Six months post Brachytherapy and all good.

User

Posted 07 Nov 2025 at 17:12

Hi all

first off a thanks to everyone who has posted on this site, reading posts here following my diagnosis helped me greatly and certainly influenced my decision to opt for Brachytherapy.

You can see the full details of my diagnosis and biopsy results etc on my profile if you’re interested however here I just wanted to post another positive outcome to my Brachytherapy treatment.

I had 72 seeds implanted in April this year, my PSA was nearly 10 just before treatment, my 3 monthly check showed the PSA had dropped to 1.6, the fall might have been due in part to a course of antibiotics I’d taken for a urinary infection, however my 6 monthly PSA reading is 0.8 so both the consultant and myself are delighted.

Like most others there have been side effects but at present the only lasting side effects are difficulty urinating but only at night. I usually get up twice in the night and at least on one occasion my flow is slow to start and continues slow until I’m finished, during the day it fairly consistent starting and flow rate, I’m taking Tamsulosin, 1 tablet every other day, down from one a day for the first 6 months. My digestive system has also been slightly affected but to be fair I had a few unrelated issues with my diet before being diagnosed so I think this is just an aggravation of an existing condition, it’s nothing major I just get a bid constipated from time to time and some foods have the opposite effect so it’s just up to me to adjust my diet accordingly.

I didn’t suffer unduly with fatigue, which others have reported, but I am retired so perhaps my lifestyle meant I didn’t notice the fatigue like someone who works would.

All in all glad with the decision of treatment I made and I think my side effects have been on the mild side of normal, obviously delighted with the results.

Like other posters have said please feel free to contact me if you have a specific question and I’ll try and answer you, based on my experience.

Lastly thanks again to everyone who posts here, I read so many prior to reaching my decision, and finally good luck to everyone reading this both with your treatment and ongoing recovery.

User

Posted 07 Nov 2025 at 17:12

Hi all

first off a thanks to everyone who has posted on this site, reading posts here following my diagnosis helped me greatly and certainly influenced my decision to opt for Brachytherapy.

You can see the full details of my diagnosis and biopsy results etc on my profile if you’re interested however here I just wanted to post another positive outcome to my Brachytherapy treatment.

I didn’t suffer unduly with fatigue, which others have reported, but I am retired so perhaps my lifestyle meant I didn’t notice the fatigue like someone who works would.

All in all glad with the decision of treatment I made and I think my side effects have been on the mild side of normal, obviously delighted with the results.

Like other posters have said please feel free to contact me if you have a specific question and I’ll try and answer you, based on my experience.

Lastly thanks again to everyone who posts here, I read so many prior to reaching my decision, and finally good luck to everyone reading this both with your treatment and ongoing recovery.

User

Posted 11 Nov 2025 at 07:46

Hi Ford55, I hope all goes well with your recovery.

Hi Goose, glad I’m not alone, I’ve not managed to find out why this happens must be the way everything settles and rest when I’m laying down as I said is not a problem just not seen it referred to before, good luck with your recovering.

User

Posted 11 Nov 2025 at 11:12

Hi Great to hear you are doing so well and you seem to be on the same track as i was after the operation.

I had my Brachytherapy in September 2016 and came out with the same medication and i decided in the following April i didn't need the tamulosen any more but had a spare box if needed when i was away on holiday etc.

As for the getting up in the night this carried on for a few years and i still get up at least twice a night more that i am awake than any urgency to go, and also my wife gets up a few times at night so i get disturbed an think i might as well go as well. On reading about brachytherapy that members have had over the last few years on this site i do feel everyone of us started with different PSA levels ,different ages and different bodies if that's the right word so it is hard to work out how each persons body will react to the radioactive seeds.

When you read up about the side affects that you could get with any of the procedures i can understand the reluctance to go for any of them.The only thing i did not like about the choice we were giving by the specialists was that each specialist believed their procedure was the best.

I was lucky to get through that minefield and once i was over the operation i was happy to take what ever came along.I am just over 9 years since brachytherapy and at 80 next year i will never be one hundred percent, but wasn't before brachytherapy, good luck.

John.

User

Posted 14 Nov 2025 at 16:35

Hello Alan

I finished 15 sessions EBRT and HDR Brachytherapy in December last year, I have another 8 months to go on HT. I had EBRT before Brachy, it's normally the other way round where I was treated but it was a last minute addition to my plan.

I was up up in the night 2 to 4 times a night, though no reduced flow. This calmed down after about 3 months post treatment. I'm now generally up one a night, sometimes more, especially if I've had a drink or too!

I did start taking Tamulosen September time as I felt flow had reduced a bit. I'm considering stopping again as I'm not sure it's made much difference and I've not really got any issues. Not sure if this is because of the Tamulosen or not, so was going to stop just to see what happens! Can always start again.

Reading the sign off sheet for the Brachy was unnerving, ED was marked as very likely especially if combined with EBRT. Still I'd prefer to be cured so signed away!

So far so good in that department though a bit less enthusiastic, the HT doesn't exactly help. I suppose it early days too as the onset of issues due to radiotherapy can take years potentially.

To combat atrophy in the mean time I'm taking tadalafil and use a VED device periodically, all on the NHS, though I I have ordered extra tadalafil online so I can take 10mg every other day.

All the best

John

User

Posted 14 Nov 2025 at 17:07

Thanks Johntheprint, I read your story before I made my mind up on which route to take, it was very helpful, best wishes for you into your 80’s

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User

Posted 08 Nov 2025 at 22:28

Good stuff, great to hear it's all going well 👍

With hindsight, do you think you had any urinary 'annoyances' pre procedure or have these come on since the Brachy?

User

Posted 09 Nov 2025 at 07:43

Hi Big Stan, I’m sure things changed gradually for me so it’s difficult to recall acutely what things were like but I don’t recall having a problem passing urine at night whilst it was okay during the day. I think movement plays a part for me, when I get up in the night to let the dog out if I go to the toilet after that I very rarely have a problem starting it does seem to be if I get out of bed and go straight to the toilet. Not sure if I’m alone with this side effects or if others suffer something similar, not a major problem anyway.

Thanks for your posts and comments, a real help 👍

User

Posted 10 Nov 2025 at 16:25

Thanks John. Big thing is it's not a major problem and the fact that you're only taking Tamsulosin every other day is obviously telling.

I ask because of course, urinary function and urgency is one of (if not the) main possible side effects from Brachy. My own urinary urgency settled down relatively quickly after the procedure but I scored only 1 on the IPSS questionnaire pre procedure.

I was told there was a 'score cutoff' (maybe 10?) when determining a patient's suitability for Brachy and I've often wondered how the treatment affects those starting with a less favourable score.

Anyway, great results again, long may they continue 💪

User

Posted 10 Nov 2025 at 21:20

Thanks for posting. I'm coming up to 2 months after LDR Brachytherapy. I'll post next week on how my recovery is going but just wanted to thank you for sharing.
All the best.

User

Posted 11 Nov 2025 at 07:26

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

I think movement plays a part for me, when I get up in the night to let the dog out if I go to the toilet after that I very rarely have a problem starting it does seem to be if I get out of bed and go straight to the toilet. Not sure if I’m alone with this side effects or if others suffer something similar, not a major problem anyway.

Yep, I can identify with that. The first month after LDR was quite bad/unusual, but then it progressively improved, such that around 6 months later it (night flow starting) was back to normal.

User

Posted 11 Nov 2025 at 07:46

Hi Ford55, I hope all goes well with your recovery.

User

Posted 11 Nov 2025 at 11:12

Hi Great to hear you are doing so well and you seem to be on the same track as i was after the operation.

John.

User

Posted 14 Nov 2025 at 14:47

Thanks for your most interesting posts.

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the end of May 2025 (Gleason 4+4) and started immediate hormone therapy, which is likely to continue for 2/3 years. I am only 5 weeks post LD brachytherapy, but as I have lesions on my prostate and around the urethra, I have also commenced EB radiotherapy this week.

Side effects post brachytherapy have been urgency and a reduced flow at night. It appears that these are similar to those experienced during and after EBR. Has anyone had a similar triple layer treatment and if so should I expect a doubling of the side effects mentioned above?

Thanks and any reply will help.

User

Posted 14 Nov 2025 at 16:13

Hi Alan D, sorry I can’t help you with your question but hope all goes well for you moving forward, I’m sure someone will be able to answer you, all the very best.

User

Posted 14 Nov 2025 at 16:35

Hello Alan

Reading the sign off sheet for the Brachy was unnerving, ED was marked as very likely especially if combined with EBRT. Still I'd prefer to be cured so signed away!

So far so good in that department though a bit less enthusiastic, the HT doesn't exactly help. I suppose it early days too as the onset of issues due to radiotherapy can take years potentially.

To combat atrophy in the mean time I'm taking tadalafil and use a VED device periodically, all on the NHS, though I I have ordered extra tadalafil online so I can take 10mg every other day.

All the best

John

User

Posted 14 Nov 2025 at 17:07

Thanks Johntheprint, I read your story before I made my mind up on which route to take, it was very helpful, best wishes for you into your 80’s

User

Posted 14 Nov 2025 at 19:16

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Thanks and any reply will help.

Limited experience but for what it's worth, I've hardly suffered so far after only having LDR BT. But my Dad had LDR BT and EBRT 20 odd years ago and he has unfortunately definitely suffered almost from day 1.

With hindsight, I don't think he helped himself, especially initially in terms of taking medication and consciously avoiding fluids when going somewhere or travelling in the mistaken belief it would reduce symptoms temporarily 🙄 when in fact my belief is that it exacerbated them.

20 years later, he still suffers somewhat but I think has learnt what helps and what doesn't! Unless you knew his history, you wouldn't think anything was wrong these days but obviously sometimes I notice the more frequent and lengthier visits to the loo at which point my mum gives me 'the look'.

Unfortunately, you've got to think that the more radiation you get to the area, the greater the side effects will be but equally I don't think there's a one size fits all outcome - hopefully your experience will be positive.

Finally I should also say that I also believe when he had his treatment 20 years ago, the accuracy of EBRT was not what it is today and, we always felt they probably overtreated him for his diagnosis (he was living and was treated in florida at the time and it seems the policy at his centre was 'make sure there's absolutely zero percent chance of anything surviving this!')

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