delaying radiotherapy

User

Posted 01 Nov 2024 at 12:39

I have posted on here before, but as this is now a rather different scenario, I am starting a new conversation.

I have locally advanced prostate cancer, have been on prostap3 since February, and should be starting radiotherapy soon. My situation has now changed and I wonder if anyone else had had this kind of thing to contend with.

About 2 or so months ago, I developed a right sided inguinal hernia, which was a recurrance of one I had repaired 35+ years ago. A couple of weeks ago I attend to see the oncologist, who was planning to begin radiotherapy soon. She is not however, happy to go ahead with this until the hernia repair has been done. She explained that radiotherapy can impact upon wound healing, so the only way to go ahead now was to never have the hernia repaired. This is not an option, it is quite big, getting worse, and is not easy to reduce sometimes. I am concerned about the risks of strangulation and having to have emergency surgery. The waiting list for the surgery is 3 months which is pretty good by NHS standards. I have looked into private surgery, and locally to me there is a waiting list also so probably not a great deal to be gained.

I think what I am asking here, are there any members of this community who have had to delay their radiotherapy, for maybe 6 months or so, and what, if any impact it had on their cancer. My diagnosis was early T3a no. This was in January, and no metastases were seen on a bone scan. I have few to no symptoms. My PSA was 5.3 and has now come down to 0.4 after 9 months on prostap. I am continuing on Prostap and the plan is to be on it for 2 years in total.

Love to hear any thoughts on all this.

User

Posted 15 Nov 2024 at 17:12

Hi,

Sorry but I have to be the contradictory one on this. If it was me I'm petty sure I'd want the RT and put up with anything else and not have a holiday. It may be neurotic, but a hernia is an inconvenience and a holiday a frivolity whereas Prostate Cancer can be much more serious. As Bill Shankly didn't say.

That they say they'll control it with injections means they're not looking for a long term remedy so RT is a plus as presumably it's for a possible cure and longer term solution.

Granted that some people say it's slow moving etc and are more risk tolerant and perhaps some might say more rational but I'd always weigh up the biggest downside.

All the best, Peter

User

Posted 31 Dec 2024 at 16:19

Thank you for that. Yes the family are very supportive. My grand daughter, now she knows the surgery is to be quite soon has banned me from going out meeting people, or seeing her little girl in case he picks up some bug or other that she's brought from nursery. She has given strict instructions, must not do anything to jeopardise this surgery. !!

User

Posted 08 Mar 2025 at 23:37

Yes, hormone therapy is treatment.

However, some specialist insurers will say to list current and outstanding treatments excluding hormone therapy (such as Staysure), so you might do better to go with an insurer specialising in medical conditions, who will more precisely assess your risk.

You will get penalised for having only just been treated - the longer ago the treatment was, the lower the premium gets.

User

Posted 25 Oct 2025 at 13:11

I am posting what, I sincerely hope, will be a final update to my prostate cancer journey. Having completed my radiotherapy, I am very happy to report very few, if any side effects. Now and again have to pee frequently but that's probably more related to what I am eating and drinking. No bowel issues now, and hardly any at the time. I went on a pretty full on trip to Italy a month after completing the treatment, and was fine.

I had my 6 month appointment with the oncologist, telephone but that's OK with me. My psa is 0.02, which is pretty much considered to undetectable and comparable with that following surgery. She's very pleased, and I have to only have one more Prostap injection in January.

I had reported some issues with travel insurance, and the Prostate Cancer proved to be hardly any issue at all following completion of the treatment. So anyone who is anxious about this, there are options out there. Unfortuantely, and unbelievably, I also have high blood pressure and cholesterol, knee arthritis, and asthma. A chest infection has caused them to cancel my insurance. Who would have believed it, how many people out there with asthma get chest infections, but that's considered too much of a risk.

But, I am now cool with it all. I might have not caught the cancer soon enough, and wouldn't have been going anywhere, insurance or no. So bite the bullet and pay I guess.

I just wanted in this post to say thanks to all those who have responded and had kind and encouraging words to say. I don't imagine this is especially a group any man wants to joint, but given it has happened, it's so helpful to 'talk' to people who had been, or are going through this. More often than not, it will be OK in the end, just make sure to keep a really close eye on your own health and body, and if something doesn't seem right, then don't be put off by any doctor who tells you don't worry it'll be nothing. More often than not, it won't, be sometimes it will and the sooner you know about it the better.

I am beginning to sound like a woman with all this talk about personal health, must be the Prostap!!

Show Most Thanked Posts

User

Posted 01 Nov 2024 at 13:17

Doing more than 3 months on HT before RT is fine, providing your PSA is still dropping, so make sure you are getting PSA tests every 3 months (or more often). Some oncologists want 6 months on HT first anyway. It's also good to do at least 18 months HT after the RT, which might mean lengthening the total HT a little in your case.

User

Posted 01 Nov 2024 at 14:32

Thanks for that. It did occur to me that I may have to continue longer with the prostap, which is fine. Given that one of the options presented to me was to continue with the prostap for life and nothing else. Control rather than cure. The other, obviously the radiotherapy.

I am keen to have the radiotherapy despite the possible side effects. I agree that a good idea would be the psa's in the intervening time. They tell me I don't really need them now, but I have insisted anyway. A big drop came after the first 3 months of prostap from 5.3 to 0.5. Then I didn't have one, and then there was a small drop to 0.4 from my last one. I am going to the GP for the injections now, so they will both arrange and monitor it. I assume.

Urology have discharged me to GP and oncology, with a proviso I can self refer if I want/need to

User

Posted 01 Nov 2024 at 21:04

As Andy says, the majority of prostate cancers are testosterone dependent which means HT keeps them at bay. The results suggest it is working in your case.

Obviously radio will have to be delayed while the hernia is dealt with - and HT might have to be prolonged to match - but that shouldn't stop the eventual treatment dealing with your PC. You might find yourself waiting longer to recover from the hormone side effects though.

User

Posted 01 Nov 2024 at 21:23

You were diagnosed in Jan 2024 and if you wait until Jan 25 for the hernia op, it will probably be Feb before you get your radiotherapy. As others have said as long as the PSA doesn't start to increase the wait is not a problem.

Dave

User

Posted 02 Nov 2024 at 10:41

Thanks to all for taking the time to reply. I have now forwarded all the information to the radiotherapy team, and they are going to pass it along to the oncologist for her view.

I am hoping, keeping fingers crossed, that she might be able to communicate the need for this surgery to be fast tracked, but if there is no slot, then they can't knit one can they.

However, given that they were happy to give me the option of no radiotherapy at all, and just control it with injections, i find it hard to see how they'd think a few months delay might be seriously contraindicated. The most frustrating thing is the inability to plan due to the uncertainty of it all. We like our holidays, and already have one booked which we may or not be able to take. We dare not book any more just in case.

As far as the prostap goes, I am very fortunate I think to have had few bad symptoms from this. I get the occasional hot flush, but come and go quickly. Put a bit of weight on which will have to be addressed at some stage. Get more emotional, which for a bloke isn't really a bad thing. Otherwise, so far, nothing that concerns me.

User

Posted 02 Nov 2024 at 18:57

I was diagnosed Oct 2015 with locally advanced PCa, T3b, psa 21 gleason 8 (later upped to 9). Plan was 3 years Zoladex, with 37 sessions RT. I did have flow problems and onco suggested TURP before RT as that could make it worse. Ended up starting RT 1 Dec 2016, no issues, no problems. Obviously the ADT was doing what it should, I also had abiraterone, enzalutimide, steroids for 2yrs on trial.

Peter

User

Posted 15 Nov 2024 at 16:10

As a further update to this, my oncologist is most unhappy about this situation. Having given the radiotherapy team the news that they don't need to put a plan in place just now, as I am waiting for the surgeon to give me a date for the hernia surgery. Might not be until early next year. I also asked them if it would be possible to delay it until late May, if it turned out that the treatment would impinge into a holiday I have booked in early May. The radiotherapy team seemed cool about this

As already mentioned the oncologist is most unhappy with it. Her secretary called me, and although she didn't say this in so many words, I could tell from her voice that this is not at all satisfactory. She said they were going to write to the surgeon to see if he could expedite the surgery. My daughter is a GP secretary and she laughed when she heard this. She said she hoped they would e-mail and not send an actual letter in the post!! But at the same time, told me in no uncertain terms that the radiotherapy is more important than the holiday, that she and her husband are also booked for.

I began my Prostap 3 in February this year. The protocol of the hospital I attend is that radiotherapy takes place 6-9 months after this. Which is where I am now. So following on from this, is anyone who has/had T3a NO MO disease gleason 4+5 (what they call high risk), PSA now 0.4, delayed their radiotherapy beyond the 9 months period. The hernia situation can't be helped, we all know this. The holiday of course can be cancelled if worse came to worse, even though it means losing some money. My daughter is very adamant, my health comes first and there will always be another holiday. I get that, of course I do, but I'd love to be able to find some good quality research that can show how risky it actually is to delay the radiotherapy. My wife is getting pretty twitchy about delaying it for the hernia, but that has to be no matter what. So far, I've had no luck. If anyone can help with this also I'd be grateful.

User

Posted 15 Nov 2024 at 17:12

Hi,

That they say they'll control it with injections means they're not looking for a long term remedy so RT is a plus as presumably it's for a possible cure and longer term solution.

Granted that some people say it's slow moving etc and are more risk tolerant and perhaps some might say more rational but I'd always weigh up the biggest downside.

All the best, Peter

User

Posted 15 Nov 2024 at 17:49

I would disagree that a holiday is a frivolity. It's one of those activities that gives quality of life. Quality of life at the age of 77 is important. Long life without quality is no life. However, I would agree that this particular holiday can be cancelled, and if necessary will be, as per daughter's very vociferous instructions. And oncologist's concerns.

The hernia is NOT an inconvenience. This a large inguinal hernia from a failed repair done about 35 years ago. It is painful, impinges again on quality of life, and is at risk of strangulation. Therefore the repair is necessary before the radiotherapy, due to RT impairing on healing, not just now but for a considerable length of time. Probably more time than I have. Strangulated hernia is emergency surgery, infinitely more risky than planned surgery.

Imagine a scenario in the future. Hernia strangulates, emergency surgery under GA which is a bad thing for me due to other medical conditions. Poor or no healing, risk of infection etc. So where is the quality of life there. Or maybe loss of life. So die from the more likely hernia risks rather than the possible prostate risks. Sometimes one risk has to be played against another. The oncologist is willing to take the risk of waiting for the hernia surgery, whilst at the same time trying to expedite it. She is clearly not, however, willing to have me take the risk of delaying further to take a holiday. And for that I can't blame her, she is after all wanting the best outcome too.

User

Posted 15 Nov 2024 at 18:18

Know i've commented before - I was T3b N0M0 gleason 8 on diagnosis upped to 9 after a TURP. I started on HT right away. The RT was delayed until the TURP carried out as RT likely to make urine flow worse. I ended up having the RT 12 months after diagnosis, with full agreement of oncologist, the Zoladex doing its job (also had abiraterone, enzalutimide, prednisolone on trial).

I developed an inguinal hernia couple of yeas ago, fixed a year ago, it caused me a lot of pain and stopped me doing a lot of things fairly often, at times couldn't push the thing back to where it belonged, wouldnt have minded if just uncomfortable but was very painful.

Peter

User

Posted 15 Nov 2024 at 18:39

John,

At 77, a quality of life holiday which could be your last free without concern or dealings of side effects is absolutely a major consideration. Forgetting cancer, we all can be gone in an instant. Having that opportunity is huge especially in light of one consideration your Radiation team was saying it was fine to wait. I knew I had my cancer and the Surgeon was saying he did not think it was a good idea to hold off on it and the soonest available appointment was best. Well his soonest available put it in late June while our daughter was home for summer college break. I said no I am fine for in my case 6 weeks longer and went until mid August three days after returning our daughter to college. I was going to have a quality of life summer with our daughter not knowing how things could pan out.

User

Posted 15 Nov 2024 at 20:18

It's very interesting to read all the different perspectives on this. Having mentioned before that my daughter is very keen that I do the radiotherapy as soon as feasibly possible, deal with the holiday situation later, I don't think perhaps she, and maybe me neither are considering the effect possible side effects may have on life in the future.

From this being a very difficult decision, i.e. delay and go on holiday, to an easier one, i.e. delay just as long as is necessary and get the radiotherapy as soon as possible, to another difficult one, consider the implications of the side effects and its effect on life/holidays etc. I think I am possibly a little in denial about the side effects, I tend to always look on the positive side and think that either I won't have them, or they won't be too bad, which is maybe not very rational.

Having done nothing but mull this over for the past few weeks, and coming up with a different decision every time, I wonder if I should try to get another appointment with the oncology team, and have a proper discussion about the risks of delaying, and how much different a few weeks will make. At the time of my last oncology appointment I think they believed the hernia surgery would be done pretty quickly, but the surgeon, correctly does not consider it to be an emergency. Waiting for 10-12 weeks, considering how the NHS is currently, seems to be a pretty short wait, but maybe not so much for a person needing cancer treatment.

User

Posted 15 Nov 2024 at 20:18

Just a thought is the impact on healing the same if you have 5 sessions of SABR? Would have thought given the accuracy of this it might be possible to do both??

User

Posted 16 Nov 2024 at 02:32

There is never any harm in asking but I see you mention 37 fractions of RT so not even the 20 fraction alternative that hes generally come to replace it.

Even with all the scans and tests to hand, one can never be certain how PCa will develop but the chances are that as you are already on HT if your PSA remains stable your RT could be delayed to enable your hernia op to precede it if there is not an undue delay in doing the surgery.

When I was diagnosed in 2007, HT was typically given for 3 months prior to RT. Also, some RadioOncologistts wanted PSA to fall to a certain level before administering RT. Around this time studies found that results were improved if the HT period was increased from 3 to 6 months. For reasons that are not relevant, I could not have my RT before being on HT for 8 months. I contacted my Oncologist at the Royal Marsden and he told me in writing that the extra 2 months "would do no harm at all". But that was applicable to me. It would have been interesting to learn whether this pre RT period of HT could have been further extended but the situation did not call for a greater extension.

A more detailed talk with your Oncologist would seem to be a sensible thing to have.

Barry

User

Posted 16 Nov 2024 at 22:07

It is worth checking with your consultant, but for the vast majority of cancers HT stops them progressing so nothing problematic will result by spending longer on it before having RT. If resolving the hernia and having a great family holiday is then possible, the longer HT side effects may be worth it.

The RT is intended to be curative, so you can come off HT eventually, but it has its own side effects.

User

Posted 16 Nov 2024 at 23:37

Hi John,

That's good push-back on my post.

Your hernia sounds worse than I thought and after doing a little research there seems to be a specific reason not to do surgery while you have Inguinal hernia, in the case below it can damage the intestine from what I make of it.

Frivolity might have been a bit strong although to me it would be ensuring the holiday fits between treatment and doesn't delay it. That happened to me on a booked holiday.

The short search found this case which might be different than yours. I haven't read it in any depth.

.......................................................................................................

Ref https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7752598/

'A 76‐year‐old patient with intermediate‐risk prostate cancer was referred to our radiation oncology unit for definitive treatment after androgen deprivation therapy for 8 months. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral inguinal hernias anterior to the prostate (Figure 1). To avoid radiation exposure to the hernia contents, we prioritized hernia repair surgery over radiotherapy with continuing androgen deprivation therapy. Three‐dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) was initiated 1 month after surgery (Figure 2), which was completed successfully.'

................................................................................................

The search came up with some cancers where they do RT before surgery so it is possible in some cases.

Anyway I won't go on as it sounds like you have enough voices in your head. Good luck. Regards Peter

User

Posted 31 Dec 2024 at 14:54

Peter 2016

Thanks for the link, I had in fact read this, my grand daughter found it for me. It applies to me, but not for the reasons in the article. I am not having photon radiotherapy, but the oncologist said that the potential issue with radiotherapy first, and surgery after is the affect it has on healing rather than the hernia being in the radiotherapy beam. The hernia is a recurrent one, and as such (evidently), is a bit more complex than a new hernia.

I have now got a date for this, but just at the moment, I can't find out how long after the surgery the radiotherapy can take place. ASAP as far as the radiologists are concerned but I guess the issues around healing apply here also. Oh well, onwards and upwards, the very least I can say is that all should be done and dusted before the summer.

User

Posted 31 Dec 2024 at 15:01

Hi John, May it work out well. Your family is giving good support. Peter

User

Posted 31 Dec 2024 at 16:19

User

Posted 09 Feb 2025 at 15:03

I am on here now updating my situation, as you have all been so kind as to help with your comments.

I am now planned for radiotherapy - yaaay. Have had the planning ct, just an mri to go, and the sessions start on 27th February, 20 sessions in all. I had my hernia surgery on 16th January, and have made an amazing recovery from this. The oncologist was pleased and gave the go ahead to start the treatment.

One thing I am a little confused about is the time of arrival at the hospital. My RT treatment is at 9.10, every day the same fortunately, but I have been given a time to pass urine and start drinking which is 45 minutes before. I am very fortunate in that I am eligible for patient transport, and my grand daughter is a planner for this!! I was a bit uncertain that I might be getting preferential treatment because of her, but no, everyone in my situation is automatically entitled to it.

I have to give her the details for the planning now. Any of you on here that has gone through this, would you recommend that they plan to have me at the hospital for the earlier drink time, rather than the RT time. I can easily drink on route, but am a little nervous of traffic interfering, or some other unforseen situation preventing me getting there in time.

I am getting a bit panicky now I think, more to do with making sure all the elements of the treatment are in place than the actual treatment. I did notice when I was there for the planning ct, several men sitting in the waiting room with their little drink bottles and waiting, but a couple just turned up with a bottle in hand and went straight through. They could have been sitting elsewhere of course I guess. And then there is all the bowel emptying as well, getting that right. It's very complicated isn't it.

anyway, if anyone has anything to tell me that will help me get this all straight in my head I'd appreciate it. I find to have advice for people who have been through it is more valuable than advice even from the hospital staff.

User

Posted 09 Feb 2025 at 18:38

Hi John,

No need to panic, the staff are excellent.

I had SRT a couple of years ago and the procedure then was to turn up and wait, they would then ask me to empty my bladder and start taking on water. Having said that, the procedure may differ at your treatment centre.

I think that using patient transport adds another dimension. There may be additional delays while you wait for the transport so it might be worth considering a book to read and a snack. Also, as your treatment progresses, you may need a toilet stop on your way home.

Last year I gave my mate a lift for his radiotherapy treatment, and while I sat outside I often observed several people waiting some time for their transport home. It was a busy site on the outskirts of London.

Good luck,

Kev.

Edited by member 09 Feb 2025 at 18:43 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 09 Feb 2025 at 19:23

Hi John

i had a course of 20 sessions of RT in June - July 2024. The idea is that you drink a volume of water which they should have told you at the planning scan at least 45 mins before your RT treatment as a full bladder state is required for RT scan. That timing is crucial as it takes about that time for water drunk to seep into the bladder. The rationale is that a full bladder pushes the bladder away from zapping by the RT beams thus protective. They may have asked you also to empty your bowel an hour before RT treatment - to protect the bowel from zapping.

The folks you see drinking are either being told to drink more water after when they got onto RT scan, their bladder checked and found to be below safe level of fullness. They could also be drinking their water there and wait 45 mins before their RT time.

Expect to need wee very urgently by the time your RT zapping finishes (my zapping took less than 3mins once it starts). I came close to wetting on the scanner and had 2 accidents in the changing room. The nurses and assistants were very understanding as they see accidents! RT does that to you from after 2-4 sessions. It affects the bowel in the same way too! Piece of advice, have a wee before you get in car for home and be prepared to stop on way. I bought a wee flask from Amazon and put on men’s pad lol!

Good luck, you’ll be fine and the sessions goes quickly! Eddie

User

Posted 10 Feb 2025 at 07:10

John , you could try practicing the timing at home. Drink the amount of water you have told to drink at 45 minutes before your appointment time. See if you can hold it for and hour ,the extra fifteen minutes allows for time on the table. Get a urine bottle so you can measure how much urine is in the bladder. The next day repeat the same but see how much urine you have after 45 minutes,the time you go on the table.

Thousands of guys have been through the same thing the hospital will look after you. I was told I could use a urine bottle in the treatment room if desperate. I only had to drink twenty minutes before the treatment time and that was hard to do, but I got through it. You may find your urgency and timing alter as the treatment progresses.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 10 Feb 2025 at 18:36

I had 37 sessions of RT as primary treatment plus ADT. As has been mentioned different hospjtals have slightly different procedures re full bladder/empty bowel etc (position of the cancer could have a bearing as well). I had my RT at Clatterbridge, Wirral and I got to the hospital (less than 10min drive) used the mini enema etc and when 'finished' went to waiting area. When it was obvious I'd be on table in 20mins or so the staff would check I'd done 1st part (enema) and told to drink 3 cups of water. This meant didnt have to worry about when to drink water etc.

Peter

User

Posted 11 Feb 2025 at 13:10

Hi everybody, and thanks for the responses. My grand daughter, who I mentioned does the planning for patient transport has had to plan these journeys for many in my position, and basically they plan so you arrive just before the drinking time, and ignore the actual radiotherapy time. So i know where I am with this now. Downside of this is you are expected to be ready 2 hours before you hospital arrival time, so given mine is 8.25 looks like some early starts. Although she did say they are unlikely to come at that time, you just have to be ready in case.

I am probably getting worried with no reason, the hospital do this multiple times every day, so they obviously know what they are doing!! Just want it to start and get it over with now.

User

Posted 04 Mar 2025 at 10:24

Hello again to everyone who has been so kind with their responses. I have now begun my radiotherapy treatment, have had 3 very straightforward treatments so far. But guess what, this time not so straightforward, and i wanted to ask if anyone else had these issues throughout their treatment.

Before I started, the radiographer told me to take the enema the night before the treatment. This seemed to have worked, but yesterday, they said my bowel wasn't totally empty, although it was empty enough for them to proceed. They then advised to take the enema in the morning before leaving home for the treatment. I did, and it worked pretty much straight away at home.

When I got onto the machine for the treatment they weren't able to do it as they said my bowel wasn't empty enough. So I then had to go and use another enema, which worked, and start from the beginning with emptying and filling my bladder. As I mentioned before I was having patient transport, which involved leaving home very early, but I have now been given a permit to park for free. I initially hadn't wanted to drive there and park as the car park at this hospital is nightmare to get in and find a space. However, they did tell me as my appointments are early, the chances are the car park wouldnt be likely to have filled up. So I am going to try this, so I should be able to leave home a little later.

Is this something that happens, occasionally, or often or what. I have struck up a conversation with another chap in the waiting room who is 7 treatments ahead of me, and he hasn't had this happen to him. I'm not sure now which is the best way round this, and would be interested to hear what regime others have been subjected to.

User

Posted 04 Mar 2025 at 20:48

John, it is embarrassing when that happens but it is common. I and most people here have found themselves at some point during radiotherapy being "wrong" and having to sort out rectum or bladder contents before treatment. In my experience the radiotherapy staff are very understanding and patient, they have seen this all many times before.

And I too had some bonding with fellow patients in the waiting room, sharing experiences and in one case establishing a friendship which continues.

I don't know whether free parking during cancer treatment is universal, but my hospital had that too. As you say, best with early appointments before all the outpatients and visitors arrive.

User

Posted 05 Mar 2025 at 09:31

Good to know it's not just me!! She did explain right at the start how 'picky' they are about everything being exactly right, as they should of course. They were very understanding, it's not an issue, there is always a space for such eventualities. They suggested a slightly amended bowel regime, and will see how that works. Might mean being at the hospital just a tad earlier, but I only have 14 more early starts, so that's OK.

User

Posted 05 Mar 2025 at 10:14

Hi John, I took the enema as soon as I arrived at the hospital. This was usually about an hour before the treatment. That seemed to work. I also got a diet sheet advising what food to eat and foods to avoid. They are rightly particular about the bladder and the bowel as gas or lack of hydration can change the position of these. I had a couple of days where my bladder was less full despite drinking the same amount of water. Because they tend to do scans they can determine whether everything is within tolerance which is very reassuring. I hope the rest of your sessions go well. Best wishes, Ian.

Ido4

User

Posted 05 Mar 2025 at 17:20

Hi - yes that is what they now advise. First of all they advised doing the enema the night before, as it appeared to take quite a while to work. But now that seems not to work, so they ask me to get there one hour before the treatment rather than 45 minutes. Do the enema first as soon as I arrive, and then do the bladder emptying and filling 45 minutes before.

My wife was a bit concerned that, once i'd started filling my bladder, if I then had to empty my bowel, I would have to wee as well!! No, that doesn't happen for me, women are made very differently down there (as we all know), so it wouldn't be a problem for me.

Today is a later appointment, and it will be the first time I do the new regime so we'll see. I knew before I started that I could be in the department anything from one to two hours and I now know why!! They also gave me a great deal of dietary advice, no peas, beans, sprouts etc, no caffeinated drinks, little alcohol, and keep well hydrated. All that's worked fine, but am definitely missing the 'wind' making foods. But it's only for 4 weeks, hardly a lifetime.

I really appreciate that people take the time to respond, its really reassuring. My wife has been in contacted with our local cancer charity, who support people in treatment, and those who are supporting them. They're really great, so kind and helpful, and provide 4 free complementary treatments, massages and the like. They asked had I been in touch with, or looked at the prostatecancer uk website, and was happy to tell them about this wonderful forum.

User

Posted 05 Mar 2025 at 18:24

Yes the preparation for RT can be a bit awkward but as has been said many times the staff have seen it all before and are well aware of potential difficulties.

I had 37 sessions of RT to prostate & pelvic area, completed Dec 2018. This was at Clatterbridge, Wirral and their policy was take enema when getting to hospital let that do its stuff then, when the staff knew you were about 20mins from the table drink 3 cups of water, this worked well as sometimes there were delays. I was advised to more or less stick to same diet altho leave out wind producing veg as, for me anyway, they said change in diet can have an adverse effect. I didnt cut down on coffee etc neither tho dont drink alcohol.

I thought hospitals gave free parking to those attending regulatory tho sometimes have to apply/request? Clatterbridge has dedicated free car park for cancer patients tho sadly pretty busy most times!

Peter

User

Posted 05 Mar 2025 at 20:38

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

My wife was a bit concerned that, once i'd started filling my bladder, if I then had to empty my bowel, I would have to wee as well!! No, that doesn't happen for me....

Good for you then! My similar embarrassment moment was actually the planning scan. I had gone through the procedure of taking a laxative the night before (my hospital didn't ask for an enema), pooing in the morning. and then arriving early and drinking the required volume - to discover my bowel was too full. I was given what they called a "mini enema" which worked perfectly except that I weed as well, and had to go through the whole business of drinking and waiting all over again. I felt awful, but credit to the staff for being so considerate over it.

It is all part of the journey.....

User

Posted 05 Mar 2025 at 21:36

Hi John,

it’s a pity if your appointments are not all about the same time, as I think your body gets into a routine and knows what’s coming at certain times. The one time my treatment was delayed because they were running late was the time I really struggled on the table…and the radiographer was there waiting with the pee bottle when it was finished…just had to laugh..they’ve seen it all before. I actually wore a pad during the last few sessions just in case.

good luck with the rest of your treatment.

Derek

User

Posted 06 Mar 2025 at 10:58

Thanks all, I am reassured that so many of you have gone through the same thing. Not that I would wish any of this on anyone, but it has to be done and hopefully all will be well in the end.

Interesting the point about the appointment times. Most of mine are scheduled for 9.10 am (arrive and drink time 8.25) Since the 'failed' preparation, the next two appointments were later, the first one went OK, the second is today. My new regime, suggested by the staff, is to empty bladder, drink the water, then use the enema, as fortunately up to now I won't wee at the same time. Yesterday it worked, today we'll see. I won't get into such a tizz about it in the future. It is what it is.

I am finding, after 5 treatments, that I am needing to wee rather more frequently, and am having to get up in the night, which luckily for me has never been a problem. But again, my wife keeps telling me, welcome to my world. She has IBS so knows about bowel issues, and due to childbirth, as many older women, has pelvic floor issues too. Seems to me that we need to get a 'where is the nearest toilet' app when we go somewhere different. Presuming there is such a thing.

User

Posted 08 Mar 2025 at 15:38

Hi, I'm here again asking questions as I appreciate the fact that people do take the time and trouble to respond.

I am now a third of the way through my radiotherapy, doing OK, no side effects yet to speak of, maybe a bit more tired, and having to wee rather more often. I think it's that I am not quite able to empty my bladder fully, so need to go again fairly soon afterwards. Much worse if I have drunk any alcohol (beer), due to the volume, and it's getting now that I might have to stop for the next couple of weeks. Meet my mates in the pub once a week, and shall continue to do so, but I'll go for the chat not the drink!! No doubt some of you have had similar experiences.

My question though, is about travel insurance. The dreaded travel insurance. My insurer, done through my bank, declined to cover me due to the prostate cancer, and awaiting treatment. I have done a test run online, as things will be after the radiotherapy has ended, but have been a bit confused by the question 'has treatment ended'. As far as I am concerned it has, nothing else is planned or even being considered, but I am to continue on Prostap 3 for another 10 months. So I'm not sure how to answer this question. I have tried calling them, but they take forever to answer the phone so currently have given up. Don't go away until May so not desperate just now.

Would you consider Prostap to be treatment? I thought it is simply to reduce testosterone, therefore removing 'food' for the cancer to grow, and continuing after radiotherapy is to help make sure it doesn't start to regrow. Preventative rather than treatment. I may be wrong, I am certain there will be many out there who have found themselves in this position and I'm interested to know how they dealt with it.

User

Posted 08 Mar 2025 at 17:27

John , not an insurance broker or lawyer, Google prostap and you get this.

"is also known as Prostap or Staladex. It is used in the treatment of prostate cancer and"

They may interpret that as you are still having treatment. The RT also continues to work after the sessions have finished. Better to pay £1k up front rather than £20k because sometimes goes wrong.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 08 Mar 2025 at 23:37

Yes, hormone therapy is treatment.

You will get penalised for having only just been treated - the longer ago the treatment was, the lower the premium gets.

User

Posted 22 Mar 2025 at 14:12

I am pleased to say that I have discovered I will be able to get my travel insurance back. I finally after several goes at calling them, got through to a person. She assured me that when answering the question about treatment, this excluded hormone therapy. So once the radiotherapy is ended I can honestly answer the question 'are you currently having treatment' with no, then she couldn't see there would be a problem.

User

Posted 25 Oct 2025 at 13:11

But, I am now cool with it all. I might have not caught the cancer soon enough, and wouldn't have been going anywhere, insurance or no. So bite the bullet and pay I guess.

I am beginning to sound like a woman with all this talk about personal health, must be the Prostap!!

User

Posted 25 Oct 2025 at 18:19

So nice to see your posting John! Stay well, good luck and enjoy!

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