Hormone Treatment and Radiation

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User

Posted 21 Nov 2025 at 17:15

Husband now knows MDT meeting outcome was exactly what we'd thought/expected. A few months of hormone treatment tablets, followed by radiation. He is hopefully having a meeting to talk this through which should be arranged next week. I feel we can cope . I've researched for ways to alleviate symptoms. I've found the Embr wave wristband mentioned for hot flushes. Found a trainer in the next town who mentions older men and has himself survived liver cancer for 17 years, and we have overhauled our diet. This was pretty good before, as we have an allotment, but I made my first chickpea curry this week, and lentil bake is next. The junk food is out. Husband is open to trying aids to sex, to keep things as healthy as possible. The nurse told him on the phone to masturbate. Im not sure it will work. but he'll just have to try and remember he does fancy me really, when he feels like he doesn't. Thank goodness it was found when it was. We have entered a strange dark tunnel with this

User

Posted 21 Nov 2025 at 21:01

Good luck now there is a defined path forwards. I hope that they will be able to keep the hormone treatment to the minimum necessary to optimise the radiotherapy, and use a drug which gives the best chance of testosterone recovery afterwards.

You are going to have to manage things as they come. In my case I never had hot flushes, whereas for others they are a major issue. I assume the masturbation advice is to keep erectile function intact (the catchphrase is "use it or lose it"); basically even if the hormones are a mess the penis may respond to tactile stimulation, which could be from you as well as him.

Diet is an interesting question, I don't know whether anyone knows whether it helps with navigating hormone therapy. But it is good for anyone, and certainly anyone with a known health problem, to eat healthy food and avoid ultraprocessed stuff. Until... the radiotherapy starts, when you are likely to have the problem of your husband adjusting diet to ensure an empty rectum during sessions. The hospital will no doubt advise on their preferred routine, and if you search previous threads here you will discover other people's experiences of that.

User

Posted 21 Nov 2025 at 23:20

Many thanks. I find these replies very helpful. I've already found the hospitals leaflet on radiotherapy and they give a small suppository first. We'll take each day as it comes. Thank you

User

Posted 22 Nov 2025 at 18:31

Just a quick comment-I was on Zoladex for 3 yrs (including abiraterone, enzalutimide, prednisolone on trial for 2 of those years)with 32 sessions of RT. The radiographers said they like things to remain same as possible during RT, helps keeping internal stuff same etc & if we say change diet greatly once RT starts or afte planning etc can cause issues (they do advise not eating foods that create gas). I had mini enema each time I got to hospital & when they knew I was say 15-20 mins from treatment told to drink 3 cups of water, not everywhere has this practice though.

I did suffer plenty of side effects, found acupuncture really helped mevwith hot flushes. Sexual function all goos after a decent length of time for everything to go from the system. I was58 when treatment started though.

Peter

User

Posted 22 Nov 2025 at 19:02

Thank you for that. Yes we'll just get through it hopefully. It may seem that being older is different, and not sure how the norm I am, but my sex drive has never diminished. Consequently neither has his. The menopause I never really noticed, it made no difference at all. We've always had a very close bond, which can sustain you through a lot of adversity. I keep my self as pleasantly looking as I can, because he deserves it! He's quite fit, walks etc. We have no option but to tough this out to get him as healthy as possible. That's a top priority.

User

Posted 22 Nov 2025 at 20:31

You can achieve a lot with a positive attitude. And your husband has the benefit of a hugely supportive wife. Modern treatments are very effective, and you can hope for a successful outcome - and make the best of life in the meantime.

Peterco's response was interesting, it seems every hospital has slightly different advice over managing diet and bowel emptying during radiotherapy - at any rate mine wasn't quite the same. Yours will no doubt give their own advice, and that may shape diet a bit for a couple of months. But not until you get to the planning scan stage.

User

Posted 22 Nov 2025 at 22:40

Yes I agree. I've read their radiotherapy advice and he's not radically changed his diet really. I dont think he'll have that for couple of months. Seems straightforward. We are cutting down the red meat and increasing fish. He walks a lot, and walks a neighbours dog 3 or 4 times a week. I tend to go into overdrive when I meet a problem, looking for solutions. Sometimes you pick up some useful information. I'm collecting positives, and rejecting negatives. Your first paragraph is one ill keep and reread! I need a bit of reassurance at the moment. It's so thoughtful when people reply!

Edited by member 22 Nov 2025 at 22:43 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 23 Nov 2025 at 21:15

I think one problem is that humans have an inevitable urge to "do something". Which is why you are looking at diet, and I agree that freshly cooked vegetables (including chickpeas and lentils) are broadly the healthier option. But having said that, first, humans did evolve as omnivores so some meat is beneficial, and second it is tough for your husband too and it may be occasionally he would be boosted by food treats.

But actually there isn't much you can "do" other than follow the treatment and stay healthy. A period of testosterone lowering is part of best practice treatment, in my case I was told 6 months (actually ended up 9 because of Covid) and you just have to manage any side effects of that. It seems your husband is on tablets, and that may mean better prospects for testosterone recovery but possiblly a worse side effect profile in the meantime. I don't know what radiotherapy regime your hospital uses, and over that period you just need to follow the hospital's advice and keep as good a quality of life as possible - dog walking sounds good. At the end your husband is likely to have decreased energy and increased need for sleep - but after a few week start to rebuild strength. We went on holiday 5-6 weeks after radiotherapy finished and it was a boost to find I could do reasonable Alpine walks and enjoy life in the way I was used to, though with an earlier bedtime.

User

Posted 24 Nov 2025 at 20:58

Thank you for that. I think I may have given the wrong impression! We're trying one meat free day, just don't eat processed meat very much. For years we've had the no nitrate bacon which has plenty of taste . He does cooking too and cooks what he wants. I think out change to organic vegetables stems from having an allotment and eating such good vegetables in the summer. We now know he is having bicalutamide which I'm hoping has less severe side effects. We'll cope together and hopefully have a holiday next year in June

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