Ldr brachytherapy newbie

User

Posted 30 Mar 2025 at 10:54

Thanks again Paul.

It's a cracking day out there so I'd say your ripping up the golf course again!

Cheers for softening me up for the possible chance of the bounce, I can imagine that it's a little bit soul destroying when you want the numbers going the other way, but sure we can only live in the moment we're in as my mate keeps drilling into my head.

I think the missus blind sided me with the van, she had been banging on about it over the last two years and next thing it's in the driveway! Your boat sounds like it was a fabulous bit of kit.I certainly will tap into your knowledge on 12v electrics along the way, this project will be a challenge for sure.

You make sure to get a nice holiday ( and a new boat) in the near future and hopefully you get positive results on your next psa blood test🤞🤞

Thanks again and keep well.

Bryan

User

Posted 13 Apr 2025 at 15:44

Quick update, 9 weeks out from the procedure.

I have been struggling a bit with toilet trips increasing to 15/20 a day, with an urge to get there quick, a pause before anything comes out and burning/verging on painful sensation during and after. Worse if I have anything to drink after about 8pm, then it's 4/5 times during the night. Also have a bit of pain and discomfort generally in the prostate area, I have previously had prostatitis and would say this is similar, pain wise. I got a bit ahead of myself and made the mistake of drinking 1/2 bottle of red wine one night, which definitely made things worse for me next day. I'm considering halting my 2 cups of coffee in the morning next, to see if that improves matters.

I've had my CAT scan and everything seemed OK and the implants in the right place, doing my first PSA the week after this one. Consultant on the 5th May.

I have booked a holiday abroad for the day after the consultant appt, hoping things will have improved a bit by then. I got my card from the hospital explaining the procedure if I set off the X Ray machines.

Overall though, everything has been positive and hoping this is a minor phase that will pass.

User

Posted 13 Apr 2025 at 19:00

Sounds a bit annoying KPC - are you religiously taking Tamsulosin (or Alfusozin)? Might be worth trying to speak to your CNS or consultant even before your next appointment - my consultant prescribed me another tablet to take if I had problems with the waterworks which the Alfusozin didn't help with. I never needed it but the fact it was prescribed rather indicates that (a) they expect a more 'severe' reaction in some people and (b) there are obviously other drugs out there which may help with the initial side effects 🤷‍♂️

Other thing may be to just get a dip test at your GP to rule out a UTI as its pretty similar sounding symptoms.

Good to hear everything else is going OK though and I'd be pretty confident things will settle down over time - although I don't think I had quite the same reaction as you, I definitely remember an increased urgency and frequency but 2 years on nearly and I'm now 100% back to where I was pre procedure.

User

Posted 13 Apr 2025 at 20:06

Hey KPC

I'm only back from holidays and it went petty well I think, we did loads of the usual and plenty of walks.

The only thing I made sure of was to have my next toilet break well planned , I've found that mind over matter can play a big part if I don't know where the next stop is.

Otherwise I'm going pretty good I think and hope, go enjoy yourself and relax.

Bryan

Edited by member 13 Apr 2025 at 20:08 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 13 Apr 2025 at 20:45

Thanks folks - Did you have any problems at the airport @Bryaner?

I'm going to give the hospital a quick call tomorrow and see if I need change of drug or a test for a UTI. Things have been going very well up to now, so it's hopefully a minor setback.

Edited by member 13 Apr 2025 at 20:46 | Reason: spelling

User

Posted 13 Apr 2025 at 20:56

No bother at the airport at all ( even though I wanted to flash my card😅😅)

I hope you get all sorted before your trip, and the best of luck.

Bryan

User

Posted 13 Apr 2025 at 21:12

No airport alarms for me either when I flew 6 weeks post op....beginning to think it's all a myth 😂

Edited by member 13 Apr 2025 at 21:13 | Reason: 6 weeks not 8!

User

Posted 17 Apr 2025 at 16:50

Got checked by the GP for a UTI and it's come back all clear. Hospital saying it's the peak of the radiation so things are just a bit agitated - Should settle in a couple of weeks. They've also recommended Tamsulosin is increased to twice a day for a month.

In the meantime, no coffee, tea or strong drink for me.

User

Posted 17 Apr 2025 at 20:48

Not entirely unexpected KPC - I'm sure things will settle down in the coming weeks and perhaps the extra dose of Tamsulosin will do the trick in the meantime.

Shame about the caffeine and wine but good luck and all the best - hopefully you can re-introduce the vices in short order! 😂

User

Posted 01 May 2025 at 16:31

I've just had my first PSA back. 3.2. Down from 4.6 - That's after 11 weeks. I'm heading for the consultant appointment on Monday, so I should get a better idea if everything is heading in the right direction then.

Have a great weekend folks.

User

Posted 01 May 2025 at 20:23

Heading the right way KPC, let's hope it keeps going that way.

Enjoy the holiday

User

Posted 01 May 2025 at 21:40

Hi KPC, I’ve been following the original post and your journey as I’ve just had Brachytherapy and the side effects you described after 11 weeks I’m just going through something very similar after about 5 weeks. For me it’s been quite comforting reading someone else is going through a very similar situation, makes me happier that it is “normal”. I’ve been on 2 Tamulosin for 6 days but am thinking of going back to 1 after tomorrow as my consultant thought 1 week was max time I should be on 2 a day, something about lowering the blood pressure. Hope your consultation goes well on Monday and have a great holiday.

User

Posted 01 May 2025 at 22:27

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Sounds good KPC 👍 it may be 1, 2 or even 3 years before you reach your post brachy nadir but a 30% decrease within 3 months looks like a good start 🍻

User

Posted 01 May 2025 at 22:42

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hi KPC.....

....For me it’s been quite comforting reading someone else is going through a very similar situation, makes me happier that it is “normal”. I’ve been on 2 Tamulosin for 6 days but am thinking of going back to 1 after tomorrow as my consultant thought 1 week was max time I should be on 2 a day, something about lowering the blood pressure. Hope your consultation goes well on Monday and have a great holiday.

Hi John,

Of course, everyone is different but the first few months post Brachy are the most likely to throw up the most accute radiation side effects - so you're right not to get too anxious at this stage, I'm sure it will improve 👍

I'm not medically qualified and I don't know your history but as far as I was aware, double dosing Tamulosin isn't an issue normally - if it's helping your symptoms make sure you check with your GP/CNS/Consultant before altering your regime 👍

All the best!

User

Posted 07 May 2025 at 10:51

I'm happy to start my own thread, as I am conscious I'm on someone else's at the moment. Just let me know.

I was due to go on holiday on Monday, after my consultant's appt, but I've not been very mobile and developed a few side effects I have been dealing with, so I postponed for a few months.

In the weeks before I went to my consultant appt, about 10 weeks out from treatment, I developed a constant pain in the region of the prostate. I would describe this as like having prostatitis (constant throb with occasional worse stabs), which I was prone to for many years before being diagnosed with PC and treated. I was taking paracetomol and brufen for this, but last weekend it wasn't having much effect. The upping of the dose of Tamusolin has dealt with the previously described urination issues, which are much milder than a few weeks back.

Anyway, I went on Monday and the consultant was happy with the PSA drop, said 2 Tamusolin are fine unless there are any side effects and not too concerned about the pain, saying just keep going with the regime and things will settle down.

Unfortunately, the symptoms got worse later on Monday and I went to the GP yesterday, who prescribed antibiotics for prostatitis and gave me codeine for the pain. Within 2 hrs of taking them, I was doubled up in agony with stomach cramps. I read the side effects and this seems to be classic reaction, so I'm now waiting for a call back to see what to do next.

So, I'm updating my journey for anyone considering brachytherapy who may have suffered from prostatitis, as it appears the radiation doesn't agree with it and it can cause unwanted side effects. Anyone else had any such issues?

Edited by member 07 May 2025 at 10:55 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 18 May 2025 at 20:43

Hi Kevin,

What a nightmare. I've not heard of existing prostatitis being a contra indication for brachytherapy yet I know there are other things that would absolutely preclude BT as a treatment path.

Bumping in case anyone else has experience and hoping everything has settled down for you a bit in the last week or so.

Edited by member 18 May 2025 at 20:44 | Reason: grammar

User

Posted 20 May 2025 at 08:25

Hi Kevin

It sounds like you're having a tough time of it for sure, I'm nearly 12 weeks in , I had a bad 2 weeks where I felt like I couldn't pee at all but I'm a good deal better now.

Bowel movements are a lot more regular but manageable, I hope everything clears up for you soon.

Bryan

User

Posted 20 May 2025 at 14:06

Unfortunately, the GP's diagnosis was wrong. I didn't have prostatitis. I was getting more and more ill as the week went on, unable to do much apart from sleeping and eating a small amount.

A week ago on Sunday, I wakened up with a nasty abscess in my perineum which needed immediate hospitalisation. I'll spare any gory details of the morning.

Got to hospital and was immediately admitted. I explained everything about the brachytherapy and watched a series of nurses and doctors scratching their heads re: what I was on about. They gave me oramorph for the pain, which made me completely ill for an hour and was replaced by some other pain killer they gave me.

I was then given a CT scan, followed by an MRI, which showed "seeds in the perineal cavity, which they said had caused the large abscess. They hadn't ever heard of this as a potential side effect associated with brachytherapy.

Long story short, I had an operation under general anaesthetic to drain the abscess, 5 days in hospital, intravenous IV drips and painkillers 24/7. I was sent home with an open wound still draining and given local nurse support with my dressings.

I am now home (Can't work, or do anything apart from lying on the couch recovering and keeping my hygiene levels as high as I possibly can for fear of further infection) and looking for answers re: how the seeds got there and if they are still there. Furthermore, I am concerned this escapade has interfered with the original brachytherapy procedure and will have to be looked at further.

A nightmare, yes.

User

Posted 20 May 2025 at 19:22

Omg, that sounds absolutely awful Kevin. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

How long after the brachy procedure did you have the CT scan to confirm placement/lack of migration of the seeds? I seem to remember mine was at about 2 weeks and the consultant told me if they hadn't gone anywhere by then they weren't going to. (I had one migrate to a seminal vesicle but that was it and apparently nothing to worry about).

I can't believe they didnt spot poor intial placement or migration at that scan - it's the whole point of it.

I presume you've been referred back to oncology? Hope you get a bit more clarity on what's gone on and what, if anything, needs to happen going forward.

Wishing you a speedy return to 'normality'.

User

Posted 21 May 2025 at 12:16

I had my first CT scan post procedure at about 10 weeks. I then had my catch up with the consultant, at which nothing seemed amiss.This infection had started to take a grip at that stage, as I highlighted to the consultant as feeling like prostatitis. He said keep taking ibrufen and paracetomol for the pain.

I then had another CT scan and MRI on admission to hospital. I'm trying to get to the bottom of what, if anything, changed in between to cause the infection, or if they missed the displaced seeds at the first CT scan.

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