Though I'd update after my treatment, I had 15 sessions EBRT between 13th November and 3rd December. Had a go on all 5 of the LINACs the NNUH has to offer. It started to feel a bit like an odd version of Pokemon Go, I really wanted to see them all, but it was never guaranteed as the machine and times changed sometimes. Throughout though all the staff were lovely. I only had a couple of issues during treatment. On the second session I needed to drink more water as my bladder wasn't full enough, so had a couple more cups of water then wait 20mins before going back in. Then on the last session my bladder was too full and had to attempt to wee out a cup or so, estimating the amount was tricky! This last one was during lunch time, all the others had been in the evening, it seems I absorb water at different rates depending on time of day.
EBRT Side Effects:
Definitely became more wet farty! I'm sure the daily enemas didn't help, but never felt at risk of having any sort of accident and always felt in control. This seem to ease off after a couple of weeks and felt back to normal, just in time for the brachytherapy! I'm sure the rectal spacer helped in minimising these side effects.
After the first full week (I started treatment mid week) I was feel tired and dosed off very easily once back home, this improved from then on though.
Brachytherapy 19th December
At the NNUH this is normally done before the EBRT, I think mine ended up being done after due to the quite late change in my treatment plan which was going to be just 20 sessions of EBRT. The Brac was a day procedure done under general anaesthetic. I felt pretty relaxed about this in the end, I'd already met the Doctor as she also did my spacer. She was great and put me very much at ease, plus I was unconscious! The procedure went as planned, and was done in around 4hrs from what I remember! I was very much hoping to escape the hospital on the same day and without a catheter. I’d chatted with a chap during EBRT and he’d said he’d had to keep one in for 5 days, if I was the same that would have put me very close to Christmas Day which didn't appeal. Anyway after proving I could wee successfully without any fresh blood showing I got the all clear to go home around 3pm without the catheter. So I left with a 5 day course of antibiotics, some strong pain killers and some pills to protect my stomach lining from the pain killers. I skipped the pain killers in the end and protection pills as they didn't sound fun and I was never in any real pain, at most a dull ache.
Brachytherapy Side Effects:
Some blood in urine for a few days (similar to after biopsy) Again more wet farts which developed over the next week or so, still in control though. These are starting to ease off as I write this. The first couple of days after the procedure going for a wee was great, good flow and only up once in the night, I'm guessing the catheter helped open things up? This has gone downhill a bit, up a 2-3 times a night with reduce but not terrible flow. Was put on tamsulosin after the EBRT to combat this. During the day all good, it’s just night time that’s a bit of an issue at the moment.
It's the long term effects I'm more concerned about, only time will tell if and when they start to kick in, but for now I’m feeling good and a lot more positive than this time last year. I have a review in March, but I guess the real test will be when I'm off the Zoladex in 18 months’ time
All the best for 2025 to everyone where ever you are in your journeys