Prostate Cancer

parkway25

I had radiation for prostate cancer two years ago. It seems to have been successful, I get shots of Lupron every three months and have two more shots to go. However, it has left me with a urination problem. I go about every hour and a half 24-7. My doctor has had me on all of the current meds and nothing works. I wanted to know if this is a common problem and if anything can possibly be done for it. My urologist suggested to me to possibly get another physicans opinion but I'm hoping that their might be an alternative way for me to fix this or at least improve it. Thank you. Harry Himles

Kongo

Question
Park, did you have urinary problems immediately after radiation and they continued to the present or did they develop recently? What type of radiation did you receive? Are anti-inflamatory drugs part of the meds you're taking?

I would get a second opinion from another urologist. It seems to me that your urethra might be somewhat blocked and is unable to properly drain the bladder. There could also be another cause such as a bladder infection or a cyst or a host of other ills.

gkoper

Hi Harry
Welcome aboard CSN---you say your radiation seems to be successful---- yet you are getting hormone therapy (lupron). My take on HT was when surgery and/or radiation failed--- HT was the next line of defence. Did you have rising PSA that prompted you to start hormones?
I have had surgery & IMRT & had urination urgency & frequency increase while receiving 37 treatments & a week or so after. I'm now at 6 months post with no side effects. That being said, side effects can come on for up to 5 years I've been told. Perhaps another doctor's opinion would be in order.
Good luck,
George

donnyd

I just finished radiation
I just finished radiation therapy about 2 weeks ago for prostate cancer and I'm still having problems urinating and having bm's. I've been on steroids, rapaflo and suppositories and it's still pretty tough to go. It takes a while to get the urine started and it is uncomfortable when I do go. They told me it would take about 2-4 weeks for my body to return to normal, but I'm beginning to wonder now. I've passed a lot of mucous and some clots from the rectum, but the clots and mucous have pretty much stopped now. It's just frurstating to have to urinate so much and have so much trouble doing so. Thanks.

Kongo

donnyd said:

I just finished radiation
I just finished radiation therapy about 2 weeks ago for prostate cancer and I'm still having problems urinating and having bm's. I've been on steroids, rapaflo and suppositories and it's still pretty tough to go. It takes a while to get the urine started and it is uncomfortable when I do go. They told me it would take about 2-4 weeks for my body to return to normal, but I'm beginning to wonder now. I've passed a lot of mucous and some clots from the rectum, but the clots and mucous have pretty much stopped now. It's just frurstating to have to urinate so much and have so much trouble doing so. Thanks.

Donny
Hey, Donny, welcome to the forum. So sorry that you're suffering after your radiation treatment. Would you mind sharing with us what type of radiation procedure you received and what were the details of your prostate cancer diagnosis?

I finished a radiation treatment about a month ago and have had zero side effects but was told there might be some urinary difficulties and perhaps some loose and bloody stools. The prostate gets inflamed from the radiation and swells, putting pressure on the urethera which is what is likely causing the problems urinating: weak stream, start/stop, and having to go a lot because you can't empty the bladder all at once. Did you try taking ibuprofen (Advil)? It reduces the swelling. Another trick my doctors told me about was to drink lots of cranberry juice as it neutralizes any acid in your urine which might cause a burning sensation.

Hope you're back on step soon.

Best,

142

donnyd said:

I just finished radiation
I just finished radiation therapy about 2 weeks ago for prostate cancer and I'm still having problems urinating and having bm's. I've been on steroids, rapaflo and suppositories and it's still pretty tough to go. It takes a while to get the urine started and it is uncomfortable when I do go. They told me it would take about 2-4 weeks for my body to return to normal, but I'm beginning to wonder now. I've passed a lot of mucous and some clots from the rectum, but the clots and mucous have pretty much stopped now. It's just frurstating to have to urinate so much and have so much trouble doing so. Thanks.

After radiation
Donny,
I am 6 weeks out from the last of 39 IGRT sessions (as followup after DaVinci).
My post-DaVinci incontinence worsened a bit over the sessions (added urgency, and from 1 to now 2 or 3 pads per day), and have had general bowel issues starting about half way through.
Still have all of the above, and very significant fatigue.
I've had very differing opinions from the urologist, rad. oncologist, and GP, but the most common thread is that it can take up to two months after the last session to "hit bottom", i.e. the symptoms may keep getting worse for a while after surgery.
The GP tells me that in his experiences with patients who've had heavier doses of radiation in general, it can take 1 - 2 years for everything to come back to pre-radiation status.

My colo-rectal guy has me on a lifetime of daily stool softeners, and I blame that for my bowel issues (too often, rather than difficulty). But all things considered, it beats the damage that constipation can cause (the fact that I have a colo-rectal guy is a clue).