 month review ( 9 months after the procedure ) PSA has fallen from 0.8 to 0.5👍 I am still feeling fatigued so I am going to arrange a general blood test to see if that flags up anything.

I currently have some intermittent light blood indications after a bowel movement. I have been told to keep an eye on it. I was told it could be a fissure ( most likely ) or haemorrhoids ( unlikely no discomfort at the moment ). The elephant in the room ( bowel cancer ) was not mentioned.

Next blood test in 4 months.

Rgds

Dave

User
Posted 29 Aug 2023 at 12:45

Congrats on the low PSA Dave. I only had the Brachy procedure done ten days ago and do feel a little more tired than normal. Hopefully it won't get any worse than that. I hope your blood test helps you. I just also wanted to say that I once suffered from a fissure and it was the most horrendously painful thing that has ever happened to me, so for me there would be no mistaking it for something else. I had mine surgically repaired. 

All the best with it

Tom

User
Posted 29 Aug 2023 at 13:30

Hi Dave,

Don't worry it does get better as days and weeks pass and it will take time for the bruising to go i was black & blue, my psa dropped slowly at every monthly then yearly checks and i did get some blood in poos but was having the normal yearly check ups for cancer from my GP that where coming back clear.I was offered Robotic surgery or Brachytherapy in 2016 and leaned towards Brachytherapy because a friend had the same and had very good results and was back to work very soon after.

I am 7 years on and psa is 0.10 and all good so far.good luck .

John.

 
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